Cisco wins Harrah's deal for casino surveillance

NEW YORK, May 20 (Reuters) - Network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) signed a 10-year deal to supply advanced networks and video surveillance for Harrah's Entertainment Inc [HET.BE], the world's largest casino operator.

Under the deal, Cisco said it would upgrade networks and offer digital surveillance equipment to improve security on the gaming floor at Harrah's.

Such a system would enable Harrah's security employees to cue the camera on jackpot winners and quickly analyze images to look for irregularities. It would also help them store the data for longer periods of time.

Despite what some television shows and scenes in the last James Bond movie might make one believe, Harrah Chief Information Officer Tim Stanley said the gaming industry was not at the forefront of the latest network technology.

"Despite what you see on television about Las Vegas, most of the securities and surveillance infrastructure and video capabilities are more analog than digital," he said.

He said a more advanced surveillance system would also enable better services for hotel guests by alerting employees to long lines at check-in desks.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. (Reporting by Ritsuko Ando, editing by Dave Zimmerman)