Although artificial intelligence (AI) has been around the broader gaming industry for years, there’s a lot of skepticism around the adoption. Among game developers, 1 in 3 people fear that their jobs are being compromised by AI. This is in light of the fact that now, upwards of 50% say their employers already deploy AI.
Although artificial intelligence (AI) has been around the broader gaming industry for years, there’s a lot of skepticism around the adoption.
Among game developers, 1 in 3 people fear that their jobs are being compromised by AI. This is in light of the fact that now, upwards of 50% say their employers already deploy AI. Similarly, players are still wary of AI in the gaming sector because of the perceived way that it can be used against them, essentially turning the odds against them. These worries are especially prevalent in iGaming circles, where there are higher stakes, such as real money on the line.
In reality, though, while AI’s use in gaming is still far from perfect, it’s actually more of a boon than a bust for gamblers, specifically. In the poker world, in particular, AI is proving to be a valuable asset that’s reshaping the landscape for the benefit of the players. Here’s how:
Streamlined gameplay for better accessibility
Poker is essentially open to anyone, but a significant barrier to entry is the lack of experience-based skills. Since poker is as much a game of strategy as it is of luck, players who have more years of practice typically dominate games and take home the pot. This is understandably discouraging for newer players who have the added pressure of losing money if they can’t keep up. Today, this is one such concern that poker operators are addressing with AI.
As explained in reports about the AI poker system Libratus, AI in the context of this card game uses an extreme model of trial and error to determine what moves will work best in a given situation. From here, the AI can respond accordingly, with less risk of failure. All this is done in a fraction of the time that it would take a human.
It’s this efficiency that online poker operator ACR Poker is utilizing to help players. Established in 2001, ACR Poker is now the country’s leading online poker site, renowned for its huge tourneys and exclusive promotions. This year, ACR Poker unveiled its new game, Poker Races, which allows players to choose AI “racers.” These racers will then represent the players for the first few rounds, facing off against other AI avatars until they start winning. At that point, the human player takes over, having already skipped through the tedious parts of the competition. As mentioned earlier, AI is able to make computations much faster, which is why the racers can hit their goal in as little as two minutes while also helping bridge any skills gap that may otherwise prevent players from moving forward. With this, poker simultaneously becomes more forgiving and convenient, making it more accessible and enjoyable for all players, including beginners.
Enhanced content localization
While poker is a global phenomenon, there has been a large-scale industry push to extend active engagement outside of Western countries. Currently, most online poker platforms and physical poker tournaments are typically dominated by countries like the US, UK, and Canada. This leaves a substantial market of players greatly untapped despite global gambling interest skyrocketing to the point that the worldwide poker industry is expected to be worth $300 billion by 2033.
Popular poker operators have started embracing localization efforts to capitalize on this interest better. To do so, many have begun holding tournaments outside of the usual hotspots. For instance, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) recently held its tournaments in the Bahamas. To also engage the even bigger pool of players who are unable to participate in these tourneys, other operators are turning to AI to help solve language barriers.
An example of this is how the World Poker Tournament (WPT) announced that they have just partnered with an AI dubbing company. Using the company’s program, up to 140 hours or around 184 episodes of the WPT will be translated into Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.
Unlike other AI translation efforts that only create captions, this marries machine learning with actual human translators. Consequently, the end products are more accurate and realistic, thereby creating a more engaging viewing experience. This will allow more players from non-English-speaking areas to better partake in mainstream poker content, which can then help them gain confidence in joining online and physical gaming opportunities.
More nuanced tools for responsible gambling
Considering that poker games often involve money, players face the very real risk of leaving a game with less cash or crypto than they came with. This risk is part and parcel of poker, which is why experienced players already have an established bankroll strategy. That said, AI solutions have recently emerged with the express focus of helping players in relation to their finances within the card game.
Traditionally, the gambling landscape’s responsible gaming efforts include enforcing age restrictions and offering guides that help players recognize when it’s time to fold. With AI, however, responsible gaming initiatives take a more proactive approach. For instance, the well-known poker entity PokerStars’ mother company, Flutter, has revealed that they use AI models to analyze players’ gaming patterns. This allows them to note details like spending habits and frequency of play, thereby allowing them to see if somebody is exhibiting problematic gaming behaviors. In the event that the algorithm does flag a player, the platform discreetly informs them of this and provides helpful tools, like self-exclusion or timers, to regulate gaming. These are expected to help foster a more healthy and safe poker environment.
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