How AI agents redefine sports betting and fan engagement
The global sports betting market is experiencing an upward trend, with its value projected to reach $187.39 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. This growth is driven by increasing internet penetration and mobile accessibility, enabling a broader and more dynamic user base to engage in betting activities across multiple platforms. As technology continues to reshape the industry, new formats and real-time features are attracting both traditional punters and a new generation of digital-native bettors.
Among the technologies that are redefining the sports betting industry is artificial intelligence (AI). AI-powered tools like Agent Daredevil are poised to gain significant momentum in the coming years.
“Traditionally, betting platforms have been transactional—place your bet, wait for the outcome,” Jared Dillinger, founder of Daredevil Media, told SiGMA News. “But with an AI agent, that experience becomes interactive, intelligent, and personalised.”
Agent Daredevil, the flagship product of the Daredevil Media team, is designed to act as more than just a statistics engine. At a press conference in Taguig City, the Daredevil team introduced the AI agent to sports journalists, crypto investors, gaming enthusiasts, and tech-savvy builders. “He’s analysing real-time data, comparing trends, factoring in injury reports, and even offering predictions that evolve with every possession,” Dillinger said. “He brings context, not just numbers.”
Dillinger explained that this contextual intelligence allows Daredevil to act as a betting companion, not just a tool. “Bettors won’t be placing wagers blindly—they’ll be doing it alongside an AI companion that learns with them, reacts live, and tailors strategies to their behaviour,” Dillinger said. “It’s not just about smarter bets—it’s about a smarter ecosystem, where education, entertainment, and execution all converge.”
From passive viewers to active participants
Beyond betting, Dillinger said that AI agents are also being positioned as tools for enhancing fan engagement across sports and esports.
“I believe AI agents like Agent Daredevil are going to bridge the gap between passive fandom and active participation,” Dillinger said during the press conference. “We live in an attention economy—people don’t just want to watch the game; they want to be part of it.”
The AI agent responds to fan interactions, offers real-time commentary, and even engages in prediction challenges. “Fans can now interact with a personality who knows the game, responds to their takes, gives them challenges, helps them predict outcomes, and even reacts in real-time,” he added. “Whether it’s an esports tournament or a live NBA game, Daredevil makes the fan feel seen, heard, and involved.”
What makes the system even more unique is its accessibility across platforms. “This works 24/7. On Twitter. On Telegram. During the game. After the game. Before the next one,” Dillinger said. “This isn’t the future of engagement—it’s the evolution of it.”
Built from the court to the code
Dillinger, a former professional basketball player who played in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) — the first professional basketball league in Asia — explained how his on-court experience shapes his approach to innovation.
“I’ve had a mission while I was an athlete, and it was always to compete at the highest level possible,” he said. “I took that same tenacity and pivoted, put it here.”
Dillinger said the project was born out of identifying gaps in both the sports and gaming ecosystems. “We found some issues in the system that need to be polished up, need to be tweaked,” he said. “We found problems that we’ve been a part of because we’re gamers or athletes ourselves, and we found a way to make it better.”
Built by dreamers, backed by data
John Sedano, the developer behind Agent Daredevil, brings experience from Web3 gaming and data-driven product development. “My background—I’ve been in the front lines of Web3 gaming,” Sedano said. “I was a core contributor to making [Axie Infinity] successful—and then crash. And I feel that there is responsibility in trying to figure out what went wrong.”
Sedano said that Agent Daredevil is, in part, an answer to that reflection. “This is my thesis as well as the team’s—how can we bridge gaming and sports and take that into the age of AI?” he said. “Daredevil is a thesis of problem-solving and also making the Philippines another first mover, not only in the world of Web3 sports and basketball but AI as well.”
He noted that the platform is being built to be compatible across various applications. “We’re also making sure that we’re going to be ahead or at least at par with global competition,” Sedano said. “We are going to be making him compatible for any company and any project to solve your problems as well.”
The attention economy is now
For Dillinger, the ultimate challenge is attention. “If people don’t understand right now in the world today—attention equals value. Attention equals money,” he said. “If you can’t get someone’s attention to see your product or organisation, you’re going to be running an uphill battle.”
He sees AI agents as a tool to win that battle. “It takes a lot to keep people locked in or wanting to come back for more,” Dillinger said. “This is a new stream of income for organisations—but also a new sense of attention that will get users coming back and playing.”
“It’s not just about smarter bets—it’s about a smarter ecosystem, where education, entertainment, and execution all converge,” Dillinger concluded.
