A new UNLV report on artificial intelligence in the gaming industry says one in five companies have a dedicated AI governance role, and most organizations have no established governance practices.

It has been a record-setting year for UNLV. According to interim president Chris Heavey, over the last year, UNLV has seen record enrollment with about 34,000 students, record research expenditures at $134 million, and a record 52% graduation rate. With that growth comes expansion. On Wednesday, Heavey gave the 2026 State of the University address and laid out plans for several big projects that are on the horizon. That includes updated plans for a memorial garden, a new parking garage, expanding preschool programs, and a new business building.

The report draws insights from 83 gambling companies and 113 regulators worldwide, a 15-year analysis of academic publications, and patent filing data and expert contributions.​

If you're involved in gaming operations, regulation, compliance, or AI strategy, this report saves you the legwork. It’s the first independent baseline showing where the industry actually stands on AI — not just the hype. Expect useful benchmarking, a clear warning about governance gaps, and pointers on where risk and opportunity are converging.

New study provides benchmarks as gambling sector navigates responsible AI integration.

This marks the inaugural edition of an annual global benchmarking series tracking how artificial intelligence is shaping the global gambling industry.

As businesses rush to adopt artificial intelligence, use of AI in the highly regulated gaming industry is only just emerging. Now, a UNLV report is providing benchmarks as it develops. “The State of AI in Gaming 2026” was released Thursday. It provides a snapshot of current levels of adoption and points to gaps that need to be addressed. The 113-page report was released by the UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) in collaboration with KPMG LLP, a U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm. The report focuses on the responsible use of AI.

The changes are part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law last year. Graduate PLUS loans are being eliminated for students starting new programs. The law also created caps on federal borrowing, a new total lifetime limit across all direct loans, a new standard repayment plan, and a new income-based repayment plan.

“If you’re driving in Las Vegas, and the light turns green? Wait.” Local performer Amy Saunders, aka Miss Behave, drops this line in her show-opening monologues, where it always gets a brittle, self-aware laugh because we’ve been on every side of that intersection.