MEP Brando Benifei to Deliver Keynote on AI and Regulation at SiGMA World Rome

Benifei’s speech is set to take place from 13:00 to 13:15. The current live agenda merely refers to his appearance as a keynote without giving it a title or specifying a subject, and therefore no particular policy position has at this stage been linked to the session.

Even so, his involvement introduces an EU aspect to a programme in which regulation, technology and cross-border enforcement will play a major role.

He was one of the co-rapporteurs of the European Parliament on the Artificial Intelligence Act and, as the speaker’s announcement for Rome states, also acts as co-chair of the Parliament’s AI Monitoring Group following the enactment of the legislation.

The fact that this is so brings his emergence at the point where two matters becoming more and more important to the gaming industry meet: the development of AI systems and the ability of regulation to function across markets which are still subject to national supervision.

European coordination takes the Main Stage

Right after Benifei’s keynote address, the programme will go on to Fragmented Europe: Can Regulators Coordinate Without a Single Rulebook?

Although Benifei is not at the moment listed as a participant in that panel, the fact that his keynote is immediately followed by his appearance means that there is a broader regulatory block on the Main Stage.

The session will gather regulators and experts from the industry to look into whether the European authorities could cooperate more closely without establishing a single harmonised gambling system.

The SiGMA World agenda includes measures aimed at combating illegal gambling, safeguards for players, the sharing of intelligence, disrupting payments, the use of AI for risk detection, and policymaking based on evidence.

That reflects a fundamental aspect of the structure of gaming in Europe.

Operators can operate in a number of countries, even though licences, product rules, advertising requirements and enforcement are mostly determined by the jurisdiction in question. This results in a practical problem since illegal operators, payment flows and digital technologies are able to cross borders far more easily than national regulatory systems.

Artificial Intelligence and Regulatory Compliance 

The issue is now further complicated by artificial intelligence.

The technology is becoming more relevant to fraud detection, risk assessment, customer monitoring and business operations, and the EU AI framework lays down different requirements according to how the individual systems are developed and used.

Benifei’s keynote is taking place in Rome under those circumstances.

For any company operating in Europe, the debate taking place in Rome will be about more than just one piece of legislation. It will also look at how the rules established at both the EU and national levels interact when businesses start to apply them.

SiGMA World will be holding a gathering for policymakers, regulators and gaming companies at Fiera Roma from 02 to 05 November, featuring regulatory workshops and Main Stage sessions as part of the commercial programme. Secure your tickets now!