Facial recognition technology spots thousands of problem gamblers in SA venues

Gambling addicts can’t get their foot in the door thanks to new machines in SA venues spotting problem punters before they even sit down. See how it works.

Gambling addicts are being evicted from poker machine venues by facial-recognition technology that sets off an alarm when they enter the building.

More than 230 venues have been forced to introduce the system as a trade-off for new laws, introduced last December, that allow machines that accept notes.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said venues had been subjected to sweeping gambling reforms.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“Clubs with more than 30 poker machines, where any of those machines are able to accept bank notes, must use facial-recognition technology to help detect people who have barred themselves or have been barred due to issues associated with gambling-related harm,” Ms Chapman said. The technology must also be used at Adelaide Casino.

“Since early December, when these reforms came into effect, more than 50 million faces have been scanned using facial-recognition technology in South Australia, with more than 1700 detections of potentially barred patrons,” Ms Chapman said.

“It’s also pleasing to note that venues that are not required to install facial-recognition technology are also taking up this initiative.”

In one of the most significant reforms, Eftpos withdrawal from pokies venues was cut from a maximum of $1000 a day to $200.

Ms Chapman said the facial-recognition initiative was aimed at better supporting both venues and people at risk of gambling-related harm.

“Previously, venue staff would have to remember the faces of all barred patrons and be required to identify them, sometimes during peak activity times,” she said.

Before the technology was introduced staff needed to remember the faces of problem gamblers. Picture: iSrock

“By automating a large amount of this work through facial recognition, staff receive an alert and are able to take appropriate action in response by intervening and ensure that a barred person is not allowed to gamble.”

Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Dini Soulio said he was working with venues to ensure they took appropriate action if a potentially barred patron was identified.

“Inspectors are regularly checking venues to ensure that camera placement is optimal and detections are occurring,” he said. Consumer and Business Services has approved six software providers, while a further three applications are pending.

Uniting Communities spokes­man Mark Henley said the small number of people banning themselves from venues was still a problem, as was referring them to help.

He said facial-recognition technology should be used in all gambling venues.

“Venues also need to be reporting on the number of patrons assisted to deal with risky gambling,” he said.