National Casino Forum Sets Up New Board To Promote Diversity And Inclusion In The Industry

The National Casino Forum, which represents all the UK’s land-based operators, has launched a new initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in the casino sector.

DICE (Diversity and Inclusion for Career Enhancement) is a new seven-member board, whose role will be to create greater awareness within the industry of the issue and to help operators combat unconscious bias in recruitment, retention and promotion.

DICE will begin by collating data from the casino sector to assess the current employment landscape and whether operators are recruiting inclusively. It will also look at career opportunities for women and members of the BAME community within the sector and representation at management and senior management level.

DICE will provide strategic leadership to develop and implement diversity and inclusion programs, leading engagement within the casino sector to advise on best practice and support operators in promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion in the UK casino sector. It will identify any potential barriers which are preventing them from doing this and develop initiatives to overcome them.

The board will map progress made by the casino sector, consulting with industry leaders on any help they might need to promote best practice in their businesses and sponsoring further research into any obstacles which are preventing the casino sector from offering equal opportunities to all.

Two well-attended industry workshops have already taken place, the most recent being in September, which was designed for middle management to address the issue of unconscious bias in the workplace.

Chaired by Tracey Stevenson, General Manager Compliance and Integrity at Crown London Aspinalls, the other board members are: Mike Rothwell, Managing Director, Caesars Entertainment EMEA; Marieanne Carmody Weir, Head of Regulatory Compliance and Audit, Aspers Group; David Livermore, Compliance and Security Director, Les Ambassadeurs; Alison Sullivan, General Manager, Park Tower – Grosvenor; David Smith, Gaming Director, The Hippodrome Casino and Tracy Damestani, CEO National Casino Forum.

Tracey Stevenson, chair of DICE, said:
“The UK’s casinos are great places to work and offer fantastic career opportunities. We want them to become known as equal opportunities employers, where everyone has the chance to progress their career, regardless of gender or ethnicity. We want casinos to reflect the communities in which they operate, not just on the gaming floor but at boardroom level too.

“DICE can help advise operators on how to hire inclusively and to understand what training and awareness is needed for staff at all levels. We will promote a positive vision of the casino sector, which will enhance how we recruit, retain and inspire our employees”.

The National Casino Forum represents the UK’s land-based casino operators. It promotes a well-regulated, socially responsible and commercially successful casino industry. Its vision is to make the UK the most attractive destination in the world for casino gaming.

Casinos are an integral part of the UK’s entertainment, hospitality and leisure sector. Operators are committed to caring for their customers and giving the public, the government and the regulator confidence in the way they conduct business.
The NCF’s role is to encourage and highlight best practice in the industry. Its runs forums to promote innovation and promote the safe gambling agenda.