Macau restricts use of artificial intelligence in casinos
The gambling regulator from Macau has restricted the use of artificial intelligence in casinos that would help the house win.
Macau.- The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau has restricted the use of artificial intelligence tools that could lead to operators benefiting when gamblers bet big. The tool would help the casinos track those gamblers, Bloomberg revealed.
The gambling watchdog urged casinos not to install surveillance equipment that the regulator hasn’t approved before. According to people that have seen the document dated July 30, this directive includes cameras or facial recognition systems. While the bureau hasn’t publicly commented on this new measure, the rules came into effect on August 1.
Previous investigations had shown that casinos used artificial intelligence to track gamblers. The data then provided the casinos ways to spot the customers likely to lose the most money.
Macau’s gambling revenues fall in July
The gambling market experienced a setback in July, as gross gambling revenue (GGR) declined 3.5% to €2.7 billion when compared to the same period last year. Last month’s results interrupted a two-month street of growth in the Chinese gambling hub.
According to the latest financial report released by the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, July marked the fourth month in 2019 to register a year-on-year decline on gambling revenues. GGR for the first seven months of the year stood at €19.3 billion. This is also 0.9% down from the same period last year. Moreover, last month’s results missed the estimated 2% increase that analysts had predicted for July.
Experts say that the decline in revenues during July operations can be attributable to a decrease in VIP demand. This is due to a weaker Chinese economy, as well as the fear of a possible crackdown against junket operators.
“Despite the weaker month-end checks, we expect positive year-on-year growth to resume once we lap the tough 17.1% comp in August,” added brokerage Nomura.
