When Jason Killinger was arrested based on a Reno casino’s facial recognition software in 2023, it was far from unusual.
His arrest — now subject of a lawsuit against a Reno police officer — was one of hundreds based on facial recognition in recent years at Northern Nevada casinos, and it highlights a growing tension in the casino industry: As facial recognition technology becomes cheaper and more powerful, casinos are increasingly adopting it to spot trouble while law enforcement training on its limitations lags behind.
“You see a lot more software being adopted, especially in places such as casinos where there are a lot of money transactions and safety risk,” said Mehmet Erdem, a hospitality professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas focused on resort technology.
