A LAS Vegas poker player dealt advice to the region's young business people at a networking event organised by Eversheds law firm.

Caspar Berry, a professional poker player for three years, turned his hand to teaching the region's young business talents how the lessons he has learnt from the game could be applied to business. Rather than turning delegates towards gambling, Mr Berry focused on the principles of poker as a way to understand how people think and act.

Mr Berry, managing director of corporate production company twenty first century media, said poker was more about earning than gambling.

He said: "Gambling is widely considered to be the hardest way to make an easy living and the lessons I have learnt are very valuable.

"The principles to doing well in poker, such as expectation, hourly rate, standard deviation and value, are fundamental to doing well in business.

The delegates were very responsive to the unusual approach of the seminar."

Victoria Scarisbrick, Eversheds business development manager, said: "Quirky events like this are a refreshing change from the run-of-the-mill networking seminars and serve to be both educational and entertaining."