Age Verification Technology by Civic for Black Fire Innovation

Automated Vending Technology Showcased in Black Fire Innovation’s Living Lab

SAN FRANCISCO and LAS VEGAS (August 11, 2021) — Civic Technologies, a leader in digital identity solutions, and Black Fire Innovation, the hospitality technology hub created by Caesars Entertainment, Inc., and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), are showcasing a groundbreaking automated vending machine. This machine, utilizing Civic’s age-gated verification technology, is now serving an assortment of non-alcoholic beverages to Black Fire’s tenants. The technology is based on Identity.com’s open-source identity verification ecosystem.

Originally designed to dispense age-restricted products such as beer and canned wine, the vending machine at Black Fire is currently filled with sparkling water, energy drinks, and canned espresso for demonstration purposes.

Housed at Black Fire Innovation, the vending machine exemplifies the importance and utility of private identity verification to the top innovators working in Black Fire’s concept-testing lab.

“Now, we’re finding new ways to assist the hospitality industry within Black Fire, the home of disruptive innovations. By making digital identity verification easy—without sacrificing privacy—Civic offers forward-looking technology that will help foster more breakthroughs across gaming and entertainment,” said Robert Rippee, Executive Director of UNLV’s Black Fire Innovation Hub.

About Black Fire Innovation

Black Fire Innovation is a unique public-private partnership. It brings together the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), one of the nation’s top research institutions, and Caesars Entertainment, Inc., the largest casino-entertainment company in the U.S. Located in UNLV’s Harry Reid Research & Technology Park in Las Vegas, Black Fire Innovation encompasses a 43,000-square-foot innovation space designed to accelerate new ideas that drive the hospitality industry and Las Vegas community forward. This collaborative space offers researchers unparalleled access to conduct on-demand testing of new ideas and products, featuring a replicated integrated resort environment, complete with a casino floor, sports book, hotel rooms, digital lounge, and an esports arena.

Civic’s Identity Verification Solution in Vending Machines

To make an age-restricted purchase at the vending machine, users simply sign up for the Civic Wallet and authenticate as a real person. Civic’s technology verifies the user’s age at the vending machine using Identity.com’s open-source identity verification ecosystem, allowing users to purchase age-restricted products anonymously while maintaining control over their personal information.

“We’re delighted that our groundbreaking age-gated identity verification vending machine has found a new home in Black Fire Innovation’s Living Lab,” said Vinny Lingham, CEO and co-founder of Civic. “We’re proud to bring automated age verification technology to innovation leaders in the gaming, hospitality, and entertainment industries.”

While this vending machine is just one application, the technology behind it has far-reaching potential for enhancing customer experiences across various industries, both online and offline. Civic and Black Fire Innovation anticipate that this collaboration will generate new customer insights and better rewards programs, all without the need to collect or store personal data.

About Civic Technologies

Civic Technologies is at the forefront of decentralized identity solutions, focusing on real-world applications of its blockchain-powered technology. Civic’s flexible identity verification technology serves businesses by providing secure, decentralized identity solutions. The company leverages Identity.com’s open-source ecosystem to offer consumers more control over their digital identities.

About Identity.com

Identity.com is the leading identity verification nonprofit, offering an open-source, decentralized ecosystem that prioritizes verifying credentials over exchanging personally identifiable information. Together with Identity.com, companies and developers can create convenient, on-demand identity verification solutions that empower consumers to control their digital identities.