Ontario casinos adopt facial recognition scans
OLG trying to curb problem gambling
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Cooperation will install facial biometric cameras at entrances to its slot rooms and casinos in an attempt to prevent people who have self-identified as gambling addicts from gaming. The project will start in early 2011 at the Woodbine racetrack in Toronto, and works by analyzing the faces of patrons and alerting staff when it recognizes problem gamblers. Staff then ask addicts to leave, and call security to issue a trespass notice if they refuse. The system is specifically designed to protect privacy, and has the approval of the province’s information and privacy commissioner.
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