Family, friends will be able to ban gambler from venues for up to 3 years

Facial recognition technology will be rolled out to pubs and clubs across the state, and family, friends and police given powers to ban someone from a venue under proposed gaming reforms.

Facial recognition cameras will be installed in every pub and club, and families and friends will for the first time be able to have someone they believe is struggling with gambling banned from venues or gaming areas for up to three years.

Police will also able to stop criminals and suspected money launderers from gaining access to a venue, with a statewide exclusion register to be established as part of Minns government gaming reforms.

Designed to tackle both problem gambling and criminal activity, the third party exclusions – supported by facial recognition technology – will expand on the existing self-exclusion scheme and be similar to those already in place at NSW’s two casinos.

However, the government is grappling with how to prevent possible retribution from excluded people, with consideration being given to anonymous or protected disclosures.

The government is also yet to determine whether excluded individuals would be banned from all or just some venues, or even just gaming rooms.

Minns government gaming reforms include setting up a statewide exclusion register for addicted gamblers. Picture: iStock

The proposals emerged from a Labor election commitment to embark on gambling reform, with the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform, established by the Minns government, providing advice on facial recognition and third party exclusions in its “road map” plan released last year.

Two consultation papers to be released on Sunday for public feedback reveal the government is proposing a minimum exclusion period of one year and a maximum exclusion period of “between two and three years”.

Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris. Picture: Damian Shaw

A temporary venue ban of 21 days would be imposed while an application to a panel of experts convened by Liquor & Gaming NSW was assessed, the papers said.

The government has sought feedback on whether it should allow family and friends to make “protected” or “anonymous” disclosures to guard against domestic and family violence “or other types of ­retaliation”.

The exact locations of facial recognition technology is also to be determined, with the government also to lock down how to obtain consent from patrons.

Describing the reforms as “complex”, Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris said the government was determined to get “the balance right”, which was why it was seeking community feedback on the proposals.

“Third-party exclusions are designed to help those experiencing gambling harm and their loved ones when other avenues to seek help may have failed,” Mr Harris said.

“This is complex reform which is why we are seeking feedback on a range of issues.”

Australian Hotels Association NSW CEO John Whelan said he supported the idea of allowing family and close friends to ban a loved one with a gambling problem from a gaming room.

“Facial recognition in gaming rooms will only identify registered problem gamblers,” he said.

“It will be a huge improvement on the current system which has privacy and accuracy issues as staff are required to memorise photos of gamblers.”

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Originally published as Family, friends will be able to ban gambler from venues for up to 3 years