Danny Cheetham, an ex-problem gambler who is currently in the process of securing a Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence, spoke with the BBC’s Nicola K Smith on his concerns regarding AI’s role in the gambling industry.
As revealed by Mr Cheetham, his struggles with gambling began when he was only 18, and remote betting served to further worsen the issue due to “the ease of access and the solitary nature” of remote sportsbooks. He now believes artificial intelligence could also become something that could prove to “deepen addiction” for individuals facing gambling harm. He specifically highlighted the issue of whether gambling companies, in adopting this technology, are giving precedence to profit in lieu of the health and safety of vulnerable individuals. He did, however, also point out that AI has the potential to help in the curbing of problem gambling, depending on how the technology is utilised.
Scotty McKeever, CEO of the AI-powered handicapping company EquinEdge, argued in favour of AI, painting the technology as something that can improve gambling’s entertainment factor and that it has made it easy to provide data and analysis ordinary gamblers would not otherwise have access to. Betby’s head of AI, Danil Emelyanov, expressed a similar sentiment, placing an emphasis on how, thanks to AI, gamblers are now better informed when they place bets. Mr Emelyanov continued, claiming that in addition to its usual functions, the software development company’s AI technology also analyses client activity with the goal of finding potential indicators of problem gambling.
Can AI Truly Be Used for Problem Gambling Detection?
Although the UK Government’s Gambling White Paper includes a variety of proposals that are tied to the treatment and prevention of problem gambling, there are currently no sections dedicated to artificial intelligence in particular. The technology’s potential to worsen gambling harm has not been examined either.
Nonetheless, gambling giants like 888casino have been quick to move forward with the adoption of AI technology. In a blog post released in January, 888casino described how the company uses AI in order to “enhance” the gaming experience of users and fashion it to clients’ own habits and preferences. Like Betby, 888casino also made it clear that AI is something that can help in detecting indicators of problem gambling and thus contribute towards “timely preventions.”
Indeed, it seems industry players believe AI can be beneficial to both ordinary gamblers and individuals who are struggling with gambling harm. Some campaigners whose work is centred around the addressing of problem gambling do not have confidence in the technology’s potential, however. Gambling with Lives co-founder Charles Ritchie outright dismissed the notion that AI could be used to address problem gambling and deemed it a mere “smokescreen.” He continued, claiming that there is proof that AI algorithms are not utilised that way.
Another individual who talked with the BBC about AI was the CEO of GambleAware, Zoë Osmond. She did not completely write off artificial intelligence, but she did stress that claims of AI’s use should be “carefully offset and managed” in order to guarantee the technology’s positive impact on the prevention of problem gambling.
- Author
Daniel Williams
