As part of its continuous effort to reinforce a responsible gaming culture and to provide further education and understanding of responsible gaming to employees, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited has held a leadership forum at City of Dreams, where Mr. Paulo Martins Chan, Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) of Macau, was the honorable speaker.
The Responsible Gaming Leadership Forum was attended by over 600 of Melco’s management staff. It began with presentations given by Melco’s executives, providing an overview of the Company’s Responsible Gaming Steering Committee and the various programs it has launched over the past decade. Mr Chan then delivered a speech on the Macau SAR Government’s policies and practices on promoting responsible gaming, followed by presentations from experts in the areas of responsible gaming – Professor Davis Fong, Director of Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming, and Mr Lawrence Lee, Addiction Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor, Resilience Centre (Gambling Addiction Treatment Service of the Macau Government). Professor Fong discussed research results related to responsible gaming, and the role of gaming operators in the establishment of a responsible gaming culture. Mr. Lee further elaborated on the clinical psychology of the players, and how early intervention can prevent addiction.
“Promoting responsible gaming is one of the key areas in the Policy Address of the Macau SAR Government,” said Mr Chan. “The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau and the relevant government departments maintain close communication with the gaming operators and civic organizations to formulate policies and measures to prevent gaming patrons from becoming problem gamblers, and help problem gamblers to return to their normal social life and work. The Macau SAR Government is glad to see that the gaming operators actively arrange their employees to participate in training regularly, equipped them with the knowledge of responsible gambling so that they can offer immediate assistance for people in need.”
Added Professor Fong, “Establishing a responsible gaming culture requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders – including gaming operators, the SAR Government, non-governmental organizations, researchers, public health professionals, and the general public. The University of Macau has been working closely with Melco on raising awareness of responsible gaming. The generous support Melco provided the University in the past decade has enabled programs related to the subject, including research development and information sharing. These programs have raised the awareness of responsible gaming and promote its importance in the society.”
