In align with the implementation of the responsible gaming code of practice, Donggwang Clark Corporation, operator of D’Heights Resort and Casino Clark, has signed a memorandum of agreement with Bridges of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Foundation Inc. at the D’Heights Casino lobby on Wednesday.
According to D’Heights Compliance Manager Alexander Dela Cruz, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corps. mandated all casino licensees and establishments to implement a responsible gaming program to help take care of the needs of the patrons.
“Responsible gaming promotes us to be responsible as operators in the nature of the gaming industry. We want to assure that people aren’t getting hooked up with their gaming activity. Normally we don’t invite them, we just let them know what programs we are catering so that they have an outlet to unwind, not get addicted to.” Dela Cruz explained.
“We’re not qualified. We need professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists that know what to say to the patrons. Again, if you’re losing, there’s a tendency that you will do something irrational. We are trying to prevent that. That’s why we have responsible gaming.” PAGCOR Senior Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Officer Amiel Pagulayan reiterated.
“Responsible gaming is a trust of PAGCOR and I’m glad that the casinos are very open to this because you have to take care of your customers.” Dean Calleja, Bridges of Hope director, addressed. “Bridges of Hope is a therapeutic community. We educate the employees on how to find and identify problem gamblers. It’s not a ‘kamay-na-bakal’ kind of thing. We educate the casino employees, identify the problem, so that the employees themselves can be part of the solution. Education is very important. It’s not tough to explain to people that they cannot overlook their professional, social and family responsibilities for what is essentially entertainment.”
Bridges of Hope is a treatment rehabilitation center that aims to provide a holistic approach in addressing quantitative behaviorally challenged and substance abuse patients without compromising the quality of its program. “The idea is to empower them to manage themselves. It’s all about giving them structure. We’re not going to prevent anyone from finding the entertainment that they crave. But we’re here to help them get the tools that they need, the education that they need to manage themselves better.” Calleja said.
Accredited by Department of Health, Dangerous Drugs board and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bridges of Hope is the premier drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in the Philippines which caters to addictions of all forms. With establishments in Paranaque, Quezon City, Lipa City and Cebu, the Bridges of Hope Pampanga facility is located at 2-7 Flora Ave. Extn, Nepo Center, Angeles City.
In line with the active RG program, Bridges of Hope will conduct annual seminars and training for D’Heights Casino employees in order to instill responsible gaming to its clientele.
Bridges of Hope directors Robert Ty, Florencio Bernabe III, Juan Carlos Bernabe and Dean Calleja together with D’Heights Casino Director, Kang Ho, took part in the successful event which paved the way for the bright beginning of D’Heights.
D’Heights Casino, which is set to hold its Soft Opening on the 3rd of July, is a tourism-based casino situated in the scenic mountains of Clark Freeport Zone. Surrounded by the finest nature landscapes in Pampanga, D’Heights exudes serene ambiance and top-quality entertainment rolled into one.
