A major issue for large casino operators is upholding bans for self-excluded players. A self-excluded gambler is usually an individual who has suffered from a gambling addiction and it attempting to correct their behaviour by banning themselves from their local casino. Gambling venue staff members often experience difficult y in identify self-excluded gamblers, and facial recognition technology will help to solve this problem.

Positive Outlook has recently proposed installing facial recognition technology on pokies at SkyCity Casino in Auckland to New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs. The DIA was impressed with the technology and has decided to trial it. The company will work together with the country’s gambling regulator to conduct the trial and implement the technology at SkyCity Auckland.

Pokies that are outfitted with facial recognition programs will scan the player’s face and cross-reference the image with photos in the casino’s database. If there is a match, the poker machine will shut down so the player cannot spend any money. It is quite a novel system, and other casino operators around the world have experienced great success in helping to reduce problem gambling rates by employing facial recognition technology.

“If this technology is as good as we hope, it will give everyone involved in this sector (the players, problem gambling service providers, the regulator, the publicans and gaming trusts) more assurance and confidence that gambling harm is being minimised,” says Mike Knell of the New Zealand Community Trust. Pub owners are also showing interest in the technology.

As such, Positive Outlook is working on trialling facial recognition cameras at a pub in Hamilton. 18 gaming machines will be equipped with the technology, and the pub staff will monitor the progress of the system, determining whether or not the technology is actually preventing problem gamblers from wagering. New Zealand politicians seem to be very dedicated to reducing the potential harm of gambling.

Facial recognition could help them achieve this goal, so it is hoped that the technology proves to be effective in deterring problem gamblers from wagering.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.