Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has announced the launch of Project Protect, a comprehensive global initiative to accelerate its performance in responsible gaming, anti-money laundering and human trafficking prevention. As a global umbrella programme to build defences against these problems, Project Protect coalesces LVS’s efforts around policy and procedural enhancements in each of the core areas and introduces comprehensive team member training to build lasting solutions that meet and exceed government regulations and standard industry performance.

Project Protect will kick off with team member education activities timed around Responsible Gaming Education Week, currently taking place until August 10 in the US and on the heels of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which took place on July 30. The new programme is LVS’ third major global corporate social responsibility initiative, along with Sands Cares for philanthropic community engagement and Sands ECO360 for sustainability.

While LVS had previously addressed all of the issues targeted by Project Protect in some form in its regions around the world, the programme’s introduction marks the formalisation of its policies and procedures for addressing these issues at a uniform global level, corresponding to both international regulations and national laws in all our jurisdictions.

In addition, Project Protect introduces comprehensive and systematised training and education to ensure team members, as well as all third parties doing business with the company, can implement and adhere to policies and procedures in these areas.

“Our commitment to adhering to government and industry regulations has never wavered, but Project Protect takes a major step toward prevention and elimination of these issues at our properties by providing the right tools and education for our team members to identify problems and act swiftly and responsibly,” said Lon Jacobs, executive vice president and global general counsel. Our goal is zero tolerance for negative or harmful activity in our properties to safeguard our guests, our team members and the communities where we operate.”

In partnership with Sands Academy, Project Protect training will span the company’s current responsible gaming education programmes, as well as add new curriculum to educate team members on global and regional money laundering and human trafficking threats, the risks to LVS’s guests and business, and how the hospitality industry can identify and best address problems.

“Project Protect complements our corporate social responsibility mission by enhancing and institutionalising responsible business practices in the areas that most negatively impact our industry,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global corporate communications and corporate affairs. “The program represents our deep commitment to making our communities not only safe but thriving places to live and work.”