SOURCE: SR International - Radio Sweden

In a bid to combat Sweden’s growing problem of gambling addiction, state-run betting giant Svenska Spel is to harness the power of artificial intelligence.

The system, designed by Sweden’s ICU Intelligence, analyses how each player places bets, how much money they bet with, under which circumstances, and how often. The system is voluntary, and is currently designed to monitor online gambling, which is popular in Sweden, and bets placed by people using their personal Svenska Spel betting cards - ICU hopes to extend the system to casinos in time.

By comparing how those with a gambling addiction betted before they were hooked, ICU says the technology identifies individuals with a growing habit, before they become problem gamblers. ICU also says tests have shown that the system spots problem gamblers in 90 percent of cases.

Once a person is identified by the system as being at risk, Svenska Spel has pledged to shut-off betting advertising to that person, urge them to consider their gambling habits, work out a gambling budget, and take a test for gambling addiction.

The person is also offered the chance of shutting himself off from Svenska Spel’s betting products. As a state-run monopoly the government has attracted criticism for encouraging betting, while beratting people who develop a gambling addiction.