Sands China Holds 9th Responsible Gaming Ambassador Advanced Training 

Elite programme increases team members’ problem gaming knowledge and intervention skills

(Macao, Nov. 24, 2024) –  More than 40 Sands China team members recently completed the company’s annual advanced responsible gaming training programme Oct. 21-22 at The Londoner® Macao, strengthening their knowledge and skills in support of the Macao government’s “Seeking Help for Winning the Future” responsible gaming initiatives. 

Team members who join the programme train to become Responsible Gaming Ambassadors, thus heightening their awareness of the importance of responsible gaming while gaining enhanced knowledge of problem gambling. Sands China has provided the training since 2013 to supplement the company-wide responsible gaming training delivered to all of Sands China’s more than 26,000 team members.

Sands China’s Responsible Gaming Ambassador programme is delivered by world-renowned responsible gaming expert Professor Bo J. Bernhard, vice president of UNLV’s Office of Economic Development. During the training, Bernhard shared responsible gaming studies and insights from around the world with team members, and gave them practical techniques for when and how to respond to various situations. He covered the history and theory of problem gambling, how to recognise signs of gambling disorder, the roles of a Responsible Gaming Ambassador, and how to acquire the relevant professional skills. 

At the same training, Professor Davis Fong, director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming at the University of Macau, provided team members with insights on Macao’s responsible gaming policies and related statistics, helping them gain a holistic view of the landscape in Macao. A team of senior counsellors from the Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Services Coordination Office then gave team members tips for providing responsible gaming support to both guests and fellow team members and taught them the four-step intervention method. They also talked about Sheng Kung Hui’s 24-hour counselling hotline and face-to-face counselling services, which helped team members level-up their practical knowledge and skills in areas such as crisis management and intervention. Team members also participated in role-playing scenarios to learn more about Sheng Kung Hui’s counselling services and enhance their ability to provide timely support to those suffering from problem gambling.

Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd., said: “Responsible gambling is crucial to the healthy and orderly development of the industry, so we invite renowned experts in responsible gaming to provide this elite training for our team members each year. Their increased knowledge and skills allow them to provide the most effective assistance to individuals by identifying the symptoms of gambling addiction both at work and in personal life, and by helping them develop a positive attitude towards life to reduce various addictive behaviours. We are grateful to Professor Bernhard, Professor Fong and the senior instructors from Sheng Kung Hui for their continued passion for responsible gaming training. Looking ahead, the company will continue to fully cooperate with the Macao SAR government’s responsible gaming policies and continue to convey the important message of responsible gaming to team members and the public through various means such as organising courses and promotional activities.”

The 46 team members participating in this year’s training received certificates from UNLV, along with Sands China Responsible Gaming Ambassador pins. They will now serve as ambassadors in their various departments and positions, where they will actively promote responsible gaming, take charge of related handling and reporting tasks, and provide support and referral services using the professional knowledge and skills gained through their training.

Sands China’s Responsible Gaming Ambassador training programme was launched in 2013 and is a global initiative of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. It integrates new and enhanced elements each year in support of the measures of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).

Sands China has offered the Responsible Gaming Ambassador training programme to nearly 650 team members to date. The ambassadors are able to provide appropriate response and assistance to patrons exhibiting signs of problem gambling and initiate conversations with them by using the crisis management and intervention skills they have learned.

Sands China strives to build a culture of responsible gaming, including through initiatives that help raise awareness and increase understanding. The company became the first gaming operator in Macao to launch a self-exclusion programme in 2004, and was a pioneer in including responsible gaming training in its company-wide team member orientation programme. Sands China established its comprehensive responsible gaming programme in 2007, with the goals of contributing to the continuous development of the Macao community, bearing corporate responsibility in addressing social issues and developing an environment and a culture of responsible gaming in Macao.