New South Wales pubs and clubs are set to install facial recognition equipment in line with the local government’s attempts to help problem gamblers self exclude.
Gaming venues that have opted into the state’s self-exclusion scheme will install cameras and facial recognition technology from 2023. The tech will scan and identify problem gamblers who have self-excluded from gambling. They will then be referred to problem gambling support services.
Those who are in the self-exclusion program will have supplied their own image and given the scheme and venues full permission to store and use the image to identify them.
Director of liquor and policing for Australian Hotels Association [AHA] NSW, John Green, said the addition of facial recognition technology would improve identification.
“People can change over time and using facial recognition technology just makes sure we’ve got the best chance of identifying those people as they enter. We’ve tested how it operates and quite frankly it can identify people wearing masks, wearing glasses and trying to avoid detection.”
He went on to add:
“It really is effective at identifying those people who want to be excluded and want our help. This is about improving the process that we’ve already got in place, but using the latest technology, to ensure that we are doing as much as we can to get them the treatment they need.”
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said the technology would not impact other patrons.
“This is designed in a targeted way to help those who have a problem — not to impact anybody else. We believe it’s critical to support those people that have a problem in a targeted way where ordinary people are not affected.
They can enjoy their pub or club the way that they ordinarily would — but the people who have a problem are genuinely looked after to ensure they get the help that they need.”
NSW Gaming Minister Kevin Anderson said of the initiative:
“Proactively self-excluding is a big step for many at-risk gamblers. This technology will mean venues can help patrons to stop gambling and get the support they need.”
Similar technology is also being tested in Queensland.
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.