Next, he transferred the image to another computer monitor and began manipulating category codes - race, sex, game and style. He typed in ``white,'' ``male,'' and ''21.''
In two seconds, his computer identified 386 potential matches. Photographs of the people were displayed on a computer screen - nine at a time - to be compared with the man's image.
There was no exact match.
If there had been, the casino would have decided either to eject the gambler or watch his every move, preparing to arrest him if he were spotted cheating.
Quick and efficient, facial recognition software brings casino surveillance into the 21st century, according to James Pepin, vice president of sales for Biometrica Systems Inc., of Mont Vernon, N.H., which leases the system to casinos for $675 a month.
``The average casino is very unsophisticated,'' he said. ``They have a few VCRs, some 15-inch (TV) monitors and some mugshot books. They're about as low-tech as you can imagine.''
By the time officials begin thumbing through the pictures, a cheater may have already made his kill. ``Speedwise, it's unbelievable,'' said Joe Anselmo, a Trump Marina surveillance supervisor.
Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said such security is an invasion of privacy but not a civil liberties issue because it's being used in a public place.
``If you went up to someone in a casino and told them `Guess what, there's cameras rolling,' people would say, `Oh, big surprise.'
``But when you say the cameras are taking pictures of you and matching them against these other ones, that's an added element that's particularly offensive,'' she said.
Guenther said the system is only for identifying crooked gamblers.
``An honest person has absolutely nothing to worry about. It's the cheaters, the people who are being watched, they have a different take on it. Their way of life is compromised.''
AP-NY-02-26-01 0143EST
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