"The aim is to give the casino industry access to NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, and we are seeking to engage with the British Casino Association and other bodies," explains Colleen McLaughlin, Manager of the Regional Gaming Academy (RGA).

The RGA has been providing training accredited by City and Guilds for four years, and worked with People 1st and UK casino industry to develop the first NVQs for the casino industry, which are expected to be launched in January 2008. 

People 1st, the UK government's sector skills council responsible for the development of skills within the UK leisure industry, has developed a suite of National Occupational Standards for the gambling industry, which provide minimum standards for those developing in-house and external training courses for staff within licensed gambling operators.

The set of occupational standards created by People 1st is online at www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/

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A spokesman for the British Casino Association explained that the BCA is "keeping a watching brief" while operators have been attending discussions about training standards. "Training generally is massively important," he said. "Looking at ways of formalising approaches to training may well be on the BCA agenda next year."

The 2005 Gambling Act and the introduction of a ban on smoking on premises has clearly been a major focus for UK operators during 2007; training is moving up the agenda.

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