Adapt or get left behind: the obvious destiny of igaming technology

EGR: Igaming is on the cusp of its biggest technological leap since smartphones. How will AI reshape the industry in the next two to three years?

Andrew Cochrane (AC): I agree that it’s fair to say we’re right at the edge of a huge shift as AI is going to define the next phase of igaming and, to be honest, it already is. Without wanting to sound alarmist, if you’re not paying attention to this now, you’re going to be playing catch-up pretty quickly. It’s not just about making operations more efficient anymore. What we’re seeing, and what we’ve been building with LogicX, our rules-based AI engine, is the ability for platforms to actually think ahead and make decisions in real time.

Right now, LogicX is crunching over 2.4 billion data points every month, scanning for patterns, flagging risks, spotting opportunities. That’s not something new, it’s been doing this for a few years now, but what’s exciting is where it’s going. We’re starting to see it move into true behavioural prediction. We’re feeding in wider data sets, things like weather, public holidays, big sporting events, and even economic triggers, to help forecast how players are likely to behave before it happens.

Just to give you an example, in some markets, bad weather leads to up to an 18% increase in session times. You can actually see the curve change. And around things like payday weekends or Easter, we’re seeing predictable spikes in deposits. So, what do we do? We train the system to anticipate that and automatically adjust, whether that’s pushing personalised bet prompts, soft responsible gaming (RG) nudges or shifting bonus strategy on the fly. This kind of stuff used to be reactive. You’d spot it afterwards in a report whereas now it’s becoming live, automated and predictive.

This isn’t going to be some nice-to-have feature in a year or two either; it’s going to be essential infrastructure. If you’re not building this into your technology now, you’re going to find yourself falling behind very quickly because once players and regulators get used to this level of insight and responsiveness, there’s no going back.

EGR: How has automation already changed player expectations?

AC: It’s changed them completely, to be honest. Players today expect immediacy, they want things to feel personal, relevant and fast. If your platform isn’t responding to them in real time, you’re already on the back foot. The days of waiting 24 hours for a bonus email or relying on a one-size-fits-all promotion are done. Players now expect experiences tailored to them, based on what they’re doing right now, not what they did last week.

That’s where automation really makes a difference. With LogicX, we’re helping operators run real-time segmentation and behavioural targeting. And it’s not just theory, it works. We’ve seen a 12% uplift in player turnover just by enabling segmentation, and a 43% increase in retention over a 60-day period. That’s massive, especially when you consider how expensive acquisition is. Take the UK for example, acquiring a single player online can cost in excess of £150, so if you’re not doing everything you can to keep that player engaged, you’re burning through budget. Automation bridges that gap. It lets operators trigger timely messages, push the right offers and even flag risk all in the moment.

So yes, expectations have changed. And the reality is players won’t wait for you to catch up. If you’re not delivering that kind of responsive experience, someone else will.

EGR: What does the future of regulation look like in markets like Latam and Asia?

AC: As Latam and Asia continue their transition from grey to regulated markets, we’re seeing growing momentum in key regions – particularly Brazil and Peru in Latam and the Philippines and Thailand in Asia. At GiG, we’re actively studying player behaviour and market dynamics in those territories, as we prepare to take our technology live in Brazil and the Philippines later this year. The data points to a familiar trend: player engagement is high, operator appetite is growing and governments are beginning to understand the value of structured, compliant ecosystems.

Regulatory frameworks in these markets are likely to evolve much like they did in Europe; what starts as light-touch oversight will inevitably become more complex and robust over time. But while the direction is clear, the diversity of requirements across each jurisdiction means a one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t work. That’s why adaptability is key. Operators need platform partners that offer live risk tracking, flexible rule-building and real-time auditability, with features that aren’t just regulatory checkboxes but essential tools for scalable, sustainable growth.

Strong RG systems also send a powerful message to regulators as player protection and profitability are not at odds. For example, GiG’s LogicX solution uses intelligent, data-driven interventions to support safer gambling, whereby players who receive tailored RG messaging deposit, on average, 53% more over time. This proves that sustainable growth and player welfare can go hand-in-hand and is one of the reasons GiG continues to be the platform of choice in regulated markets.

With a clean standing in every jurisdiction we operate in, and deep experience in some of the most mature and demanding regulatory environments globally, GiG has established itself as a leading PAM provider in both Latam and Asia. Our combination of proven compliance, regional expertise and flexible technology positions us as a trusted partner for operators looking to scale responsibly in these fast-emerging regions.

EGR: How should operators prepare for the rise of ‘self-driving’ igaming operations?

AC: Let’s be clear on the fact that ‘self-driving’ doesn’t mean replacing people, but it’s more a means of giving your teams the tools to do more of what they’re good at. The idea being that you are able to free up more time on processing tasks, things like real-time margin control, automated RG actions, predictive churn modelling, even weather-based player engagement. When that’s all handled automatically, your company can then focus more proactively and more productively. It’s all about focusing on growth.

The bottom line is, if your platform can’t predict, automate or personalise at scale, you’re already behind. We believe that in LogicX we have the secret sauce for future growth integrated into our technology and that it isn’t just another feature, it’s more a case of being the engine behind the next era. Built by GiG, live in real time and ready to scale wherever you are.

Andrew Cochrane is chief business officer at GiG with over 15 years of global experience in sports betting and igaming.

Having operated at the forefront of both retail and online gaming, B2B platform delivery and commercial strategy across all verticals, Cochrane was instrumental in landmark industry moments, most notably as part of the executive team behind the SBTech and DraftKings acquisition.

His track record in scaling businesses, closing tier-one contracts and driving shareholder value positions him as a leading voice on the future impact of AI in online gambling and where the next wave of innovation is likely to emerge.