Face-recognition tech proposed for excluded gamblers

The New South Wales government says it’s inviting the public to have their say on two gaming reform schemes.

The government says the proposed schemes are aimed at addressing gambling harm and money laundering while supporting a thriving hospitality industry.

They include a third-party exclusion scheme and mandatory facial recognition technology to support a statewide exclusion register for NSW hotels and clubs with gaming machines.

The government says the facial recognition technology will remove the guesswork of staff identifying excluded patrons, often in crowded venues, but that there would still need to be human interaction to verify the match made by the system.

Venues are to be prohibited from using the technology for customer tracking, surveillance and marketing purposes, with the government saying strict parameters are being built into the reforms to protect people’s privacy.

Third-party exclusion a last resort, says minister

The proposed third-party exclusion scheme allows impacted family members to nominate a loved one for exclusion.

The minimum proposed period for an exclusion order is twelve months, with a maximum period of two or three years, and a temporary exclusion of 21 days while an application is considered.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris says third-party exclusions are designed to help those experiencing gambling harm and their loved ones when other avenues to seek help may have failed.

‘It recognises the physical, psychological, emotional and financial flow-on effects of gambling on a person’s family and friends,’ Mr Harris said as part of the announcement.

‘This is complex reform which is why we are seeking feedback on a range of issues.’

Consultation is to close on 14 March 2025.

The Third-Party Exclusion Consultation Paper is available here: and Facial Recognition Technology in Pubs and Clubs Consultation Paper is available here.