Massachusetts Gaming Commission to Research iGaming & AI

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission wants to explore the ways in which technology and artificial intelligence can change the gambling industry’s future. The regulator is seeking bids for research into the matter.

The MGC’s Gaming Policy Advisory Council just filed two research priorities that highlight certain concerns for the industry’s future in Massachusetts. One of the requests for a study would onboard a third-party organization to conduct a probe into the effects of online casino gaming on public health, potential links to gambling harm and iGaming’s impact on younger players.

The other request seeks to explore the ways in which AI can enhance the state’s gambling industry and bolster operators’ marketing and player acquisition efforts. The commission is also interested in AI’s potential to uphold the state’s responsible gambling policies and protect players from harm.  

The two studies are budgeted for $75,000 and are set to be smaller-scale projects than other recent studies.

MGC Wants to Understand How iGaming and AI Can Change the Industry

The requests come amid rapid growth within Massachusetts’ gambling sector and concerns about potential adverse effects. While Massachusetts is yet to legalize iGaming, the regulator hopes to evaluate the sector preemptively.  

While online gaming has firmly cemented itself as the fastest-growing gambling vertical, very few states allow players to gamble online legally. The chief reason for the slow progress is concerns about online gambling’s addictive nature, which is tied to the vertical’s accessibility. Young people in particular are believed to be very vulnerable to readily available gambling products.

The AI study, on the other hand, would examine the opportunities to leverage technology in dealing with problem gambling. The bid document points out that, according to experts, AI is “not good or evil itself,” but rather a tool that, if used correctly, can benefit users. However, the document acknowledged that a thorough consideration of ethical issues would be critical while considering the adoption of AI-based tech for gambling-related purposes.