The terrible events of 1 October still resonate strongly in Las Vegas. Yes, it’s been less than a year, but there have been big changes in the way the casinos operate.

The No. 1 responsibility of any casino, hotel or integrated resort is to keep its guests safe. Customer service is great. Non-gaming amenities are important. Great gambling is a given. But if your guests don’t feel safe or perceive a situation as dangerous, all those things mean nothing.

I was on the Strip on that fateful night. The next morning, Global Gaming Expo, the industry’s major trade show, was going to debut. As usual before the start of this event, people are on the town, partying and networking with clients and colleagues. I had done the same and was just returning to my room when I heard the sirens and chaos.

Turning on the TV, I could see that something had happened. I was worried, but thought the great security forces of the Las Vegas casinos would minimize the damage. I was wrong. The cunning of the shooter enabled him to evade all security provisions, and the price was devastating.

Today, much has changed in Las Vegas. No longer can you put a “do not disturb” sign on your door for more than 24 hours. Bags will be scrutinized much more than before. Access to employee areas will be more strictly controlled. MGM Resorts has assembled a response team for any future threat. And there are a hundred other things that guests will never see that have changed.

But Las Vegas isn’t the only place where violence has occurred. In Manila last year, a disgruntled gambler stormed Resorts World Manila, killing more than 30 people and setting a fire that took hours to extinguish. And in casinos around the world, major and minor incidents have impacted guests and employees.

Las Vegas has done a great job emphasizing that its resorts are safe. But it takes more than just PR to ensure it.

All casinos, hotels and integrated resorts must have plans in place for “active shooters.” Policies and procedures must be vetted with local and federal law enforcement so if and when an incident occurs, everyone knows their responsibilities.

There must be more awareness from security about people acting strangely. The “see something, say something” mentality we all put on in airports must be extended to all public situations.

And casinos need to upgrade their surveillance equipment. Even in the top Las Vegas Strip casinos, surveillance is conducted on analog recorders. Even today’s grocery stores have better equipment. So step it up and bite the bullet (no pun intended). Spend the money on the top-of-the-line system, because your guests are expecting it.

All employees should be an extension of your security department. They see things that security doesn’t. They recognize when something is out of the ordinary. They should be protected as much as the guests.

So let’s not kid ourselves. If another incident like 1 October occurs in Las Vegas—or in any other casino destination, for that matter—our entire industry will be at risk. But that’s not why we need to invest more in training, security and surveillance. It’s just the right thing to do.