September always feels like a fresh start. The air begins to shift, routines take shape again, and across the province, students head back to school. This reminds me of when I went back to school in July by becoming a GameSense Advisor for a day.
As BCLC’s Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President of Safer Play & Enterprise Integrity, I spend much of my time at my desk shaping policy, analyzing data and working with teams to safeguard our gambling environments so that they’re secure, fair and supportive for our players. But, following in Dan Beebe’s footsteps, I recently traded in my office for the casino floor and went “back to school” for safer play.
My shift shadowing our GameSense team at Grand Villa Casino in Burnaby was no elementary class: it was immersive, hands-on and humbling.
GameSense Advisors (GSAs) are the heart of our player health strategy. Available online and in every B.C. casino, they’re not just advisors; they’re listeners, educators and trusted allies for players navigating their gambling choices. I’ve seen them in action many, many times, but stepping into their shoes (and donning the GameSense golf shirt and nametag) gave me a deeper appreciation for the nuance and skill they bring to every interaction.
This was especially evident when I helped a player explore Game Break, BCLC’s voluntary self-exclusion program. Even though it was a mock enrollment, the conversation reminded me how personal and emotional these decisions can be. GSAs meet players with empathy and without judgment, creating space for reflection and support. They make sure that the players remain comfortable throughout the entire process, even when it gets detailed and specific. The impact of that human touch isn’t something you can fully grasp from a legal document or a policy brief.
Being a GSA is hard work – I can confirm. Whether they’re explaining odds through the Marblemania game that I had the chance to do at the GameSense Information Centre, handing out swag to spark conversation or guiding a player through Game Break, their presence makes a difference. GSAs are crucial to our players and our purpose: they bridge rapport and resources, foster connection among the casino community and function as fantastic front-line ambassadors for BCLC.
Going “back to school” reminded me that learning never stops – and that safer play is an enterprise-wide effort. From executive table to casino corridors, I’m proud to work alongside our GSAs and all the teams who champion player health every day. Their work is foundational to our integrity as an organization – and to the trust we build with the players and communities we serve.
