Responsible Gambling Refresher Training for Video Lottery Retailers

The Oregon Lottery launched refresher training to all Video Lottery℠ retailers and their employees in November, called “Responsible Gaming & You.”

This refresher training module was created to provide content where the original Video Lottery training in 2016 left off.  The Lottery recognizes the challenges associated with training frontline retail staff, so we listened and have developed a much shorter refresher module that takes less than 15 minutes on any mobile device or desktop computer.

The new training will continue to educate retail staff on how to recognize and look for opportunities to direct customers to the free resources and helpful tools related to gambling behavior. The training is not intended to teach employees how to counsel people.

“Connecting people to problem gambling resources and providing responsible gaming information helps players make informed choices when they play lottery games,” said Krystal Smith, Problem and Responsible Gaming Program Manager for the Oregon Lottery. “The shared commitment we have with our retail partners is an important step in bringing this awareness to all retail employees and ultimately passed on to our lottery players.  It is not only good for a retailer’s business it is an important part of our mission as a lottery.”

Kelley Sheldon, Operations Manager for the Dotty’s chain of Lottery retailers, said that the training is an important part of offering Lottery games.

“I feel it’s very important to have a responsible gambling program for all of our employees,” Sheldon said. “By making our employees aware, they can notice the signs if a player has a problem. It’s very valuable, and all of my staff will be taking the training.”

New this year, there will be an opportunity for retailers to receive an apron or pen and lanyard as an exclusive premium item just for taking the training.  Any Video Lottery retailer that has been confirmed as having all or at least multiple staff [3-5] on-site who have taken the training will get the premium item presented to them by a lottery representative.  These premium items showcase a new “We support Responsible Gaming” seal that will only be available to those retailers who qualify.  Retailers will also have the option to use a digital version of the new RG seal to place on any of their social media platforms.

Coming later in 2020, all Traditional retailers that sell Scratch-its and on-line products like Powerball & Mega Millions will also receive new Responsible Gaming refresher training.