NSW to add facial recognition technology to play pokie machines

February 10, 2023 5:03 am.by Omale Godwin

New South Wales opposing parties, Labor and Liberal, have yet to determine which developer they are using for their facial recognition technology system, which is part of both their proposed gambling reforms in the state.

Recent happenings in NSW gambling industry has necessitated a revamping, especially in form of strict reformations. While both parties have reform policies as different as night and day, they however agree on using facial recognition technology. Facial recognition uses database provided by the state’s self-exclusion register and matches it with photos of players. Any player found on the register will not be allowed into the gambling venue.

While FRT might be new to NSW, casino operator Star Entertainment Group has been using it for quite some time. Last year, Star reported that before adopting FRT, they were able to detect just 14 excluded individuals per month but since they adopted the technology, the number has ramped up to 167 individuals per month. When asked who their FRT vendor was, Star, just like the two political parties, declined to answer on basis they cannot divulge details of their commercial partnerships.

Meanwhile Labor seems to be touting FRT as their most preferable solution seeing as they shelved mandatory cashless gaming. But bringing in FRT into NSW will take some legislative changes. Labor Leader Chris Minns has promised if the party wins the elections, it will mandate FRT at gaming venues and also create an additional third-party register for identifying “money launderers.”

Responding to further questions about FRT, shadow minister for digital, Labor MP Yasmin Catley, said it is up to proposed legislative changes to determine if the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority would have to approve different FRT system before venues start using them. Echoing Catley, minister for gaming Kevin Anderson added that “The NSW government is currently finalising a comprehensive policy in response to the issues raised by the NSW Crime Commission Report into Gaming Machines, and will have more to say soon.”

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