UNLV Researchers Survey AI Use in Gaming Industry

The research team is tracking how gambling companies and regulators are adopting artificial intelligence technologies.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Gambling

Isometric editorial illustration featuring stylized opaque geometric prisms arranged in a structured grid, symbolizing industrial data analysis and technological benchmarking. — UNLV researchers are surveying gaming industry organizations and regulators to benchmark the integration of artificial intelligence technologies in gambling operations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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UNLV researchers have launched a new survey to evaluate how artificial intelligence is being integrated across the gaming industry. The study builds on an inaugural report to track how technology development is changing.

Why it matters

The initiative aims to benchmark industry progress against the previous year and influence corporate culture regarding internal technology development. By capturing data from both companies and regulators, the study highlights how the sector is evolving.

The inaugural report featured responses from 113 regulators and 83 companies. Researchers have set a target to increase participation to at least 100 companies for the 2027 update.

The players

UNLV International Gaming Institute

This institution maintains an AI Research Hub in Las Vegas to study technological shifts within the gambling sector.

The details

Researchers are utilizing targeted outreach to collect benchmarking data on artificial intelligence adoption, with the next report including a specific section on sports betting. One response is permitted per organization to ensure data integrity for the comparative analysis.

The inaugural State of AI in Gaming report was released in 2026.
Survey distribution to participants began in December 2026.
The second report is scheduled for release in April 2027.

Culture Shift

This effort marks a move toward formalizing technology assessment in a sector historically reliant on traditional processes. It follows a pattern set by the UNLV International Gaming Institute's AI Research Hub, which seeks to modernize how firms approach internal development.

As Las Vegas remains the primary hub for this research, stakeholders and local gaming employees may see increased organizational focus on technical skill development. These findings could ultimately influence the software and systems used in casinos across the city.

The takeaway

The gaming industry is increasingly turning to data-driven self-assessment to keep pace with rapid technological change. Companies looking to remain competitive should prioritize benchmarking their AI capabilities against sector-wide standards.

What happens next

The findings from the current industry survey will be published in the second State of AI in Gaming report, which is expected to be released in April 2027.