AI-powered betting firms are selling subscriptions that cost gamblers more money on top of wagers, promising that artificial intelligence can give them a winning edge.
Gamblers are paying up to $199 per month to access the intelligence offered by AI-powered betting startups, reports Wired.
But despite bold claims, the results show little evidence that customers are coming out ahead.
Sports betting in the United States has surged since a federal ban was struck down seven years ago, with Americans placing more than $150 billion in wagers last year. That growth coincided with the AI boom, spawning a new crop of startups pitching “gambling agents” that can crunch data, scrape the internet, and even place bets on behalf of users.
One of the most prominent efforts is MonsterBet, founded by Carson Szeder, a computer science major. He says his AI system gives subscribers a real advantage.
“We have some people who are probably hitting around 56 to 60% of the time, myself included.”
MonsterBet charges $77 a month for access to its software, which Szeder promotes on social media with posts such as “Here’s How I Made $1.2K From My Sports Betting Software Yesterday.” Competing firms charge similar rates: Rithmm offers an “AI-powered sports intelligence” package for $30, while YouTuber Siraj Raval sells access to his WagerGPT for $199 a month.
The promises, however, are not lining up with results. Pete Sanchez, a member of WagerGPT’s Telegram group, describes the service as inactive despite its subscription fee.
“It’s completely dead. Waste of money.”
Even established operators are distancing themselves from the trend. FanDuel launched a chatbot called Ace to provide analysis and tips, but emphasized it would not place bets for customers.
Says Jon Sadow, vice president of product innovation and transformation at FanDuel,
“The power to place bets should always stay in the hands of our customers themselves—not bots, AI agents, or anything (or anyone) else.”
Lincoln Murr, an AI product manager at Coinbase, says the profitability of such services is far from proven.
“How profitable these agents truly are, I don’t know.”
Regulators are also paying closer attention to how technology is reshaping the gambling industry. Senator Richard Blumenthal, co-sponsor of the SAFE Bet Act, has warned that the broader explosion in online betting poses public health risks.
“This bill is a matter of public health. It is a matter of stopping addiction, saving lives and making sure that young people particularly are protected against exploitation.”