The American Gaming Association (AGA) has teamed up with RG24seven Virtual Training to launch an unprecedented online educational program. The first-of-its-kind training will teach gambling industry workers how to combat human trafficking free of charge.

The free education is presented by the AGA and industry experts. It uses videos and special quizzes to teach gambling industry employees everything they should about human trafficking identification and prevention.

The program is based on AGA’s existing Guide to Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking and leverages the expertise of the industry body’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, a number of charities and the US law enforcement.

According to the AGA, all gaming companies will be able to access the free training if they request organization-wide access to the training. To do so, executives should contact RG24seven via its official email, [email protected].

In addition to the training, the AGA also announced the release of an updated gaming-specific toolkit for combating human trafficking. Representatives of the association will also participate in anti-trafficking campaigns throughout the month, including events hosted by the University of Maryland’s SAFE Center and the US Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking.

AGA representatives will also take part in a congressional briefing hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Alex Costello, AGA’s vice president of government relations, commented on the new program, highlighting the importance of combating human trafficking. She said that her team is glad to be able to provide employees with such crucial training for free.

The AGA is proud to lead the industry’s fight against this abhorrent crime and this free training empowers employees at all levels to spot and prevent cases of human trafficking.

Alex Costello, VP of government relations, American Gaming Association

Wendy Anderson, RG24seven’s chief executive officer, also commented on the matter, saying that responsibility in the gambling industry extends beyond the promotion of safer gambling. According to her, true responsibility means “a commitment to all forms of customer and community safety.”

We’re honored to work with the AGA and advance the gaming industry’s efforts with the launch of today’s training.

Wendy Anderson, CEO, RG24seven

Unveiled on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, the initiative mirrors the recent reiteration of Hard Rock’s commitment to fighting human trafficking. For reference, Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming just promised to continue working hard to set a new standard for anti-human trafficking training in the gaming industry.

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EPIC Risk Management, a gambling harm minimization consultancy, unveiled an expansion of its existing relationship with The Hippodrome Casino. As announced, the two companies have now signed a two-year gambling harm minimization deal.

Previously, EPIC delivered a pilot safer gambling program to the casino. Soon after, the two parties teamed up for a showcase event at the property where they underscored the importance of harm minimization training.

As per the current deal, EPIC will deliver such training to The Hippodrome Casino’s staff. According to the announcement, both licensed and unlicensed customer-facing employees will learn how to prioritize safer gambling while interacting with casino visitors.

According to the announcement, the first such program will include 20 workshops and 4 focus group evaluation sessions where EPIC will teach The Hippodrome’s employees to identify signs of harm, vulnerability and stigma. The workers will be taught how to handle such cases and how to properly deal with harmed or at-risk customers.

EPIC will leverage lived experience to reinforce the program and make sure that The Hippodrome is able is ready to minimize harm.

In June, EPIC Risk Management and the Entain Foundation formed a partnership agreement with the Major League Soccer Players Association.

The Hippodrome Trusts EPIC to Teach Empathy to Its Employees

The new program will be led by EPIC’s sustainability manager Joanna Whitehall. The harm expert commented on the partnership with The Hippodrome, saying that her team is happy to deepen its relationship with the famous London-based casino.

Whitehall noted that harm minimization is still a fairly new sector which is why many casino workers may lack the knowledge needed to intervene when needed, even if they want to. However, EPIC’s expertise will help The Hippodrome remain ahead of the curve by teaching its employees to identify and tackle harm with confidence, Whitehall said.

We look forward to working with The Hippodrome Casino further, to improve safety and confidence for staff and clients alike, and trust that we can continue to expand the reach of this program to other land-based casinos across the UK who have expressed an interest in a similar project at their venue.

Joanna Whitehall, sustainability manager, EPIC Risk Management

Sam Douglas, The Hippodrome’s director of business services, also expressed his company’s delight to work with EPIC Risk Management. He said that the casino trusts the agency to leverage lived experience to teach its employees to be empathetic and understanding.

The training they provide is invaluable, and we have already seen a positive impact on our team. We are happy that this partnership will assist us in creating a safe environment for our players in the years to come.

Sam Douglas, director of business services, The Hippodrome Casino

Two months ago, a branch of Max Halley’s Sandwich Shop opened at the Hippodrome.

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The National Human Trafficking Hotline reports at least 200 cases of human trafficking in the state alone, and there are suspected to be hundreds more than go undetected.

Some of the victims of human trafficking are sent to casinos, which is precisely why the Lincoln Warhorse Casino and its parent company, Ho-Chunk, are going through training to help members of staff spot the signs of human trafficking and act preemptively.

Fighting Human Trafficking Before It Has a Chance to Take Off

Human trafficking cases have been on the up between 2017 and 2021. Now, casinos are taking the matter even more seriously and offering extensive training to their employees so that they can identify and stop the crime.

Commenting on this new initiative, Ho-Chunk director of government affairs Rachael Johnson said that casinos and businesses in general need to be aware of the issue and sober up to the fact that unpleasant as the reality is – this kind of crime may be permeating into local communities.

The initiative has brought together a number of individuals and experts, including Lynnette Grey Bull, founder of Not Our Native Daughter, which is an organization that raises awareness for raising awards about exploited and murdered indigenous women. Bull explained that indigenous women are most susceptible to violent crime and becoming the target of ethnic or violent crime:

I am both Lakota and Northern Arapaho. The statistics that hang over my head is I am the most stalked, raped, murdered, and sexually assaulted out of every woman in this country.

Not Our Native Daughter’s Lynnette Grey Bull

Focus on Protecting the Victims and Stop the Traffickers

Meanwhile, Women’s Center for Advancement president and CEO Jannette Taylor emphasized how important it is to work towards tackling the issue. Human trafficking has a serious impact on people’s lives. It may take up to five years in order to save victims. Yet, proper training could happen.

Taylor is confident that businesses can do their role, and notes that there are certain periods of time when trafficking “spikes:”

In Omaha, we have the College World Series, we have Berkshire Hathaway, we have all these big events where people from all over come to the city. And trafficking during that time, it just sort of sparks.

Women’s Center for Advancement’s Jannette Taylor

Hotels, casinos, gaming venues, and other businesses need to be aware of the problem and seek to resolve it by offering continuous training to their staff and monitoring for the early symptoms of the issue as well.

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The Majestic Star Casino Hotel was owned by Hard Rock International before it was shut down a few years ago. Then, the location was sold to a company that is focused on developing and enhancing property for trucks, trailers, buses and other large vehicles called Transport Properties.

The company was planning to demolish the Majestic Star but delayed it. The founding partner of the company, Tim McCahill, in collaboration with Sen. Mike Braun, as well as city officials in Gary helped organize a unique training at Majestic Star for law enforcement and first responders, a report released by The Chicago Tribune reveals.

The eye-catching training started Wednesday with Northwest Regional SWAT and Gary SWAT team members seen in full riot gear including shields. Blasting the front door marked the start of the event with SWAT members then charging the building.

This marks only the first such event out of many more planned for the next two months. Over the period of 45 days, there will be 20 different live trainings taking place at the Majestic Star with members of 12 different law enforcement agencies participating.

First Responders to Benefit from Invaluable Live Training at Majestic Star

Mayor Jerome Prince acknowledged that the collaboration that led to this event marks an important moment for law enforcement and reaffirmed that his administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of the public. He outlined that the collaboration confirms that law enforcement agencies can effectively collaborate which can ultimately bring benefits to the region.

“Before this building is demolished we see a great opportunity to use it to help strengthen the response of first responders as well as military officers.“

Mayor Jerome Prince

Prince also commended the collaboration with the Senator and Rob Ferrino, the developer that engaged with McCahill to help create this unique opportunity for law enforcement. Finally, he acknowledged that the building represents a unique opportunity for first responders to train before it is demolished.

“You can’t beat this. There is nothing like it, like the real-world experience.“

Sgt. Marlin Gray, Gary Police Department

Gary Police Department’s team leader Sgt. Marlin Gray, added that there is nothing better than a real-world experience. He explained that it is really important for law enforcement to practice breaching doors, which are quite sturdy in hotel locations. Still, Gray acknowledged that those doors aren’t impenetrable and that law enforcement just needs to practice breaching them.

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