In an attempt to reduce the potential for criminal activity in their casinos, Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd. announced that they would be updating their facial recognition technology at its operations in Macau and Manila this year. This information was provided at the Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2018.

The report noted that in 2016, “Melco became the first operator in Asia to deploy real-time facial recognition security systems at every entrance to our gaming areas in Macau.” Since then, the casino operator said it has been “refining the technology and is preparing to install the latest generation in its properties in both Macau and Manila in 2019.”

The concern within the executive offices at Melco has been driven by a desire to deter criminal activity. In March, members of the Macau Unitary Police welcomed the addition of cameras and facial recognition software within the city’s casino operations, explaining that this should greatly deter criminal activities in and around the casinos. A representative for the Police Department was quoted by GGRAsia saying that this would help to combat loansharking as well as other illegal activities.

The technology would allow casinos to be able to detect persons who have been restricted or excluded from gaining access to the casino floor. Yet, the company explained in their report that they would still be complying with data privacy requirements. This has become a growing concern in many Western cultures where facial recognition software has been seen as a breach of individual privacy.