Betting firms in Britain are installing Artificial Intelligence on gaming machines that can spot addictive behavior and switch off the games.
The Anonymous Player Awareness System tracks a player’s behavior
second by second, looking for evidence of bettors chasing losses, playing erratically, speeding up or spending too long on the machine. If the algorithm finds the player is taking too many risks, they are locked out of it for a “cooling off period” of at least 30 seconds while managers are alerted. Safer gambling warnings are immediately displayed on the machine’s screen to the customer.
The technology has been introduced by the newly-formed Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) in an attempt to head off mounting concerns over the growing number of gambling addicts, including thousands of children. Concerns also include the prospect of tougher legislation.
The device is first being introduced on machines in Britain’s 8.500 betting shops which include William Hill, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power but is seen as a potential model across the industry. Betting firms are also introducing a separate mandatory automatic alert which triggers when any player has spent 20 minutes on a machine forcing them to take a shorter 20 second “cooling off” period with staff also alerted.
Dr. Alan Smith, the bishop of St Albans, said it was a good first step but he questioned that 20 or 30 second breaks were sufficient and called for an independent academic review of its effectiveness.
“It is strange that industry chiefs are fighting any further regulation for their remote operations while at the same time trumpeting their efforts on the high street,” Smith told the Telegraph on November 18. “What we have seen so far, however, continues to put the onus of responsibility on the consumer and not on the industry that are then free to create and then promote addictive gambling products.”
But Wes Himes, BGC interim chief executive, said: “I see this as an opportunity to champion the highest standards and share best practice on safe betting and gaming and we hope these measures are a sign of intent. I’m convinced that this approach can help restore public trust and I look forward to working on further betting and gaming initiatives.”
Even if the responsibility were put solely on the bettor, a subsequent impact will certainly be felt in the lives of over-stretched, and often poorly paid, staff in bookies, Himes said.
“The algorithm racks a range of factors to determine when an individual is at risk of harm,” said a spokesman. “This includes erratic play, chasing losses, speed of play and time spent on the machine, therefore the alert and ‘cooling off’ period could be triggered at almost any time during play. It is specific to the individual playing the machine.”
