Facial recognition cameras to scan all pokies players in NSW clubs and pubs

Problem gamblers who have asked to be kept out of gaming rooms will soon be identified by hi-tech facial recognition cameras in NSW pubs. Here’s how they work.

Facial recognition security cameras will be placed in the gaming rooms of all NSW pubs and clubs as part of a state-of-the-art system to help problem gamblers keep themselves away from poker machines.

The hi-tech upgrade to the state’s Multi-Venue Self-Exclusion scheme will help stop problem gamblers entering any gaming room across NSW without relying on staff recognising people who have asked to be prevented from playing the pokies.

The cameras already operate in almost 100 clubs across the state, and have been trialled in half a dozen pubs.

Under the program — which will be expanded across all clubs and hotels next year — anyone entering the pokies room will have their face scanned by the security cameras.

The image will then be compared with the faces of everyone signed up to the self-exclusion system.

A facial recognition camera operating during a trial at Crows Nest Hotel. Picture: Justin Lloyd

If there is a match, hotel staff will be alerted, but privacy protections will be in place to ensure the data is only used for enforcing the self-exclusion system.

Pubs and clubs will not have access to the data, and venues will only be alerted if an excluded person tries to enter the gaming room.

The technology is seen as an example of industry-led reform to help protect problem gamblers without punishing pubs, clubs, and casual poker machine players.

Currently, someone who identifies themselves as a problem gambler and wants help can apply to be excluded from gaming rooms in certain pubs and clubs, but there is no centralised system.

People who put themselves on the self-exclusion register cannot ask to be taken off the list for at least six months.

Under the new technology, problem gamblers would automatically be identified by artificial intelligence.

Australian Hotels Association NSW Director of Liquor and Policing John Green, in a mock up demonstrating how the new facial recognition cameras will work.

Only self-excluded problem gamblers would show up.

In one case at Bankstown Sports, a problem gambler who asked to be banned from playing poker machines through the self-exclusion register was captured by facial recognition cameras trying to sign into a southwest Sydney club with a relative’s passport while hiding his identity with a mask.

The story was recounted to The Daily Telegraph as an example of how the hi-tech cameras can work to help people who have asked for help with their gambling to stay clean.

“Technology now allows us to accurately identify self-excluded problem gamblers and then stop them from gambling — this is a powerful tool and NSW hotels and clubs are committed to implementing it,” Australian Hotels Association NSW CEO John Whelan said.

“If you self-exclude from your local suburban club or pub, you will still be detected and prevented from gambling in any pub or club in the CBD or country and regional NSW.”

ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said the industry can be “very proud” of using the technology to keep problem gamblers safe.

“Those that have been proactive in choosing to self-exclude from the gaming rooms of clubs and pubs will now have extra support from our industry to make sure they maintain their resolve and stay out of harm’s way,” Mr Landis said.

A recent industry survey found 85 per cent of self-excluded problem gamblers supported facial recognition technology being used to enforce the exclusion register.

Hospitality Minister Kevin Anderson welcomed the initiative which will help people stay in control of their spending.

“Proactively self-excluding is a big step for many at-risk gamblers and this technology will mean venues can help patrons to stop gambling and get the support they need,” he said.

Crows Nest Hotel was one of the hotels where the technology has been trialled. Licensee Bronte Williams said the facial recognition cameras were useful in assisting self-excluded gamblers.

“It takes the pressure of staff trying to identify excluded people themselves. It’s a good thing for the venue to have another way to do that,” she said.

Crows Nest Hotel Licensee Bronte Williams says the cameras have helped staff identify self-excluded problem gamblers. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Labor leader Chris Minns has also offered his broad support for the introduction of the new facial recognition cameras.

Mr Minns said if the introduction of the cameras was a “step in the right direction (to problem gambling) I’ll support it”.

“If there is technology that can help, particularly in relation to problem gambling, that’s a good news story, particularly for the pubs and club sector (which) need to do everything they possibly can to work with the industry to drive down incidents of problem gambling in the community,” he said.

Mr Minns didn’t declare if he supported a cashless gaming card - another proposal raised to address problem gambling - saying he’d been supportive of a trial of the cards taking place, but wanted to see the results from the trial.