Politicians attack "scantily-clad" models and "racial stereotyping" at ICE London

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Models at the ICE annual showcase for the global gambling industry held at London’s ExCel centre. Photograph: Rob Davies

In what has now become an annual tradition, it seems, the mainstream media is once again picking up on the "outrage' in London for the amount of scantily-clad women working as promoters at ICE London.

From The Guardian:

The gambling industry’s annual trade show has come under fire from politicians over the use of scantily-clad models and racial stereotyping, despite a pledge by the event organiser to improve its image.

Many of the exhibits at the ICE London event, an annual showcase for the global gambling industry held at London’s ExCel centre, were fronted by models in highly sexualised or revealing outfits.

At least two exhibitors deployed white actors dressed in stereotypical East Asian or Egyptian costumes, promoting gambling products such as slot machines or touchscreen roulette.

One firm showed off its partnership with Playboy at a stand fronted by women dressed in the distinctive “Bunny” outfits made famous by the 1960s Playboy clubs and casinos.

While this year’s show does not feature a pole dancing display, many of the stands at the 2020 event are still using women in revealing costumes as display models, while business conversations primarily took place between men in suits.

One company, Bulgaria’s EGT Gaming, also hired western actors dressed as stereotypes of Chinese or Egyptian people. Several models in catsuits spent most of the day posing for pictures with suit-clad men beside slot machines.

Nearby, Czech firm Kajot had a stand where three models in leather catsuits with tails also posed for souvenir shots.

Interblock, which makes automated casino table games, demonstrated a partnership with Playboy at a large booth where at least six women dressed as Playboy “bunnies” were available to pose for pictures with exhibition delegates.

International gambling company FBM hired a woman dressed in what appeared to be traditional Japanese costume, including the white makeup often associated with geishas. The model was not Japanese.

Some of the women told the Guardian they had been hired through modelling or acting agencies, the names of which they asked not to be disclosed for fear they would lose work.

Labour MP Carolyn Harris said the use of scantily-clad women was “archaic and beyond disrespectful”.

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(The Guardian)