Facial Recognition – A Game Changer for Casinos

Facial recognition technology is revolutionizing the casino and entertainment industries by enhancing security, combating human trafficking, and streamlining guest experiences. Despite common misconceptions, the benefits of this technology—such as real-time threat detection and frictionless access— are making it a crucial tool for modern venues where security, safety, and identity are critical.

Facial recognition technology has seen a rapid surge in adoption across the entertainment sector over the past half-decade. Its promise lies in enhancing security and offering seamless entry experiences. For casinos and entertainment venues, the benefits are immense, spanning from crime prevention and combating human trafficking to streamlining guest access.

eConnect is at the forefront of this evolution, helping casinos identify and report on patrons in real time. By leveraging advanced technology and analytics, we’re able to help casinos deter criminal activities, identify fraud, and protect patrons.

Our work has transformed how venues handle everything from self-excluded guests to high-stakes financial crime, and our partnership with Paravision and its technology has become a vital part of our partners’ security toolkit.

Face recognition technology often faces healthy criticism due to concerns about privacy intrusion and potential demographic bias. However, in environments like casinos—where security and identification have always been priorities—anonymity is not a possibility nor an expectation.

The nature of the business, the potential for dangerous and / or illegal behavior, the amount of money that exchanges hands, and the complexity of the physical spaces all demand a coherent approach to identity in order to support proper safety and security measures.

Moreover, advancements in the technology, such as Paravision’s demographic performance, have addressed many of the earlier concerns with accuracy. Ultimately, the benefits of facial recognition technology, from preventing crime to saving lives, far outweigh the perceived risks.

Strengthening Security

Facial recognition technology is a powerful tool for enhancing casino and venue security. It enables security teams to identify potential threats—from Advantage Players attempting to exploit systems to individuals previously involved in theft, fraud, or violent incidents. The technology also plays an important role in combating financial crimes, including money laundering and fraudulent activity tied to false identities, both of

which remain persistent challenges in high-cash, high-volume environments like casinos.

Facial recognition has significantly improved the identification of banned individuals who previously went unnoticed. This capability has made it easier to enforce bans and prevent repeat offenses, resulting in meaningful financial recovery from damages and theft.

Additionally, the mere presence of this technology acts as a deterrent, making it clear to potential offenders that they are being watched and will face consequences.

Enhancing Patron Safety

While facial recognition is commonly associated with security and fraud prevention, it also plays a critical role in ensuring patron safety and responsible gaming. For example, casinos can use the technology to identify self-excluded patrons—individuals who have voluntarily opted out of gambling as part of responsible gaming programs. Catching these individuals at entry points helps protect them from relapse and fulfills casinos’ ethical and regulatory obligations.

Additionally, the ability to detect and respond to known individuals with a history of disruptive or harmful behavior helps maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all guests. This technology empowers venue operators to go
beyond compliance and demonstrate a real commitment to guest welfare.

Combating Human Trafficking

Facial recognition technology also plays a crucial role in combating human and sex trafficking, an area where eConnect partners are seeing game-changing results. Traffickers often rely on anonymity to evade detection, and casinos—with their high foot traffic and interconnected spaces—can be prime locations for these crimes.

Facial recognition helps track known traffickers and identify patterns of behavior that suggest exploitation. Security teams can flag suspicious activities and share critical information with authorities, aiding in the rescue of victims. Moreover, the technology facilitates collaboration across
jurisdictions. When traffickers are forced to move between states, their faces can be added to shared databases, making it possible to track their movements and coordinate efforts to bring them to justice. This approach ensures that even the most mobile criminals find it harder to hide.

Enhancing Guest Experiences

Beyond security, facial recognition technology has the potential to make the casino experience smoother and more enjoyable. eConnect partners frequently express frustration with long lines and repetitive ID checks, especially for frequent patrons. Facial recognition can addresses this by enabling seamless, frictionless entry for pre-registered guests. Attendees can walk through designated entrances, where their identities are instantly verified, speeding up the process and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Additionally, businesses benefit from the increased security of knowing exactly who is accessing restricted areas. Facial recognition powers strong identity – mitigating the risk of lost, cloned, or stolen ID cards, providing a safer and more efficient solution for both guests and staff.

Conclusion

Facial recognition technology offers a new era of security and convenience for casinos and entertainment venues. It deters
crime, combats human trafficking, and creates smoother entry processes. Importantly, it enables tailored responses, treating self-excluded patrons differently from violent criminals or advantage players.

For the hospitality industry, the benefits of facial recognition extend well beyond traditional security measures, opening up opportunities for innovative, harm-reduction strategies. As one eConnect partner noted, this technology has fundamentally changed how security is conducted, providing a clear pathway forward for safety and efficiency.

What casino operators are saying about face recognition:

Before, we had little pieces of a puzzle, and with face recognition, we have this huge puzzle, showing where to look for the answers you’re trying to find. We were shocked at how many people were banned for life but still coming back regularly, and we just didn’t recognize them until we had the technology.
— Scott Easton, Pechanga Gaming

I was able to get a value of what damage they caused, either property damage or theft, and in a very short time. We’ve also been able to recoup areas we weren’t able to recoup before. For instance, slot machine damages are in the thousands for each broken machine. We’re finally getting customers to come back and pay.
— Casino Operator, Nevada USA

Human trafficking, sex trafficking, it’s such an umbrella term. When you really break it down, it is coercion or forced sex work with a third party who’s benefiting from that. With facial recognition, I don’t need to know the trafficker’s name, I just need to know your face. The technology does that for me. It recognizes the trafficker and tracks them for me.
— Dalton Schadewitz

The eConnect team and products have brought our security team’s visions to reality. The use of face recognition has been a game changer for us in creating a safe and secure environment for our customers and employees to enjoy.
— General Manager, Jake’s

Malcolm Rutherford is Executive Vice President of Strategic Operations at eConnect, and a seasoned expert in casino game protection and security systems. He has led major initiatives for partners such as Galaxy Macau and Bally Technologies.