Casino operator Sands China Ltd has donated MOP1 million (US$123,888) among five Macau non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support their work promoting responsible gaming in the community.
The move is “in line” with the Macau government’s “responsible gaming policy,” stated the firm in a recent press release. A cheque presentation ceremony was held at The Venetian Macao.
Michael Lee (pictured, third from right), vice president of concession administration and casino compliance at Sands China, was cited as saying it was the company’s 21st consecutive year of donations for such efforts.
He stated: “This support for responsible gaming social service organisations has continued for 21 years, successfully integrating the concept of responsible gaming more broadly and practically into the daily lives of the public.”
Mr Lee noted: “Since 2006, we have donated annually to social service organisations, drawing on community networks to thoroughly implement relevant education, promotions, and training programmes in the community.”
The beneficiary organisations for the latest donation are: the Youth Volunteers Association of Macao; Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Services Coordination Office; the Young Men’s Christian Association of Macau; Macao Leisure Industry Employees Home; and Bosco Youth Service Network.
The money will help the five organisations carry out “responsible gaming promotions in the community”.
These include “parent-child financial management activities, road shows, and workshops” as well as training and “sharing” sessions, “short film production, quiz games, and community promotion days”, so “deepening public awareness of responsible gaming”.
Sands China said that since 2006, cumulative donations for such efforts “have reached nearly MOP10 million”.
The firm also said that in 2004 it became the first integrated resort operator in Macau to launch a self-exclusion programme.
It noted that responsible gaming training for staff launched in 2007, and “has since been part of the company-wide team member orientation programme”. Last year, Sands China established the Sands Responsible Gaming Academy.
