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Facial recognition technology is being used to identify problem gamblers in clubs and pubs in New South Wales, but critics have branded the move an invasion of privacy that doesn’t address money laundering. Australian Hotel Association NSW and ClubsNSW are developing a state-of-the-art system that will be rolled out to all clubs and hotels next year. A combination of cameras and facial recognition can keep out people who ban poker girlfriend machines themselves.
The faces of everyone in the play area are scanned and the images are matched to those who have signed up for the self-exclusion system.
Club NSW chief executive Josh Landis said facial recognition technology has already been implemented in many NSW clubs and has been effective in preventing even excluded guests from accessing his machines. I said yes. “Nearly 100 clubs are already using the technology and the feedback is that it works,” he said in a statement Wednesday.
The technology has strict privacy regulations, and licensed venues cannot access facial recognition data, making it part of existing multi-venue self-exclusion systems. Mr Landis said:
Australian Hotel Association NSW CEO John Whelan said the move follows recent trials at six hotels and the success of a similar scheme in South Australia. “Technology has allowed us to pinpoint the problem players that were left out and stop them from playing,” Whelan said. However, Greens, New South Wales MP Kate Furman said the move was “a relief to the strong gaming industry”.
“The NSW government is insane if people want pubs and clubs to have self-managed facial recognition technology. This is as horrifying as it is ridiculous.” The Greens are also calling for a curfew for slot machines that operate from midnight to noon, a wagering limit of $1 per spin on slot machines, and mandatory player-set time and spending limits for slots and online gambling.
She called for effective harm-reduction measures to be put in place, such as mandatory cashless gambling cards to deter money laundering.
“Pokies operators are so afraid of forced gambling her cards that they rely instead on invasive and inconsistent facial recognition technology,” she said.