Marina Bay Sands deploys ‘Responsible Gaming Ambassadors’
Marina Bay Sands is planning to deploy a team of ‘Responsible Gaming Ambassadors’ to its casino floor, in an effort to help gamblers who might need assistance.
The Singapore-based integrated resort said it had trained-up 150 casino staff to monitor gaming areas, looking out for signs of distress. The scheme will be rolled out from February 2013.
“From early February, any time a patron expresses a potential gambling problem, staff will direct them to a nearby Ambassador for assistance and additional options. The Ambassadors have also received training in better identifying many of the verbal indicators that may suggest a potential gambling problem for a patron,” Marina Bay Sands said in a statement.
The Responsible Gaming Ambassadors were selected from departments within Marina Bay Sands including table games, slots, international marketing and security. They were then given training in a special programme developed by Dr Bo Bernhard, Executive Director of the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ (UNLV) International Gaming Institute. The scheme is designed to allow staff to identify signs of stress, and to gain a deeper understanding of how to interact with gamblers who may need assistance.
“Responsible gaming is not a catchphrase, it’s a commitment,” said Marina Bay Sands’ president & CEO, George Tanasijevich. “The Responsible Gaming Ambassador program is a reflection of our company’s ongoing effort to refine and enhance our responsible gaming activities. We’re proud of the Ambassadors who have completed this training and pleased to include this key component among our suite of responsible gaming efforts.”