AI vs. Live Dealers: Why Iconic21 CEO Edvardas Sadovskis Prioritizes Transparency

The debate surrounding Artificial Intelligence in the gambling industry suffers from a fundamental category error, according to Edvardas Sadovskis, CEO of Iconic21. Many industry participants assume that AI dealers are merely intended to copy the human experience at live tables one-to-one. Sadovskis vehemently disagrees with this view, emphasizing that becoming too close to the human model only leads to the AI failing against an unreachable benchmark. Instead, he advocates for an approach that leverages the strengths of technology to elevate RNG (Random Number Generator) games to a new level.

The goal of Iconic21 is not to displace the live dealer but to end the solitary experience of classic table games. For decades, users have played RNG blackjack or roulette alone against software. Sadovskis questions whether this silence was truly a player preference or simply the only available option. By utilizing AI dealers that are intentionally not photo-realistic, the company creates a transparency that apparently resonates well with players. It is about a new form of entertainment where the machine remains recognizable as such while still enabling social dynamics.

Numbers and facts

Ahead of the SBC Summit 2026, Iconic21 shared initial observations from the operation of their iDealer technology. A central aspect is safety through transparency. Research on AI debates shows that models in controlled environments can correctly identify true answers 76 percent of the time, compared to a baseline rate of just 48 percent. This underscores the potential of AI when used for support rather than deception. Iconic21 uses these insights to create dealers that answer questions, crack jokes, and hold conversations without pretending to have a human identity.

"Our AI-powered dealer does not use a human dealer, a studio, or a camera feed. The game remains RNG blackjack. The pace and animations behave exactly as players would expect from an RNG product." - Edvardas Sadovskis, CEO of Iconic21

Background

Technological development faces the challenge that AI systems are becoming increasingly powerful. AI safety experts, such as those at BlueDot Impact, warn that systems based purely on human feedback (RLHF) could reach their limits once AI exceeds human cognitive levels. In the casino world, this means algorithms could become so complex that players can no longer detect manipulation. Sadovskis relies on a radically honest path here: the AI looks like an AI because it is one. This removes the social pressure and expectations usually associated with real live dealers and allows for a more relaxed interaction.

It is therefore about creating a new category. Live tables bring social dynamics and trust through human interaction. RNG tables offer speed and privacy. Iconic21's new solution aims to provide RNG without isolation. Players ask questions and conduct conversations at these tables that would be unusual in a traditional live setting because the social barrier toward a machine is lower. Whether this success will last in the long term will depend on whether players return permanently, but the early signals are clearly positive according to Sadovskis.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, the integration of AI technologies is particularly interesting in the context of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). The Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) places great value on transparency and protection against manipulation. Since Iconic21's iDealers are based on certified RNG algorithms, the core mechanics of the game remains predictable for regulation. Nevertheless, German providers on the whitelist must follow strict rules. These include the 1,000 euro per month deposit limit and monitoring through the LUGAS system.

Since table games like blackjack and roulette are subject to specific licensing by individual federal states in Germany anyway, AI technology could build a bridge here. It offers a more attractive design for permitted RNG games without the strict requirements for live broadcasts from studios, which are often regulatorily more complex. It remains important for users in Germany to only play at casinos with an official GGL license. MGA or Curacao providers do not offer the legal protection and intervention mechanisms prescribed by the GlüStV 2021, especially regarding compliance with stake limits and player protection.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

GGL-licensed casinos could increase their attractiveness through such innovations without violating the strict 1-euro limit rules for virtual slot games, provided they are correctly licensed table games. The transparency Sadovskis calls for fits perfectly with the German regulatory approach. It prevents consumer deception, a central concern of German supervision. If a provider clearly communicates that it is an AI, this minimizes the risk of complaints about supposedly "manipulated" live images. The GGL will certainly examine such technological innovations closely to ensure that social interaction with the AI does not lead to excessive gambling incentives that contradict the goals of player protection.