Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) for verification and identification is a science that eConnect has mastered by transforming conventional surveillance systems into a living database of movement, behavior, and associations,
Founded in 2009 by Henry Valentino, President and CEO, eConnect uses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to create a historical, searchable log of faces across entrances, gaming floors, and restricted areas that is unmatched in the industry.
“This has been our best year for as long as we have been in business,” Valentino said. “Our rapid progress as a company is due to our technology that enhances the effectiveness of security, surveillance, marketing, and compliance teams.
“There are so many separate places within a casino where guests are asked to present their ID. We observed during our visits to properties that customers could become quite frustrated waiting in a lengthy line to present their IDs, especially if they were there just the day before or even earlier the same day.”
Valentino knew the answer was making your face your digital ID. eConnect’s facial matching technology compares over 70 nodal points of the face to the image on that person’s ID, in addition to performing auto-checks of over 50 points of fraud on the ID itself in seconds.
“If you have provided your ID, there is a copy on record,” he explained. “We import all IDs into the system. When you walk through the entrance, there is no need to take out your ID. The system gives you a green light. Same thing checking in at the hotel reservation desk or at the casino cashier.”
The technology, Valentino said, is also being placed at ticket redemption kiosks where there is anonymity and the operator does not always know who is cashing out tickets, noting “this allows the operator to discover abuse”.
There is also the value of identifying high-profile players on property, players who may have made restaurant reservations prior to visiting the gaming floor.
“That is where the rubber really meets the road,” Valentino maintains. “Many properties are trying to enhance their interactions with VIPs and high-value players. eConnect’s facial recognition technology expedites knowing when they are on property.”
eConnect’s facial recognition technology can link operational data to individual facial profiles. Every face is automatically captured, vectorized, stored, and most importantly, not just against limited watch lists. It enrolls every face that passes in front of a connected camera automatically and in real time.
Being the only supplier offering applications exclusively to casinos, eConnect is an American company with its code and technology created in the United States. Utilizing technology that communicates across all the different domains of a casino operation also prevents revenue draining identity fraud.
Driven by the power of AI, eConnect uses AI-based neural networks that are tuned for movement, lighting variance, and partial views while capturing from multiple angles and entry points to optimize recognition.
“Once we have an image stored from a guest’s first visit to the property, the next time they visit we will add the captured image to the individual’s profile,” Valentino explained. “So we not only have your ID, but we have the photo from the previous visit. We can match among whatever number of images, making it fast and accurate.”
eConnect’s most recent development is the Red Light/Green Light system, which combines ID scanning, facial recognition, and smart alerting. It streamlines the ID check process while at the same time ensuring full compliance resulting in faster entry, reduced friction, and a better first impression.
“The red light means ‘I don’t know you, so let me see your ID’,” Valentino shared. “Or it can mean ‘You are on my banned list; you are on my watch list, or the state’s watch list. Maybe the self-excluded list.’ Just a few of the reasons for getting a red light.
“The green light means ‘Hey, I know you, so you can sail right on through’. It makes casino guests feel like VIPs.”
eConnect has more details about this technology at econnectglobal.com.
