The role of facial recognition in casino security

Facial recognition has become a go-to tool for land-based casinos. While many think it’s just about keeping troublemakers out, its role goes far beyond that. 

From making sure staff aren’t taking unscheduled breaks to identifying big spenders worthy of the VIP treatment, let’s take a look at how facial recognition has revolutionised casino security.

How Does Facial Recognition Actually Work?

At its core, facial recognition tracks people’s facial features, often with incredible accuracy. If you’re reading this on a modern phone, the odds are you’ve already used it to unlock your device!

It captures an image, maps key features like eye distance or facial symmetry, and matches it against a database. That’s right, at some point, you’ve probably had your face mapped without you knowing it (let’s just hope they got your good side). 

Why Are Casinos Turning to Facial Recognition?

Land-based casinos don’t just use facial recognition to spot players who’ve been politely asked to never return, but also to cut down on mistakes to make a trip to the casino more enjoyable for all!

Keeping the Casino Floor Safe

Those who get themselves banned from a casino, whether they’re card counters or just bad losers, sometimes try to come back. Casinos equipped with facial recognition give security a heads-up, spotting them before they even set foot on the carpet. This allows them to calmly approach, avoiding any unnecessary drama that could ruin the experience for other players just wanting a good night. 

The software also keeps an eye on everyone’s movements around the floor, so staff can watch for anyone suspicious. While human eyes can’t be everywhere at once, the use of facial recognition helps security stay vigilant and one step ahead of any troublemakers. 

Sticking To The Rules

Casinos have to follow some pretty strict government regulations. This includes stopping underage visitors from gambling, blocking those who’ve put themselves on self-exclusion lists, and cross-referencing faces with ID databases to make sure no one is getting in with a fake ID (yes, even if they do look identical to their older sibling).

Facial recognition can also track the activities and betting patterns of players trying to launder money through a casino. It can also create a paper trail (well, digital trail) for internal audits or regulatory investigations, making the process smoother for everyone involved.

By linking scanned face results with shared databases, casinos can stay on top of compliance without the need to do it the old-fashioned way. It saves time, cuts down on mistakes, and—most importantly—keeps the regulators off their backs.  

The  VIP Treatment

Facial recognition isn’t just used for keeping the bad apples out and keeping the auditors happy—it’s also used to spot the big spenders and celebrities, making sure they’re treated like VIPs the second they walk in. This is usually done by sending an alert to the floor staff, who can greet them and hand over their favourite drink without even having to ask.

With the cameras tracking the VIPs’ every move, the casino can start building a profile of the player, like their favourite table or game, and make sure they’re well looked after. That personal touch doesn’t just make the guest feel valued, it’s also great for business, since they’re more likely to keep coming back and recommend the casino to friends who are partial to a game of blackjack or a spin on a slot machine.

Promoting Healthy Gambling

There’s a lot of pressure put on both online casinos and land-based ones to promote responsible gambling. While there’s technically no legal obligation to step in when they think someone may have a problem, facial recognition can track how often players visit the casino and how much money they’re throwing down. If an unhealthy pattern starts to emerge, some casinos may step in and suggest self-exclusion.

Keeping Staff On The Radar

Facial recognition is also being used to swap out traditional clock-in/out machines, as it checks staff in with just a glance at the camera. This speeds up the process for employees starting their shifts and clears up any issues, like a malfunctioning machine or a staff member forgetting to punch in or out for the day. 

This software is also incredibly helpful for clearing up any discrepancies involving casino staff, whether they’re customer complaints, staff accountability, or investigations into incidents. Let’s face it—it’s hard to argue when the camera knows your face better than you do.

Clearly, it’s not perfect, but neither are humans, so when combined, both facial recognition and human judgment give casinos the best fighting chance of keeping everyone safe and ensuring a good time for all.