Maltese MEP asks gambling operators to train staff before replacing them with AI
Maltese MEP David Casa told the SiGMA conference in Rome that gambling operators should invest in training before using AI to cut jobs. He also backed shared European standards and repeated his opposition to an EU gambling tax.
This is a European policy speech with no direct rule for South Africa. It is relevant because AI is already used in fraud detection and customer support at gambling firms, and how operators handle it affects player protection and service quality. African regulators were also meeting at SiGMA this week, so the themes may travel.
What he said
David Casa, a Maltese member of the European Parliament in the EPP group, spoke in a keynote at SiGMA World in Rome on Wednesday. He said reports of gaming workers losing jobs to AI deserve attention and urged operators to retrain staff before cutting roles. He accepted AI can save time and help detect fraud, but argued experienced teams know when a player needs help and when a human decision is needed.
The job cuts behind it
iGaming Business linked the remarks to recent cuts. Flutter announced up to 1,400 UK and Ireland roles would go and blamed higher UK remote gambling taxes, though one adviser quoted said AI automation may also play a part. Gambling.com Group announced an AI-led restructuring in May to cut about a quarter of its workforce. GamingMalta disputes reports of widespread AI-driven layoffs, saying staff are being redeployed. The true scale is hard to measure.
Standards, licences and tax
Casa also called for stronger shared standards across Europe, saying a licence must mean something and that licensed firms should not carry compliance costs while illegal sites reach the same players. He repeated his opposition to a proposed EU gambling tax, arguing it could drive investment away and make illegal sites more attractive.
What to watch
Watch whether any regulator sets rules on automated decisions in player protection. South African players should know that customer service and risk checks at operators are increasingly automated, and that FICA and account checks still apply. See our verification guide for what to expect.