Artificial Intelligence: The future guardian of responsible gaming
In the digital age of online gambling, artificial intelligence has become the industry’s best shot at harm reduction. Capable of spotting early signs of addiction through nuanced behavioural patterns, AI systems can intervene long before things spiral. From analysing betting frequency to flagging erratic deposit behaviour, AI is transforming how gambling harm is managed.
But as this technological promise gains momentum, a dilemma emerges: the harder it becomes to gamble legally, the more players are pushed into the shadows of the black market, where AI safety nets vanish and risk multiplies.
AI’s early-warning power
Modern AI models can process thousands of data points in milliseconds, detecting patterns that escape even seasoned analysts. Unlike blunt tools like blanket deposit limits, AI looks at context: is this a one-off splurge or a sustained pattern of risk?
Research has shown that problem gamblers exhibit certain behaviours; frequent deposits, erratic bet sizing, long sessions, and AI is particularly adept at picking these up. found that machine learning algorithms could predict self-reported problem gambling with impressive accuracy based solely on user activity.
Some companies are now taking it further. Yaspa, for example, is integrating open banking with AI to catch signs of trouble before a player even makes a deposit. Their system analyses verified financial data (with user consent) in real-time, flagging behaviours like overdraft use or deposit chasing, giving operators a clearer view of a player’s overall financial health across platforms.
Personalised, real-time support
Gone are the days of generic “gamble responsibly” banners. Artificial intelligence can now initiate personalised interventions that respond to a player’s unique behaviour. Whether it’s a chatbot encouraging a break or a temporary session cap, according to an , these nudges have shown to be up to twenty times more effective than traditional tools.
In the Netherlands, regulation requires that operators contact at-risk players within an hour of detection. AI-powered systems can make this happen automatically, tailoring messages to resonate with the individual without disrupting their experience. It’s harm reduction with a human(ish) touch.
What happens when artificial intelligence works too well?
Now, here’s where things get complicated.
AI may be great at spotting problems, but if paired with overly strict rules, it can backfire. 바카라ers who feel micromanaged by deposit caps or surveillance tools may simply go elsewhere. And “elsewhere” often means unlicensed offshore sites, where consumer protections are virtually non-existent.
Across Europe, this pattern is already playing out:
- Belgium saw players migrate after deposit limits were slashed from 500 to 200/week in 2022. High-stakes gamblers and poker pros openly discussed relocating or switching to offshore platforms to avoid red tape.
- Sweden’s 2025 cap of SEK 4,000/week triggered a spike in multi-account behaviour, with users spreading their activity across offshore sites to stay under the radar.
- The Netherlands introduced a 700 monthly deposit cap in 2023. By March 2025, traffic to illegal gambling sites had surged 139%. 바카라ers googled terms like “바카라 without Cruks” (the national exclusion register), seeking unrestricted play.
These sites offer higher deposit limits, aggressive promotions, and anonymity. More importantly, they offer a frictionless experience, something that overly restrictive, regulated environments struggle to match.
What players lose offshore
It’s not just the safety nets they leave behind. Unlicensed platforms typically bypass AI-based monitoring, allowing compulsive behaviour to escalate unchecked. Dispute resolution is rare, RTP rates are often manipulated, and withdrawal delays are the norm. Studies show players on black-market sites lose more money and experience greater financial harm.
Still, the appeal is clear: offshore platforms feel freer, and in a market obsessed with speed and autonomy, that freedom is currency.
Finding the middle ground
The challenge for regulators isn’t just to protect; it’s to protect without pushing people away. That means using AI not to impose universal limits but to tailor restrictions based on each user’s risk profile.
Emerging strategies include dynamic deposit limits informed by real-time financial data via open banking, cross-operator risk scoring allowing licensed platforms to share behaviour flags without breaching privacy, and affordability passports, which enable verified high-stakes players to maintain limits across multiple legal sites, cutting off the need to “go rogue” for bigger bets.
These innovations point to a smarter kind of regulation: one where artificial intelligence doesn’t stifle play but makes it safer without exacerbating the side effect of black-market migration.
A fragile balancing act
Artificial Intelligence is, without doubt, a powerful tool for reducing gambling harm. But in an interconnected world, where a frustrated player can shift to a Curacao-licensed site in seconds, harm reduction can’t exist in a vacuum. If regulation becomes synonymous with restriction, the market simply moves elsewhere.
The future of safe gambling isn’t just about better tech; it’s about designing systems that protect against pushing. Because when AI is balanced with freedom, trust wins. But if it tips too far into control, the industry may end up chasing players into the very places they were trying to protect them from.
But what if there was nowhere else for them to go?
Join SiGMA News for the next instalment, where I ask AI platforms how they would kill the offshore gambling industry if they made the rules.
