(Macao, January 9, 2013) – Sands China Ltd. launched the “Responsible Gaming Team” Training Programme at The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel Wednesday, a global initiative of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp., in collaboration with the International Gaming Institute (IGI), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Over 70 employees from the gaming operations, security and human resources departments from across Sands China’s properties are participating in one of three training sessions being held on January 9 and 10. The training programme demonstrates Sands China’s ongoing commitment to responsible gaming in Macao and is part of the company’s effort to support the measures recently introduced by the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). The specialized training also strives to enhance the company’s frontline gaming staff’s knowledge of problem gaming and awareness of the importance of responsible gaming.
“This ‘Responsible Gaming Team’ Training Programme is an initiative of our parent company, Las Vegas Sands Corp, from Las Vegas to Macao and Singapore, for us to take the lead in tackling this social issue,” said David Sisk, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sands China Ltd., to the program’s participants at Wednesday’s kick-off ceremony the Adelson Advanced Education Centre at The Venetian Macao. “It is also part of the company’s support of the various responsible gaming measures being undertaken by DICJ. That’s why your attendance today is so important, as these sessions will train you with the skills you’ll need to help the company in its responsible gaming efforts.”
The training sessions are being delivered by Professor Bo J. Bernhard, Executive Director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute, the entity responsible for developing the science-driven “Responsible Gaming Team” Training Programme, along with local scholar Dr. Davis Fong Ka Chio. The programme was designed by UNLV professors and academic experts in responsible gaming from Macao. It provides a “best practices” model that is based upon the latest in scientific research, and adapted to the Macao environment. Participating team members are given interactive, cutting-edge lectures grounded in material from upper-level gaming courses taught on the main UNLV campus. Upon successful completion, team members will be certified by the IGI as “Responsible Gaming Ambassadors” and will have received an industry-leading, world-class education on the latest understandings of responsible gaming. Sands China’s Responsible Gaming Team, to be formed by the casino shift managers, will be able to recognize signs of pathological gambling, respond to problem gaming enquiries inside gaming venues, and assist with applications for self-exclusion and third party exclusion programmes.
Sands China remains committed to the personal well-being of its guests and recognises the importance of responsible gaming to the Macao community. Sands China launched a self-exclusion programme in 2004, and was a pioneer in Macao in establishing 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. The company also regularly engages in offering responsible gaming training for team members, and in academic research and social activities, and posts responsible gaming information throughout all its properties, in both patron and back-of-house areas, and all team members receive mandatory responsible gaming training as part of their orientation programme upon joining the company. In 2011, Sands China conducted a company-wide refresher training, and also held its first Education Week, aiming to gauge team members’ awareness of responsible gaming and problem gambling. Since 2009, the company has been an annual participant in responsible gaming activities organized by the Macau Social Welfare Bureau, the DICJ and the University of Macau.
In addition, Sands China has established long-term cooperation with local non-profit organizations and academic institutions to help minimize the social impact of problem gambling. Since 2006, the company has retrieved a total of MOP 2.6 million from its unclaimed jackpots and lost & found to contribute to various organisations as part of its ongoing support of responsible gaming initiatives in Macao. In November 2012, the company donated a total of MOP 450,000 to the Young Men's Christian Association of Macau, the Macau IEF Rehabilitation Centre for Problem Gamblers, and the Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Service Coordination Office, to assist their efforts in providing counselling and support services for people needing help moderating their gaming habits, and their responsible gaming educational activities for youth.
Photo caption: David Sisk, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sands China Ltd., delivers his opening remarks to the attendees of the company’s “Responsible Gaming Team” Training Programme at The Venetian Macao’s Adelson Advanced Education Centre Wednesday. The responsible gaming training course is a global initiative of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. and is part of Sands China’s effort to support recently-introduced DICJ measures.
Photo caption: Professor Bo J. Bernhard, Executive Director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute, the entity responsible for developing the science-driven “Responsible Gaming Team” Training Programme, delivers his opening remarks to workshop attendees at The Venetian Macao’s Adelson Advanced Education Centre Wednesday. The responsible gaming training course is a global initiative of Sands China’s parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp., and is part of Sands China’s effort to support recently-introduced DICJ measures.
Photo caption: Team members from across the various Sands China properties participated in the company’s “Responsible Gaming Team” Training Programme at The Venetian Macao’s Adelson Advanced Education Centre Wednesday. The responsible gaming training course is a global initiative of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. and is part of Sands China’s effort to support recently-introduced DICJ measures.
About Sands China Ltd.
Sands China Ltd. (HKEx: 1928, Sands China or the Company) is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS), and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company’s Cotai Strip® development includes The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel, The Plaza™ Macao and Sands® Cotai Central. The Company also owns and operates the Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company’s integrated resorts contain a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities, a wide range of restaurants, shopping malls, world-class entertainment at the CotaiArena™ and the Venetian Theatre, and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company’s property development projects on Cotai have the goal of transforming Cotai into Asia’s premier entertainment and business destination.
For more information, please visit www.sandschinaltd.com.