Gaming Companies Lack Plans to Manage AI, UNLV Study Finds
Most gaming companies are deploying artificial intelligence without basic oversight structures in place. A new report from the UNLV International Gaming Institute surveyed 83 gambling operators and 113 regulators worldwide and found that while 80% of firms use generative AI, fewer than one in five have assigned a person or team to manage it.
The gap between adoption and readiness is stark. Companies are integrating AI into writing, data analysis, and content creation faster than they can build governance systems to control it.
Governance Scores Lowest Across All Categories
AI governance - the rules and processes that dictate who can use AI tools, how data gets handled, and what happens when something goes wrong - scored 30 out of 100 points in the report's index. That was the lowest score across all measured areas.
Most companies lack written policies explaining how employees should deploy AI, how to check for errors or bias, or how to respond to failures. Without these guardrails, operators risk compliance violations in an industry where mistakes directly affect customers.
Advanced AI Adoption Lags Behind Basic Tools
While generative AI use is widespread, adoption of more advanced "agentic" AI systems - software that makes decisions or takes actions independently - remains limited. Researchers attribute this caution to the regulated nature of gambling, where autonomous decisions carry higher stakes.
That slower pace for complex AI actually makes sense. It suggests operators understand the risks, even if they haven't formalized oversight yet.
Regulators Can't See What Companies Are Doing
A significant disconnect exists between operators and regulators. Gaming supervisors report they don't always know how companies are deploying AI, and many lack confidence in their ability to oversee it effectively.
Both operators and regulators agree that responsible AI practices remain underdeveloped across the industry. Neither side has a clear playbook yet.
What This Means for Managers
The report signals that gaming companies need to build AI governance infrastructure now, before regulatory pressure forces it. Managers should establish clear policies around generative AI and LLM use and assign accountability for AI oversight.
For broader guidance on building governance structures, see resources on AI for Management.
The UNLV International Gaming Institute plans to release this report annually, beginning at its 19th International Gambling and Risk-Taking Conference on May 27 at the Bellagio.
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