Supplier News
New Zealand – Facial recognition to detect barred players at SkyCity
By Phil - 26 June 2013
SkyCity casino is introducing a facial recognition security system to identify banned gamblers on its gaming floor in Auckland as part of a concession deal between Auckland mayor Len Brown and the operator prior to its planned expansion in Auckland.
The technology will match a database of known problem gamblers with people attempting to or actually play at the casino. If successful, the system could be used in all pokie floors in bars and in clubs.
SkyCity government relations manager Gordon Jon Thompson said SkyCity was ‘committed to trialling new technologies to assist us to better detect barred problem gamblers from entering our venue.’
Mayor Brown said: “I’m supportive of the deal to the extent it is providing us with a convention centre. I certainly feel we’re dealing as best we could with the consequences of the decision. Facial recognition technology is in my view part of a much better package of harm minimisation measures that would genuinely minimise harm to the family by genuine problem gamblers. SkyCity is a good, responsive corporate citizen. The potential is here for it to be a real breakthrough for problem gamblers. This is to deal with those who are seriously addicted and who are endangering the financial wellbeing of their families.”
SkyCity added: “Our harm-minimisation programme is already the most comprehensive of any gambling operator in New Zealand. Nevertheless, we are committed to continuous improvement of our programme that will ensure we are always at the leading edge of harm minimisation.”
The government will allow SkyCity the opportunity to add almost 500 extra slots in exchange for building and running the $400m convention centre.
SkyCity has agreed with the New Zealand Government to extend the date to formalise the agreement for SkyCity to design, build and operate the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC).
The Heads of Agreement signed on May 12 set out the key terms of SkyCity developing and operating the NZICC and stated that the parties had until today, 14 June 2013, to formalise the agreement, otherwise the Heads of Agreement automatically terminated.
SkyCity Chief Executive Nigel Morrison said: “While we have made good progress since the Heads of Agreement was signed and believe agreement will be reached, this is a relatively complex transaction and we need more time to finalise the agreement. Given this, we have agreed with the Government to extend the date for the agreement to be reached to on or before 30 June 2013. We believe that if the current momentum is maintained, all matters should be able to be concluded by that date.”
