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Artificial intelligence and smart-table data can help land-based casino operators identify suspected advantage play while a customer is still playing on the gaming floor, according to Differential Labs.
Mana Azizsoltani, head of analytics at the specialized casino analytics and AI consultancy, said the technology can help operators compare the count for a particular baccarat side bet with the actual wagering behavior of players.
The team engaged in advantage play could employ a camera or any other technique to get a continual flow of information on the cards.
However, casinos can also receive a constant flow of smart-table data in real time. Azizsoltani described this situation as a data arms race between operators and players using technology to gain an advantage.
When used properly, smart-table information can help a casino understand the count for every side bet. This includes identifying when a side bet is favorable, unfavorable, or somewhere between those conditions.
Comparing Counts and Betting Patterns
Casinos can compare side-bet counts with player wagering behavior to identify suspicious patterns.
According to Azizsoltani, operators can look for a player who only bets when the count becomes favorable. Another technique would be for a casino to find out about a player who increases his bet as the count improves, mostly plays when the shoe is nearing the end, and is winning more than usual on side bets.
Such behavior could be detected using AI technology when the player is actually seated at the gambling table.
This affords the opportunity for surveillance and table-games personnel to take action before any losses occur.
Real-time detection is especially relevant to portfolio counting. Under this approach, a player may move between different bets depending on which side bet offers the strongest advantage at a particular time.
The ability to review data immediately could help casinos respond to patterns that may not be clear through traditional observation alone.
Baccarat Side Bets Draw Attention
Differential Labs recently examined emerging risks linked to advantage play involving baccarat side bets in a series of blog posts.
Clayton Peister, managing director and analyst at Differential Labs, said the analysis generated significant interest within the gaming industry.
The consultancy said computer-aided counting and AI can allow advantage players to identify favorable betting opportunities more accurately and wager more efficiently.
Depending on the methods used and the circumstances, this type of activity could potentially amount to cheating or criminal conduct.
Baccarat side bets account for between 40% and 60% of baccarat revenue at many casinos, according to Differential Labs. This makes them an increasingly attractive target for advantage players.
The importance of side bets to baccarat revenue means operators may have a strong interest in using data tools to monitor betting patterns and identify possible advantage-play activity.
Chip Movement May Reveal Links
Azizsoltani said another possible defensive use of smart-table data involves analyzing how chips move around the casino floor.
With chip attribution, a casino can determine who is passing chips to other people, how much value is moving between players, and who regularly acts as a net giver or receiver.
Advantage-play teams may share chips or bankroll. This type of analysis could help casinos identify connections between players who may appear unrelated when reviewed individually.
The ability to link players through chip movement may give operators another way to understand coordinated activity at different tables.
This information can be combined with wagering patterns and side-bet data to provide a broader view of possible advantage-play behavior.
Source: GGR Asia
