The implementation of facial recognition technology appears to be on the horizon for New South Wales (NSW) hotels and casinos, as the region continues its fight against problem gambling.
According to Asia Gaming Brief, the Australian Hotel Association NSW (AHA NSW) as well as ClubsNSW, two trade groups in the state, are close to deploying new facial recognition systems that will help in identifying excluded problem gamblers to prevent further harm. Numerous venues across the region have already conducted or are in the process of conducting trials for the new technology.
As part of the statewide Multi-Venue Self-Exclusion (MVSE) initiative, the rollout of facial recognition will come with stringent privacy protections, and it will only be enforced for problem gamblers entering known gaming areas. Surveys conducted in the area show that a vast majority of respondents—over 80 percent in some cases—are in favor of utilizing the technology for purposes of harm minimization,
Josh Landis, CEO of ClubsNSW, told AGB that “close to 100 clubs are already using this technology and the feedback is that it works.”
He added, “Those that have been proactive in choosing to self-exclude from the gaming rooms of clubs and pubs will now have extra support from our industry to make sure they maintain their resolve and stay out of harm’s way. That’s something we can be very proud of.”
AHA NSW CEO John Whelan noted that South Australia has had success with a similar program, one that includes some 300 locations.
Whelan told AGB that “When an excluded person enters a gaming room, their face will be scanned and immediately compared with the faces of all people already in the self-exclusion system. If there is a match, an alert will be sent to the venue within seconds, allowing staff to intervene and prevent gambling. Treatment providers and counseling services will also be alerted and can provide assistance to the patron.”
