Helped by the popularity of online poker, gambling seems to be all the rage these days. But whether you are sat at your PC or living the high life in a casino, it’s always a risky business. Just ask Honda.

OK, so the company’s decision makers were at the drawing board rather than the roulette table when they placed their chips, but you can’t deny the Japanese firm took a chance with the radical looks of the new Civic. However, unlike many a poker player, it seems the marque’s gamble has paid off, because in the first eight months of 2006 Honda has sold more Civics in Europe than in the whole of 2005.