Macau concessionaire Sands China Ltd (SCL) has launched a “Responsible Gaming Youth Talent Development Programme” through which students from the University of Macau (UM) are educated and given practical training in responsible gaming.
The program brings Sands China’s industry expertise together with the academic resources of UM’s Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming (ISCG) and community engagement experience from the Youth Volunteers Association of Macau (AJVM), marking the first adoption of the industry-academia-community collaboration model within the SCL’s responsible gaming programs.
Sands said the initiative aims to elevate local youth’s knowledge of responsible gaming, cultivate their practical capabilities and expand their international perspectives with a view to nurturing future talent for the sustainable development of Macau’s integrated tourism and leisure industry.
According to information from the company, the program has already received a strong response with around 150 UM students expressing interest. Of those, 32 students were shortlisted for the first phase of training and worked in groups to develop creative and practical proposals for promoting responsible gaming. These proposals covered areas such as promotion across schools and community, experiential and interactive learning, accessible information tailored for daily scenarios, content for social media and short videos, digital engagement tools, and financial education and risk-awareness initiatives. Following a presentation and review process, the top-performers were selected to join representatives from Sands China, ISCG and AJVM to form a 23-member delegation for a four-day study tour in Singapore – including a visit to Marina Bay Sands – which took place from 31 May to 3 June.
Sands said the collaborating parties were able to learn from one another through the lenses of youth perspectives, community needs, academic research and cross-regional practices – providing valuable insights for future responsible gaming education, community outreach and youth talent cultivation. “Sands China has been committed to supporting the Macao SAR government’s objectives by strengthening our responsible gaming promotional efforts and related talent cultivation initiatives,” said SCL’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Wilfred Wong.
“Recognizing youth as a cornerstone of Macau’s sustainable development, the company launched its inaugural ‘Sands China Responsible Gaming Youth Talent Development Programme’ this year, aiming to deepen engagement with the new generation. By synergizing corporate, academic and community resources, the innovative program has taken local students beyond classrooms through diverse forms of experiential learning, empowering them with a strong sense of social responsibility and a global perspective.
“We hope these young program participants will share what they have learned with their schools and communities and use their positive influence to help promote the message of responsible gaming.”
Professor Davis Fong, Director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming at the University of Macau, added, “This Singapore study tour offered students an invaluable opportunity to bridge theory and practice. Observing the live operations of two integrated resorts and experiencing how responsible gaming initiatives work in the real world gave students profound insights that far exceed classroom teaching.
“The trip was truly exceptional, as each team developed creative responsible gaming proposals ahead of time, allowing them to benchmark their concepts against Singapore’s current policies and practices. Ultimately, their reflection within a policy-driven framework on the nuances between Macau and Singapore’s integrated resorts – coupled with comparative analysis of both region’s responsible gaming strategies – served as one of the most inspiring highlights of the tour.”
