Sands China’s Seventh Annual Responsible Gaming Ambassador Advanced Training a Success

Unique programme increases team members’ problem gaming assistance knowledge and intervention skills  

(Macao, September 26, 2019) – A group of 122 Sands China team members were the latest to complete the company’s annual advanced responsible gaming training programme Tuesday and Wednesday at Conrad Macao Cotai Strip.

Through their training as Responsible Gaming Ambassadors, they gain enhanced knowledge of problem gambling and awareness of the importance of responsible gaming. Since 2013, Sands China Ltd. has been providing the advanced training as a supplement to its company-wide responsible gaming training delivered to all of Sands China’s more than 28,000 team members.

“This elite training programme is part of our company’s ongoing commitment to responsible gaming in Macao,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd. “After seven continuous years, it remains the only such programme in Macao done in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and it combines the expertise of world-famous scholars with our own local experts. We are pleased to be able to offer this invaluable training programme for the benefit of our team members, our guests, and our city.”

A total of 122 team members were issued certificates by UNLV Wednesday, after attending one of two training sessions Sept. 24-25.

The company’s advanced Responsible Gaming Ambassador training programme was launched in 2013 and is a global initiative of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. As part of Sands China’s efforts to support the measures introduced by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), new and enhanced elements are integrated each year.

The Responsible Gaming Ambassador training programme has been completed nearly 650 times to date. After completion, Responsible Gaming Ambassadors are able to provide appropriate response and assistance to patrons exhibiting signs of problem gambling and to initiate conversation through crisis management and intervention skills.

Sands China’s Responsible Gaming Ambassador programme is delivered by world-renowned responsible gaming expert Professor Bo J. Bernhard, executive director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute, who shares his academic insights on responsible gaming knowledge and experience from the United States with team members.

Bernhard said: “It continues to be a pleasure to work with Sands China each year on this important training initiative. They’ve shown over the years their sincere commitment to responsible gaming with this programme, and we’ve been able to fine tune the training each year based on participant feedback and the evolving science in order to make it as effective and useful as possible. I look forward to continuing our collaboration so that we can reach ever higher numbers of Sands employees.”

Bernhard was joined this year by one of Sands China’s human resources trainers who has completed the Macao Responsible Gambling Advisor and Train the Trainer course, and by a team of senior counsellors from the Sheng Kung Hui Gambling Counseling and Family Wellness Centre and its 24 Hours Gambling Counselling Hotline, who helped enhance team members’ practical responsible gaming knowledge and skills in areas such as crisis management and intervention.

Enrolment in the training programme was extended to all manager-level and higher team members this year, with the number of participants increasing to a total of 122 as a result, comprising team members from several different departments: table games, slots, cage, international marketing, loyalty marketing, marketing development, security, human resources, food and beverage, concierge, and guest services. Participants are educated on the behaviours of problem gamblers, how to provide appropriate information and assistance on responsible gaming, and the application procedures and particulars of the self-exclusion and third-party exclusion programmes. They also participate in role-playing scenarios, and learn more about the gaming counselling service provided by Sheng Kung Hui – supporting the government’s efforts to further promote the 24-hour counselling hotline.

Sands China remains committed to the personal well-being of its guests and recognises the importance of responsible gaming to the Macao community. Responsible gaming is one of the three pillars of Project Protect, a comprehensive global initiative to accelerate performance in responsible gaming, anti-money laundering and human trafficking prevention, initiated by Sands China Ltd. parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Photo caption: A group of 122 Sands China team members were the latest to complete the company’s annual advanced responsible gaming training programme Tuesday and Wednesday at Conrad Macao Cotai Strip.

Photo caption: Professor Bo J. Bernhard, executive director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute, delivers a speech at a graduation ceremony for Sands China’s Responsible Gaming Ambassador programme Wednesday at Conrad Macao Cotai Strip.

 

 

Photo caption: Sands China team members participate in role-playing scenarios Wednesday to learn more about problem gambling, as part of Sands China’s Responsible Gaming Ambassador training programme.