BETTER CHANGE STATESIDE


over 60 years, we’ve gone from being primarily a black market, underground trade to a high street behemoth and now we’re at the forefront of digital technology. We’ve even diversified into hospitality and built entire cities through the mega resorts like we see in Las Vegas and right now, we’re on the verge of the newest frontier provided by the Metaverse. Even though gambling is notoriously heavily regulated right across the world, the industry’s income has rocketed recently. The global online gambling market size alone is expected to reach USD 127.3 billion by 2027, presenting not only career security here on home soil but opportunities for international relocations and career development further afield as new markets continue to open up. There are countless stories of those who have started out in


entry level roles within gaming but risen through the ranks within meritocratic organisations to become C Level within a relatively short space of time. The rigid promotional structures of more established industries such as law or medicine where the usual path is to start at the bottom, gain your predetermined minimum years of service before you’re promoted to the next level via the ranks of Junior Associate, Senior Associate, Partner and then hopefully one day, Managing Partner are absent in the gaming industry making it perfectly possible for talented individuals to progress from a £20,000 a year salary to well over six figures in as little as 5 years. Compliance itself is one of the most diverse areas within gaming with increasing levels of responsibility. With a plethora of entry-level vacancies available across Anti Money Laundering, Customer Due Diligence and general safer gambling disciplines, it’s disappointing to hear that for many people outside of the industry, the stereotypical role of a cashier at a traditional bookie is the only career pathway that is known, and we want to change that. Better Change have focused in recent months on


delivering gambling awareness training to some of the most vulnerable in society. By partnering with altruistic operators who see the value in supporting those who have experienced a catastrophic life event such as homelessness, a criminal conviction or substance abuse, we have been able to not only deliver safer gambling messages, but we have been able to tangibly turn their lives around by including valuable life enhancing and employability skills to our training. Our unique approach focuses on introducing compliance careers to participants which allows us the perfect platform to deliver gambling awareness training without seeming to lecture or patronise. Instead of delivering a standalone two-hour workshop highlighting the principles of safer gambling, we are able to effectively train those interested in how to spot a customer at risk of gambling harm which in turn can then be spun into them being able to use the same principles to identify harm in themselves as well as loved ones. This then extends to advice on how to write a CV aimed at securing a role within gaming compliance, talks and anecdotes from those already within such roles, interview preparation techniques and in many cases, even work experience leading to a formal job offer for successful and motivated candidates. The response to our initiative from forward-thinking companies has been phenomenal. In many cases, the individuals who have joined our courses have found


themselves falling on tough times later in life as a result of an unforeseen circumstance. This means that many of them fall into the 35-55 year old age bracket with the vast majority having been gainfully employed previously. The benefit of this experience means they already possess a high degree of professionalism, a strong work ethic and fully embrace and appreciate the opportunity of a second chance. This is usually responded to with extreme loyalty to the organisation who has provided this much needed leg up and results in a long term, motivated and stable employee for the sponsoring organisation. It truly is win-win, which is hugely satisfying. Our next mission is to secure a place on the UK Gambling Commission’s RET list to enable us, alongside our partner ESG Gaming, to become a City and Guilds Assured Centre which will allow us to offer participants a formal certificate in recognition of their efforts. So, what more can the gambling industry do to attract and


retain top talent? It is not a dark place with a seedy reputation that should be ashamed of, but rather it is in fact the chance to work in one of the oldest entertainment industries in the world in a digitally driven, progressive environment. The Covid pandemic has given some of the more traditional operators a nudge towards a much more flexible style of working which makes the industry a far more attractive proposition alongside the chance to work on cutting edge games, an incredibly fast paced culture and of course there are the financial incentives which tend to be healthy across the industry. For compliance roles specifically, the opportunity to genuinely get involved with some innovative initiatives that not only protect from gambling harm but offer a genuine chance to positively impact someone’s life through projects such as our career and gambling awareness training, is a rare find which should be more widely publicised. Given the rewards on offer to successful outfits, and the industry’s historical resistance to economic downturns, betting and gaming will always be an ultra-competitive sector – and one that will always offer great opportunities for those ambitious enough to join it. Let’s get the message out there!


MAY 2022 29


rocklights/Adobe Stock


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