UNLV Researchers Launch Second Annual Survey on AI Adoption in Global Gaming

Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute’s AI Research Hub have opened the second annual industry survey on artificial intelligence adoption across the global gaming sector, and this effort also includes a dedicated regulator survey that runs alongside the main questionnaire. The initiative expands directly on the findings from the first “State of AI in Gaming 2026” report, and it supplies the data foundation for the next edition scheduled for release in 2027. Operators and technology providers who complete the survey receive private benchmark reports that compare their responses against aggregated results from peers in the same segments.

Survey Scope and Timeline

The current round of data collection builds on the structure established in the inaugural study while adding new questions that track changes in deployment patterns, regulatory expectations, and integration challenges that have emerged since the 2026 report appeared. Participants answer sections covering current AI use cases, planned investments, data governance practices, and perceived barriers to wider rollout, and the regulator survey mirrors many of these topics from an oversight perspective. Data gathering began in October 2026, with collection windows set to close before analysts begin compiling the 2027 edition.

Participation and Deliverables

Industry respondents submit responses through a secure online platform managed by the AiR Hub, and those who finish the full questionnaire gain access to customized benchmark documents that highlight where their organization stands relative to others in areas such as responsible gaming tools, operational efficiency applications, and customer analytics platforms. The regulator track follows a parallel process that allows oversight bodies to contribute insights on policy development and compliance considerations without revealing individual operator data. Both tracks operate under strict confidentiality protocols that prevent attribution of any single response in the final aggregated outputs.

Connection to the 2026 Report

The original “State of AI in Gaming 2026” report, compiled from the first survey cycle, documented baseline adoption rates and priority use cases that operators identified at that time, and the 2027 edition will measure year-over-year shifts against those benchmarks. By repeating core questions and introducing targeted follow-ups, the AiR Hub team can identify whether adoption has accelerated in specific verticals, whether regulatory clarity has improved, and whether new technologies have moved from pilot stages into production environments. The addition of the regulator survey creates a paired dataset that researchers can use to examine alignment or gaps between industry practices and oversight expectations.

Data Utilization and Future Reporting

Once collection closes, AiR Hub analysts will process the combined responses to produce the 2027 report, which will be released through established channels that previously distributed the 2026 findings. Summary statistics will appear in public releases, while detailed cross-tabulations remain available only to survey participants through their private benchmark documents. This structure encourages broader participation because respondents receive actionable comparative intelligence that they cannot obtain from public summaries alone. Observers note that the dual-track approach, covering both operators and regulators, supplies a more complete picture of how artificial intelligence is moving through the gaming ecosystem than either perspective could provide independently.

Conclusion

The second annual survey from the UNLV AiR Hub continues a multi-year effort to track artificial intelligence adoption in gaming through consistent, repeatable measurement, and the inclusion of regulator perspectives adds depth to the dataset that will inform the 2027 report. Organizations that take part receive tailored benchmark materials, while the broader industry gains updated visibility into evolving practices and priorities. The process remains open through the designated collection period that began in October 2026, with results feeding directly into the next edition of the “State of AI in Gaming” series. Further details appear in coverage of the launch announcement.