Face recognition software installed at Gisborne nearby casinos for self-excluded players
In the latest development, the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) announced that it will install face recognition software at their Gisborne venues. As a pre-emptive measure, this will help self-exclude players to stay away from gambling. According to Mike Knell, the CEO of NZCT, the implementation is part of a legal obligation to help problem gamblers.
Knell also claims that the technology is vital to self-indication and exclusion for players being treated in Gisborne. Using the technology will help prevent gambling-related harm, a growing concern in New Zealand. While there are very few self-excluded gambling addicts, Knell claims the widespread implementation will help far more problem gamblers.
Facial recognition technology is an important breakthrough for helping self-identified problem gamblers stay out of temptation’s way by stopping them getting into gaming rooms from which they have chosen to exclude themselves.
Cost is high but worth it
“Although there is a relatively small number of excluded problem gamblers and the costs of the technology are high, with government agency and stakeholder support we’re hopeful that having the technology widespread will bring forward more people who could be at risk, to seek help from problem gambling service providers.”
The technology was successfully trialled by gaming societies at several venues around the country, including those belonging to NZCT, and became fully operational last year.
It works by capturing the person’s image by a video camera as they enter the gaming room. The image is then sent to the central database of excluded people.
The database returns an alert to the venue that the system has identified an excluded gambler. A member of the venue staff then approaches the gambler, checks their ID and removes them from the venue.
“We are pleased with the positive results to date and NZCT is progressively installing the technology at our own expense in venues,” Mr Knell said.
“Nine of our venues outside the Gisborne area have the technology operating so far, with excellent outcomes. “This new cluster will make 15 in total.
“We will monitor the Gisborne venues and how many attempted breaches of exclusion orders the facial recognition technology identifies.
Acts as Motivator
He believes that having this technology in all the Gisborne venues will be a strong motivator to self-excluded gamblers to stop gambling in the gaming rooms. NZCT’s gaming rooms in Gisborne are at Aladdin’s Bar and Tavern, Bar 59, Bollywood Stars, Brezz’n Sports Bar, Shipwreck and Sugar.
NZCT is encouraging the operators of the other two gaming venues in Gisborne to consider installing the technology.
Ka Pai Kaiti chairwoman Lizz Crawford welcomed the move.
“Facial recognition is one step toward harm minimisation,” she said. “It is not proactive in terms of picking up a person who may frequently gamble to a point where they are experiencing problem gambling.
“It is strictly a tool for those who have excluded themselves from pokie play.”
However, she pointed out no other forms of gambling were covered by the technology. “I acknowledge the step that casinos in New Zealand are taking with facial recognition because their pokie machines do not have the protective factors that some pub and club pokies have such as jackpot limits.
“It is a concern then that casinos are allowed to apply for an exchange of table games for pokies.
“Facial recognition in casinos ought to assist with host responsibility, which is sorely lacking in both reports of the Department of Internal Affairs, neither of which assessed Gisborne venues.
“Online gambling is increasingly topical and it will be interesting to see if facial recognition will move into this space and jointly have multi-venue exclusions available as a self-help tool online — not only for the person experiencing problem gambling but for their family or whanau to be able to exclude them too when they suffer harm.”
Casinos in Gisborne
Gisborne is certainly a medium town in New Zealand that holds some 36100 inhabitants. Though there are no casinos as such in Gisborne; it has some of the fantastic neighboring gambling venues. Among them Skycity Casino Hamilton, Skycity Casino & Hotel Auckland, Casino Christchurch, Casino Dunedin, and Skycity Casino Queenstown.
With lots of slots, table games, Keno and Bingo, and live dealer games playing here are simple and easy to understand. That is because games croupiers are there to help you learn the rules if you would like them to. So even when you don’t know the rules of Blackjack, Roulette, or Poker; don’t be nervous, the rules of these classic games will soon enough be crystal clear!
Whether it’s with an LCD screen or just ordinary; there are varied sorts of different slot machine games to try your luck!
What’s terrific in a seaside space like Gisborne, is that you can go and experience a gripping time at the casinos25 experiment with water sports, and sincerely unwind. Not to mention the option of taking a wander through the streets, which has many shops, and perhaps stopping off for some refreshments in the restaurants and bars. Also, the town of Gisborne has numerous historic and cultural places. This is the most suitable chance to discover the rich culture and past it contains.
Facial recognition software
In New Zealand Facial recognition software became fully operational last year; allowing casinos to install it as the NZCT will be joining these venues in protecting players. Facial recognition technology is an important innovation for helping self-identified problem gamblers stay out of temptation’s way by stopping them from getting into gaming rooms from which they have chosen to exclude themselves.
Statements from Knell confirm implementation at nine venues so far. Also, the Trust is planning to install the tech at every gambling venue they own. This technology is not only for recognizing problem gamblers. In fact, facial recognition is to identify card counters and other players cheating casinos. Using this at casinos in New Zealand, it can help prevent gambling crimes due to constant monitoring of valuable profits.
Bespoke software the new system developed
According to reports, the new technology has been specifically developed for the NZ gambling industry. So, Torutek and COMs Systems partnered to create the system for all gaming venues. Added to this, the bespoke software is now being advertised across the islands as part of a government campaign. Added support from anti-gambling campaigns has pushed the move to implement the software.
This software watches players through CCTV entering gaming rooms and checks their faces against a voluntary photo database. Any matches will be dealt with quietly and gracefully to help players leave. The casino has the responsibility to check the person’s ID after being alerted.
The success of facial recognition has been proven at 15 gaming venues in New Zealand. By May 2018, 15 venues were using the tech to help self-exclude players. Now, other venues will probably follow suit before they’re become legal, like the casinos of he NZCT.
NZCT’s gaming rooms are at Aladdin’s Bar and Tavern, Bar 59, Bollywood Stars, Brezz’n Sports Bar, Shipwreck, and Sugar. NZCT will encourage the operators of the other two gaming venues in Gisborne to consider installing this technology to tackle gambling issues.
