Axcess International Inc. Dual Active RFID and RTLS - Case Studies

Interface Security Systems, LLC Successful in Preventing Loss
and Costly Casino Shutdowns

Axcess International’s RFID Solution Found Most Reliable in Automatic Protection of Assets

Can you imagine walking through a casino without hearing the ka-ching of slot machines?

According to the New York Times, approximately one million slot machines consume the most floor space and bring in nearly three-quarters of the $60 billion in gambling revenue that American casinos generate.

What could possibly make a casino silence their money machines? Would you believe that one misplaced key could shutdown the operation, costing a casino anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000? How likely is this to happen? Have you ever lost a key?

If a key used to open and lock the cash compartment on slot machines leaves the premises, whether with malicious intent or unintentionally, state gaming boards require the casino shut down partial or full operations while the casinos re-key machines to prevent keys from being copied. Not only does this loss of gambling time impact a casino’s revenue stream, but also the casino can receive substantial fines and have employees fired for fraud or negligence.

Together, Interface, one of the nation’s largest providers of electronic security solutions and integrated security systems, and Axcess International Inc. (OTCBB: AXSI), a leading provider of wireless business activity monitoring activities, put the ka-ching back in five casinos throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. Interface installed Axcess’s RFID solution to monitor the location of slot machine keys and prevent them from being removed from the casino.

After the system was proven successful in the first casino where repeated attempts of key theft occurred, the RFID solution was installed in four more casinos to prevent keys from being removed accidentally.

The Challenge of Tracking Slot Machine Keys

Interface was challenged to deliver a reliable RFID system that could track slot machine keys throughout large areas and alert security personnel immediately when the slot handlers were approaching exits, so they could be stopped before making it off the premise with the keys.

There is RFID and then There is Reliable RFID

Until the casino was faced with more than one instance of slot key theft, it used surveillance cameras and security personnel to monitor the movement of keys. Next, the casino installed technology from another RFID company in hopes of solving their problem. The signal strength the company used to locate the keys was weak with a maximum coverage of only six feet. Of the continued crime, Hershal Richard, senior sales representative for Interface, stated, “The other RFID technology was not reliable. You cannot use something that works five out of six times.”

Interface Selects Axcess as Provider of Choice

Hershal first learned about Axcess and its RFID solutions about 10 years ago at an Interface University training session when he was fairly new to the company. An Axcess spokesperson talked about their technology and demonstrated how it could be used to locate, track and protect assets, including laptops, work-in-progress goods and inventory. Hershal remembers thinking that the technology was “cool.”

After hearing about the problems the casino needed solved, Axcess was the first company that came to mind. He called to inquire if their technology could protect the slot machine keys in the same way it protects the security of other assets. Axcess had the technology, but they needed to custom build an ActiveTag™ that would affix to a key and allow it to fit in a keyhole. Interface worked with Axcess by drawing a design that included the necessary dimensions and installing the system, after Axcess built the mold and tested the tag. Hershal said, “The Axcess system worked reliably. It has been in use ever since it was first installed four years ago, and we now have it installed in five casinos.”

Solution Proven Reliable for Five Casinos

Although the automated RFID protection installed by Interface in the first casino was requested because of repeated acts of key theft, four other casinos had systems installed for the more common problem of employees locking the cash compartments on the slot machines, forgetting they placed the key in their pocket and then leaving the casino floor at the end of their shift. Innocent or not, the act stops the business operations.

Interface selected Axcess based on several unique features and services offered by its solution.
· Automatic Perimeter Protection – Control points are set up in strategic areas within the casino, and most importantly for this application, at exits. Each tagged slot machine key is wirelessly assigned a unique identification that provides precise location information on the key as it moves from one area to another.
· Reliable Alerts – The ultra-thin ActiveTags™ affixed to keys automatically activate and transmit micro-wireless signals as much as 100 feet to a hidden palm-size receiver that alerts the appropriate security personnel in advance of persons leaving the authorized area with keys.
· Unobtrusive System – Small system components are designed for all purposes, but they are especially necessary in heavy traffic and high security areas found in casinos. Hershal said, “I was able to hide the antennas under the carpet, and it worked great.”
· Long Range Activation – Hershal said, “Because Axcess’ system can read signals from such a long distance, you can place it in any hall or room and know that your assets are protected.”
· Easy Installation – Although Interface employees are use to designing and installing complex systems, they said that Axcess has one of the easiest systems to install. The ease of installation made it faster to solve customers’ problems.

Successful Results Keep Slot Machines Running

Since day one, Interface has received great reports from all five casinos using the RFID solution with no requests for service calls. Interface and Axcess have saved the casinos hundreds of thousands of dollars by monitoring the location of their slot machine keys, keeping their slots running and ensuring their doors are open to business. Ka-ching!

About Axcess International’s RFID Asset Protection and Next Generation Tag

RFID Asset Protection

The RFID asset protection solution, part of Axcess’ total system, enables assets to be located, tracked and protected automatically using small, low-cost, micro-wireless tags that activate on-demand at specific control points in and outside a facility. Tags, either embedded into or attached to assets, securely transmit their location ID and unique identifying number. The tag information is sent via an efficient and reliable wireless signal supported battery power on the tags to ensure the robust communication. The system can be tied directly into existing security and access control solutions for seamless system operation. Tags approaching an unauthorized area trigger an alarm and automatically send wireless messages to security and first responders to prevent asset loss and enable immediate recovery.

Next Generation Tag

Delivered in December, Dot™ is the smallest, most powerful battery powered wireless computer ever fielded. Dot adds transmission flexibility by interfacing with multiple enterprise legacy systems including the popular Electronic Product Code (EPC) standard system now used by RFID tags in the retail supply chain. Dot has set a revolutionary price point for multi-frequency, micro-wireless tagging at $7.95 MSRP with asset tags starting at $8.95.

About Interface Security Systems, LLC

Interface Security Systems, LLC, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the nation’s largest providers of electronic security solutions and integrated security systems. As the 12th largest revenue company on the most recent Security Distributing & Marketing (SDM) Top 100 list, Interface provides a broad range of high-level security services and solutions. Through a state-of-art U.L. listed Secure Operations Center and nationwide full service branch network, Interface designs, installs, monitors and services a complete line of electronic security systems including interactive video, remote access management, integrated system design and engineering, as well as provides vertically integrated sales, installation and technical support. As a premier provider of electronic security services, Interface protects tens of thousands of customers coast-to-coast.