A More Sophisticated Threat
Artificial Intelligence has not been far from the news any time over the last 12 months, and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is now weighing in on a new potential scamonline gamblers could encounter. The Commission has highlighted a series of potential risks, ranging from AI deepfakes to crypto-based crash games.
In an update to licensees issued on April 8th, the UKGC warned that AI programmes and software have become increasingly sophisticated and that they can now be used to bypass due diligence and identity checks.
The Commission has warned that criminals may be utilising AI technology to create false documents, including deepfake images and videos. This can allow them to use online gambling sites for money laundering purposes.
The UKGC has stated that it is the responsibility of operators to do their utmost to stay ahead of emerging technology and trends, and has stated that all operators need to provide training for their staff to help them identify anything that may have been altered by AI.
Crypto Warning
In the same update, the Commission also issued a warning for crypto money-laundering schemes and currency thefts. The watchdog drew attention to illegal crypto platforms and crash games.
Crash games are a popular type of instant-win game that has emerged in the last few years. Gamblers place a bet and watch a multiplier rise on screen; they need to stop the multiplier before the game cuts off, and they lose their cash.
The Commission stated that these games can be used to camouflage high-risk behaviour within the context of the game. The option to instantly cash out may allow criminals to essentially trick the system, and the concern is that current monitoring controls may not pick up on this suspicious behaviour.
As with AI, the Commission has made it clear that operators need to increase their awareness of these issues and implement measures to detect suspicious betting patterns in crash games.
