Las Vegas Casinos Ramp Up Implementation of Facial Recognition Software

(AsiaGameHub) –   As facial recognition technology becomes more advanced and cost-effective, casinos are increasingly deploying it to spot potential threats, with a rising number of Las Vegas venues adopting the technology.

Why Are Casinos Adopting Facial Recognition?

Casinos generally run hundreds of cameras across their extensive premises, making it unfeasible for human staff to monitor and spot every potential issue in real time. Mehmet Erdem, a hospitality professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, noted that this software is more commonly utilized in settings where significant sums of money change hands, like casinos. 

He further mentioned that facial recognition software can analyze behavioral signals, such as a person’s mood and whether a player seems happy or distressed. Erdem added that if someone is on the verge of starting a fight or brandishes a weapon, the system should instantly notify security, potentially stopping the situation from worsening into something problematic.

Numerous companies are also developing facial recognition technology. Among them, Xallient drew attention last year by announcing plans to integrate its software into slot machines. The firm stated this could enhance casino operations and enable real-time tracking of the players the casino is targeting. 

What Potential Issues Could Such Systems Have?

George Bebis, director of the University of Nevada, Reno’s Computer Vision Laboratory, acknowledges the technology’s value but points out that casinos are not optimal settings for accurate identification. He explained that comparisons often rely on low-resolution security footage captured under poor lighting conditions.

Bebis also clarified that a human should remain part of the process. He stated that once an AI system flags someone, a verification step must follow, and this should be carried out by an expert—not a security staff member or responding police officer. He added that only a forensic investigator with expertise in facial recognition can reliably confirm if a software-identified match is accurate.

Instances where facial recognition systems have incorrectly flagged individuals are not uncommon. Such is the case of a Reno truck driver who was arrested in 2023 when the system of the Peppermill Casino in Reno, Nevada, matched him to someone previously banned from the premises.

Despite these cases and concerns raised by his colleagues, Erdem noted that human judgment might lead to even more errors, even as the software unavoidably generates false positives. He highlighted that there are many instances where juries have wrongly convicted people based on eyewitness accounts, adding that humans tend to err more than technology.