The security goons at Las Vegas have a new trick to look out for on the gaming floors. New research indicates that the brain chemical dopamine, the ‘reward’ substance of the human mind, may boost the ability to learn, and to spot winning strategies more effectively in gambling situations. Earlier studies have shown dopamine to aid learning in animal models, but this is the first work of its kind on people. Dopamine also plays an important role in addictive behaviours that is not yet fully understood.