Casinos are no longer just about cards and chips—they are also becoming laboratories for artificial intelligence. In an exclusive interview with SiGMA News, AXES.ai CEO Earle G. Hall was at the recent American Table Game Protection Conference where he spotlighted “smart assets” like AI-powered shufflers and surveillance systems that could redefine the future of table gaming.​
 

Smart assets on display​

Aside from being a keynote speaker, he highlighted two emerging solution providers that he found on the exhibition floor: Shark Trap, a Las Vegas-based manufacturer of advanced casino card shuffler equipped with security features to detect marked cards; and, EagleSight.ai, a surveillance system powered by Vision AI that monitors every camera feed simultaneously, identifying critical incidents in real-time.​

According to Hall, both solutions are maturing quickly, prioritising automation and artificial intelligence—not theory, but execution.​
 

The industry’s slow adoption​

But for Hall, the future of AI integration in casinos is grim: table games lag far behind other retail industries in adopting AI.​ He argued that gaming is ultimately a retail experience—customer satisfaction depends on whether players feel seen and heard. Dealers, he noted, are not just card handlers but psychologists, mentors, and entertainers guiding players through emotional journeys. Yet the industry has failed to preserve this human element.​

(Source: Grand View Research)
 

Rethinking the “table”​

Hall urged the industry to abandon the notion of a “table” as furniture. Instead, he sees it as a block—an asset that can be either smart or dumb. Like slot machines or vending machines, table games must be measured by how “smart” they are.​

He pointed to past failures, such as unshuffled cards in one incident in New Jersey, as evidence of how slowly the industry has evolved. “Manufacturers have created an entire segment called risk. It’s that bad,” he said.​
 

Asia Pacific leads the way​

Despite slow global adoption, casinos in Macau, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand are ahead, particularly in baccarat. Hall attributes this to a “perfect storm” of persistence and innovation.​

He pointed to the early RFID table technology trials in Macau in 2006, Genting Highlands’ commitment to efficiency and RFID integration, and from visionaries like tech curator Walker Digital that have pushed boundaries for decades. But he also noted: “If Macau catches the sniffles, all of Asia catches a cold,” Hall quipped, underscoring the region’s influence.​
 

Automation vs. human touch​

Hall lamented how dealers have shifted from entertainers to compliance officers, burdened with responsibilities like anti-money laundering and responsible gaming. “It breaks my heart,” he said.​

For him, AI is the only way to restore balance—automation can handle compliance, freeing dealers to focus on entertainment. He predicts that within nine months, the convergence of automation and AI will accelerate dramatically, citing Tesla’s upcoming robot rollout as a turning point.​
 

Data, security, and fraud prevention​

Hall emphasised that data is the foundation of AI-driven innovation. Without fine, granular, real-time data, automation fails. Smart tables must integrate shufflers, chip trays, and card management systems seamlessly.​

Fraud prevention, he argued, requires billions of data points and cross-referencing, including facial recognition at tables. He criticised, however, siloed casino management systems, calling them the real bottleneck: “The guilty party is casino management.”​
 

Human vs. synthetic coexistence​

Asked whether AI-powered smart tables will replace dealers, Hall predicted co-existence. “There’s no choice. You will fall in love with a Tesla robot in three years,” he said, envisioning a future where synthetic and organic beings share the casino floor.​
 

Lessons for other industries​

Hall outlined three takeaways for industries like hospitality and retail. First, personalisation drives customer value. He noted that the more you know someone, the more value that you can give to that person who needs it. Next, compliance and anti-money laundering practices in gaming should inspire other sectors. Finally, player loyalty is paramount. Every dollar spent must translate into a reason to return.

Hall concluded with a warning: “Casinos without table games become online video gaming experiences inside a location. Table games are the heart and soul of our industry. They deserve the most innovation and optimisation.”

 

 

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