Sands Project Protect: September is Responsible Gaming Education Month

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has designated September as Responsible Gaming Education Month to promote gaming literacy and consumer education, and work with the organization’s partners to advance understanding of responsible gambling.

Sands is committed to ensuring its resorts around the world offer guests and host communities a responsible gaming environment and has established an industry-leading global program to promote gaming education and literacy. Sands Project Protect shepherds the company’s wide range of responsible gaming efforts to help guests make informed choices and be aware of resources, including a number of initiatives spanning Team Member training, guest education and responsive protocols in the event issues are detected.

“We developed our responsible gaming program with the expertise of leading experts in problem gambling, and our measures often go beyond local government regulations so our guests can feel assured we are safeguarding both them and our communities,” said Maria Christina Annaloro, director of responsible gaming and government relations. “We are committed to the goals of Responsible Gaming Education Month and providing a robust offering of training, resources and education on an ongoing basis.”

A major facet of Sands’ responsible gaming measures focuses on developing and delivering comprehensive training for Team Members. At Sands China properties in Macao, responsible gaming education for Team Members includes ongoing workshops, trainings and roadshows covering topics such as support services for problem gamblers and their families, self-exclusion and third-party exclusion options, attitudes and behaviors related to responsible gaming, local regulations and Sands’ responsible gaming policies.

Responsible gaming ambassadors at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore also receive a full slate of training developed with Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development. The resort continuously updates training modules and standard operating procedures with industry-accepted best practices.

Responsible Gaming Ambassadors are available 24/7 at all Sands resorts to address concerns or questions guests may have, and to provide resources when potential issues are detected. Sands also offers guests the option to set self-limits during their gaming. For example, Marina Bay Sands has implemented an informed decision-making tool for slot machines that allows patrons to set time and spending limits, then receive text message notifications as limits are reached. Sands supplements these options with an array of educational responsible gaming materials.

In addition to the support and education Sands offers to guests, the company also funds research to develop effective treatment and prevention methods for problem gambling through contributions to the National Council on Problem Gambling, the International Center for Responsible Gaming, the International Problem Gambling Center and nongovernmental organizations that support responsible gaming educational initiatives in Macao.

“Preserving and promoting responsible gaming is a top priority across all of our resorts, year-round.” Annaloro said. “While Responsible Gaming Education Month provides an important time to increase awareness of this issue, Sands continually reviews the latest research and practices to ensure that our training, protocols and partnerships work effectively and cohesively to help our guests enjoy their gaming experiences responsibly.”

To learn more about Sands’ commitment to promoting responsible gaming, please download the 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance Report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/