News on AiR HUB

UNLV's AiR Hub to Debut Global AI Maturity Index and Lead Critical Player Protection Debates at NEXT: NYC Summit

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:37:00 +0000

The UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) is set to redefine the industry’s understanding of technological progress at the upcoming NEXT: NYC Summit 2026. Representing the AI Research Hub (AiR Hub), co-founders Dr. Kasra Ghaharian and Simo Dragicevic will lead two strategic AI sessions on March 10th and 11th, including the world debut of the inaugural “State of AI in Gaming” flagship report, a landmark collaborative study between AiR Hub and KPMG.

Yaspa Joins UNLV's AI Research Hub (AiR HUB) as a Founding Member

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:46:00 +0000

We are excited to share that Yaspa has joined AiR Hub as our tenth founding member. As a leader in open banking and payments, Yaspa brings a wealth of specialized knowledge that fills a critical gap in our current founding members’ expertise. Their deep understanding of real-time financial technology will be instrumental in rounding out our collective capabilities and driving innovation across the network.

Read the full press release here.

Aristocrat Joins UNLV’s AI Research Hub (AiR Hub) as Newest Founding Member

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:49:21 -0800

We are excited to share that Aristocrat has joined AiR Hub as our ninth founding member. This addition strengthens our mission to foster collaborative research on the impacts, risks, and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the gambling sector, accelerating the adoption of trusted and responsible AI. Aristocrat will contribute its extensive industry expertise to our advisory panel and support key research initiatives, joining a prestigious group of founding members committed to developing a sustainable entertainment industry.

AiR Hub Receives Funding from Clarion’s ICE Research Institute to Advance AI Ethics and Governance in Gambling

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:07:29 -0700

We are proud to share that AiR Hub has been announced as one of the inaugural recipients of funding from the newly launched ICE Research Institute, an initiative by Clarion Gaming to accelerate independent, impactful research in the global gambling sector.

Our project—“Advancing AI Ethics and Governance in the Gambling Sector: A Research Translation Pilot”—will be delivered in collaboration with a PhD Candidate from tbe Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid and represents a critical next step in bridging academic research with real-world regulatory and industry practices.

Kasra Featured on KNPR’s State of Nevada to Discuss AI’s Impact on Gambling

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

On Monday June 16th, 2025, AiR Hub co-founder and UNLV International Gaming Institute Director of Research, Kasra Ghaharian, appeared on Nevada Public Radio’s State of Nevada to discuss the growing influence of artificial intelligence across the gambling sector.

In the segment titled “As AI Transforms Industries, How Can It Impact Gambling in Las Vegas?”, Ghaharian explored both the promise and the ethical risks of AI in casino environments. From fraud detection and marketing automation to the design of game features, he explained how AI tools are rapidly reshaping operations, but also raised a cautionary flag about the potential for exploitation, particularly of vulnerable gamblers.

Simo Interviewed by G&M News for Insights on AI, Innovation, and Safer Gambling

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 13:45:07 -0700

AiR Hub co-founder Simo Dragicevic recently sat down with G&M News to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the gaming landscape. In the interview, Simo also speaks about AiR Hub’s mission to promote responsible, transparent AI use across the global gaming sector.

One project he highlights is The State of AI in Gaming, AiR Hub’s flagship report. This report will map key trends, showcase promising use cases, and introduce a first-of-its-kind benchmarking index to evaluate AI maturity and responsible adoption across the industry. Simo also touches on AiR Hub’s ongoing work using large language models (LLMs) to better understand how conversational AI can support novice bettors and respond ethically to gambling-related risks.

Kas and Simo on the Regulating AI Podcast

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Air Hub founders Kasra Ghaharian and Simo Dragicevic recently joined Sanjay Puri on the RegulatingAI podcast to discuss all things AI and the gambling industry. Sanjay’s podcast has established itself as mainstay in the field of AI, regulation and ethics and he has interviewed many business, political and academic leaders to discuss the key challenges to ensuring AI remains safe whilst not impeding the incredible potential for innovation and growth. So we were pleased to have the opportunity to shine the spotlight on AI and the gambling industry for first time on the podcast.