Former Australian gaming regulator Peter Cohen recently took a look at Macau’s responsible gaming initiatives and why them seem to work very well compared to other countries.
He shared his insights in an interview with Inside Asian Gaming. He noted that Macau has a “robust self-exclusion program” and also doesn’t allow smoking while gaming.
The latter means that confirmed smokers must take regularly breaks from gaming to enjoy a puff. This is significant, said Cohen, because studies show that intense periods of uninterrupted playing is one of several key elements that lead to addiction. Two other factors are bet amounts and frequency of visits.
Macau also limits advertising of casino gaming and bans off-duty casino employees from visiting the casinos on their days off.
One operator in Macau, Galaxy Entertainment Group, has implemented a program of responsible gaming training for its employees, which begins the first week of employment. They get regular refresher courses after that.
