AI in iGaming: The big debate

AI is the conversation that just won’t go away in iGaming. But with companies making vague claims of AI-powered solutions left, right and centre – what is it actually doing for the industry? It’s time to debate the truth of what AI can and can’t do for gambling operators and see where it has been effective in improving processes and profits so far.

Sign up using the form above for this iGB Crystal Ball webinar, and watch it on demand.

It’s the buzzword that everyone inside and outside the industry has been peddling for the last couple of years, but the majority still don’t understand the full capabilities and limitations of what artificial intelligence can do for online casinos and sportsbooks.

Join iGB host James Swann-Phillips and an expert panel consisting of:

• Rohini Sardana – founder and chief executive officer, WiseWager
• Jeffrey Haas – managing director of ID8 Global Gaming Business Accelerator
• John Caldwell – co-founder of i3Soft
• Mark Flores Martin – chief executive officer of Xgenia

Key quotes from the webinar included:

• Mark Flores Martin –  “Most companies are missing one of the key points, it’s that development and software development is becoming cheaper and cheaper with AI. This is one of the key things, we’re going to start seeing the uses of AI coming out over the next year or so in the sense of new types of games that are maybe completely AI-driven, in ways that are a complete departure of what we are used to. I believe companies are missing the mark.”
• John Caldwell – “People say we’re using using AI, and I say how? And that tells me a lot, their response right there. How quick they respond and their level of comfort with that question. I’m not trying to say they are right or wrong in how they’re using it. However, if they have a good answer, and they have a quick answer and they have a very succinct answer, they’re probably on the right track.”
• Jeffrey Haas – “A third of the companies I see are doing something interesting, of those, there are some who are really distinguishing themselves with that innovation.”
• Rohini Sardana – “First and foremost does the regulator actually have the technical skillset and capabilities and tools internally? From my experience, it’s always fallen short and we saw that at ICE. The policy director talked about funding being given by the UK government for instance to the regulator to implement these solutions. Now,  what they implement and how they implement, who knows?”
• John Caldwell – “Fraud, bonus abuse, operational efficiency, retention metrics and stuff like that – but there’s a lot of nuance in some of that and I think really one of the things I am very conscious of is AI can sort of level the playing field a bit between the small operators and large operators.”
• Jeffrey Haas – “I have seen some very negative headlines in America in respect to some US gaming regulators asking operators not to use AI for bespoke bonus offers. I think they’re worried about the perspective of maximising value extraction from consumers to their detriment. So it’s sort of AI and RG end up colliding. The question is – with great power comes great responsibility – so how do you use this awesome ability to analyse and synthesise data to create a very bespoke opportunity for somebody to play on your platform and maximise their enjoyment without necessarily pushing them into harm?”
• Rohini Sardana – “The unregulated market if you like, obviously doesn’t have a lot of restrictions so it will always be more innovative than most of the regulated market but it will also be always more dangerous than the regulated market. One is stifling, regulation can be stifling if it’s not done right, and I think the UK is a good case in point for that over the last five years but AI can certainly help regulators because at the moment, looking across other markets that have banned gambling recently across Asia for instance and India. They don’t have the technical skillset to go out and kill the IPs.”
• Mark Flores Martin – “I’m sure there will be new types of games coming out that couldn’t exist before thanks to AI. Who knows what it will be? Whether it is a slot machine that can talk to you, for example, to something else. Maybe we are not able to think about at the moment but I think there’s going to be some really massive differences.” 
• Jeffrey Haas: “There’s a saying that data is the new oil. It’s just going to power everything, and I agree with that.”
• Rohini Sardana: “A little bit about ‘Oh, if you’re not using AI, there’s a problem’. For me, if it’s not reducing your costs by 50-60%, there’s no point using it, then it’s just waste of resources and time. You really need to understand the bottlenecks, the biggest costs in your business and then try and use AI to save on thost costs. Rather than just teaching AI because you have FOMO.”

Sign up using the form above for this iGB Crystal Ball webinar, and watch it on demand.