casino machines

Major Casino Game Company Will Add Facial Recognition Software to Machines, Adding Security Capabilities

Konami plans to roll out facial recognition software on its machines in the next six to nine months.

Facial recognition technology could soon be available on casino machines, according to plans released by the gaming giant Konami.

Earlier this month, the company announced that it is developing slot machines equipped with small cameras and similar technology for table games, according to reports by KSNV News in Las Vegas. The software would allow a customer to be recognized by the machines once they have registered their photo with the casino, making player cards potentially irrelevant.

In addition, the technology could have security implications as well, according to Konami executive Jay Bertsch.

“They can start to identify suspicious activity,” Bertsch said. “Identify people who probably shouldn’t be in there who are barred from a regulatory standpoint or barred patrons.”

Casinos are already heavily surveilled, with hundreds to thousands of surveillance cameras deployed depending on the size of the facility. But facial recognition could add another layer to the security operation, tracking if a person is attempting to tamper with a machine or identifying someone who has been banned from the building.

Biometric technology has been tricky territory for casinos in the past, with two casinos facing legal action related to their gathering of facial recognition data. The casino companies, Caesars and Penn National, allegedly failed to tell customers that they were tracking their movements, which violates the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

Bertsch told KSNV News that it will ultimately be up to the casinos themselves to determine how to use facial recognition and meet local regulations. His prediction is that most companies will allow customers to opt out of using the software to identify them at machines, and have their data deleted after a certain period.

Konami’s rollout of facial recognition should take place in the next six to nine months, he added.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.