If you live in Ontario and fancy having your portrait done all covert surveillance style, there’s good news about to come your way. Add to this the fact that you regularly enjoy taking a stroll through the doors of a racino to chance your hand at the slots and you’ll not need that portrait photo appointment the other half booked.
How will this all come about, and when will the free portraits being shot?
Well the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC) has received approval from the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner to install the facial biometric video cameras at the entrance to all 27 of its slots rooms and casinos in 27.
The system scans the face and, if you’ve registered with the OLGC as a problem gambler, you will then be escorted from the premises.
Spokesman Rui Brum told CBC.ca: “The security team would be alerted and would talk to the person and remind them about the requirements and counsel them to leave. If the person refused to leave, security staff would then issue a trespass notice, a move the person would have agreed to in advance.”
What about us innocent people that want to get hold of that treasured portrait though?
“OLG will not keep video records of anyone not self-excluded. They are captured and released immediately. If there is no match, they’re released right away.”
So, if you want the chance to own a portrait of yourself going into a casino then you must opt into this programme and walk into any of the 27 venues. Simples.
It’s obviously all put in place to prevent more young people developing mental health problems through gambling addiction. The OLGC, however, hasn’t yet clarified whether they will be using a similar system for online gamblers. Would be like chat roulette for online gambling!
