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Gambling industry veteran, Steve Donoughue opposes recent illiberal statements in an open letter

Published

6 years ago

February 13, 2018

Zoltan Tundik

Photo credits: Amazon.com

Reading Time: 4 minutes

There is a fresh statement published by the organizer of ICE Totally Gaming, which has been released due to the recent turn of events. (You can read the statement here…)

This statement should be taken seriously by the industry and should be debated in order to reach a common ground, otherwise the escalation of the harm done to the gambling industry can lead an irreversible situation.

We have pointed out some clear facts about some clear radical feminist acts coming from both the regulator and event organizer, however it seems that we are not the only one considering that such acts should be commented.

The subject has been dissected on social media and we have found that most of the comments come from individuals that are not taking any sides in the topic which is very alarming. This is certainly a sign of fear and it seems that some companies are scarred to comment this issue just for the sake of avoiding discussions from certain crowds.

This is not the case of industry veteran, Steve Donoughue, who is one of the UK’s leading management consultants and specializes in the gambling industry, both offline and online. Steve has today published an open letter which you can read below or on this link.

Open letter to Clarion’s Kate Chambers
posted by Steve Donoughue

In an article posted on iGaming Business entitled ‘Clarion pledges Action Plan to tackle industry sexism’ http://www.igamingbusiness.com/news/clarion-pledges-action-plan-tackle-industry-sexism posted on the 12th February 2018 it states that Clarion will be canvassing stakeholders views about your plan to eliminate promotional girls from all your gambling events through your Ampersand Think Tank and Research initiative that you say enables you to communicate directly with the industry.

As an industry veteran of 25 years who speaks at many conferences and has done for over 20 years, I am unfortunately not one of your chosen Ampersand members so have been forced to write this open letter.

I am categorically against your plan to dictate to the gambling industry what is acceptable behaviour at industry events. We have laws made by Parliament that control our behaviour not diktat laid down by unappointed and unaccountable industry suppliers

In no way am I condoning sexism, exploitation, discrimination and all the other nasties that the world is beset with, but I do not think this is what is happening at ICE or any other show.

What I do think is happening is that a small bunch of privileged women from outside our industry are trying to impose their own political agenda on an industry they dont know and possibly dont like and as a result, hundreds of promotional girls will have food taken from their tables for no justifiable reason.

The promotional girls are not exploited, they know fully well what is expected of them and they do their jobs professionally and happily. There has been no reports of harassment or assault and if there was, the law would apply and the perpetrator prosecuted. The promotional girls like the job, keep coming back and most of all value the employment that you begrudge them. They are in most cases employed by female run agencies being commissioned by female run marketing departments.

I fully understand the argument that using promotional girls is old-fashioned, that may be the case, but it is not up to you regulate it. Much as flares are old fashioned but we dont ban them however much we might want to. Market forces may make exhibitors try another approach to presenting their business but this is their choice not one to be forced upon them

Not only have what you and Sarah Harrison done is unfairly bring more acrimony upon an already under attack industry but you have ignored the hundreds of women who work in the industry throughout the year, not just at the conferences that pay your wages. Some of us are old enough to remember when there were practically no women working in this industry, the mirror image of what the exhibition industry now just you have very few men and seem not to be so exercised about this lack of diversity.

We can at least be very proud of the numbers of women we have and safe in the knowledge that more are being attracted to the industry. I have not heard any voices against the promotional girls from women in the industry, all the ones I have talked to do not consider it an issue. yet again this attack on our industry is coming from a small number of privileged outsiders

What is at stake here is your attempt to tell us – your customers – what to do and how we should do our business and that is wrong.

You can dress it up by saying its about respecting women but you seem to have no respect for those you wish to force out of legal employment.

Once you ban the girls what will you ban next?

Will you lead a campaign against the costumes women competitors wear on Strictly?

I would not be saying this if this was another industry. Skimpily clad girls are out of context at an accountancy exhibition. Not at a gambling exhibition where members of the public are not invited. Gambling has always been an adult form of entertainment with sexual motifs prevalent throughout both time and the breadth of the industry.

The girls must stay

No one is asking for nudity just the ability to dress as the client wants – which is no more than many girls dress on a Friday night

We are kindly asking all our readers to send us their opinion to [email protected] and let us know what would they do in order to keep radical feminism out of the industry.

Please take our survey about the topic, by submitting your reply below:

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Blockchain

Kore Digital Mining Ltd Announces Additional 14 PH/s Bitcoin Mining Capacity

Published

4 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Wladimir P.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Kore Digital Mining Ltd, a UK based Bitcoin mining company, announces that effective 1st May 2024, an additional 14 PH/s mining capacity will be added to its existing infrastructure.

This additional capacity will be provided by a major Bitcoin mining corporation and will be operational until 30th June 2024.

Derek Nisbet, Kore’s Founder & CEO, said – “We are pleased to work with a leading Bitcoin Miner in securing a large amount of mining capacity, for a 2 month trial period. We look forward to hopefully extending this period and engaging more with major mining corporations offering Bitcoin hashing opportunities, in the future.”

This additional 14PH/s Bitcoin mining capacity adds to the existing 2 PH/s currently operational with Kore’s own infrastructure and an additional 4 PH/s is due to be added over the next quarter, totalling 20 PH/s.

Latest News

The Benefits of Playing at EU Casinos

Published

5 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Wladimir P.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

There are many EU casinos that not only attract players from Europe itself but also from countries around the world, including the US, UK, and even those from countries where online gambling isn’t permitted. So why is it that EU casinos are so popular? What drives the online gambling community to these casinos?

Well, that’s what we’re going to be looking at today. What’s so attractive about EU casinos to people who are looking for an immersive and entertaining online casino experience? Why do people in the USA, the home of Las Vegas, go outside of the USA to play at online casinos?

Benefits of EU casinos

Online gambling is by far one of the most popular methods of gambling online. Throughout Europe, specific laws in each country can vary, so access to land-based casinos can sometimes be few and far between. Thus, going online to enjoy a casino experience has become a more preferable option. And so why EU casinos? Well, for those who are joining EU casinos from outside Europe and not from the UK or the US, the English-based support and customer service are very attractive. A lot of people who play at EU casinos access it using a VPN or from a country where they don’t have any domestic online casinos, and most of the time English is their first language or one that they can understand.

The next attractive factor regarding EU online casinos is safety and security. Each online casino in the EU is strictly regulated and licensed. It’s this reassurance that a lot of players look for when choosing an online casino to go to and play at. They are held to the same strict and high standards as those of their British counterparts in the UK, which are upheld and monitored by the UK Gambling Commission. In the EU, a lot of the casinos are also regulated by either the Malta Gaming Authority or the Curacao Gaming Licence Authority. All of which share the same standards and expectations as other authorities across theglobe,e which ensures that all players playing online at EU casino websites.

The casinos that are available online in the EU are also very open to a lot of different payment methods. There are even some crypto casinos where you can play casino games online with cryptocurrency. This openness to accepting a lot of different payment methods means a lot to people who like to play at online casinos. The vast majority of them also pride themselves on providing very quick withdrawals, which are measured in hours rather than days. After all, there is nothing more frustrating than having a big win and then having to wait days to get your hard-fought winnings.

And lastly, bonuses and promotions. The vast majority of EU online casinos will have a wide range of different bonuses and promotions that you can sign up for and take advantage of. There are certain countries, such as Sweden, where the online casinos are strictly limited to one bonus or one promotion; however, the vast majority of EU casinos are not subject to such restrictions and offer a great online casino experience.

When it comes to the popularity of EU online casinos, it is growing year on year. There is plenty going in their favour and more people than ever before are shifting to online casinos rather than having to go down to the casino themselves. The fact that they can access these EU casinos from their smartphones, wherever they are, means it’s easier than ever before to win big at a casino online and have a good time.

Latest News

William Hill Announced as Official Betting Partner of Qipco Guineas Festival

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Alan Campbell

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Leading bookmaker becomes official betting partner of first UK Classic meeting of 2024

William Hill has been announced as the new official betting partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, the first UK Classic meeting of the season.

It’s the latest addition to William Hill’s spring racing roster, following sponsorship of The Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, the Punchestown Champion Chase and its status as official betting partner of the Randox Grand National Festival.

The 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas headline the three-day meeting and the leading bookmaker will sponsor 15 races across the weekend with the Jockey Club Stakes, Palace House and Dahlia Stakes among the races now featuring the William Hill title.

Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten superstar City of Troy is still all the rage for the 2,000 Guineas at 4/6 whereas Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel heads a competitive looking 1,000 Guineas market at 7/2.

“We’re delighted to become the official betting partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, strengthening our relationship with The Jockey Club on the back of a fantastic Grand National Festival,” a spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said. “It’s brilliant for William Hill to be associated directly with such a prestigious event at Newmarket, the home of the thoroughbred, for this season’s first two Classics. The company has a close connection with the history of the 2,000 Guineas as William Hill himself bred the 1949 winner, Nimbus, who then went on to win the Derby.

“We’re excited to be involved at racing’s key meetings and see the Qipco Guineas Festival as the perfect sponsorship as the British flat season kicks into gear.”

Newmarket – 2,000 Guineas: May 4, 2024

City Of Troy	4/6
Rosallion	4/1
Notable Speech	12/1
Henry Longfellow	12/1
Night Raider	16/1
Alyanaabi	16/1
Ancient Wisdom	16/1
Task Force	16/1
Ghostwriter	16/1
Iberian	20/1
BAR	25/1

Newmarket – 1,000 Guineas: May 5, 2024

Fallen Angel	7/2
Ylang Ylang	4/1
Dance Sequence	5/1
Ramatuelle	10/1
See The Fire	12/1
Content	12/1
One Look	14/1
Pretty Crystal	14/1
Buttons	20/1
Purple Lily	20/1
Porta Fortuna	20/1
Star Style	20/1
BAR	25/1