Advanced technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence are no longer something that can only be seen in sci-fi movies. Today, new and revolutionary tech is becoming a part of our everyday life.

It’s no longer just reserved for advanced fields like robotics and space research. Groundbreaking tech helps us search the internet, organize our day, and even play our favorite games of chance. And, for all we know, Skynet as we imagine it may be born from some random iGaming software.

Smart Data

To offer their players better deals and tailor their platforms to the players’ needs, iGaming services collect player data. They also use that information to offer personalized advertisements. In almost every online industry, data is an invaluable resource.

Not to stay behind, iGaming industry leaders are investing in artificial intelligence to analyze the collected data. AI can give predictions based on trends and patterns. The problem is that some unscrupulous casinos may start using advanced tech to keep people hooked.

Some operators may be able to use personal data to create tailored content that is enticing to a certain player, or type of player. Nowadays, people usually unwittingly give consent to the use of their personal data.

However, with the advent of new and sophisticated data analysis technology, people will have to learn how to control their personal data better in order to avoid falling victim to such predatory practices.

Improved Customer Service

Many online casinos use chatbots to cut costs on conversions and customer service. But, many players and site visitors find chatbots to be annoying as they often give incoherent answers and are sometimes difficult to interact with.

When a chatbot says something along the lines of “instructions unclear,” you know you’re not dealing with a real person, and that can deter you from signing up. To battle that problem, iGaming operators are starting to use AI as a replacement for unresponsive bots.

In fact, 78% of companies are planning to use AI to improve customer service, according to a recent study by Oracle. This is where player data comes into play again. AI bots can use collected player data to provide logical and personalized answers to consumers.

New Games

Artificial intelligence isn’t the only novelty in the tech and gaming world. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are already changing the gaming landscape as a whole. AR is the tech that superimposes text, images, animations, sounds, and other data on the world we see. Pokémon GO is perhaps the world’s most famous AR game.

Online casinos have always been on the brink of innovation, so we can expect to see even more new slot games and card games in the future. In fact, we may even see brand new games of chance that can only work in the AR and VR realm.

The wheels are already in motion. Augmented Reality, Inc. has partnered up with Google and other developers to create a 360° camera that can pan an entire casino. The process will overlay virtual images over what a player can already see in their environment. By pairing AR and iGaming, casino software may one day be able to turn your entire room into one giant slot machine and thus create an unprecedented game of chance.

Cheating Prevention

As established earlier, new technology can also usher new types of unscrupulous activities. Some players may start using AI bots to cheat in online games of chance. Since AI is basically a very advanced calculating machine, players might start using it to ensure the odds are always in their favor.

A well-equipped cheater with no remorse can ruin the fun for everyone—on top of causing damage to casino operators. So, to battle cheaters, operators will likely employ AI to detect and neutralize malicious and fraudulent behavior. We may be faced with a new, endless cat-and-mouse game in the casino world.

Compared to brick and mortar casinos, online casinos are already at a disadvantage when it comes to security. In an online casino, there is no well-trained staff that can detect and kick out players who “count cards.”

Identifying Gambling Addicts

Despite what outsiders may think, gambling addicts are bad news for reputable casino establishments. Gambling addiction promotes a bad stereotype and a negative image of the industry. No casino wants to be associated with gambling addiction, so most big and successful online casinos are doing something to battle gambling addiction.

Most casinos don’t hesitate to ban gambling addicts for life. However, identifying gambling addicts online is no easy task. But, with the help of artificial intelligence, online casinos may be able to detect and prevent early addiction. They could start using AI to suspend accounts of players who exhibit behavior typical of a gambling addict.

We can already see something like that in the world of iGaming. BetBuddy, for instance, uses AI to identify high-risk players as well as capture players’ digital footprints. To spot irresponsible gambling behavior, BetBuddy uses neural networks and forest algorithms. Once the platform identifies risky behavior, it notifies both the player and the operator.

Libratus: The AI That Won at Poker

When IBM’s AI computer Deep Blue beat chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in 1997, people were awestruck. The next big AI breakthrough in gaming came when Google AlphaGo beat Lee Sedol at Go. Lee Sedol holds 18 world titles in Go.

But, perhaps the biggest breakthrough happened when an AI computer called Libratus won $1.5 million from the world’s top poker players in 2017. This was a huge step as people believe poker isn’t just about odds and numbers. Most players believe that the human element is crucial.

So, was the robot able to read players’ faces and analyze their weaknesses? Well, sort of. The AI computer had spent days analyzing the mistakes of its human opponents and used that data to beat them.

Conclusion

It’s hard to say whether advanced tech will change iGaming for better or for the worse. However, it’s clear that casino operators will continue to take advantage of technological innovations. How exactly will it affect the gaming experience of the players, we are yet to see.