Brett Abarbanel, the newly appointed executive director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI), could have easily turned the International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking’s keynote discussion into an episode of Entertainment Tonight.

The IGI’s director of research at the time, Abarbanel focused on risk taking during the 90-minute talk with two well-known gamblers – poker standout Andy Bloch and sports gambler turned “Jeopardy!” champion James Holzhauer.

“We’ve always tried to always emphasize that second part of the event’s name,” Abarbanel said of the May 2019 discussion at Caesars Palace. The IGI organizes the conference.

Bloch was a member of the card-counting MIT blackjack team made famous in the book “Bringing Down the House,” which was the basis for the film “21.” Holzhauer achieved international fame during his record-setting run on the television game show, “Jeopardy!” in which he won more than $2.46 million.

“One of the things that really drove me in that discussion with James was about his risk-taking background and his professional work as a sports bettor,” Abarbanel said. “How did that contribute toward his becoming this pop culture icon?”

She also focused on Bloch’s gambling and risk-taking background, including his visits to Strip resorts in the 1990s and early 2000s “to try and find the worst kind of games that he could exploit as a gambler.”

Those types of stories have steered Abarbanel’s nearly two decades of research into gambling issues and behaviors.

UNLV Vice President for Research David Hatchett said in a statement Abarbanel will bring a unique perspective to the system. Her official appointment took effect Jan. 1.

“We have discussed her vision for the International Gaming Institute and I am confident in her leadership of this very important program,” he said.