Hard Rock International has launched PlayersEdge, a gambling literacy and education program that is the first such offered by a U.S. based company for markets in North America and internationally.
It is designed for veterans players and newbies—anyone who might be at risk for gambling addiction. It also offers game facts and etiquette and helps players understand their own behavior and develop positive playing habits.
For those who can’t control themselves, the program helps players find help and voluntarily exclude themselves from casinos.
The program will be implemented at all Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming properties. Paul Pellizzari, vice president of Global Social Responsibility for Hard Rock commented, “We built PlayersEdge by listening to gamblers. We want to communicate the right information by appealing to how they actually think and behave in casinos.” He added, “By understanding the risk profiles and experience levels of different player types, we can segment and target information more precisely, bringing a new focus on preventing problems before they start.”
The program employs a mix of media from print to digital, web, social and live. “We want players to become confident and to talk openly about gambling—with each other, their families and their friends. We want dialogue on what’s healthy and fun, and what’s risky. Our employees are critical to this change,” said Pellizzari.
PlayersEdge will also provide the background and foundation for training employees to recognize problem gambling. The online training program “Frontline Fundamentals” will help employees recognize and interpret player behavior on the casino floor.
Another tier of training, called “Supervisor Support” will be offered for supervisors and managers. It will employ role-playing and scenarios drawn from real life and use clinicians and problem gaming experts from the Florida Council for Compulsive Gambling.
