British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is jumping into the artificial intelligence (AI) arena with both feet, partnering with Future Anthem, a UK-based gambling data science specialist.
The two organizations are creating an AI and Data Innovation Hub, to be set up in BCLC’s Vancouver office. The Hub will be dedicated to developing AI, data capabilities, and programs and will employ a team of data and product professionals with access to Future Anthem’s Data Science platform.
The Hub will be managed in partnership through a Steering Committee that includes senior representatives from both BCLC and Future Anthem.
According to Jake Chody, Head of Product Marketing for Future Anthem, the objective of the endeavor is to improve player experiences, covering all product categories – lottery, instant, casino, sports, poker, and bingo, covering both land-based and online activities – via data-driven research and software development.
“The Innovation Hub will aim to build innovative, operational, and commercial applications of data and AI products for use by BCLC,” he said.
The Canadian Future Anthem team engaged in the Hub will be employed by Anthem, a Vancouver-based team of data professionals that innovate with AI, operating as a specialized subsidiary of Future Anthem in partnership with BCLC.
“The team will build AI and data products that are designed to improve player experiences,” Chody said. “While the Anthem team will operate with a degree of independence, its success will align with the long-term goals of BCLC and with Future Anthem’s overarching mission, values, and culture.”
BCLC employees may propose initiatives for the Hub to work on, which will be technically assessed, Chody added, with the Steering Committee deciding on the approved roadmap and resourcing. Over time, BCLC employees will be seconded into the Innovation Hub to learn and assist in the development and creation of AI capabilities built within the Innovation Hub for BCLC.
The initial products for the Hub will be decided by the Steering Committee based on the expertise of Future Anthem and the priorities of BCLC.
Through existing work with Future Anthem, the Hub will leverage existing gaming data with PlayNow and other gaming data that Future Anthem has to build new AI data capabilities for BCLC. Leigh Nissim, CEO and Founder of Future Anthem, expects that with access to more data across all verticals and channels to build machine learning models and AI applications, benefits to BCLC and its players will be quickly delivered.
Protocols around transparency of AI use, data security, and management of AI models and impact on players will grow and develop as the roadmap evolves, Chody said.
“The integrity of data is paramount to us,” he said. “For this reason, we chose leading platform providers because of their uncompromising approach to security and privacy.”