Over 40% of the US stock market’s value is now tied to companies directly involved in AI. It’s an incredible figure – representing trillions of dollars – not just for its size, but for the rapidity with which it has taken hold. It does not, however, reflect revenues and profits of AI companies. It is rather a bet on the future: That sooner or later every business will rely on AI.
We can, of course, point to some industries that will naturally be disrupted by AI – software development, for example. But what about some niche sectors? A good example is the iGaming sector, i.e., online casino gaming. It is likely that AI will touch some areas of the sector, but there are also some areas where it, perhaps surprisingly, won’t. Below, we lay out some of the more likely areas where AI could have an impact and where it is unlikely.
Personalization Is the Key
Online casinos will currently use algorithms to make recommendations about games, but AI could take things to a new level, learning more about your playing style and tastes. Top casino sites, like DraftKings Casino, can have 100s, even 1000s, of games, so a recommendation engine that knows what you like and what you don’t feels like a no-brainer.
Gaining an Edge with AI Will Be Limited
It is unlikely that AI will be used to predict outcomes at casinos. Games are based on random outcomes using sophisticated RNGs, so AI will be as much use as using it to predict lottery numbers. However, it is conceivable that AI could be used for strategy advice in live dealer casino games like blackjack.
AI Can Combat Fraud and Money Laundering
Licensed casinos must put considerable effort into detecting criminal activity, especially in areas such as money laundering. AI should be able to help to detect suspicious patterns, flagging accounts that are likely to be engaged in criminal activity. Of course, it is important that the casinos are not over-reliant on AI. We have seen with YouTube, for example, that using AI as a moderator can cause a backlash.
Verification Could Be Made Easier
While AI being used to flag illicit behaviors is a boon for casino operators, it should also be a win for players, allowing them to pass security checks a bit more seamlessly. Again, it is important that some form of human mediation be used when genuine accounts are flagged for no good reason.
AI Will Help with Game Development
The broader gaming sector is going to use AI to build games – that’s abundantly clear. It doesn’t mean that every game will be vibe coded, but a lot of the human labor could be replaced by AI. Creating a casino game is much the same process as building a video game, so it’s understandable that major iGaming studios will use AI in their workflows. The main question, though, is whether AI will improve the quality of the games.
AI Is Unlikely to Appear at the Live Tables
One of the main attractions of online casinos right now is the chance to play with real croupiers – will they be replaced by AI avatars? It is unlikely, according to Evolution Gaming, which is behind many of the live dealer games globally. The company claims that players want the authenticity of playing with other humans.
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