Francesco Rodano

Chief Sustainable Gambling Officer, Playtech, United Kingdom

IAGR2025 session:

AI and responsible gambling: Shaping the future of player protection

As digital transformation accelerates across gambling markets, regulators face growing pressure to strengthen player protection while supporting sustainable industry growth. This session will explore how artificial intelligence and behavioural analytics are transforming responsible gambling through early risk detection and personalised interventions.

Drawing on real-world examples and academic collaborations, we’ll examine how AI systems analyse behavioural indicators to identify at-risk players before serious harm occurs. We’ll also share insights from ongoing research into the effectiveness of AI-driven interventions, including how different approaches to messaging influence player behaviour.

The discussion will cover emerging applications of AI, from 24/7 personalised chatbots to sentiment analysis and reinforcement learning, and highlight how over 20 jurisdictions have already integrated behavioural analytics into regulation.

Attendees will gain practical recommendations for fostering collaboration among regulators, operators and researchers to develop ethical standards for AI, support data sharing and ensure that technology complements—not replaces—human expertise.

About Francesco:
Francesco Rodano, Chief Sustainable Gambling at Playtech, is a leading expert in gambling regulation and responsible gaming with over 18 years of experience spanning both government and industry roles.
As the former Remote Gaming Director at the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency, he played a pivotal role in developing Italy’s regulatory framework for online gaming.
In his current position at Playtech, one of the world’s largest suppliers of gambling services, Francesco leads international public affairs efforts and spearheads the company’s safer gambling initiatives. He has been at the forefront of integrating AI and behavioural analytics into responsible gambling practices, including the development of BetBuddy, an industry-leading AI-powered tool now adopted in 15 jurisdictions across three continents.
A recognised thought leader in gaming policy and regulation, Francesco has represented both government and industry interests in various European policy discussions and is an active member of several trade associations. His unique blend of regulatory expertise, industry experience, and focus on AI-driven solutions makes him a valued voice in shaping the future of responsible gaming.