Sands China trains 42 staff under latest edition of responsible gaming ambassador programme

Macau casino operator Sands China Ltd says 42 of its staff took part in the 11th edition of the company’s Responsible Gaming Ambassador Advanced Training Programme. The initiative, held in late August, was designed to increase frontline employees’ awareness of gambling disorder, and improve their ability to identify potential problems and provide assistance, according to a press release. The training included presentations, scenario-based videos, interactive games, role-playing exercises and assessments. Participants completing the programme receive certificates from the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), in the United States. This year’s programme included a session led by Alan Feldman, director of strategic initiatives at UNLV’s International Gaming Institute. He provided guidance on recognising signs of gambling disorder, and on communication with people experiencing gambling-related problems, according to the announcement. Davis Fong Ka Chio, director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming at the University of Macau, discussed as part of the training programme, the latest implementation of responsible gaming policies in Macau and trends in the city’s gaming industry. Senior counsellors from the Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Services Coordination Office also outlined counselling services and a four-step intervention model for use in gambling-related situations. Wilfred Wong Ying Wai, executive vice chairman of Sands China, said responsible gaming was “crucial” to the company’s corporate social responsibility, and a “vital foundation” for the sustainable development of Macau’s integrated tourism and leisure industry. Sands China said all of its more than 28,000 employees are required to undergo responsible gaming training when they join the company. The advanced programme was launched in 2013 and has recorded more than 1,000 participants to date. Its curriculum is updated annually to reflect industry developments and support responsible gaming initiatives introduced by Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, per the update.