AI Set To Help Prevent Problem Gambling

Artificial Intelligence quickly found a home in the gaming industry, enabling developers to create more realistic situations and keep players engaged for longer periods of time. It has also been used to improve profits for gambling providers by targeting their services when the player is mostly likely to partake. Now, machine learning is being used to both analyze player behavior to help uncover risky gaming patterns and to alert the player to help avoid negative consequences of gambling before they cause problems.

Norsk Tipping, Norway’s state-owned gambling company, partnered with Playscan, a behavioral analysis tool, to help track and prevent problem gambling. Playscan developed their AI model by comparing player questionnaires with player data to help the machine uncover risky behaviors as they happen. Just like large companies such as Walmart, Netflix and more collect customer data and apply AI to better understand their needs, Playscan uses customer data to ensure healthy gambling habits. 

By tracking such metrics as games played, time spent playing, winnings, limits and break times, the AI model is able to compare this activity to similar users, and understand when behavior changes from fun gaming to risk-filled behavior and alert the user and suggest preventive measures. This is no simple task, as the same behavior by one person can result in a different outcome for another user. 

Proactive Calls Help Reduce Problems

As a direct result of the new program, Norsk Tipping reached out to 300 customers that had lost money at their online casino in order to try and help proactively right risky behavior. These calls, directed by the deep learning model created by Playscan, were effectively in helping customers reduce risky behaviors and improve the customer relationship.