Facial recognition (FR) technology relies on computer algorithms to identify distinct details about an individual’s face. The software locates faces in images and videos; then compiles data based on a person’s features. After that, it compares and verifies if two separate files correspond to the same person.
As businesses dealing with both large cash flow and high-volume traffic, casinos experience several issues in their daily operations. Cheating, unlawful entry, and missed opportunities to engage with high rollers are all too common in the industry, but they don’t have to be. Facial recognition software is transforming casino operations. Operators are deploying these technologies to stay a step ahead over its competitors.
IDENTIFICATION AND SECURITY
Every minute in a casino is a flurry of activity, and it’s hard to keep up. Facial recognition provides those extra eyes and ears to identify opportunities that impact profitability, guest service, and professional reputation. Security is probably the most obvious reason for casinos to employ facial recognition software. That’s because it helps security personnel and, by extension, improves operations. Casino security teams use FR to identify criminals by matching facial features captured on video with an available photo database. The technology is efficient because its algorithms can recognize millions of faces in seconds, reducing a large database to one or a handful of possible matches.
But does this bring about privacy issues? New facial recognition software products are designed with user privacy in mind, in compliance with current and emerging privacy laws. While technology is still evolving, the best facial recognition software is designed to protect patrons’ privacy, only identifying people who already exist in the database. The system filters everyone else out.
INTEGRITY AND AUTHENTICATION
Gambling attracts both dishonesty and people with cash to burn, so table game manufacturers and suppliers are getting ahead of risks. Many are now using facial recognition to preserve the integrity of gameplay. These systems help casinos collect data on table play to identify possible risks and rewards. FR not only identifies cheaters and criminals, but also gathers data on self-excluded players and high rollers, including their average winnings and visit frequency.
FR systems maintain the rehabilitative purposes for players who enter into voluntary self-exclusion, whereby individuals ban themselves from gambling activity, including check cashing, extension of credit and play privileges, and become subject to fines or prosecution if they slip.
Besides this, facial recognition extends beyond unlocking your phone or entering your office. One developing trend sees casinos using new facial recognition software that employs multi-factor authentication, enhancing facility security even more. That’s why facial recognition is considered the future of successful casino operations. With it, casino owners and operators have the power to enhance their security protocols, monitor gaming engagement for fair and honest play, and more.
Considering modern casinos are under more scrutiny than ever when it comes to keeping a close watch on who’s engaging with machines and tables on the gaming floor, facial recognition will definitely help operators to keep self-excluded players out. Moreover, this technology (software solutions such as CasinoConnect and POSConnect, from eConnect) can also be useful for providing top-tier marketing for VIPs, improving the effectiveness of loyalty and rewards programs, or facilitating casinos to keep compliant with AML regulations more broadly.