The Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming

The Impact on Government Policy

The initiated RG report has not only raised the awareness of the government on the importance RG has on sustaining Macao’s development but has also changed the way in which the gaming industry is regulated and operates in Macao. The government adopted the recommendation in the same year the report was submitted. The government further stated in its Policy Address that it would formulate guidelines for RG. Since then, the government actively promotes RG and co-ordinates the efforts of different stakeholders in promotional efforts.

Promotion of RG in the Society(1/2)

Since the concept of RG is new to the society, the ISCG actively engages in different means to educate and promote RG to different target groups of audience in Macao. For the general public, the ISCG initiated a cooperation with the Social Welfare Bureau and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau to organize the RG promotional campaign in 2009. The campaign also involved all gaming operators and some community organizations. The so doing pooled together resources and efforts of different stakeholders towards a unified goal, thereby achieving greater results. Since then, the promotion is organized once per year, and 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the “Responsible Gambling Promotions” initiative.

Promotion of RG in the Society(2/2)

In order to improve the educational and promotional work carried out in relation to the RG policy, as well as provide comprehensive and accurate information to residents and tourists alike, particularly gamblers or individuals planning to participate in gambling activities, the ISCG proposed to the government the development of the “Responsible Gambling Kiosk”. In collaboration with the government, the first RG Kiosk was launched in 2012. Since then, the ISCG has been providing consultancy services to improve the contents and enhance the functionality of these kiosks. By the end of 2019, there will be at least one kiosk present in each casino. Meanwhile, a further 10 kiosks have been installed in local communities.

The Impact on Business Community(1/2)
While various measures have been taken on the part of the government to put RG into practice, in order to make sure that gaming operators cope with the new law and implement its RG policy, the government issued Instruction No. 2/2012 “Responsible Gambling Implementation Measures” which establishes an internal code and procedural requirements for gaming operators in 2012. In response to the Instruction, gaming operators have launched a series of RG projects and services. For instance, the operators conduct large-scale training exercises for its security and casino operation departments, and provide RG orientation training for its staff. Moreover, the gaming operators provide gambling disorder counselling and referral services for their employees. Over the past years, the ISCG received commissions from the Social Welfare Bureau to assess their efforts in RG promotions, and survey data revealed that more than 90% of those interviewed had been aware of one or more of the RG measures carried out by the operators. As gaming operators provide gambling activities for residents and tourists alike, they undoubtedly share an irrevocable responsibility to ensure that an RG environment exists within Macao.

The Impact on Business Community(2/2)

The ISCG does not instill an RG culture in the gaming industry directly; it does it through legal force and government instructions. The ISCG believes that this is the most effective way to ensure that all gaming operators incorporate a sense of RG in their gaming operations, which in the long-run is contributing to a sustainable and healthy industry and society. Before the rolled out of the first RG promotion campaign in 2009, only 16.2% of Macao residents were aware of RG. However, the proportion of residents who have been made cognizant of RG since the official launch of the promotional activities gradually increased to 63.7% in 2017. Moreover, according to survey results, the prevalence rate has been dropping since the RG promotional campaign launched in 2009. Both the RG awareness rates and the prevalence rates of gambling disorder show that the RG effort has been effective in putting gambling disorder in control.

Research Outputs(1/2)

Since the carried out of the first research on RG, the ISCG has formed a network with the government, the operators, the NGOs, and academics. Meanwhile, Prof. Davis Fong, the Director of the ISCG, has been working closely with internationally-renowned scholars on RG research. Built upon the first research on RG and the long-term engagement with the government, the industry, and the NGOs, the ISCG and Prof. Fong work with RG scholars to provide conceptual clarity to RG, develop RG principles, determine the roles of stakeholders, and set the minimal requirements of the RG programs that are applicable across gaming jurisdictions. They also provide guidelines to evaluate RG programs. All these serve as valuable references for policymakers and gaming operators in jurisdictions with legalized gambling.

Research Outputs(2/2)

Given the successful of the RG Model to our society, the ISCG will continue provide a platform for local and regional RG experts and practitioners to exchange view and share research results to assist in formulating policy decision relating to RG. In addition, the ISCG aims to be one of the leading centers for the study of gaming in Asia. To achieve this goal, the ISCG will continue provide top-class research and training services to all interested parties, and providing research findings to the government and various stakeholders, aiming to orientate the gaming industry and tourism of Macao towards healthy development.

❮ ❯

Story of US

The Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming (ISCG) at FBA was established in 2003 as a not-for-profit gaming research and development organization. As a faculty unit with the mission to contribute to the healthy development of the gaming industry, the ISCG took the initiative to launch a research study on responsible gambling (RG) in 2007 and developed an RG model unique to Macao and the Chinese Society.

The Impact on Government Policy

The initiated RG report has not only raised the awareness of the government on the importance RG has on sustaining Macao’s development but has also changed the way in which the gaming industry is regulated and operates in Macao. The government adopted the recommendation in the same year the report was submitted. The government further stated in its Policy Address that it would formulate guidelines for RG. Since then, the government actively promotes RG and co-ordinates the efforts of different stakeholders in promotional efforts.

Promotion of RG in the Society

Since the concept of RG is new to the society, the ISCG actively engages in different means to educate and promote RG to different target groups of audience in Macao. For the general public, the ISCG initiated a cooperation with the Social Welfare Bureau and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau to organize the RG promotional campaign in 2009. The campaign also involved all gaming operators and some community organizations. The so doing pooled together resources and efforts of different stakeholders towards a unified goal, thereby achieving greater results. Since then, the promotion is organized once per year, and 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the “Responsible Gambling Promotions” initiative. In order to improve the educational and promotional work carried out in relation to the RG policy, as well as provide comprehensive and accurate information to residents and tourists alike, particularly gamblers or individuals planning to participate in gambling activities, the ISCG proposed to the government the development of the “Responsible Gambling Kiosk”. In collaboration with the government, the first RG Kiosk was launched in 2012. Since then, the ISCG has been providing consultancy services to improve the contents and enhance the functionality of these kiosks. By the end of 2019, there will be at least one kiosk present in each casino. Meanwhile, a further 10 kiosks have been installed in local communities.

The Impact on Business Community

While various measures have been taken on the part of the government to put RG into practice, in order to make sure that gaming operators cope with the new law and implement its RG policy, the government issued Instruction No. 2/2012 “Responsible Gambling Implementation Measures” which establishes an internal code and procedural requirements for gaming operators in 2012. In response to the Instruction, gaming operators have launched a series of RG projects and services. For instance, the operators conduct large-scale training exercises for its security and casino operation departments, and provide RG orientation training for its staff. Moreover, the gaming operators provide gambling disorder counselling and referral services for their employees. Over the past years, the ISCG received commissions from the Social Welfare Bureau to assess their efforts in RG promotions, and survey data revealed that more than 90% of those interviewed had been aware of one or more of the RG measures carried out by the operators. As gaming operators provide gambling activities for residents and tourists alike, they undoubtedly share an irrevocable responsibility to ensure that an RG environment exists within Macao. The ISCG does not instill an RG culture in the gaming industry directly; it does it through legal force and government instructions. The ISCG believes that this is the most effective way to ensure that all gaming operators incorporate a sense of RG in their gaming operations, which in the long-run is contributing to a sustainable and healthy industry and society. Before the rolled out of the first RG promotion campaign in 2009, only 16.2% of Macao residents were aware of RG. However, the proportion of residents who have been made cognizant of RG since the official launch of the promotional activities gradually increased to 63.7% in 2017. Moreover, according to survey results, the prevalence rate has been dropping since the RG promotional campaign launched in 2009. Both the RG awareness rates and the prevalence rates of gambling disorder show that the RG effort has been effective in putting gambling disorder in control.

Research Outputs

Since the carried out of the first research on RG, the ISCG has formed a network with the government, the operators, the NGOs, and academics. Meanwhile, Prof. Davis Fong, the Director of the ISCG, has been working closely with internationally-renowned scholars on RG research. Built upon the first research on RG and the long-term engagement with the government, the industry, and the NGOs, the ISCG and Prof. Fong work with RG scholars to provide conceptual clarity to RG, develop RG principles, determine the roles of stakeholders, and set the minimal requirements of the RG programs that are applicable across gaming jurisdictions. They also provide guidelines to evaluate RG programs. All these serve as valuable references for policymakers and gaming operators in jurisdictions with legalized gambling.

Given the successful of the RG Model to our society, the ISCG will continue provide a platform for local and regional RG experts and practitioners to exchange view and share research results to assist in formulating policy decision relating to RG. In addition, the ISCG aims to be one of the leading centers for the study of gaming in Asia. To achieve this goal, the ISCG will continue provide top-class research and training services to all interested parties, and providing research findings to the government and various stakeholders, aiming to orientate the gaming industry and tourism of Macao towards healthy development.