The iGaming industry’s rush toward automation must not come at the expense of human judgment, according to compliance experts Warren Russell and Neal Luke. Speaking on the iGaming Daily podcast, the pair predicted that “humans in the loop” will define the next phase of compliance technology.

Russell, founder and CEO of eyeDP, opened with a blunt message: “We can throw every algorithm we like at it, but if you don’t have the human in the loop to interpret context, then you risk false positives, missed grey-area behaviour and, ultimately, regulatory blow-back.”

As compliance systems become more data-driven and AI-powered, Russell said the challenge now lies in building tools that support, rather than replace, analysts. “Regulators don’t just want to see automation,” he added. “They want governance, accountability, and people who can explain decisions.”

Luke, a veteran compliance-tech consultant, agreed while describing a clear shift in how operators are approaching technology deployment. “It’s not about replacing people,” he said. “It’s about putting people in the loop where the machine cannot see context or nuance.”

Luke pointed to the rise of orchestration platforms, which combine behavioural analytics, real-time risk scoring and human decision points in one environment. “Firms are now mapping where the machine hands off to the human, when a human can override, and how every action is audited.”

Both experts said this hybrid model, which pairs automated insights with human oversight, is fast becoming the industry standard. Russell described it as a move from reactive to proactive compliance: using algorithms to flag anomalies earlier, then letting human analysts determine risk and escalation. Luke added that his firm’s platforms are already generating ‘micro-alerts’ that humans triage, allowing teams to focus on higher-value decisions.

The pair also highlighted a growing need for collaboration across the compliance ecosystem and claimed vendors, operators, and affiliates must share richer data to make these systems effective. “Compliance isn’t just a cost centre anymore,” said Russell. “When done well, it’s a competitive advantage.”

While the phrase ‘augmented humans’ might sound dystopian, it is the direction of travel according to Luke in the shape of analysts supported by AI tools but still responsible for final decisions.“The future isn’t fully automated – it’s governed automation.”

Their message to the industry was clear: the smartest systems still need smart people. In compliance, “humans in the loop” isn’t just a phrase but the safeguard that keeps technology honest.