Casino employees might not know it, but they can play a critical role in combatting human trafficking.
Annie Sovcik, director of Busing on the Lookout, a program of Truckers Against Trafficking, urged casinos and resorts in Las Vegas and across the country to train their staffs to identify the problem of the illegal transporting of people from one country or area to another for the purpose of sexual exploitation. She spoke Wednesday during the World Game Protection Conference that’s attended by casino executives and security and surveillance staff.
Casinos attract patrons who are out to spend money and take risks and traffickers know this, Sovcik said. Casinos are prime venues for trafficking by their nature, because they have a lot of activity, as well as cash exchanging hands.
“As traffickers do with other legitimate businesses, they’re looking for loopholes or vulnerabilities that they can exploit to further their illicit activities,” Sovcik said. “Sex-trafficking victims have reported using a casino floor as a place to meet buyers they’ve been set up with online and as a place to solicit prospective buyers, particularly when the casino is connected to a hotel.”
Because of their potential to come into contact with victims of human trafficking, casino industry employees, including security and surveillance personnel, can fill a critical role in helping to combat human trafficking in the course of their everyday jobs, Sovcik said.
“Most people, when they hear about how dark the problem is, want to do something to help, but not everyone is in a critical position to make an impact,” Sovcik said. “Leaders in the gaming industry throughout the United States are in a position to make a critical impact.”
Sovcik showed the audience videos of survivors who were trafficked as teenagers on the Las Vegas Strip and Atlantic City and who described being violently beaten for not meeting a money quota. She read a statement from Annika Huff, who works for the organization, and described her experience in Las Vegas.
Most people assumed she was a prostitute, but Huff said her trafficking was “hidden in plain sight in the middle of casinos on the Las Vegas Strip in front of thousands of people every day.” She said her life was endangered if she didn’t make enough money for her trafficker.
“Everyone thought they knew what I was, but no one asked,” Huff said. “If someone had stopped to talk to me, maybe they would have found out what was happening to me.”
Sovick said surveillance people need to look out for signs of bruising, branding, and physical trauma. They should also heed warning signs exhibited by people who don’t know where they are or don’t know what the day or date is.
“Take special note of people who seem to be under the control of someone else,” Sovcik. “Maybe they can’t speak for themselves or make eye contact, or they tell a story that sounds rehearsed or the details don’t make sense. A few caring questions can go a long way.”
Casinos can be a refuge for victims by offering a secure place where they can seek help or attempt to exit their situation, Sovcik said.
“Casino floors are some of the most monitored and secure places out there,” Sovcik said. “Imagine if that level of security was perceived by victims to be a safe place or an exit, rather than a place where they can continue to be hidden in plain sight.”
Sovcik said her group has developed training materials designed for casinos, including a 24-minute webinar. There’s also a toolkit for managers who want to launch an anti-trafficking initiative. It outlines red flags, questions to ask, and steps to take.
“The great news is that many of you may already be working for casinos engaged in some form of anti-trafficking training or have collaborated with law enforcement,” Sovcik said. “A lot of casinos are already stepping up and making a difference.”
For those who suspect trafficking, Sovcik said many casinos have protocols in place to contact law enforcement and service providers in the community. There are also national hotlines. Signs can be installed in the bathrooms and other areas where victims can see them.
