New surveillance equipment will be installed at SkyCity's Queenstown and Auckland casinos which will allow Auckland surveillance staff to remotely access Queenstown surveillance cameras, now that it has received permission from the Gambling Commission.
SkyCity Casino Management applied to the commission in February for approval to introduce the surveillance equipment in both its Auckland and Queenstown casinos to enhance its surveillance capability in Queenstown as it ''seeks to grow international business at that location''.
The new technology would support high-definition CCTV cameras which would position the business to switch from analogue to full digital recording, SkyCity told the commission in its application.
It also said the ''sporadic nature'' of international business and the ''transient nature of Queenstown staff'' suggested establishing a remote surveillance capability through Auckland was the most appropriate model for ''mitigating gaming risk at the Queenstown casino''.
The link would be managed by SkyCity's IT department.
All digital images would continue to be stored for at least seven days, the application said.
Remote access from SkyCity Auckland would allow viewing of live and recorded streams, along with pan, tilt and zoom control of the Queenstown cameras.
In his decision issued on March 21, chief gambling commissioner Graeme Reeves said the commission understood the rationale for the proposed remote access and agreed it was an ''appropriate model of risk mitigation with the anticipation of growth of international business''.
In granting the application, Mr Reeves said SkyCity must notify the commission and secretary when the equipment was up and running.
A representative from SkyCity could not be reached for further comment.
