New York Moves to Restrict AI-Powered Gambling Promotions

[m0nica.just]

Sounds good in theory, but I wonder how it would actually be enforced, since it's hard to check what a sportsbook's AI does behind the scenes. Also, who decides what counts as "signs of problematic behavior"? Too loose and it won't catch much, too strict and regular players get flagged for no reason.

[Webutxo]

Such AI related changes in the gambling industry will definitely have a positive impact. Because using AI, it is possible to not only analyze the habits of players but also identify their symptoms. How they become addicted, in what situations they repeatedly deposit and try to recover losses, these things will be known very easily. As a result the gambling industry will be able to completely control the mentality of gamblers. Its impact will also have a positive impact on other gambling industries in the world. Especially when gamblers do not want their casino AI to be integrated and used for research on their usage they will try to avoid those sites. Therefore this step will not only have a positive impact on any particular casino but also on other popular casino sites in the world.

What's symptoms? When did gambling turned to medical analysis to see symptoms. Do you mean if a gambler deposit $10k and lose everything, the casino will be like "hey, your time is up, come back the next day or come and play next week". If you are the gambler that loss and all of a sudden you were told to come back another time, are you going to be happy about the decision, it's not fair even the casino are going to lose money.

Most casino have self deactivating button where you can isolate your self from gambling. It's better that way and a win for both casino and the gamblers. If casino begins to restrict addicted gamblers, they are going to lose plenty clients.

[mirakal]

Sounds good in theory, but I wonder how it would actually be enforced, since it's hard to check what a sportsbook's AI does behind the scenes. Also, who decides what counts as "signs of problematic behavior"? Too loose and it won't catch much, too strict and regular players get flagged for no reason.

There will be guidelines for this, because regulators would not just make it a rule if they cannot monitor compliance. If they require sportsbooks to use AI to track problematic gamblers then I believe regulators will also have AI systems to check whether the sportsbooks are complying with this specific rule.

[Curious T]

Will it be efficient though? Without using AI, they can use bots that collect the data of players if they want to target users. Well, it's good to keep the gambling companies in check, but the best way to reduce gambling problems or addiction lies with the players. As long as gambling is legal, there will always be people who gamble on it, no matter how regulated the companies are. So it's left for the players to always check themselves and try not to get addicted.

It would be good if online casinos actually follow what is said in the article. If they don't use AI to target gamblers, but instead use it to regulate people who are addicted or getting addicted. It's difficult to see how a company that is in it to make profit will restrict a person that is giving them money.

[danherbias07]

This is good. I bet many big sportsbook companies won't like the idea, but it is for the protection of the gamblers.

They will be against it, but it's actually a good way to minimize gambling addiction. I mean, the number of gamblers is already too high, and it's the norm now. It's best if ideas against urging a gambler to play more due to promotions and bonuses can be stopped, and instead invite them to use options like self-exclusion or other settings like daily limits or budgets.
I believe many gamblers still don't know that there are such options to minimize their gambling habits, and it should be the ones that are promoted.

[Davidvictorson]

from the website: One of the new rules would effectively adopt guidelines that New Jersey already uses, requiring sportsbooks to follow specific thresholds to identify at-risk bettors. The company would then be mandated to check in with those users. Another rule would bar companies from using artificial intelligence to customize bonuses or wagers.
https://www.propublica.org/article/new-york-gaming-commission-sports-betting-regulation

I like this. This is exactly my stand especially with countries that outrightly ban casinos without know that, that is not the problem at all. I am an advocate for stricter gambling regulations because I believe a complete ban is not the solution to gambling problem.
Secondly, with the bar on the use of AI, well before AI there was data science which pretty does the same thing in analyzing customer's behaviors for targeted marketing and advertising purposes

[Dr.Bitcoin_Strange]

Instead, they want sportsbooks to take a responsible approach and that is when if AI detects signs of problematic gambling behavior, rather than sending more offers, sportsbooks should take appropriate action to help protect those players.

Left alone with gambling and betting sites, they even want to have more customers gambling repeatedly and they would be comfortable with using AI to their advantage to target customers they perceived as dedicated to gambling. So, this restriction would really be to the advantage of gamblers and not to the bookies and I think it's a good one since it's being done for the aim of protecting some customers who would easily be addicted.

[Peanutswar]

I used to be a data analyst before and its part of my job to check the range of the particular people with particular target and of course with the use of the AI right now its more easier to understand and analyze the data set if you wanted to check the players hobbies and activities so for me its an edge if you are into part of the marketing you have a specific target audience which can boost your sales. If ever NY wanted to pursue that restriction, I guess it's a good matter because it's for the safety of the players too to avoid getting addiction, nowdays its getting worst so its a must to at least lessen or to have a player protection.

[I_Anime]

I find this a good move by the government, with the growing popularity of AI now, the data it collects can easily be used against people or for the benefit of a certain business. In the gambling industry, if sportsbooks use AI on their platforms to analyze gamblers' behavior, they will understand their betting habits and know exactly who to target with personalized offers. But the New York State Gaming Commission seems to recognize this risk, which is why they are proposing restrictions on the use of AI for targeted gambling promotions. Instead, they want sportsbooks to take a responsible approach and that is when if AI detects signs of problematic gambling behavior, rather than sending more offers, sportsbooks should take appropriate action to help protect those players.

I see this as a good development, as instead of encouraging people to gamble even when there are signs of addiction, this approach could help address problem gambling.

But these regulations have not been finalized yet, I hope they will push through.

This is actually a good one . They should put such regulations in motion , this will definitely help to protect gamblers, especially those who are developing a gambling addiction or are already addicted. Using  AI tools to analyze gamblers’ behavior can be problematic because operators could easily use the data to find more ways to lure players in and keep them hooked, regardless of whether they’re addicted or not. Because players well being should be a top priority, because is clear that many sportsbook company won’t like the idea . But still it’s the right action to take .

[sompitonov]

I used to be a data analyst before and its part of my job to check the range of the particular people with particular target and of course with the use of the AI right now its more easier to understand and analyze the data set if you wanted to check the players hobbies and activities so for me its an edge if you are into part of the marketing you have a specific target audience which can boost your sales. If ever NY wanted to pursue that restriction, I guess it's a good matter because it's for the safety of the players too to avoid getting addiction, nowdays its getting worst so its a must to at least lessen or to have a player protection.

I think this will affect more than just the use of AI in gambling advertising we will likely see lists of specific cities and countries where using AI for this purpose is prohibited. Of course, AI allows for the creation of all sorts of videos and text content that can take sales to a new level. However, if one casino is unable to use this technology while others can, the latter will gain a significant advantage and rapidly outpace the former in terms of user acquisition so this is something to watch closely. As a user, I don't really warm to AI-generated ads right now, though perhaps they will improve significantly in the future.

[TedMosby]

To be fair, they are just like other businesses that want to maximize their profits by optimizing their marketing using data analytics. The difference is that they are trying to do it automatically using AI, and most importantly, this involves people's addiction.

I think AI also can't differentiate between gamblers who are addicted and those who aren't. If it's all based on logic and algorithms, I doubt that it would be accurate. An increase in gambling frequency doesn't automatically indicate an addiction. Steady, normal behavior can also be judged as healthy gambling. However, prevention is never wrong. The regulator just needs a better approach rather than flagging players based on their deposits. Because low roller gambling addicts may still be able to play.

[TheUltraElite]

I have doubt whether they will actually help in anything because it seems to me that they are using AI as a buzzword to promote the fact that the government is trying to restrict gambling, the latter being a topic that the voters want and the former does not actually want to stop it because of the returns that the government keeps on getting from casinos.

Like if they want to restrict based on playing habits, algorithms for tracking user activity have existed since a long time now. They dont need a separate AI for that. However this might sell nicely to the bamboozled voters who vote like its their football team.

AI based methods to market a casino will not stop so easily. They will just find another place or another mode to advertise.

[fredericktaylor]

I think it is undoubtedly a good initiative, if this process is effective, it will save gamblers from the terrible destruction of gambling. Over time, the powerful impact of AI is being seen everywhere, those gamblers who are unable to control their gambling despite repeatedly facing financial losses through gambling, AI will basically identify them by looking at their gambling behavior so that the casino does not encourage those gamblers to bet more, so that the gambler does not suffer from terrible destruction. This is truly a good initiative.

[Lida93]

I consider it an appropriate consumer protection initiative which is targeted at helping people with gambling addiction which is already an existing problem that is fast growing.
If the idea by the casinos for engaging AI is for the collection of data to analyse certain information about gambling and it's effect on the customers, that wouldn't have being a wrong approach because it would help the regulatory body to gather critical information on how to curb the menace of gambling addiction in the society but here the casino are just being creative in another way for increasing business.

[X-ray]

Will it be efficient though? Without using AI, they can use bots that collect the data of players if they want to target users. Well, it's good to keep the gambling companies in check, but the best way to reduce gambling problems or addiction lies with the players. As long as gambling is legal, there will always be people who gamble on it, no matter how regulated the companies are. So it's left for the players to always check themselves and try not to get addicted.

It would be good if online casinos actually follow what is said in the article. If they don't use AI to target gamblers, but instead use it to regulate people who are addicted or getting addicted. It's difficult to see how a company that is in it to make profit will restrict a person that is giving them money.

If the sportsbook don't comply with the regulation owned by the state. They can be banned from there as the least escalation, which is potentially losing all of their gamblers to their competitors that is fully complying with the regulation.

The fact AI marketing ban is not the only key point introduced by Hochul on his draft. Hochul is also introducing so many points related to the gambling control and you can read what i published below.



NY is trying to fully tightening the regulation in their state. Any gambling platform that doesn't wanna comply with them will be going through some escalations, which will be ended in getting permanent ban.

[JunaidAzizi]

AI is in some places, doing a good job of making the workload of people easier, but sometimes this AI can create a lot of problems for mankind, like in its use in the gambling industry. The use of AI should be in favor of users to protect them and make them profitable, but it often targets users and causes them to lose more. If this regulation is passed, then I would say it's the best feature for users who are losing more. I have seen some countries that are taking steps against casinos, and that's the best part where states are now serious about their citizens, their wealth, and mental health..

[Hatchy]

Such AI related changes in the gambling industry will definitely have a positive impact. Because using AI, it is possible to not only analyze the habits of players but also identify their symptoms. How they become addicted, in what situations they repeatedly deposit and try to recover losses, these things will be known very easily. As a result the gambling industry will be able to completely control the mentality of gamblers. Its impact will also have a positive impact on other gambling industries in the world. Especially when gamblers do not want their casino AI to be integrated and used for research on their usage they will try to avoid those sites. Therefore this step will not only have a positive impact on any particular casino but also on other popular casino sites in the world.

It will depend on how the casino chooses to use AI. If they use it to monitor players' habits and identify behaviours that could lead to gambling addiction, then it would be a good approach. But, I don't think most casinos are really concerned about these things. They are happy to see players spending more time on their platforms because that is how they make their profits. Instead, they might use AI to their own advantage by finding ways to keep gamblers playing for as long as possible. If proper regulations are introduced to prevent this, it would be a good step. I think governments should enforce more of these regulations on casinos to protect players and promote responsible gambling.

[bangjoe]

This concern is understandable, that if a company or casino has a diagnosis of a problem player and makes them a target for even more profit, we honestly realize that the casino benefits from the defeat of its players, this is what is feared, plus the state is experiencing a growth of gambling addiction in the community.

Instead of companies making a profit in this way, they are required to find ways to get players in their casinos to gamble responsibly, AI can find the data and behavior of problem gamblers, and this is really a policy that keeps players from being impulsive, but will casinos agree? I think this becomes a dilemma for casino entrepreneurs, but if implemented this would be great, although there are certainly many users who ignore the warnings, (when emotions turn a deaf ear and resourcefulness).

[Ishicryptic]

This is a nice move AI gambling promotion have flooded our social media space lately and I was thinking this can only happen in my country because of the lack of media control.

Now that even New York faces the same challenge of unregulated Gambling promotion via the use of AI-generated content is a pointer that this is a global wave.

New developments really need new laws and restrictions, so for me this is a welcome development.

Ofcourse this is a welcome development for the government to protect the interest of gamblers so they don't get carried away by AI fancy advertisements and casinos using AI to analyze the weak points of gamblers to get them to engage more. AI is solving a lot of real problems and giving fast and effective solutions but it can also be used for exploitation, I see too many AI generated contents online that are too much for my liking. Except there are very strict regulations I don't think that casinos would like to totally oblige to policies that would make them to lose money because if we tell ourselves the truth casinos makes profit turnovers when a lot of gamblers are losing.

[Hispo]

The question is whether sportsbooks would really develop AI to detect the gambling behavior of their customers and stop them from gambling.

Because it doesn't make sense, you are running a business to make a profit, and your main source of income comes from people gambling, so when you see people gambling who could potentially increase your revenue and you decide to stop them.. this seems contradictory to their business goals. 

It does not make sense, indeed. Unless they are forced by those same regulators to implement such AI detection of gambling addiction on their ecosystem.

It would be similar to those pop-ups about responsible gambling and also features of self-exclusion, in reality those are also measures which do not directly benefit the profits of casinos at all, but are measures which were signed into law by regulators and governments around the world.

Now that we have access to AI, it makes sense regulators will try to regulate it's use in all facets of life, gambling included.