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BCLC and Future Anthem partner to establish Vancouver AI and data innovation hub

| By iGB content team
The partnership will create a dedicated specialist team to develop and deploy AI to improve player experiences across gaming products and channels.

BCLC has partnered with Future Anthem, a UK-based gambling data science specialist, on the creation of an artificial intelligence (AI) and data innovation hub, to be located at BCLC’s Vancouver office. 

The hub will focus on the development of AI, data capabilities and programmes designed to improve the player experience across all BCLC gambling platforms, including lottery, gaming and sports. It will employ a team of data and product professionals, with access to Future Anthem’s Data Science platform.

“BCLC is excited to be partnering with Future Anthem to create the first AI innovation hub in BC focused on the gambling industry,” said Mark Goldberg, BCLC’s chief information officer. “We know that the key components of the hub will be its data-driven research and software product development to support player engagement and experience, safer play and improved game design – core BCLC business areas.”

Managed in partnership through a joint steering committee that includes senior representatives from both BCLC and Future Anthem, the hub will create and cultivate highly specialised, Vancouver-based AI technology jobs utilising Future Anthem’s strong experience in building teams focused on AI research and development, complemented by a small team of BCLC employees with skills and experience in this area.

“This dynamic partnership combines our expertise, reach and technologies and allows us to harness AI for good – to bring true and measurable benefits to players in a responsible, sustainable and enjoyable manner,” said Leigh Nissim, CEO and founder of Future Anthem. “With access to more data across all verticals and channels to build amazing machine learning models and AI applications, I am confident this collaboration will quickly deliver benefits to BCLC and its players to reinforce its lead position within lotteries globally.”

As well as recruiting the team in Vancouver, Future Anthem will deploy its market-leading real-time AI platform locally to employ best practices for AI product development and governance within the hub, which includes protocols to ensure transparency of AI use, data security and management of AI models and their player impact. These models are designed to use anonymised data that is stored in Canada.