Interview with Khoren Ispiryan

AI has become a buzzword, especially after the inception of ChatGPT. But it seems like ChatGPT’s copywriting skills are just the tip of the iceberg. What applications do you see AI having in the online casino industry?

It’s absolutely true that AI technologies have revolutionised our industry. The enhanced capabilities of modern AI mean that we’re pretty much living in a new era — one where AI handles routine tasks and we’re freed up to focus on strategy and creativity.

Thanks to AI, we’re going to reach previously unimaginable levels of development in several key areas. Here’s a quick overview:

• AI integration is boosting the security level of online casinos
• Safe and responsible gaming is becoming more active and powerful with the help of AI
• Online casino marketing is becoming more personalised and accurate.
• Everyday business processes are becoming more automated and transparent.

But this is only the beginning. I’m sure that AI has tremendous implications for the future of how online casinos will operate.

Based on your experience so far, in which fields does AI promise the best performance? Is AI ready for casinos to integrate immediately? If so, how?

In my opinion, the digital universe in general will be transformed and we’ll be able to see familiar things and technologies in a new light. No industry, and no part of modern life, will go untouched by AI.

And yes, online casinos can integrate AI immediately, using tech that’s already available to them. We can see plenty of opportunities to use AI:

• Personalised gaming experience. AI algorithms can analyse players’ behavior and preferences to offer personalised game recommendations, bonuses, and promotions tailored to individual players.
• Fraud detection. AI-powered systems can monitor player activity in real time, 24/7, helping them detect unusual patterns of behavior indicative of fraud.
• Optimised marketing. AI can analyse a vast amount of data to identify trends and customer segments, allowing online casinos to create more personalised and effective targeted marketing campaigns.
• Predictive analytics. AI can analyse data to predict player behavior, such as game preferences, spending habits, or potential gambling addiction risks.
• Customer support. AI-powered chatbots can rescue players at any time, answering common queries and providing support 24/7.
• Game development. AI can be used in game development to create more immersive gaming experiences, such as generating realistic graphics or developing adaptive gameplay mechanics.

How do the algorithms powering AI affect the targeting and effectiveness of online casino promotions, and what lessons can be learned from both successful and unsuccessful campaigns?

The algorithms powering AI have a significant impact on the targeting and effectiveness of online casino promotions. At each of the three main steps in a promotion strategy, AI can prove indispensable:

1. Audience segmentation: online casinos segment players by demographic data such as age, gender, and location, as well as by behavior such as size and frequency of deposits. They also segment players according to what they like to play. AI, of course, is what makes it possible to do all this.
2. Behavioral targeting: AI algorithms can identify patterns in player behavior, allowing online casinos to target promotions based on factors such as playing frequency, preferred games, and spending habits. By delivering promotions that align with individual player interests, casinos can increase engagement and conversions.
3. Real-time (live) optimization: AI algorithms can analyse campaign performance in real time, adjusting promotional strategies on the fly to optimise results. This dynamic approach allows online casinos to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and player behavior, maximising the effectiveness of their promotions.

And when it comes to success rates, while we all would prefer to run a successful marketing campaign, there’s a silver lining to the ones that don’t work out — the opportunity to learn and grow.

Most successful campaigns will have a few things in common. They’ll leverage behavioral targeting to deliver promotions that resonate with players on a personal level, fostering a stronger connection to the casino and building loyalty.

When that doesn’t work out, it’s time to take a step back and wonder why the campaign was unsuccessful. Maybe the targeted offers didn’t have the appeal you’d assumed they would, or the behavioral parameters you set were too wide or too narrow.

Overall, both successful and unsuccessful campaigns should be analysed in the aftermath. However they performed, there will be lessons you can learn and apply to the next one.

Another popular topic is the regulatory constraints on AI. As more and more countries regulate the online casinos, do you think they will also increase regulations on AI?

Sure, and these issues are already being discussed at different industrial events. I believe that some rules will be developed that will help to manage the AI revolution in the iGaming industry.

Regulatory constraints on AI may cover areas such as data privacy, algorithmic transparency, bias mitigation, accountability, and safety. For online casinos utilising AI, regulations may focus on aspects like fair gaming practices, responsible gambling measures, prevention of fraud and money laundering, and ensuring transparency in AI-driven decision-making processes.

Ultimately, effective regulation can help foster trust in AI systems and promote their responsible use for the benefit of both businesses and consumers.

What do you see as the biggest challenges of using AI in the industry? How do you think those will be overcome in the future?

I see several significant challenges associated with the use of AI in various industries, including the online casino sector. Some of the key challenges include:

• Data privacy and security — understanding where information comes from and how to use it is essential.
• Transparency — AI works as a “black box”. It makes it challenging to understand how decisions are made. A lack of transparency can undermine trust and accountability, especially when AI systems are used to make critical decisions.
• Ethical conditions — a lot of people see AI as a threat to their work and their life security. It will be important to sort out what is just a myth and what might be true.
• Regulatory compliance — the iGaming industry is very sensitive to regulations. Different jurisdictions have their own regulations, and, in my opinion, it will be very hard to create a single code of regulations.

How much further do you think AI can advance to be more helpful for the online casino operators? Do you think there will be a one-stop solution that will allow investors to build their online casinos and run on their own?

Now our industry is researching AI, implementing the first solutions and looking at the results. Undoubtedly, this is a breakthrough, but I believe that in a few years we will be talking about more complex developments and modifications of AI solutions in the gaming industry.

As for the possibility of a one-stop AI solution that allows investors to build and run their own online casinos independently, it’s an open question. I suppose it’s possible, but it’s a great challenge: to take regulations into account, to observe players’ behavior, to collect huge databases, to combine and adapt technologies etc. I think it would take a lot of effort and more than 1-2 years to create such a solution.

So until that happens, software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators have a lot of work to do 🙂

What is Slotegrator’s stance on AI? Have you started onboarding AI tools and solutions in your platform? What should the community expect from Slotegrator?

The Slotegrator team is very, very excited about exploring the possibilities of AI. In fact, we already analysed its capabilities and made the most of them when we released our new, updated turnkey platform. Here are just a few highlights of how we integrated AI:

• The Artificial BI module offers real-time data for informed decision-making. The module helps operators track the analytical data they need to improve their business strategy.
• The improved AI-driven KYC module allows operators to set what data is required during the registration phase, as well as what data needs to be verified and what data is considered risky for the casino.
• ChatGPT integration offers operators 24/7 business advice.

Since the beginning of 2024, we have been investigating various cases of AI and will be sharing our key findings and conclusions with the iGaming community.

I’ll keep the intrigue alive for now, but I can tell you that obviously there will be many more amazing discoveries to come!