Gaming | Melco reportedly installing face recognition technology

Melco Crown has reportedly installed special face recognition technology to prevent banned individuals from re-entering its casinos. German biometric firm Cognitec developed the system, calling it FaceVACS-VideoScan. It is capable of detecting people’s faces in live video streams and comparing their faces with images stored in a database. Security staff are then alerted when a banned individual is detected, thereby potentially preventing casino losses and deterring criminal activities.
According to a statement on Cognitec’s website, Stephen Meltz, Managing Director Asia Pacific, said: “Melco Crown’s security team welcomed Cognitec’s technical specialists to work determinedly toward the completion of these projects.”  “We are proud to deliver the first system of its kind in the casino market [in Macau],” he added.
The implementation of the new systems comes at a time when Macau’s gaming-
related crime is on the rise. A total of 1,553 related crimes were committed in 2015, representing a more than one-third increase over the previous year. According to local police reports, most of these occurred inside casinos.
FaceVACS-VideoScan will be used to prevent the entry of undesirables – such as criminals. Gaming addicts that volunteer their identity for so-called “auto excluded” lists may also be detected and prevented from entering the premises.
The South China Morning Post published a report on Saturday stating that Melco Crown “steps up security against banned customers with facial recognition technology.” The Times contacted Melco Crown yesterday, but the report could not be verified by the gaming operator’s representatives by press time.