Systems, processes and articles of manufacture provide for a player identity verification system that allows a gaming establishment (e.g., a casino) to determine or verify a player's identity upon certain qualifying activities being determined (e.g., when a player is initiating a wagering session at a table game or placing a wager). In accordance with one embodiment, a live image of a player participating in a qualifying activity (e.g., placement of a wager) is compared to a stored image of a player that is associated with one or more casino chips being used as the wager; a verification of the identity of the player placing the wager is performed by matching the live image to the stored image.