Machine Learning’s Impact On Casino Games
Entertainment, Gambling
Are you ready for the robot revolution? Machine learning is here, and Artificial Intelligence is going to change everything.
Machine learning refers to computers’ ability to learn and train themselves. They become aware of new information and are able to apply it in new ways. All of it not included in the original programming they received. Its impact on the world of online real money casino games is already significant. And it is assuredly set to become even more so!
This kind of Artificial Intelligence is becoming more of an everyday experience. Many of us rely on navigation apps to get where we’re headed these days and rideshares like Uber are another good example of it. 3D photography is another way we use it, as is facial recognition software. And Smart Assistants like Alexa prove how ML is making us more efficient.
One of the industries that have most benefited from ML is entertainment. Millions of dollars have been invested in this technology to develop films, songs, theme park rides, and new games. As well as creating original titles, ML has also vastly improved existing casino games. It has a lot to offer in this sector specifically. In fact, it may hold the key to its continued growth.
Let’s learn a little more about it!
AI and ML in Popular Culture
Originally released in 2016, HBO’s Westworld explores the concept of a Western-themed amusement park set in the future. Visitors here interact with automatons programmed to follow specific scripts. The series explores the ramifications of these bots integrating ML and doing their own thing.
Then there’s the Netflix series Altered Cabon. This storyline also unfolds in a cyberpunk future in a hotel run by a single AI entity. Consciousness is now digitized and stored, and we follow a prisoner released back into the real world tasked with solving a murder.
These shows focus on the negative aspects of AI and ML for dramatic effect, and it works! Many people dread living in a world run by machines for obvious reasons. Computers aren’t held to any sort of moral code or ethical rules, and this can have disastrous effects. But if their new ability to integrate ML is properly harnessed it could mean better things for everyone.
There is no doubt that, if ML is applied in a proper context, things can vastly improve. One simply has to look at spam filters and media recommendations to see this. And what industry is more suited to take advantage of the pros of ML than the iGaming one?
Online casino games are already benefiting from it.
Machine Learning & Online Casinos
The gambling industry in 2021 is a very complex one. It relies heavily on digital technology already. The slot machine is a prime example of this. These mainstays of the casino world account for almost 90% of all revenue. And did you know they use algorithms to ensure fair game outcomes for players? Random Number Generator software has replaced mechanical calculators to decide game outcomes.
And ML is spreading out to other areas, including customer relations, marketing, and security. These sectors are all beginning to require digital technologies like AI and ML to function as they should. Everything has gone digital.
If you’re not playing casino games at an online casino, you’re doing it using a dedicated mobile app. Bettors are turning to internet-based bookmakers. And live gambling portals are exploding in popularity.
The rapid evolution of AI and ML technology underpins the iGaming industry. Let’s turn away from the dark futures warned about in Altered Carbon and Westworld for a minute. There are so many positive outcomes to focus on instead!
Enhanced Gameplay
Netflix already uses AI to suggest movies and shows you’ve never seen based on the ones you have. And many of us have found a new favourite casino game this way. Online casinos can do something very similar. The games you focus on when you’re logged in to your player account can be used to analyze your behaviour. And not in a negative way, but to create customized suggestions about what you should play next.
In the future, we could see entire systems devoted to this tied to higher-level memberships for maximum efficiency.
Improved Marketing
Just like any other business, online casinos need constant promotion. This is to not just keep their current player base, but also to expand it. How do you keep an online casino’s virtual doors open? By attracting new players and encouraging them to keep returning!
Analyzing consumer big data can also make a world of difference. AI plays a large role in locating potential casino game customers. And it is then being used to create the kind of customized bonuses that attract them. And it’s sure to only get bigger and better as we move forward.
Elevated Player Protection
The security systems at online casinos’ payment gateways is a justified concern. When you’re making internet-based transactions, hackers and viruses become a significant threat. But, with AI and ML tools, operators can detect and flag possibly fraudulent transactions. And reporting them to the relevant authorities enhances security as a whole.
As it currently stands, many operators already use third-party fraud detection tools. And as numbers increase, ML is changing the way online safety is both instituted and perceived.
Better Game Opponents
Casino games like 5-Card Draw, 7-Card Stud, Blackjack, Omaha, and Texas Hold’em are fun because they offer a different type of challenge to slots and Roulette. Researchers are using Machine Learning to improve games.
ML ensures they play out differently each time. This means that online casinos can bring out more exciting games all the time. Each one tailored to a particular level of human ability, for instance.
Levelling the Playing Field
Online casinos need safeguarding from unscrupulous players and vice versa. And the same data analysis and ML abilities AI uses to reward and protect players can be used to root out cheats.
Online casinos don’t have the same abilities to monitor players as land-based venues do. The CCTV cameras and security staff at brick-and-mortar settings aren’t viable when applied to online casino games. This means that a blind spot is created. It could see unprincipled players using reference probability programmes. Or even employing private AI bots to increase their advantage!
And players following the rules will also benefit when ML identifies cheating and eradicates it. It’s a challenge to outpace fraudulent AI, however. We are likely to see a continuation of the battle between hackers and operators that’s been the rule since the internet’s inception for some time still.
Compulsive Gambling Prevention
One of the main criticisms online sites offering real money casino games face is that they contribute to gambling addiction. In response, there’s been a rally around responsible gaming practices that all legitimate sites support and offer.
As things stand, players clicking on this section of the site can view a range of information. This includes how the online casino ensures no underage gambling takes place. Contact details for organizations that can help are also provided. And even self-assessment questionnaires are available. These can be used to identify potential problems. Players can use this to check their behaviour then opt to institute various tools to check their actions if necessary.
ML is also being used in this war against addictive gameplay. It analyzes players’ casino game habits and can quickly spot issues, sometimes long before they become dangerous. Data gets monitored for patterns indicating compulsive gambling. And when one is spotted, early intervention is possible.
Legitimate online casinos are in the business of entertaining players and protecting them at the same time. And this preservation is not always aimed at outsiders. In some cases, they need to be safeguarded against themselves. ML is a great tool for this.
A Better Experience All Round
The only gaming industry gets fairer, more individualized, and safe every year. And if we continue to enjoy technological advancement at the current rate, this will likely continue. Casino games featuring live dealers alone have been a massive step forward. It’s blurred the line between really being at a land-based casino and playing at home on your couch. Not too long ago, the reality of online Poker was games in 16-bit graphics. Today we can watch real croupiers dealing the cards.
But it’s not just a more immersive, realistic gameplay experience we’re getting. Machine learning will also affect individual game interfaces and improve user-friendliness. Operators will increasingly be able to ensure responsible gambling practices are being employed. And players can expect more personalized services, increased safety, and provable fairness.
The Future Looks Bright
The iGaming industry’s track record of embracing new technology is impressive. Comparing the quality of casino games even this year to last is proof of this. We’ve made quantum leaps since the 1990s and will continue to do so going forward. And if anyone is capable of winning the war against cheats, it’s online operators!
We are still in the very early stages of ML and AI adoption in the industry though. But we are already seeing huge advancements in the fields of fraud prevention, responsible gaming, and user experience. And things will keep developing. Players should be excited about the reality of gameplay that’s more personalized, safer, and 100% fair.
