This article was published in the October 2025 edition of Indian Gaming
Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Auburn, Washington, is the state’s premier gaming destination, making reliable entry security essential for its casino resort floor. Three years ago, Security Manager Alf Tuputala began searching for a more efficient, secure alternative to manual ID checks. A Google search led him to Veridocs—a company not yet used by other Washington tribal security departments.
In March 2021, Muckleshoot Casino Resort implemented Veridocs’ ID Authentication and Watchlist Screening services to enhance its underage ID-checking process and more effectively turn away barred guests.
Establishing a Top Initiative with ID Authentication
Muckleshoot Casino Resort serves alcohol and enforces the age-restriction laws of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Prior to March 2021, the resort relied on visual inspection to catch counterfeit IDs. “Our process was to card anybody who appeared to be under the age of 30,” explained Tuputala. “We didn’t have a strong technology initiative compared to what we have now with Veridocs.”
The detection of potential underage drinkers relied entirely on the judgment of door staff, leaving room for human error. Muckleshoot Casino Resort turned to Veridocs’ ID Authentication technology to implement a top initiative: 100% ID checks by scanning every patron’s ID and identifying counterfeits in real time. Veridocs’ ID Authentication scanners offer advanced tools to detect what human eyes cannot—using white light, light-absorbing ink, ultraviolet light, RFID, and Magstripe readers to reveal hidden patterns, uncover state seals, and cross-match barcode data with other information on the front and back of IDs.
“Veridocs stood out to me in my initial research because it removes decision-making from the officer, eliminating human error,” said Tuputala. As of 2025, Muckleshoot Casino Resort has eliminated the potential for human error by relying solely on secure and efficient ID Authentication technology to detect fake and fraudulent IDs.
Watch List Screening Seals the Deal
While the ability to identify counterfeit IDs used by minor guests was appealing to Tuputala, this wasn’t the driving force behind Muckleshoot Casino Resort’s decision to implement Veridocs technology. “The icing on the cake was being able to scan our existing barred list to identify a barred individual right at the door and turn them away,” he explained.
Muckleshoot Casino Resort integrated Veridocs Watch List Screening technology into its existing system to help identify previously barred guests as they attempted to re-enter the establishment. Watch List Screening allows casinos to upload internal customer lists to verify a guest’s status in real-time, reducing AML risk and potential fines while creating a safer gaming environment. Once an individual is barred, their name is tracked in the establishment’s system so that security staff are automatically notified if the guest scans their ID at the door.
The use of Veridocs Watch List Screening technology significantly reduced instances of criminal trespassing at Muckleshoot Casino Resort. “We had an average of sixty previously barred guests attempting to trespass per month,” Tuputala said. “When Watch List Screening was implemented, that average dropped to two or three.” Muckleshoot Casino Resort is now able to immediately identify barred guests and turn them away before they enter the premises, ensuring enhanced security on the casino resort floor.
Seamless Implementation with Veridocs
Veridocs provides a seamless integration experience into customers’ existing systems. Muckleshoot Casino Resort worked with Veridocs and its IT department to install the ID Authentication and Watch List Screening software into its system’s backend, then set up hardware at every entrance podium. “It was an easy implementation,” Tuputala noted. “Working with Veridocs was a straightforward collaboration.”
One initial concern Muckleshoot Casino Resort had about transitioning from a fully manual to a fully automated process was the potential delay in moving guests through the line. However, once the staff became familiar with the new system, guests were able to enter quickly and efficiently, without long lines.
Assurance Beyond the Door
Eighty percent of Muckleshoot Casino Resort guests enter through one particular door. If any downtime or system outage occurs at that entrance, the flow of guests into the casino resort is significantly disrupted. Tuputala recalled one holiday weekend when a required system update caused a temporary shutdown. “I called to tell [Veridocs] I couldn’t afford for this system to be down due to the busy weekend. It was 4:00 PM on a Friday, and I knew people were getting ready to go home. However, their team quickly mobilized resources to get the system back up and running in a timely manner.” As a result, Muckleshoot Casino Resort guests experienced minimal disruption. Veridocs delivers on its promise of 24/7/365 customer service, allowing customers like Muckleshoot Casino Resort to rely on their system with confidence.
“Veridocs has been great to work with and the system has been very beneficial to our property,” Tuputala stated. Since 2021, Tuputala has served as a reference for other Washington State security agencies looking to deploy initiatives using Veridocs technology. Veridocs is proud to work with the Muckleshoot Casino Resort team and extends its gratitude to the Muckleshoot Tribe and Resort property for over three years of collaboration to ensure reliable guest entry.
