An in-depth investigation by Investigate Europe has discovered that popular AI-driven chatbots are routinely steering users towards unlicensed online casinos.
The findings raise concerns over the emerging risks associated with the growing use of generative artificial intelligence in sensitive sectors like gambling.
Over a period of two weeks, Investigate Europe tested several leading conversational AI models across multiple European countries. Using prompts that requested information on the “best bonuses”, anonymous platforms and ways to bypass national self-exclusion schemes, the chatbots predominantly recommended offshore gambling websites lacking domestic licences.
Some responses explicitly praised features such as rapid withdrawals, anonymity and lucrative bonus offers. Several of the suggested sites appeared on official European gambling regulators’ blacklists, highlighting their unregulated status.
Across 10 European countries and using 30 prompts per platform, 27 of the prompts answered by MetaAI recommended an unlicensed casino. Gemini responded with 26, while ChatGPT offered 22.
Chatbots absorbed and repeated extensive marketing content proliferated by unlicensed operators based in jurisdictions like Curaçao, territories known for lax regulatory environments.
This dynamic creates a “routing problem”, whereby users seeking help or information from AI assistants may be inadvertently redirected to websites outside consumer protection frameworks. On recommending unlicensed online casinos by country, out of 21 prompts, France and Poland tied with 18 recommendations, while the UK suggested 14.
Marketing messages reflected in AI outputs
When specifically asked about methods to avoid national self-exclusion schemes, such as the UK’s Gamstop or similar European initiatives, chatbots frequently recommended casinos not covered by these systems.
One popular AI chatbot even referred to “no-ID casinos” as the “Holy Grail”. This suggested such platforms to circumvent identity verification procedures. Cryptocurrency-based casinos were also promoted on the basis of “anonymity” and a “lack of rigid limits”.
Regulators and gambling addiction charities have expressed alarm that AI assistants might inadvertently facilitate access to unregulated online casinos. Tiemo Wölken, a member of the European Parliament, also described the findings as “worrying”.
Unregulated online casinos in Europe
Illegal online gambling remains a substantial market within Europe. In a recent survey, 65% of Swedes said they did not know how to determine an unlicensed operator, while 18% admitted to using an unlicensed site.
Meanwhile, the UK government seeks to crack down on unlicensed operators sponsoring sports teams.
Campaigners and industry observers alike are calling for swift and comprehensive legal as well as technological responses.
Will Prochaska, spokesperson for the UK Coalition to End Gambling Ads, condemned the AI-enabled promotion of illegal casinos. He stated that “promoting and praising illegal casinos for their ability to circumvent regulations undermines the rule of law and puts people in danger”.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/tech-innovation/artificial-intelligence/ai-chatbots-direct-users-to-unregulated-online-casinos-investigation-reveals/
