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A Simple Reduction Scheme for Constrained Contextual Bandits with Adversarial Contexts via Regression

arXiv 2602.05019 ↗First posted 4 Feb 2026cs.LGcited by 0

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Abstract (arXiv)

We study constrained contextual bandits (CCB) with adversarially chosen contexts, where each action yields a random reward and incurs a random cost. We adopt the standard realizability assumption: conditioned on the observed context, rewards and costs are drawn independently from fixed distributions whose expectations belong to known function classes. We consider the continuing setting, in which the algorithm operates over the entire horizon even after the budget is exhausted. In this setting, the objective is to simultaneously control regret and cumulative constraint violation. Building on the seminal SquareCB framework of Foster et al. (2018), we propose a simple and modular algorithmic scheme that leverages online regression oracles to reduce the constrained problem to a standard unconstrained contextual bandit problem with adaptively defined surrogate reward functions. In contrast to most prior work on CCB, which focuses on stochastic contexts, our reduction yields improved guarantees for the more general adversarial context setting, together with a compact and transparent analysis.

Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 32 of its 56 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 4 Feb 2026.

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32 of 56 references.

References · 32

  1. 2019Online Learning: A Modern Introduction Using Convex Optimizationcited by 407
  2. 2014Taming the Monster: A Fast and Simple Algorithm for Contextual Banditscited by 200
  3. 2020Beyond UCB: Optimal and Efficient Contextual Bandits with Regression Oraclescited by 195
  4. 2016Fairness in Learning: Classic and Contextual Banditscited by 167
  5. 2013Bandits with Knapsackscited by 163
  6. 2020Bypassing the Monster: A Faster and Simpler Optimal Algorithm for Contextual Bandits under Realizabilitycited by 114
  7. 2018Practical Contextual Bandits with Regression Oraclescited by 92
  8. 2019Linear Stochastic Bandits Under Safety Constraintscited by 90
  9. 2014Bandits with concave rewards and convex knapsackscited by 83
  10. 2015Linear Contextual Bandits with Knapsackscited by 82
  11. 2019Combinatorial Sleeping Bandits with Fairness Constraintscited by 68
  12. 2018A Contextual Bandit Bake-offcited by 64
20 more
  1. 2019A Survey on Practical Applications of Multi-Armed and Contextual Banditscited by 44
  2. 2019Fair Contextual Multi-Armed Bandits: Theory and Experimentscited by 41
  3. 2019Safe Linear Thompson Sampling with Side Informationcited by 37
  4. 2023Optimal Algorithms for Online Convex Optimization with Adversarial Constraintscited by 33
  5. 2023Foundations of Reinforcement Learning and Interactive Decision Makingcited by 33
  6. 2022Contextual Bandits with Packing and Covering Constraints: A Modular Lagrangian Approach via Regressioncited by 30
  7. 2015Algorithms with Logarithmic or Sublinear Regret for Constrained Contextual Banditscited by 29
  8. 2019Safe Linear Stochastic Banditscited by 27
  9. 2024LLMs Are In-Context Bandit Reinforcement Learnerscited by 27
  10. 2019Old Dog Learns New Tricks: Randomized UCB for Bandit Problemscited by 21
  11. 2022Strategies for Safe Multi-Armed Bandits with Logarithmic Regret and Riskcited by 14
  12. 2022Safe Linear Bandits over Unknown Polytopescited by 13
  13. 2022Optimal Contextual Bandits with Knapsacks under Realizability via Regression Oraclescited by 12
  14. 2024Contextual Bandits with Stage-wise Constraintscited by 12
  15. 2021Learning to be Fair: A Consequentialist Approach to Equitable Decision-Makingcited by 11
  16. 2024Beyond Primal-Dual Methods in Bandits with Stochastic and Adversarial Constraintscited by 10
  17. 2024Regret Minimization in Stackelberg Games with Side Informationcited by 7
  18. 2023BanditQ: Fair Bandits with Guaranteed Rewardscited by 6
  19. 2025Learning to Bid in Non-Stationary Repeated First-Price Auctionscited by 5
  20. 2023Small Total-Cost Constraints in Contextual Bandits with Knapsacks, with Application to Fairnesscited by 2

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