Japan calls for facial recognition across licensed gambling premises

Officials in Japan have called for facial recognition systems to be installed at pachinko parlours, boat and horse racing venues across the country in a bid to clamp down on problem gambling.

Legislators hope that the idea behind rolling out the technology will help refuse entry to both under-aged gamblers, which is under the age of 20 in Japan, and verified problem gamblers.

Images of problem gamblers can be submitted to the system at the request of either the gamblers themselves or their families.

Officials have also issued a call to remove ATM machines from the premises of pachinko parlours, in the hope to restrict the possibility of accessing funds on locations that could facilitate problem gambling behaviour.

The proposal has been pitched to the public, who have the possibility to take part in a consultation on 27 March. If the public express support for the concept, the government will finalise a policy for the nation’s public gambling facilities by the end of April, hoping to integrate it into law by 2021.

Japan has announced that it will be establishing specialised treatment clinics and support centres for those that have had experienced gambling related harms, stating that this will be rolled out across 20 major cities.