More than 13,000 problem gamblers face added scrutiny in Queensland
By Sean Parnell
Queensland’s Labor government is considering legislative amendments that would allow pubs and clubs to use facial recognition systems to prevent thousands of problem gamblers entering their venues.
Clubs Queensland and the Queensland Hotels Association have developed a centralised multi-venue self-exclusion database to keep track of those gamblers who have voluntarily declared they have a problem and should be barred from venues.
The latest data from the Office of Gaming and Liquor Regulation shows 13,599 people self-excluded from Queensland gambling venues in the five years to 2024. Each self-exclusion lasts five years, unless cancelled by the individual, and can apply to pubs, clubs, casinos, and TAB agencies.
Clubs Queensland and the Queensland Hotels Association want to use facial recognition technology to detect individuals on a problem gambling register.Credit: Bloomberg
The number of annual self-exclusions increased 25 per cent between 2022 and 2023, from 2612 to 3261, amid widespread cost-of-living concerns.
Under an industry-led proposal, the central database would be linked to facial recognition technology to allow for real-time identification of individuals who have self-excluded but seemingly changed their mind without changing their status.
The technology was trialled in 2022 at Kedron-Wavell Services Club, The Sands Social, Prince Alfred Hotel, Carina Leagues Club, Sunnybank Community and Sports Club, The Lion Richlands, Inala Hotel and Spring Lakes Hotel.
Clubs Queensland and the Queensland Hotels Association now want to conduct a trial on a larger scale, but it is understood the government has privacy concerns.
Documents obtained under the Right to Information Act show the industry has given a commitment not to share individuals’ details with other agencies, including the Department of Child Safety, or use it for any other purpose.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General said the government supported the trial and was considering the implications of implementing such a system.
“Associated with this, the government is considering amendments to self-exclusion and other related legislative provisions to support the full introduction of such a system,” the spokeswoman said.
Star Entertainment will have facial recognition technology at its new casino in Queen’s Wharf, and has committed to improving its system at The Star Gold Coast. Both will use the company’s own database.
Privacy advocates have previously argued gambling venues can avoid the need for facial recognition technology, and the storage of biometric information, by introducing cashless cards. While some venues use cashless cards, and the government has the power to make it mandatory, it is not commonplace.