Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming has praised recognition given by the National Council on Problem Gambling to its PlayersEdge casino team member training program.
Introduced in December 2019 and lauded as a “groundbreaking” introduction as the firm vower to “change casino culture,” PlayersEdge secured a corporate social responsibility award at the NCPG’s recent Digital Symposium and National Awards Ceremony.
“We want to thank the National Council on Problem Gambling for this award and for recognising the PlayersEdge program,” said Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming.
“We also want to acknowledge the Florida Council for Compulsive Gambling, our vice president of global social responsibility, Paul Pellizzari, and Dr. Rory Reid of UCLA for their help in creating the PlayersEdge training.”
Informed by independent research and expert perspectives, PlayersEdge intends to become a prominent feature of HRI gaming environments and will utilise a mix of media including print, digital, web, social and live activations.
The firm states it intends to increase gambling literacy while inspiring honest conversations about slot machines, table games and other gaming experiences.
The branded program was hailed as “the first in the US” to apply a comprehensive education strategy to meet the needs of all gamblers, from new and casual players to seasoned regulars, and anyone at-risk of, or experiencing, problems.
Starting with game facts and casino etiquette, PlayersEdge also intends to help players understand their own behaviour, identify risks of gambling, and develop positive play habits. Furthermore, it offers the assistance of voluntary self-exclusion and referrals to professional help and counselling services.
The program is to be implemented across all Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming casino properties, as the organisation strives to speak differently to people.
To reinforce the foundations set by training, at launch HRI also assured that each casino property has also established teams and leaders to help drive the priority that responsible gambling is a key part of exceptional customer service.