Casinos, maybe on the ending tag of businesses to start using Facial recognition Technology (FTR)! You are already aware of this technology and have used it in your life multiple times, most probably. The news of, also, casinos implementing FRT – is it shocking to you? Are you surprised by that? If you have been wondering about the true necessity of casinos using FRT technology, we have got you covered.
We will explore more about that, in this article. As a smart and intelligent citizen in 2024, you should be concerned about ventures where you have to go through facial recognition to enter or get started. Let us look more at all that.
Why Are Casinos Using Facial Recognition Technology?
The very first obvious question, you read it just above. When you enter a casino, let it be physical or virtual, you can not get past the security without going through multiple verifications. You have to present your valid, non-expired photo ID proof and more to get inside a traditional casino. When it comes to online casinos, things get more complex, as there are a series of identification and safety protocols. You need to provide an ID card to verify your name, age, address, and overall identity. Also, you need to submit certain documents to enable the online payment system. So, what really is the use of facial recognition? Let us begin by getting ourselves into the way it works.
How Do Facial Recognition Technology Work?
Recently, a casino in the UK, Genting Casinos UK Limited, implemented the FRT in their London casino outlet. When you undergo the FRT before renting the casino, the sensor catches your unique facial features. It is done through a technology known as ‘biometrics’. The sensor scans your facial features and iris print and sends it to the database. The database contains a huge amount of data on all the players who have gone through the FRT in other casinos and from other databases.
If the FRT deems you as eligible and safe to enter the casino, you can go on. Otherwise, you will be restricted from entering the casino.
Why Do Casinos Use Facial Recognition Technology?
The FRT helps the casinos to identify the safe and unsafe people. The database of the FRT may contain the details of players from other casinos as well.
- To prevent fraud
If you are pretending to someone else to enter a casino, it will be stopped right away. Your ID may contain an old photo of yours. Therefore, you may be able to trick the casino guards by pretending to be your sibling or anyone similar to you. With FRT, your true identity will be brought out.
- To control problem gambling
When you pass through the FRT process, the sensor searches the database to identify whether you have been reported for problem gambling. If you have been the identity of gambling addiction, before at other casinos, and are restricted at any other casinos, then the particular casino that you are trying to enter will stop you from doing that.
- To ensure safety
It is the necessity of the hour to ensure safe and secure gambling for all. The FRT prevents anyone else from pretending to be you. Also, it prevents any kind of fraud and unapproved transactions from taking place.
Arguments against using Facial Recognition Technology in Casinos
Despite all the advancements casinos can place on the safety and security of gamblers, not everyone is happy about this.
FRT being in use means that your biometric data is being stored on servers and databases. In the advanced era of innovation and technology, it can also be viewed as a breach of privacy of individuals. People are also concerned about the safety of their biometrics data. What if it gets used outside the casinos, for purposes and activities other than the casino player safety needs? The casinos out there have already agreed to use it only for identification, safety insurance, and related. However, clear, transparent, and stringent guidelines, more in number than the already existing ones, have to be made for that.
Ending Thoughts
For the recent decades, you have been under close surveillance by the city camera of buildings, shops, banks, and more. Initially, when this concept was introduced there was widespread protest against that. Everyone hates to be observed at all times, right? However, people got used to it, eventually. Now there are cameras inside buses and other public transportation. The current protests against FRT may or may not dissolve like that, with time. However, the rising concerns of the privacy of individual biometrics need to be considered carefully.
Read More: How Modern Technology is Revolutionizing Online Casino Security