Balkan casino operator Merit International has deployed a IDIS video solution at its newest luxury casino and hotel resort, the Starlit development in Budva, Montenegro. The company has a $1 billion portfolio of hospitality and gaming resorts in Northern Cyprus, Croatia, and Bulgaria.

The 2,500-square-meter Starlit Resort & Casino is the company’s third development in Montenegro. A penthouse-level gaming area with stunning sea views, the resort also encompasses a luxury hotel complex, private residences and high-end guest facilities. 

The end-to-end IDIS video solution, installed by Volga Electronics Ltd, comprises more than 90 NDAA-compliant cameras, including 5MP IR domes and compact PTZs with true WDR and two-way audio; four 64-ch ready-to-install IDIS Solution Suite (ISS) servers with dual power; plus, all network accessories including specialist surveillance keyboards. The solution ensures HD coverage of the entire hotel and casino, including gaming tables, slot machines, and surrounding areas, allowing real-time monitoring of all transactions and activity.

ISS federation services enable a centralized monitoring and management environment, and distributed control functionality, linking Merit’s various casinos and resorts and providing enhanced situational awareness. The VMS also supports integration with the casino’s ERP software, with transaction data overlayed on recorded video for efficient incident investigation. Merit is also testing AI-powered analytics including people counting and heat maps. The modular IDIS VMS infrastructure and plug-and-play installation of devices make it easier and faster to deploy deep learning analytics and target existing and new areas as required.

Koray Ozyildirim, IDIS Türkiye Country manager, confirmed that the resort would be taking advantage of this future-proofing capability which is a benefit of all IDIS technology.

“As well as ensuring the safety and satisfaction of guests, and providing a deterrent to would-be criminals, the IDIS solution opens new routes to harnessing AI-powered video analytics, for example with people counting, which can help to improve staff and resource allocation, as well as by taking a more proactive approach to security,” said Ozyildirim. “The casino already has data collection systems, but heat maps can provide a unique extra layer of business intelligence –  for example, allowing directional footfall and dwell time metrics to be compared to customer spending patterns; and revealing the most-used areas where customers spend time even when they are not spending money.” 

He added that this additional level of insight would give managers the confidence to change the positioning of gaming tables and slot machines, improve the utilization of guest services staff, target promotions, and perfect the overall customer experience. 

Malik Oğuz, surveillance director, Merit International, welcomed the flexibility provided by the IDIS solution, and its potential for future enhancement with new AI capabilities.

“As we continue to expand and build Merit International’s reputation for excellence, we are delighted with the value and performance of IDIS video solutions,” said Oğuz. “IDIS gives us the best surveillance capabilities and the flexibility to adapt and take advantage of new AI video functions in the future as our security, safety, and business intelligence requirements evolve.”