Poker ad in student book a bad gamble for Dawson College

Canada - A poker room ad that appears on the back of a free day planner handed out to students at Montreal's Dawson College was a mistake, said the institution's union.

The ad promotes Plaza 138 Poker, a gambling centre on the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory that offers free food, alcohol and allows indoor smoking.

The Dawson Student Union hired a company to sell advertising in the day planner, but understands this was an error, and are "focusing on making sure this type of thing doesn't happen again," said executive member Tiffany Thompson.

The Poker room asked the Dawson representatives whether the ad would be a problem when it was contacted about buying promotional space, and "they immediately told us 'it is not a problem,'" said Plaza manager Mitch Schnurbach.

Dawson College's administration was not aware of the ad before it was printed in the day planner.

But had it been consulted, "our response would have been a categoric no," said Raymond Boucher, director of student services.

Gambling ads aren't appropriate in an environment where about 1,700 students are underage, the administration said.

The Dawson Student Union said it has taken steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.

CBC Canada

News Added: 03 September, 2008

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