Career Explorer Protective services
Changing shape
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.
Changing faster than most: more resilient than 32% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by -1.8% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on ethical judgement.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $43,370
- Job growth to 2035
- -1.8%
- Openings a year
- 1,100
- People doing it (2025)
- 9,800
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Investigate individuals' background, behavior, or activities
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
- Compile records, documentation, or other data
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Operate audiovisual or related equipment
- Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards
- Maintain operational records
What the work looks like
- 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.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- Fewer of these jobs, as technological advances in remote surveillance allow each worker to observe more activity.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Protective service workers, all otherHuman edge, steady, Index 67, +3.0%
- Transportation inspectorsHuman edge, steady, Index 57, +2.2%
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workersHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +5.5%
- Railroad conductors and yardmastersHuman edge, steady, Index 46, +0.9%
Also known as: Surveillance Agent, Surveillance Observer, Surveillance Officer, Surveillance Operator, Casino Enforcement Agent, Gaming Investigator, Security Officer, Surveillance Investigator.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.