The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Online Gambling
Posted by Harry Kane on Friday, March 31, 2017
By its very nature, technology is enduringly progressive and constantly seeking out new ways of affecting the modern world. Although the impact of this is largely positive, however, there remain concerns that we are becoming overly reliant on technology as it continues to threaten the omnipotence of nature.
The online gambling and casino market captures this in microcosm, as while it continues to benefit from the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) it is fast approaching the point where it is becoming dominant. The questions that remain are how does AI shape the current, online casino experience, and how will it evolve further in the future?
AI in Online Casinos: A Gradual Influence
Make no mistake; the use of AI in online gambling and casino gameplay has been prevalent for years. What has changed, however, is the application of this technology, which has become increasingly sophisticated with every passing year.
In many ways, the modern face of AI is embodied by the presence of live dealers (or croupiers), who have the capacity to interact with players in real-time while being underpinned by random number generating algorithms. These dealers have helped to replicate bricks-and-mortar gameplay in the virtual realm, creating an immersive and authentic gambling experience within the comfort of your own home.
This has also helped to create increasingly well-paced gaming patterns across disciplines like roulette, where players now enjoy a consistent average of two spins per minute.
How Has AI Been Embraced by Players?
As we can see, there is a definitive balance in terms of how casino operators have leveraged AI, with the technology used to create a fair, authentic and ultimately interactive experience for players. The same sense of balance is noticeable by its absence when AI is utilised by players, however, so of whom have looked to create bots and algorithms that can be applied to eliminate human error and gain an unfair advantage over their rivals.
This was explored further by research conducted at the University of Alberta last year, which led to the creation of a poker-playing bot that was almost unbeatable at Texas Hold ’em poker formats. We say almost unbeatable, as while it is possible for such AI-inspired creations to lose individual hands, they are designed to win far more than they lose during the course of gameplay. This is a dangerous scenario for operators, and one that will be used by many to highlight the risks of AI when it is applied to online gameplay.
The Future for AI and Casino Gaming
As we can see, AI is becoming an increasingly influential tool for both online casino operators and players. The issue is that this technology is being leveraged in very different ways, as while the former are attempting to enhance the fairness and the authenticity of their games that latter are striving to gain an unfair advantage over the house and rival players. This makes for an uncomfortable imbalance, and one that could become more troubling over time.
For now, it is fair to surmise that the impact of AI has been largely positive, particularly in helping to bridge the gap between bricks-and-mortar casinos and online gameplay. In the future, however, operators will need to monitor the continued impact of AI and its accessibility to players, as the challenge of creating a fair and welcoming environment becomes increasingly pressing.