Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAPAN JUN 2020 42 IN FOCUS and promotions to raise awareness among the community. Galaxy Entertainment Group, for example, was the first IR operator in Macau to establish a dedicated responsible gaming team to work closely with stakeholders to promote and implement a range of initiatives aimed at embedding a responsible gambling culture within the company. Last year, those initiatives included quarterly promotion campaigns, responsible gaming roadshows and a visit to the Sheng Kung Hui Gambling Counseling and Family Wellness Centre, as well as regular training and refresher courses. The idea is to not only train up staff to recognize addictive behavior in its customers but also ensure the staff themselves are physically and mentally healthy while reminding them of the importance of rational gaming. “GEG’s responsible gaming efforts revolve around enhancing customer protection, promoting stakeholders’ awareness and education, as well as providing team members and their family members with access to a professional network of support, counselling and treatment,” GEG says. “GEG believes it takes time and collaboration between the different parties to create and sustain a responsible gaming culture. Since GEG established the industry’s first responsible gaming team in 2008, GEG has been working effortlessly with the Social Welfare Bureau of the Macau SAR Government, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of the University of Macau, the local gaming operators and other non- governmental organizations to fulfill our responsible gaming pledge.” Another key to Macau’s success in reducing problem gambling rates has been a government- mandated self-exclusion law under which players who feel they have a problem can apply to be banned from entering any casino for up to two years. It’s a process Cohen says is particularly effective. “One of the things I’m very strong on is that people need the ability to manage their own gambling and in fact research shows that people who are empowered to manage their gambling have a better likely result in controlling the amount they gamble, and self- exclusion is one of those tools that empowers people,” he explains. “The fact that it is voluntary, rather than at the behest of the casino, empowers that person to do it Macau’s problem gambling rate has fallen significantly since its first IR opened in 2004. マカオのギャンブル依存症率は、2004年の初のIR開業以降、著しく減少してきた