This marks the inaugural edition of an annual global benchmarking series tracking how artificial intelligence is shaping the global gambling industry.

As businesses rush to adopt artificial intelligence, use of AI in the highly regulated gaming industry is only just emerging. Now, a UNLV report is providing benchmarks as it develops. “The State of AI in Gaming 2026” was released Thursday. It provides a snapshot of current levels of adoption and points to gaps that need to be addressed. The 113-page report was released by the UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) in collaboration with KPMG LLP, a U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm. The report focuses on the responsible use of AI.

UNLV in May launched the Artificial Intelligence Research Hub (AiRHub) to tackle issues involving the pros and cons of AI in gaming, and researchers expect to deliver papers this year on whether regulatory guardrails should be implemented to prevent hurting consumers who play in the state’s casinos and employees who work there.

From kiosks designed to speed customer check-in to vibrant casino games, Nevada’s tourism industry is putting artificial intelligence to work.  But one of AI’s potential best uses – its ability to assimilate massive amounts of data and identify patterns that could detect fraud and money laundering – is taking a back seat to automating table games and replacing bartenders.  

Both sports betting and generative AI have become dramatically more common in recent years, and their intersection poses risks for consumers. It used to be that you had to go to a casino or call up a bookie to place a bet, and you got your tips from the sports section of the newspaper. Now you can place bets in apps while the game is happening and ask an AI chatbot for advice.

Artificial intelligence is a facet of technology in all of our lives and may be reshaping the gaming industry as we know it. From slot machines that track your every spin to surveillance cameras that can predict a fight before it happens, AI is finding its way into nearly every corner of the gambling world.

Research director discusses how artificial intelligence is changing the game in virtually every field.

Research director discusses how artificial intelligence is changing the game in virtually every field.