Casino News

April 17 2004:

BAY ST. LOUIS - Casino cheaters, beware. The gambler who's sitting next to you at the slot machines or standing by your side at the craps pit could be an undercover security officer.

Chad Barnett, security manager at Casino Magic Bay St. Louis, said during most shifts there's one plainclothes officer walking around the casino, looking out for cheaters and troublemakers.

"That's the most fun job here," said Barnett, who has been with Casino Magic since it opened more than 11 years ago. "You walk around, keeping an eye out for things. You get a few coins and sit down at a slot machine, play a little bit."

Barnett has worked just about every security job at the Hancock County resort. He's escorted stacks of cash and coins to the casino cages, checked IDs to make sure minors don't get in and gamble and protected VIPs.

"I've seen it all," Barnett said. "Things that will touch your heart, like regular guests becoming ill on the casino floor and needing medical attention. Then there are the positive aspects, like being around folks who have won a big jackpot."

Although the 67 security officers at Casino Magic have the power to make citizen's arrests, Barnett said his staff's main responsibility is customer service, not law enforcement. And Barnett knows about law enforcement: he's a part-time officer with the Waveland Police Department, a reserve deputy with the Hancock County Sheriff's Department and he's married to a sheriff's officer.

"We're here to protect the customers and make sure they have a good time," Barnett said.

As part of the job, security staffers develop friendships with regular gamblers. Angel Zimmerman, a security officer who has been with the casino since its opening, said there are a couple of people who frequently bring homemade meals to the staff.

"We've got a lot of regular guests who come here from the New Orleans area or even as far away as Florida," she said.

Although Zimmerman has the power to make arrests, she doesn't get many chances to slap the handcuffs on anyone. When there's a disturbance at the casino, the Bay St. Louis Police Department generally arrives quickly enough to arrest suspects.

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