Warnings facial recognition tech not enough to offset damage if pokies accept bank notes

Gamblers may soon be able to use notes instead of coins in pokies as technology to ID problem punters grows, but there are warnings it's a backwards step.

An increase in facial recognition technology providers will pave the way for hundreds of South Australian venues to install note acceptors on poker machines.

In an Australian first, venues in the next six to 12 months will provide machines that can accept notes, only if facial recognition technology is used to identify confirmed problem gamblers.

Once identified, venues would be responsible for removing those individuals from machines. But welfare advocates warn note acceptors “will make it even easier for people to get into trouble”.

Facial-recognition technology options include local products spruiked by security companies specialising in CCTV to international offerings being used to count the number of people wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Adelaide Casino is the only venue to have already embraced the technology, which has been allowed since last month, while other venues waited for more competition among providers. Australian Hotels Association state chief Ian Horne said hotels were gearing up to install the facial-recognition technology to allow the note acceptors.

Australian Hotels Association general manager Ian Horne.

Acting attorney general Rob Lucas. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“We are very pleased that there are now seven providers out in the market, which creates a level of competition and makes them more price-competitive,” said Mr Horne, pictured.

“If the industry was going to enjoy the benefits of new technology including note acceptors, part of that was to also greatly enhance our capacity to identify problem gamblers with facial recognition. Over the next six to 12 months, you’ll see at least 50 per cent of venues having accredited facial-recognition systems in place.”

Mr Horne said there were stringent guidelines, venues would continue to be responsible for monitoring problem gamblers and people wearing face masks could still get picked up by the technology.

SA Council of Social Service policy director Catherine Earl said allowing gaming machines in South Australia to take banknotes was a significant backward step.

“SACOSS is concerned about the harm in the community that will result,” Ms Earl said. “Gambling is already responsible for significant harm in our communities, not just for individuals but whole families. This will just make it even easier for people to get into trouble.”

Acting Attorney-General Rob Lucas said South Australians should not be concerned about privacy.

“Maintaining both the integrity of this data and the privacy of patrons has been a key consideration when determining the policy governing the use of facial-recognition technology,” Mr Lucas said.

There are seven facial-recognition technology providers, including Queensland-based company Vix Vizion, whose technology is used by Swinburne University to help identify troublemakers on campus, and US company RealNetworks, whose system was used at the 2020 UEFA Super Cup in Budapest, where it helped count how many people were wearing masks.