It's not smart relying on AI tools to bet on football, say experts

Ayra Wang

Experts are warning the public against relying on artificial intelligence tools for betting as AI models claiming to predict football match outcomes with high accuracy gain traction on social media.

Sam Lam Sum, associate vice president of Hong Kong College of Technology, said while AI can analyze trends and behaviors on a macro level, accurately predicting single-match results is unreliable due to the unpredictable nature of sports.

"There are too many variables, such as player fitness, performance, weather and tactics and it's nearly impossible to predict the outcome," Lam told Sing Tao Daily, sister newspaper of The Standard.

His warning came as advertisements for AI football prediction tools flood social media, claiming to use advanced data science, machine learning, and deep learning to provide betting tips, including match winners, point spreads and goal totals.

One model, for instance, claims an 80 percent win rate after predicting 785 matches in the past year. It charges a minimum membership fee of HK$3,800 for 30 days but offers no free trials.

A promoter said "football predictions are about long-term performance" and advised users to focus on "long-term, stable returns" rather than quick riches.

Augusta Yim Ting-ling, a psychologist and service director at the Zion Social Service Yuk Lai Hing Counselling Centre, criticized the marketing tactics, noting that they often attract novice bettors.

She questioned their credibility, citing variables like player morale and personal issues that can impact results. Yim added: "Can these platforms truly have such a comprehensive database? Building and maintaining AI models require substantial resources. Are user fees enough to sustain operations?"

When queried about a specific football match, AI models like DeepSeek and GPT-4o mini declined to provide exact predictions.