Skip the line, not the security.
How one casino revolutionized guest entry using facial recognition, and what it means for the future of gaming security.
Hear it from the property.
On the session:
- ✓Evan Proios, featured guest
- ✓Henry Valentino, Chief Executive Officer, eConnect
- ✓Travis Whidden, Chief Technology Officer, eConnect
In an industry where guest experience and compliance often battle for priority, one New York-based casino found a groundbreaking way to achieve both, at scale. In our webinar, Skip the Line, Not the Security, we sat down with the minds behind one of the most innovative facial-recognition deployments in the gaming industry, including eConnect’s CEO Henry Valentino, CTO Travis Whidden, and featured guest Evan Proios, a public-sector technologist now operating one of only two government-owned casinos in the United States.
From navigating strict regulations to transforming high-volume guest processing into a frictionless experience, this discussion is a must-watch for any casino executive, security director, or IT leader looking to understand how next-generation facial recognition is reshaping operational success.
Red light, green light: the system that changed everything
Faced with a one-door entry system and the legal requirement to scan every guest’s ID, the casino needed a high-efficiency solution to handle up to 10,000 guests per day, without compromising on safety or compliance.
Their answer was eConnect’s Red Light, Green Light system, a facial-recognition workflow that allows returning guests to skip ID checks entirely while still being fully vetted and compliant.
“We needed to check every ID, but we didn’t need to do it every time. Facial recognition allowed us to confirm identities in milliseconds and keep the lines moving.”
Compliance built in, not bolted on
One of the most impressive aspects of this system is its ability to automatically scan for banned individuals and self-excluded patrons in the background while creating detailed, timestamped profiles. Even edge cases, like identical twins or fraudulent ID usage, were accurately flagged, thanks to real-time analytics and AI-enhanced accuracy.
“Facial recognition isn’t just about knowing who someone is, it’s about knowing if they’re allowed to be there.”
Boosting the VIP experience, without slowing things down
From giveaway lines to rewards desks, the casino extended facial-recognition technology far beyond security applications. By implementing marketing kiosks with facial recognition, guests could claim promotional items without ever reaching for their wallet or ID.
“We made it seamless. The moment they walked up, their profile would pop up on an iPad. No fumbling, no friction, just fast, personal service.”
Operational intelligence: from entry to POS integration
The applications don’t stop at the front door. This deployment includes:
- ✓ATM monitoring linked to individual guests
- ✓Cage transactions with verified facial matching
- ✓Food and beverage POS integrations for transaction tracing and fraud detection
- ✓Workforce compliance and contractor tracking with automatic badge printing and licensing alerts
Privacy-first design and regulatory confidence
Proios emphasized that every innovation was aligned with New York’s strict surveillance and data-privacy regulations. No live feeds are accessible outside of surveillance, and all facial data is tied directly to the guest’s initial ID check, ensuring ethical use and full compliance.
“This isn’t about spying, it’s about simplifying. Guests already hand us their license. We’re just giving them the option to stop doing it every single time.”
Looking ahead: from guest safety to human-trafficking detection
The webinar also teased future applications, including proactive detection of at-risk individuals and tools to combat human trafficking, expanding the platform’s impact well beyond the gaming floor.
Why facial recognition is a must-have.
- ✓Faster guest entry means higher satisfaction and revenue
- ✓ID-free repeat visits that still meet regulatory standards
- ✓Real-time self-exclusion detection and banned-guest alerts
- ✓Cross-department integration for food and beverage, marketing, and security
- ✓Built-in audit trails for every transaction and touchpoint
See this working on your floor
We will walk through it on cameras and systems like yours. Most demos take thirty minutes.
From the eConnect webinar, Skip the Line, Not the Security.