View source for International Gaming Institute Scholar

An '''International Gaming Institute Scholar''' is a gambling researcher or gambling professional who has created noteworthy contributions to the field of [[Blackjack]], [[Craps]], [[Roulette]], other gambling games, or to the sociology and psychology of gambling and risk taking.  It is presented every three years to outstanding scholars in conjunction with [[The International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking]] organized by the International Gaming Institute of the [[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]].

Individuals are nominated by the staff of the IGI and then named from a finalist list.

The 2016 Scholar, in conjunction with the 16th Triennial [[The International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking]] was [[Les Golden]] of Oak Park, Illinois.  Golden is a professional blackjack player and columnist for London-based [[Bluff Europe]], Gamling.com, Gambling Online, iGaming Business, and Jackpots Review print magazines.  He is the author of the 2017 release, [[Never Split Tens (movie)]], [[Never Split Tens]], a biographical novel based on the life of blackjack researcher [[Edward O. Thorp]].  He has also published technical articles on gambling in peer-reviewed scholarly journals, including the prestigious [[The Mathematical Scientist]].

[[File: NeverSplitTensCoverb.JPG|thumb|right|250px|<small>The cover of the book "Never Split Tens," a biographical novel by Les Golden of Oak Park, Illinois, based on the incredible true story of blackjack scholar Edward O. Thorp.  The book contains a comparison of blackjack systems, an acting primer into camouflaging being a card counter, and an extensive biography of Hi-Lo developer Harvey Dubner. </small>]]