Interviews
Artificial Intelligence and online poker: will technologies change the future of the game?
Today we sat down to talk with Igor Terebinov, Deputy CEO of PokerMatch International, about whether artificial intelligence could kill the future of online poker
AI can launch a new era of poker
The world’s coding geniuses have always considered poker to be the most complex game. Whereas, for example, all pieces are clearly visible on a chessboard, and the strategy itself is calculated for many moves ahead, in poker, the cards of all opponents are closed, so the winning options were selected based on incomplete data. Nevertheless, the machine with a specially launched program managed to master the methodology of using the well-known bluff. Before that, it was believed that machine intelligence was incapable of deliberate provocation and that only a human could bluff in poker.
Speaking about the beginning of a new era of poker, we can say that we are all already in it. Poker is a game that never stands still and is constantly evolving, and we can already see how much it has changed since its creation or over the past few years. However, it’s too early to say that AI will replace human speaking skills. It can be argued that artificial intelligence can make a significant contribution to the development of poker and change its dynamics, but it is a mistake to believe that it will start a new poker era. The game of poker is a challenging task for AI as it requires decision-making based on uncertainty and incomplete information. Thus, AI can help players make more informed decisions and improve their game strategy, but it cannot completely replace a player.
It is expected that the development of artificial intelligence will have an impact on poker as the technology improves over time. Currently, artificial intelligence is not flexible enough in terms of strategies and is very expensive to use. Therefore, it is not yet used in real online games.
How artificial intelligence is used in poker
I have to admit that artificial intelligence can be a useful tool for poker players, helping them to make more informed decisions and improve their game strategy. However, it is important to understand that the use of AI in poker does not guarantee victory at all, as the game of poker depends primarily on random factors and the intellectual and psychological skills of players.
AI in poker can perform the following functions:
- Game strategy development: AI can be used to develop optimal poker strategies that can help players make more informed decisions during the game.
- Data analysis: artificial intelligence can analyze large amounts of data that can help determine optimal strategies and predict game outcomes.
- Probability analysis: AI is able to analyze the probability of a particular combination of cards appearing on the table.
- Predicting opponents’ actions: analyzing the behavior of opponents and predicting their actions during the game.
- Determining the opponent’s level: analyzing the opponent’s gaming style and determining their level. This can help players adapt to the opponent’s playing style.
Ethical and legal implications of using AI in poker
First of all, it should be remembered that the use of artificial intelligence in online poker is illegal in many countries and can lead to serious legal consequences. As I have already mentioned, the game of poker is based largely on human skills, such as reading facial expressions, making strategic decisions, and understanding the game and behavioral characteristics of other players. Using AI to influence the outcome of the game contradicts the ethical principles of the game and may harm the experience of other players. If you personally want to improve your poker skills, artificial intelligence will not help you in this, but will only harm you. After all, over time, you may lose your intuitive abilities and skills of behavioral characteristics of your opponents.
Moreover, the use of AI can lead to a threat to player privacy, as some of them can access poker players’ personal data and use it for their own purposes.
Can AI “kill” the future of online poker?
I would say no, it is almost impossible. Yes, artificial intelligence can harm gaming in its classic sense – users will play for money, not pleasure, using AI algorithms and tactics. Players may stop improving their skills by trusting artificial intelligence. Some argue that AI may kill the original spirit of the poker game, as the winner may no longer be the one who can read opponents and calculate everything in advance, but the one who can memorize the most patterns and apply them in the game.
That is, AI can harm online poker, but it does not mean that it will completely replace human intelligence in this game. After all, poker is a game that requires not only computational abilities but also intuition, experience, and the ability to read other players.
In general, the prospects for the development of artificial intelligence in the field of gambling can be useful if they are used to create fairer and safer conditions for the game.
The future of the poker industry in general
The poker sector has long been one of the most popular and profitable gambling industries. In recent years, the online poker market has expanded significantly thanks to innovative technologies that continue to be constantly introduced into the game. Therefore, all indicators and favorable development conditions point to an increasing demand for online poker among users.
Gamification will become a separate development vector. Gambling will increasingly move towards gamification, become faster and more interesting. We can already see trends when users choose a platform to play not because it has the best conditions, but because it has some unique feature, you can boost your level, character, get achievements, etc. To some extent, our niche competes with games, video hosting, and other entertainment platforms where users come to get their own kind of dopamine.
Let’s not forget about artificial intelligence. In the future, AI will definitely be used to create interesting and dynamic gaming situations that will adapt to the player’s level and style of play. Also, AI can be used to create more realistic virtual opponents using VR technologies that will take into account all possible game development options.
The use of blockchain technologies in poker will also grow rapidly. Blockchain will be used to store and exchange information between players, such as game history and results. This will help to increase the transparency of the game and reduce the possibility of disputes.
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Conferences
2026 Gaming in Holland Conference: #ReclaimTheMarket & More
Next week, the annual Gaming in Holland Conference returns to Amsterdam. Willem van Oort, independent iGaming consultant and founder of Gaming in Holland shares what attendees can look forward to at this year’s event.
What can attendees expect from this year’s conference?
As in previous years, the Gaming in Holland Conference will bring together the leading decision makers from the Dutch regulated gambling industry. Licensed operators, regulatory representatives, and key stakeholders from across the sector will all be in attendance.
This year’s speaker lineup includes the CEOs of Nederlandse Loterij and Holland Casino. In addition, FDJ, the new owner of Unibet, will be represented by a senior executive who will discuss the company’s perspective on the current Dutch market landscape.
The Netherlands Gambling Authority will also contribute two separate presentations: one focused on the regulator’s approach to upcoming legislation, and another dedicated to its new approach to player protection.
Alongside an extensive conference agenda, attendees will have plenty of opportunities to network and connect with industry leaders – including during the event’s traditional boat tour through Amsterdam’s iconic canals.
Apart from these highlights, are there other sessions you are looking forward to?
Like other years, H2 Gambling Capital will be sharing its latest growth projections of the Dutch market. This always offers a solid departure point for other discussions.
I am also looking forward to the presentation by Blask, which will offer an in-depth look at what kind of games Dutch players are interested in, as well as which game categories are featured prominently by both licensed and unlicensed operators. Do player demand and operators’ offerings actually match up? We will find out at the Conference.
Even more importantly, the Dutch government is expected to imminently publish a specific set of proposals to amend the Remote Gambling Act – including cross-operator deposit limits, an increased minimum age for high-risk games of chance, and much more.
Right now, we still think this will happen before this year’s conference kicks off. In that case, we will be hearing directly from the regulator how, exactly, the rules will change.
In addition to these specific sessions, tell us a little bit more about the idea behind Gaming in Holland’s new “Reclaim the Market” mission statement.
As is often the case in regulated markets facing stricter compliance measures, the Dutch regulated iGaming sector has seen market share shift toward increasingly aggressive offshore operators. This is a trend we want to halt – and ideally reverse. That ambition is at the heart of our “Reclaim the Market” initiative.
The good news is that licensed operators collectively possess a considerable amount of market power, enabling them to apply meaningful pressure on suppliers, payment providers, marketing affiliates, and other service providers that continue to facilitate the day-to-day operations of offshore operators. The key challenge lies in coordinating these efforts effectively so that this influence delivers tangible results.
Regulatory involvement is also essential. Neither licensed operators nor regulators benefit from the continued growth of the offshore market, making this an area where all parties share a strong common interest.
Looking a bit farther ahead, what do you think is necessary to keep the black market in check long-term?
I think that B2B licensing will become inevitable. It will be a lot of work for regulators, but I am convinced that this is the only way to introduce a meaningful separation, as well as a qualitative difference between licensed and unlicensed offerings. Players can tell that the onshore product is not evidently superior, but still, we expect them to accept worse RTP percentages due to the tax obligations and higher compliance burdens of licensed operators. While players generally prefer to play in the legal market, they will not do so at any price. That is just basic economics.
Even so, I believe the greatest opportunity for change lies in shifting societal attitudes toward gambling. In the Netherlands, for example, gambling is still generally viewed as somewhat taboo or socially questionable. In my view, that stigma can make it easier for players to drift toward illegal operators.
But what if gambling were treated as a fully legitimate and transparent form of entertainment? If it became more normalized and openly accepted, players might naturally gravitate toward licensed operators as the obvious and responsible choice.
That, I believe, is where significant progress can still be made.
The 2026 Gaming in Holland Conference takes place on June 4 at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. The full conference agenda is available here. Or click here to register.
The post 2026 Gaming in Holland Conference: #ReclaimTheMarket & More appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BiS Awards
“Para EGT, el crecimiento sostenible en Brasil depende de la transparencia”
EGT y EGT Digital llegaron a Brasil con una trayectoria consolidada en más de 85 jurisdicciones, bajo la firme decisión de no replicar un modelo internacional en un mercado que exige una adaptación local.
Al frente de esa estrategia se encuentra Celina Guedes, quien lidera la expansión de la compañía en los mercados brasileños de juego, casinos y VLT.
Con más de 20 años de experiencia en los segmentos de casinos físicos y online en Brasil y América Latina, Guedes ha estructurado su enfoque en torno a lo que denomina “glocalización”: aplicar estándares tecnológicos globales al comportamiento, la regulación y las expectativas específicas del jugador brasileño.
Los resultados ya son visibles. EGT ganó la categoría de Mejor Solución VLT en los BiS Awards 2026. El despliegue en Paraíba validó el modelo VLT a escala operativa, con una recurrencia y un compromiso (engagement) por parte de los usuarios que superaron las proyecciones iniciales. En Río de Janeiro, la solución superó la Prueba de Concepto con Loterj, abriendo las puertas a uno de los mercados de juego más estratégicos del país.
In esta entrevista, Guedes analiza qué diferenció a EGT en el competitivo mercado brasileño, cómo funciona la integración omnicanal en la práctica y por qué cree que el crecimiento a largo plazo de la industria depende de la regulación, la transparencia y el juego responsable; no a pesar de ellos, sino gracias a ellos.
Celina, ¡felicitaciones por los BiS Awards 2026! EGT y EGT Digital ganaron en la categoría de Mejor Solución VLT. En tu opinión, ¿cuál fue el “factor X” que diferenció a su producto en un mercado tan competitivo como el de Brasil este año?
Celina Guedes – Creo que nuestro principal diferenciador fue la combinación de una tecnología robusta, la experiencia del jugador y la adaptabilidad al mercado brasileño. EGT ya cuenta con una trayectoria global consolidada en más de 85 jurisdicciones, pero en Brasil no nos limitamos a replicar un modelo internacional: localizamos la solución.
El mercado brasileño exige rendimiento, estabilidad, seguridad regulatoria y, al mismo tiempo, un entretenimiento accesible e intuitivo. Logramos entregar exactamente ese equilibrio a través de una solución VLT omnicanal que es altamente escalable y cuenta con una amplia aceptación por parte de los jugadores.
Además, la integración entre EGT y EGT Digital nos permitió ofrecer un ecosistema completo para operadores y loterías estatales, lo cual es esencial en un entorno cada vez más competitivo y regulado.
Mencionaste que EGT busca establecer “nuevos estándares más altos”. ¿Cómo equilibra la compañía la tecnología global proveniente de Bulgaria con las especificidades culturales y regulatorias del jugador brasileño?
Este equilibrio se logra precisamente porque EGT cuenta con experiencia global pero opera localmente con equipos que entienden profundamente cada mercado.
Brasil tiene características muy específicas: el comportamiento del jugador, el perfil de consumo, una legislación en evolución e incluso preferencias visuales y de jugabilidad. Es por eso que trabajamos en estrecha colaboración con los operadores y los organismos reguladores para adaptar las interfaces, los recorridos del usuario, los métodos de pago, la comunicación y las funciones a las expectativas brasileñas.
Al mismo tiempo, mantenemos los estándares internacionales de seguridad, cumplimiento y estabilidad tecnológica, los cuales son reconocidos a nivel mundial. Esta combinación de experiencia global e inteligencia local es uno de los pilares de nuestro crecimiento en el país.
La operación de Paraíba fue un hito en cuanto a despliegue a gran escala. ¿Cuáles fueron los principales aprendizajes de este proyecto y qué dicen los números iniciales de rendimiento sobre la aceptación del formato VLT por parte de los usuarios?
Paraíba fue extremadamente importante porque validó, en la práctica y a escala operativa, el potencial del modelo VLT en Brasil.
El principal aprendizaje fue la fuerte demanda que existe por un producto regulado que sea seguro y ofrezca una experiencia de entretenimiento de alta calidad. El público respondió de manera muy positiva desde los primeros meses de operación.
Los indicadores iniciales superaron nuestras expectativas en términos de recurrencia de usuarios, compromiso (engagement) y estabilidad operativa. Esto demuestra que los jugadores brasileños están abiertos al formato VLT cuando se presenta dentro de un entorno tecnológico regulado, transparente y confiable.

Respecto a Río de Janeiro: el producto superó la Prueba de Concepto (PoC) con Loterj. ¿Qué puede esperar el mercado de Río de este lanzamiento y cómo planea EGT escalar esta solución a otros estados que están configurando sus loterías en 2026?
Río de Janeiro es un mercado estratégico para toda la industria, y la aprobación de la PoC fue un paso muy relevante.
El mercado puede esperar una solución moderna y segura, diseñada para ofrecer una experiencia física y digital integrada. Nuestro objetivo no es solo desplegar terminales, sino construir un ecosistema sostenible para operadores, loterías y jugadores.
Creemos que muchos estados están observando de cerca los modelos que se están implementando ahora. Por lo tanto, nuestro enfoque es demostrar la eficiencia operativa, la capacidad de generación de ingresos y la responsabilidad regulatoria.
EGT está preparada para escalar rápidamente, ya que cuenta con la infraestructura tecnológica, la experiencia internacional y la adaptabilidad regulatoria necesarias para respaldar nuevos proyectos estatales en diferentes etapas de madurez.
La solución de EGT se describe como completamente omnicanal. Para nuestra audiencia, ¿cómo funciona en la práctica esta integración entre las terminales físicas y la plataforma digital? ¿El jugador se mueve entre ambos mundos con una sola cuenta?
Sí. Ese es uno de nuestros principales diferenciadores.
Los jugadores pueden comenzar su experiencia en una terminal física y continuar en el entorno digital utilizando la misma cuenta, billetera (wallet) e historial de interacción. Esto crea un recorrido fluido, moderno y conveniente.
La integración omnicanal permite a los operadores tener una visión unificada del comportamiento del usuario, lo que viabiliza campañas más inteligentes, programas de fidelización y mecanismos avanzados de cumplimiento.
En la práctica, conectamos lo mejor de ambos mundos: la conveniencia de lo digital con la presencia física y el alcance de las terminales VLT.
In un escenario donde el gobierno está bloqueando plataformas sin solvencia económica, ¿cómo protege la seguridad y transparencia del ecosistema de EGT Digital tanto a los operadores como a los usuarios finales?
Este movimiento regulatorio refuerza algo que EGT siempre ha defendido: el crecimiento sostenible depende de la regulación, la transparencia y la responsabilidad.
Toda la infraestructura de EGT Digital opera bajo estrictos estándares internacionales de cumplimiento, certificación y seguridad tecnológica. Trabajamos con sistemas auditables, controles antifraude, trazabilidad operativa, protección de datos y monitoreo continuo.
Esto protege a los operadores desde el punto de vista regulatorio y financiero, pero también brinda a los consumidores la confianza de utilizar una plataforma legítima, segura y supervisada. En un mercado que madura rápidamente, las empresas sólidas con una trayectoria internacional consistente ganan protagonismo de forma natural.
Estamos viendo un intenso debate en Brasilia sobre la ludopatía y el endeudamiento de los hogares. ¿Cómo incorpora la tecnología VLT de EGT mecanismos de Juego Responsable y controles de gasto para prevenir conductas compulsivas?
El Juego Responsable es un tema central para EGT a nivel global y también en Brasil.
Nuestra tecnología incluye herramientas para el control del tiempo de sesión, límites de depósito y de apuestas, alertas de comportamiento de riesgo y mecanismos de autoexclusión. Además, los operadores pueden monitorear patrones de comportamiento sospechosos de manera mucho más efectiva a través de nuestra tecnología.
Creemos que la regulación y la innovación deben ir de la mano. El objetivo de la industria debe ser proporcionar un entretenimiento seguro, sostenible y transparente.
Este es un debate importante y saludable para la madurez del sector, y EGT quiere ser parte de la construcción de un mercado responsable a largo plazo.
Celina, para cerrar: el Grupo EGT ya está presente en 85 jurisdicciones. Con Brasil alcanzando su madurez en 2026, ¿dónde ves a EGT Digital en el ranking nacional durante los próximos dos años?
Brasil se ha convertido en uno de los mercados de juegos y apuestas más estratégicos del mundo, y EGT ve un enorme potencial de crecimiento aquí.
Durante los próximos dos años, nuestro objetivo es consolidar a EGT y EGT Digital entre los proveedores líderes de tecnología y soluciones omnicanal en el país, expandiendo la presencia tanto en el segmento físico como en el digital.
Estamos invirtiendo fuertemente en expansión operativa, alianzas locales, innovación tecnológica y relaciones institucionales. Creemos que solo estamos al comienzo de la transformación de este mercado en Brasil.
Nuestro enfoque no es solo el crecimiento en números, sino construir una operación sólida y sostenible, reconocida por su excelencia tecnológica y la confianza del mercado.
The post “Para EGT, el crecimiento sostenible en Brasil depende de la transparencia” appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
BiS Awards
“For EGT, sustainable growth in Brazil depends on transparency”
EGT and EGT Digital arrived in Brazil with a consolidated track record across more than 85 jurisdictions — and a deliberate choice not to replicate an international model in a market that demands local adaptation.
At the centre of that strategy is Celina Guedes, who leads the company’s expansion in Brazil’s gaming, casino and VLT markets.
With over 20 years of experience across land-based and online casino segments in Brazil and Latin America, Guedes has built her approach around what she calls “glocalization” , applying global technology standards to the specific behaviour, regulation and expectations of the Brazilian player.
The results are becoming visible. EGT won the Best VLT Solution category at the BiS Awards 2026. The Paraíba rollout validated the VLT model at operational scale, with user recurrence and engagement exceeding initial projections. In Rio de Janeiro, the solution passed the Proof of Concept with Loterj, opening the door to one of the country’s most strategic gaming markets.
In this interview, Guedes discusses what differentiated EGT in a competitive Brazilian market, how omnichannel integration works in practice, and why she believes the industry’s long-term growth depends on regulation, transparency and responsible gaming, not despite them, but because of them.
Celina, congratulations on the BiS Awards 2026! EGT and EGT Digital won in the Best VLT Solution category. In your view, what was the “X factor” that set your product apart in such a competitive market as Brazil this year?
Celina Guedes – I believe our key differentiator was the combination of robust technology, player experience, and adaptability to the Brazilian market. EGT already has a consolidated global track record across more than 85 jurisdictions, but in Brazil we did not simply replicate an international model, we localized the solution.
The Brazilian market demands performance, stability, regulatory security, and at the same time accessible and intuitive entertainment. We were able to deliver exactly that balance through an omnichannel VLT solution that is highly scalable and widely accepted by players.
In addition, the integration between EGT and EGT Digital allowed us to offer a complete ecosystem for operators and state lotteries, which is essential in an increasingly competitive and regulated environment.
You mentioned that EGT seeks to establish “higher new standards.” How does the company balance global technology from Bulgaria with the cultural and regulatory specifics of the Brazilian player?
This balance is achieved precisely because EGT has global expertise but operates locally with teams that deeply understand each market.
Brazil has very specific characteristics: player behavior, consumption profile, evolving legislation, and even visual and gameplay preferences. That is why we work closely with operators and regulatory bodies to adapt interfaces, user journeys, payment methods, communication, and features to Brazilian expectations.
At the same time, we maintain international standards of security, compliance, and technological stability, which are globally recognized. This combination of global experience and local intelligence is one of the pillars of our growth in the country.
The Paraíba operation was a large-scale rollout milestone. What were the key learnings from this project, and what do the initial performance numbers say about user acceptance of the VLT format?
Paraíba was extremely important because it validated, in practice, the potential of the VLT model in Brazil at operational scale.
The main learning was the strong demand for a regulated product that is safe and offers a high-quality entertainment experience. The audience responded very positively from the first months of operation.
Initial indicators exceeded our expectations in terms of user recurrence, engagement, and operational stability. This shows that Brazilian players are open to the VLT format when it is presented within a regulated, transparent, and reliable technological environment.

Regarding Rio de Janeiro: the product passed the Proof of Concept (PoC) with Loterj. What can the Rio market expect from this launch, and how does EGT plan to scale this solution to other states shaping their lotteries in 2026?
Rio de Janeiro is a strategic market for the entire industry, and the PoC approval was a highly relevant step.
The market can expect a modern, secure solution designed to deliver an integrated physical and digital experience. Our goal is not only to deploy terminals, but to build a sustainable ecosystem for operators, lotteries, and players.
We believe many states are closely observing the models being implemented now. Therefore, our focus is to demonstrate operational efficiency, revenue generation capacity, and regulatory responsibility.
EGT is prepared to scale quickly, as it already has technological infrastructure, international experience, and regulatory adaptability to support new state projects at different stages of maturity.
The EGT solution is described as fully omnichannel. For our audience, how does this integration between physical terminals and the digital platform work in practice? Does the player move between both worlds with a single account?
Yes. That is one of our main differentiators. Players can start their experience on a physical terminal and continue in the digital environment using the same account, wallet, and interaction history. This creates a seamless, modern, and convenient journey.
The omnichannel integration allows operators to have a unified view of user behavior, enabling smarter campaigns, loyalty programs, and advanced compliance mechanisms.
In practice, we connect the best of both worlds: the convenience of digital with the physical presence and reach of VLT terminals.
In a scenario where the government is blocking platforms without economic substance, how does the security and transparency of the EGT Digital ecosystem protect both operators and end users?
This regulatory movement reinforces something EGT has always supported: sustainable growth depends on regulation, transparency, and responsibility.
All EGT Digital infrastructure operates under strict international standards of compliance, certification, and technological security. We work with auditable systems, anti-fraud controls, operational traceability, data protection, and continuous monitoring.
This protects operators from a regulatory and financial standpoint, but also gives consumers the confidence of using a legitimate, secure, and supervised platform.
In a rapidly maturing market, solid companies with a consistent international track record naturally gain prominence.
We are seeing an intense debate in Brasília about gambling addiction and household debt. How does EGT VLT technology incorporate Responsible Gaming mechanisms and spending controls to prevent compulsive behavior?
Responsible Gaming is a core topic for EGT globally and also in Brazil.
Our technology includes tools for session time control, deposit and betting limits, risk behavior alerts, and self-exclusion mechanisms. In addition, operators can monitor suspicious behavioral patterns much more effectively through our technology.
We believe regulation and innovation must go hand in hand. The industry’s goal should be to provide safe, sustainable, and transparent entertainment.
This is an important and healthy debate for the sector’s maturity, and EGT wants to be part of building a long-term responsible market.
Celina, to close: EGT Group is already present in 85 jurisdictions. With Brazil reaching maturity in 2026, where do you see EGT Digital in the national ranking over the next two years?
Brazil has become one of the most strategic gaming and betting markets in the world, and EGT sees enormous growth potential here.
Over the next two years, our goal is to consolidate EGT and EGT Digital among the leading technology and omnichannel solution providers in the country, expanding presence in both physical and digital segments.
We are heavily investing in operational expansion, local partnerships, technological innovation, and institutional relationships. We believe we are still at the beginning of the transformation of this market in Brazil.
Our focus is not only growth in numbers, but building a solid, sustainable operation recognized for technological excellence and market trust.
The post “For EGT, sustainable growth in Brazil depends on transparency” appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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