Vancouver, BC, July 19, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- Imagis Technologies Inc. ("Imagis") is pleased to announce the official launch and installation of CASINO-ID and its biometric Facial Recognition Software at Gateway Casinos Inc. in Canada. Gateway Casinos will install software licenses in all three of its locations in the greater Vancouver area of British Columbia. Upon installation, CASINO-ID will allow integration between all Gateway locations with the capability to connect, share database information and photography. By year-end, Gateway Casinos anticipates adding their Edmonton, Alberta facility to the list of connected CASINO-ID users.
CASINO-ID was designed to allow any casino or gaming establishment to utilize biometric technology to capture images using existing surveillance cameras, and then create suspect databases and compare images based on facial features only. "The technology allows us to be proactive instead of reactive. We can now use the facial recognition software to identify a "barred" individual as he enters the casino instead of at the table and then having to remove him," advises Mr. Bill Openshaw, Director of Security, Gateway Casinos. "By being proactive we can better identify undesirable customers before they do harm and protect our facility, our staff and our customers".
CASINO-ID allows for the security and surveillance personnel to track suspicious behavior, collect data and photo information, produce colour reports for audit and reporting criterion and share information digitally with security personnel, other locations and other gaming facilities. Having instant access to the information and verification using biometric facial recognition, allows security personnel to respond to situations before they do any harm. " We are looking forward to connecting all four of our facilities over the next few months. We believe the real strength in CASINO-ID is the ability to share data and images quickly and easily", reports Moniqe Wilberg, Director of Operations for Gateway Casinos. "If we share information electronically we are 50 steps further along than not. There is a lot we can do to stop criminal activity within the gaming industry. CASINO-ID is a technology software tool that helps us do that."
"Gateway Casinos have been an integral partner in the development and design of CASINO-ID software after having been referred to Imagis from a detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)," stated Iain Drummond, President & CEO. "The RCMP have been successfully using Imagis flagship Computerized Arrest and Booking software (CABS) for approximately 5 years. We have undertaken extensive beta testing for a number of months at Gateway and with this expertise we plan to aggressively market our products in the gaming sector." Mr. Drummond added, "We are one of very few companies that own a biometric application used in the gaming industry, that inherently utilizes biometric facial recognition technology as the unique identifier, to identify "undesirables" with the use of the facility's existing surveillance cameras."
In addition, Mr. Drummond announces that Imagis Technologies Inc. has become a member of the International Biometric Industry Association ("IBIA") located in Washington, D.C.
Imagis Technologies Inc. is an international developer and distributor of biometric and other software applications for digital identification and image management for the law enforcement, gaming and security sectors.
This document contains forward-looking statements including statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the installation of Imagis' CASINO-ID product in three Gateway Casinos locations and the anticipated timing of installation of CASINO-ID in a fourth location of Gateway Casinos. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements based upon a number of factors including the ability of Imagis and Gateway Casinos to coordinate to install CASINO-ID successfully and on a timely basis. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. Imagis' undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, opinions or projections should change.
Imagis trades on the Canadian Venture Exchange, symbol NAB, Frankfurt: IGY, and OTCBB: IGSTF. http://www.imagis-cascade.com.
CONTACT:
Sandra Buschau Imagis Investor Relations/Media Contact 604.684-4691 sandy@ipm.bc.ca