Partnership will create dedicated specialist team to develop and deploy AI to improve player experiences across gaming products and channels.

BCLC has partnered with Future Anthem, a UK-based gambling data science specialist, on the creation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Innovation Hub (the “Hub”), to be located at BCLC’s Vancouver office.

The Hub will focus on the development of AI, data capabilities and programs designed to improve the player experience across all BCLC gambling platforms, including lottery, gaming, and sports. It will employ a team of data and product professionals, with access to Future Anthem’s Data Science platform.

“BCLC is excited to be partnering with Future Anthem to create the first AI innovation hub in B.C. focused on the gambling industry,” says Mark Goldberg, BCLC’s Chief Information Officer. “We know that the key components of the Hub will be its data driven research and software product development to support player engagement and experience, safer play and improved game design – core BCLC business areas.”

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Managed in partnership through a joint Steering Committee that includes senior representatives from both BCLC and Future Anthem, the Hub will create and cultivate highly specialized, Vancouver-based AI technology jobs utilising Future Anthem’s strong experience in building teams focused on AI research and development, complemented by a small team of BCLC employees with skills and experience in this area.

“This dynamic partnership combines our expertise, reach, and technologies and allows us to harness AI for good – to bring true and measurable benefits to players in a responsible, sustainable, and enjoyable manner,” says Leigh Nissim, CEO and Founder of Future Anthem. “With access to more data across all verticals and channels to build amazing machine learning models and AI applications, I am confident this collaboration will quickly deliver benefits to BCLC and its players to reinforce its lead position within lotteries globally.”

As well as recruiting the team in Vancouver, Future Anthem will deploy its market-leading real time AI platform locally to employ best practices for AI product development and governance within the Hub, which includes protocols to ensure transparency of AI use, data security, and management of AI models and their player impact. These models are designed to use anonymised data that is stored in Canada.

BCLC has launched PROLINE – a first-of-its-kind digital retail sportsbook – across all B.C. lottery terminals.

PROLINE offers the most popular sports-betting options previously available on BCLC’s Sports Action, as well as other new offerings. In addition to Toto, Oddset 2-outcome, Oddset 3-outcome, money line, point spread, totals and props, single-event betting and dynamic odds will be offered for the first time at retail locations.

“This is an exciting evolution for BCLC and for sports bettors across the province. PROLINE offers an updated and innovative sports betting experience and is the pivotal next step for BCLC in offering exciting new sports products to our valued players,” Dan Beebe, Chief Operating Officer at BCLC, said.

To play, players will have to download the new BCLC PROLINE app on their phone, create their digital bet slips in the app and receive an app-generated QR code, which they can bring to any lottery retail location to scan and receive a printed ticket. As added flexibility, players can also create their PROLINE bets on their laptops or tablets through the PROLINE website.

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BCLC is also planning for other new sports-betting experiences in the months ahead, which will include enhanced betting experiences at B.C. bars and pubs and exciting new offerings at B.C. casinos around the province.

BCLC is the official sports betting partner of the Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver Warriors, BC Lions and the 11th Grey Cup, which takes place at Vancouver’s BC Place on November 17.

The BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has advised PlayNow users to update their passwords following a recent incident.

According to the BCLC, PlayNow detected a suspiciously high volume of traffic on the site on July 24.

After the data was reviewed, PlayNow identified the traffic was the result of “credential stuffing,” where criminals attempt to access player accounts using email addresses and passwords previously exposed or stolen from other companies.

Credential stuffing works on the premise that people often use the same user ID and password across multiple websites.

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“This is a deeply concerning incident and a cautionary tale for everyone with multiple online accounts,” said BCLC President and CEO Pat Davis.

“Our investigation remains ongoing, and we have found no evidence that our systems have been compromised, or that player login information was stolen from our systems.”

PlayNow says impacted players’ accounts were locked due to suspicious activity immediately after determining credential stuffing had taken place, and measures were taken to block suspicious traffic.

The BCLC has advised all PlayNow users to change their passwords as a precautionary measure.

“Integrity and security are at the core of our business and our games,” Davis said.

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“We are committed to continuing our ongoing evaluation and enhancement of PlayNow security controls to maintain the safety of our players’ information going forward.”