BetGames tests AI presenters for their live titles
Gaming supplier BetGames has revealed that fewer than 30 percent of players noticed when human hosts were replaced with artificial intelligence replicas during a live game trial, according to new research released by the company.
The experiment involved introducing AI-generated avatars, designed as digital clones of real presenters, into one of BetGames’ live game shows over several days without informing players. The aim was to assess whether virtual hosts could replicate the role of traditional live dealers without affecting gameplay behaviour.
BetGames CEO Andreas Koeberl, who is also the founder of AI company Autonomous Minds, said the test of digitally generated live dealers had gone smoothly, and had given those in the industry food for thought.
AI has been building up a head of steam, but its implications in the live casino space remain largely untested,” he said.
“When it comes to AI presenters, we built it, it worked, and nobody cared. That raises the question of what we are actually working toward.
“The technology didn’t have a positive or negative effect on the player experience or product margins, and the cost of running an AI avatar 24/7 bears no significant advantage over employing human presenters.
“So, rather than trying to replace humans and simulating what already exists, focus should turn towards what AI can make possible that wasn’t before. That’s where the real value lies.”
Results showed that more than two-thirds of players did not realise the hosts were AI-generated. The company also reported no meaningful changes in key performance indicators such as session length, average stake size or number of bets placed.
Despite the technical success of the test, BetGames said the findings do not yet justify a full rollout of AI presenters. The company noted that operating AI hosts around the clock remains resource intensive, limiting any immediate cost advantage.
Technical challenges including speech realism, latency and lip synchronisation must also be resolved before the technology can be deployed widely.
Artificial Intelligence is already playing a major role in the online gambling industry, including with compliance, where it is used to monitor things like payments to gambling sites, identifying problematic bettors.
BetGames operates in regulated gambling markets including South Africa (BetGames sites in South Africa), the United Kingdom and Canada (including Ontario).
