UK gambling, like many other industries, has been on a fast track to embracing AI in recent years.
The full scale of how it can be utilised remains unclear, though, as the evolution of the technology and its capabilities continue to take shape. But as the industry gets to grips with AI, the goalposts could be on the cusp of being moved.
Given the nature of his appointment and the absence of any manifesto, commentators were scouring for any indication of future policy yesterday as the UK’s latest prime minister Andy Burnham confirmed his cabinet.
Reading between the lines, a more stringent oversight on AI could be on the horizon after it was announced that Kanishka Narayan had been appointed as the first ever Minister for Artificial Intelligence. While not a top level government position, Narayan will attend cabinet, meaning AI will have a representative in the discussions shaping policy.
The new role was announced after Burnham revealed his decision to scrap the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which was established by the last Conservative prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who was a leading advocate for AI as a driver of economic growth.
Mei Lim, Group CFO and Managing Partner at Anthemis told iGaming Expert: “It’s disappointing to see DSIT lose its standalone status, just as AI has emerged as a once-in-a-generation growth shift. Reorganisations like this typically distract officials’ attention for months at exactly the moment when pace matters most. It’s however reassuring that Kanishka Narayan remains AI minister with a Cabinet seat, and I’d hope the new enlarged Department of Business Innovation Science and Trade, moves fast to continue to prioritise AI and keep ARIA, Sovereign AI, and the £1.1bn AI Hardware Plan on track through the transition.
“Much of the UK’s AI momentum comes from collaborative platforms outside government – for example, the CommonAI’s of this world, who are giving founders shared access to compute, talent and IP. That ecosystem infrastructure deserves just as much continuity and backing from Burnham’s new government. If we want the UK to lead in AI, we need to make sure our founders and ecosystems are prioritised, not pushed to the sidelines by departmental restructuring”
Speaking after being appointed to the role, Narayan didn’t hide the fact that he would be moving at pace to ensure that he would introduce new measures to deal with “likely the most significant technology in human history”, as he stated his belief that its impact will dwarf other things.
He continued: “The best case for it is compelling beyond our dreams: a reindustrialised Britain, stronger national security, public services transformed for the better.
“The risks, too, are real: it is right that the British public shares those worries, for jobs, for the pace of change.
“The central fact is that it is happening. Nations have a narrow window to decide whether they shape AI or get shaped by it. Britain is in that window right now.
“While that window is still open, I will act with pace, I will act with ambition, and I will focus relentlessly on securing British influence in shaping AI.”
He enters the role having previously worked within the private sector advising businesses on finance and capital markets, which may provide a positive sign for the industry as he has demonstrated a strong commercial understanding.
That being said, AI as a tech drifting towards the centre of government under Burnham leadership is likely a sign that heightened regulation is coming for the sector. It’s just what that looks like remains to be seen.
It will likely be targeted, with a greater focus on labelling and transparency, which could have an impact on marketing teams and those that use the tech to scale their marketing efforts.
Adam Brimmer, Director of Brand and Creative at Betsson Group, sat down with iGaming Expert just prior to the World Cup to reveal the effectiveness of AI when it comes to marketing strategies.
He stated: “While a lot of people talk about AI being a bit of a threat to things, I would say if anything, it is only something that you can use as a tool, like anything else.
“So, previously, something that someone would have taken, let’s just say four hours to do can be done in one hour. What do you do with the extra three hours? You do more things, apply more services, put more variations. So we basically just scaled up what we can do as a department, and AI is just an ingredient in that.”
Fear around potential regulations may be hyperbole at this point, and a blanket ban appears incredibly unlikely, but as marketing budgets are trimmed across the industry as a result of tax hikes and other costs, an obstacle in the use of AI may provide an extra challenge for industry creatives.
Furthermore, the challenges could be a significant blow to smaller operators that are now facing much smaller margins in the UK market.
