Systems and methods for verifying player identity at an electronic wagering system in a casino

A controller for verifying the identity of a player participating in a qualifying activity at a gaming establishment, the controller being operable to communicate with at least one electronic gaming system operable to facilitate a wagering game,

• wherein the at least one electronic gaming system comprises at least one camera operable to capture an image of a player participating in a qualifying activity associated with the electronic gaming system;
• the controller comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing a program for directing the processor, the processor being operable with the memory to:
• (a) receive an indication of the qualifying activity, wherein the indication includes a unique casino chip identifier of at least one casino chip associated with the qualifying activity, the casino chip identifier having been detected by a detecting component of the electronic game system;
• (b) retrieve, from a memory, a unique player identifier of a player associated with the casino chip;
• (c) identify a previously stored image of a player associated with the player identifier, wherein the previously stored image corresponds to an official government-issued identification document that the player had presented to a gaming establishment in order to verify identity;
• (d) receive, from the at least one camera of the electronic gaming system, at least one live image of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• (e) compare, using facial recognition software, the at least one live image to the stored image to determine whether the player in the stored image is the player in the live image;
• and
• (f) only if it is determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image:
• (i) determine that the player participating in the qualifying activity is the player corresponding to the unique player identifier, thereby verifying an identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity and (ii) authorize the qualifying activity;
• and
• (g) if it is not determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image, perform a remedial action.