Melco: healthy gaming for a better community

Despite recent policies to diversify the economy, gaming remains Macau’s bread and butter. Even as operators like Melco Resorts & Entertainment roll out new leisure and entertainment offerings, they are constantly striving to develop their core gaming business in a sustainable and healthy manner that benefits the community and the region.

Melco has always been a strong proponent of corporate social responsibility (CSR), and one of its core focus areas is promotion of responsible gaming (RG). Its dedicated steering committee – led by Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho – has been developing and executing RG initiatives since its formation in 2007.

The committee’s strategic framework focuses on three key areas of RG culture: employee education, community engagement, and processes and technology. These ground-breaking RG initiatives – many of which were the first of their kind in Macau – resulted in Melco becoming the only operator to net two Gold prizes for CSR at the prestigious Business Awards of Macau.

EMPLOYEE EDUCATION

Within the local industry, Melco is the only company which requires all employees from gaming and non-gaming departments, management and non-management to undergo mandatory RG training as part of their new hire orientation. Additionally, to strengthen and update knowledge, all employees receive 2.5 hours of RG enhancement training to cover topics including the symptoms and effects of gambling disorders as well as the company’s own policies, which emphasise how every employee has a role to play in RG.

It is essential for Melco to ensure that its leaders are at the forefront of RG development. Last year, it organised a leadership forum to educate more than 600 management employees, with Mr. Paulo Martins Chan, Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), UM Professor Davis Fong and addiction psychologist Mr. Lawrence Lee as guests of honour and event speakers. The company reinforces the RG message to employees through regular activities such as game booths and quiz competitions. RG activities in May and June alone saw over 7,300 employee participants.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Melco sponsors various public service messages to promote RG culture, the latest of which was a video released this June and aired on TDM (Teledifusão de Macau). Produced in collaboration with a local filming company and the Gaming Employees Home of Macau, the short film, titled “Our Wishes”, explored the impact of gaming habits on familial relationships and the importance of staying in control.

Melco works closely with government regulators to ensure compliance with industry standards. It financed the establishment of the MPI-Melco Gaming and Entertainment Information Technology Research and Development Center in 2008, and donated to the Macau University Development Foundation to support research into local gaming management.

PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGY

Innovation and safety are key elements of RG implementation. In 2016, Melco became Macau’s first operator to install real-time facial recognition security systems at all entrances to gaming areas. This state-of-the-art technology keeps out patrons who opt for self-exclusion or who had previously committed infractions on the premises.

Melco is continually refining the accuracy and efficiency of its security systems to offer a safer gaming experience for all, underscoring its commitment to raising the bar for RG not just on its premises, but in the wider community.

This article is sponsored by
Melco Resorts & Entertainment.