Joliet, Illinois’ Hollywood Casino Hit with Class Action Over Facial Scanning of Rewards Program Members

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The operator of Hollywood Casino in Joliet, Illinois has been named in a proposed class action lawsuit in which a woman claims defendant HC Joliet, LLC has unlawfully collected scans of rewards program members’ facial features without proper authorization.

Alleging violations of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), the 17-page lawsuit claims the defendant utilizes security cameras equipped with facial recognition technology to identify members of the casino’s rewards program by scanning their facial features and comparing the data against a database of stored facial geometry templates. The case explains that under the BIPA, any private entity that collects and stores consumers’ biometric information, such as facial geometry scans, must first obtain a written release from each individual and make several disclosures relating to the collection, storage, retention and destruction of such information.

The lawsuit argues that the defendant collected the biometric information of its rewards program members without first informing the patrons that it intended to do so, as well as disclosing the purpose and length of time for which their information would be collected and stored. Moreover, the casino failed to publish a publicly available retention schedule and guidelines for how the data would be destroyed, the case says.

According to the complaint, the defendant has exposed its rewards program members to a heightened risk of identity theft.

This lawsuit comes on the heels of another proposed class action filed against the operator of Hollywood Casino’s Aurora, Illinois location.