Protective service
Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators
Observe gambling operation for irregular activities such as cheating or theft by either employees or patrons. Investigate potential threats to gambling assets such as money, chips, and gambling equipment. Act as oversight and security agent for management and customers.
Median pay
$43,370
Growth to 2035
−2%
little or no change
Openings a year
1,100
Time to qualify*
2.5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Calculate your switch to gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators: 17% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Monitor establishment activities to ensure adherence to all state gaming regulations and company policies and procedures.
- Observe casino or casino hotel operations for irregular activities, such as cheating or theft by employees or patrons, using audio and video equipment and one-way mirrors.
- Report all violations and suspicious behaviors to supervisors, verbally or in writing.
- Develop and maintain log of surveillance observations.
- Inspect and monitor audio or video surveillance equipment to ensure it is working appropriately.
- Review video surveillance footage.
- Act as oversight or security agents for management or customers.
- Supervise or train surveillance observers.
Also called: Casino Enforcement Agent · Gaming Investigator · Security Officer · Surveillance Agent · Surveillance Investigator · Surveillance Monitor · Surveillance Observer · Surveillance Officer
Outlook and AI
Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators held 9,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 9,600 by 2035 (−2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as technological advances in remote surveillance allow each worker to observe more activity.
Compare with
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. Business operations specialists, all other
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. Facilities manager
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. Computer occupations, all other
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. First-line supervisor of security workers
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. Private detectives and investigators
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. First-line supervisor of gambling services workers
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. Gambling manager
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. Protective service workers, all other
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators vs. Camera operators, television, video, and film