Sands China Launches Inaugural Responsible Gaming Youth Talent Programme with Cross-Sector Partners

Program Overview

Sands China has launched its inaugural Responsible Gaming Youth Talent Development Programme under the company’s Responsible Gaming Academy, marking the first adoption of an industry-academia-community collaboration model within its responsible gaming initiatives. The program is designed to equip University of Macau (UM) students with knowledge of responsible gaming, practical skills, and international exposure, aligning with the Macao SAR government’s guidance on the topic.

The initiative brought together Sands China’s industry expertise, academic resources from UM’s Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming (ISCG), and community engagement experience from the Youth Volunteers Association of Macau (AJVM). According to the company, around 150 UM students expressed interest in participating, with 32 selected for the initial training phase after a rigorous selection process.

Cross-Sector Collaboration and Training

During the first phase, students worked in groups to develop creative and practical proposals for promoting responsible gaming. Their ideas covered areas such as school and community outreach, experiential and interactive learning, social media content, digital engagement tools, financial education, and risk-awareness initiatives. Following a presentation and review process, top performers were selected to join a 23-member delegation for an overseas study tour.

Dr. Wilfred Wong, Executive Vice Chairman of Sands China Ltd., said the company has been committed to supporting the government’s responsible gaming objectives through promotional efforts and talent cultivation. He noted that youth are a cornerstone of Macau’s sustainable development, and the program aims to deepen engagement with the new generation by synergizing corporate, academic, and community resources.

Singapore Study Tour

The four-day study tour in Singapore, held from May 31 to June 3, included visits to Marina Bay Sands, where participants met with responsible gaming and operations teams to learn about industry practices. The delegation also visited Singapore’s National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and community support organization WE CARE to gain insights into the country’s responsible gaming framework, including governance, information displays, customer support, public education, and community networking.

Professor Davis Fong, Director of the ISCG at the University of Macau, described the trip as an invaluable opportunity to bridge theory and practice. He noted that students observed live operations at two integrated resorts and saw real-world responsible gaming initiatives, which gave them insights far beyond classroom teaching. Fong also highlighted that the teams had developed creative proposals before the tour, allowing them to benchmark their concepts against Singapore’s policies and conduct comparative analysis between Macau and Singapore’s approaches.

Austin Vong, President of the Youth Volunteers Association of Macau, emphasized that the program’s three-stage framework of training, competition, and overseas exchange guides youth from understanding fundamentals to proactively formulating proposals and gaining hands-on experience. He expressed hope that more young people will become responsible gaming champions.

Future Outlook

Sands China stated that the program has strengthened collaboration among the three partner organizations, combining academic research, industry expertise, community engagement, and youth perspectives. The company continues to promote responsible gaming education and talent cultivation in Macau, building on its history of responsible gaming initiatives that include adopting a self-exclusion program in 2004 and incorporating responsible gaming training into team member orientation in 2007.