Unibet experiments with voice recognition technology

The operator’s Siri-like voice betting functionality will be rolled-out in the next version of its mobile app

Unibet has begun trialling voice recognition technology with the upcoming launch of a voice betting feature via the operator’s flagship mobile sportsbook app.

The Siri-like functionality will be available in the next version of the Unibet app, currently awaiting approval from Apple, and was built in-house on Kambi’s APIs in partnership with a third-party technology provider.

The product enables customers to place a wager on selected markets through the phone’s in-built microphone after customers have clicked the microphone icon found on the app’s homepage.

Where there is ambiguity around the bet the customer intended to place, the feature will use a natural language component to help understand the customer’s betting intent and either make a safe assumption or ask the customer for clarification before the bet is confirmed.

According to Unibet’s head of sportsbook Erik Bäcklund, voice betting is designed to simplify the betting process, enabling punters to place bets much quicker without the need to scroll through various screens and menus.

“Unibet is constantly trying to enhance the experience around placing a bet and we are about to trial an exciting new feature that makes the process of placing a bet simpler and more intuitive,” Bäcklund told eGaming Review.

“By enabling the customer to interact naturally, the app removes some of the frictions associated with traditional web and app interfaces, giving our customers the best possible experience,” he added.

Testing of the feature is currently limited to the English language, football and for certain bet-types only, although Backlund said Unibet plans to rapidly expand the feature if trials are successful.