Macau Legislator Pushing for Facial Recognition Technology in its Casinos

A prominent member of the Macau Legislative Council and president of the Macau Gaming Industry called on the Chinese government to consider proposals to enhance internal security in the city’s exclusive casinos, on its gaming 온라인카지노 floors, and within its hotels. 

Leong Sun Lok filed a written request to the Chinese government dated September 7th, encouraging the nation’s leaders to weigh up the prospect of implementing facial recognition technology to guard against the influx of blacklisted tourists to the area. Mr. Lok also believes the same technology could be used to meet the practical needs of an approved bill designed to thwart Macau’s casino workers from entering the casino floors outside of their working hours, helping to curb problem gambling in the process. 

Robbery in Macau Casinos Up 50% Year-on-Year

The need for heightened security in Macau’s casinos 카지노 also results for an alarming rise in the number of reported crimes in the city in the first six months of 2018. Robberies committed within Macau’s casino resorts were up 50 percent year-on-year, according to data from the Office of the Secretary for Security. Admittedly, the figures are at a low base, with four reported robberies on casino floors in the first half of 2017 compared with six reported robberies in the first half of 2018. 

Although a separate set of data from the Macanese government found that gaming-linked crimes in the city fell 3 percent year-on-year to 840 cases, it wasn’t clear whether this figure included robberies. 

In early autumn 2018, at a casino resort in Cotai, two Chinese visitors from the mainland on business alleged being robbed en route to their hotel rooms. Mr. Lok believes that these incidents in Macau’s most prestigious locations have a “severe impact on Macau’s tourism image.”

There are examples of where Macau’s casinos already successfully installed facial recognition technology. More than three years ago, casino 에볼루션미니게임 operator Melco Crown Entertainment announced the installation of the technology developed by German-based Cognitec Systems GmbH. According to Cognitec's Stephen Meltz, FaceVACS facial recognition technology was "a first in the casino market." The technology warns security personnel of banned or blacklisted individuals and rejects them before entering the casino or hotel.

Macau is still the best gambling resort in the world.

There is no doubt that Macau's casino scene is very lively. According to new data from the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Office, in August 2018, gaming revenues in Macau increased by 17% compared to the previous year. Almost 90% of Macau's gaming revenue continues to come from baccarat, a table game that draws millions of visitors from mainland China each year. One of the main reasons that baccarat is such a popular card game, both in Macau and around the world, is its simplistic gameplay. Specifically, there are only two decisions for players to make in any round: the position believed to win the next hand and the amount you wish to wager. The simplicity of baccarat also makes it a prime candidate for those wishing to play casino table games online on the move. Whether it’s on the early morning commute to pass the time or in the living room after a busy day at work, more people than ever look to play baccarat online on smartphone and tablet devices, as opposed to trekking to the nearest brick-and-mortar casino. 

In 2017, gross gaming revenues in Macau totaled $33 billion — almost five times that of Las Vegas ($7.09 billion), so it is clear to see that Macau still reigns supreme as the world’s out-and-out gambling capital. Recent charts on ValueWalk.com show a clear preference for baccarat in Macau, which brought in $29.2 billion of last year's total of $33 billion in revenue. The most impressive thing about Macau's overall gaming revenue is that it operates 50% fewer casino resorts than Las Vegas. As of last year, there are 40 casinos in Macau and 60 casinos in Sin City.

Most well-known players in the casino industry in Macau agree that the key to the continued growth of this sector is the development of the mass market in Macau. Macau has relied heavily on its VIP customer base for many years now, with major players flying over from mainland China to sit down at the High Stakes Baccarat table. However, question marks linger over the sustainability of its VIP customers, and the Chinese government is working hard to encourage Macau to evolve its reputation as a more well-rounded tourist destination. That alone would encourage mass market interest, with visitors happy to spend on big-ticket items, such as hotel rooms and restaurant meals. 

Macau’s Tech Scene Also at the Heart of China’s Tech Ambitions

As part of the Chinese government’s plans for diversification in the city of Macau, 카지노사이트  the “Vegas of the Far East” enjoys significant state funding to play a leading role in helping Beijing to rival the United States in the technological superiority stakes. Look a little closer through the glitz and the glamor of Macau’s neon lights, and you will see laboratories in action with one common goal: to minimize China’s reliance on overseas technology. 

Rui Martins, vice-rector for research at the University of Macau, said that although the city is “best known for its casino chips,” it is fast becoming recognized for its “electronics chips.” A new project is well underway to develop an innovative microchip that can enable smartphone devices to recharge batteries housed within other gadgets. Already, Macau’s two top State Key Laboratories have been utilized to conduct scientific research that is crucial to this project and various other national developments. Meanwhile, Beijing continues to rock the world of social media this year, with the success of Tik Tok — a social streaming app forecast to eclipse both Instagram and Snapchat in the near future. 

Two additional state-funded laboratories could pop up in Macau by the end of the year, with Beijing all set to approve proposals for a “Smart Cities and the Internet of Things” laboratory at the University of Macau as well as a laboratory focused on Planetary Science.