Hybrid Interaction Ltd. welcomes Scott Yeates as its new head of Poker Consulting Services. Scott joins Hybrid Interaction from PokerStars, where for nearly 5 years he was leading the VIP Program. Scott will provide strategic direction and hands-on expertise to Hybrid Interaction’s expanding portfolio of poker clients, and as an experienced rewards program specialist, he would naturally fit into the core business of Hybrid Interaction: cross-vertical loyalty schemes enhancement.

"I was working directly with Scott few years back when we first established the Player Relationship Marketing team on the Isle of Man," said Shahar Attias, founder and CEO of Hybrid Interaction. "Scott’s extensive knowledge of best retention practices and vast experience in the Poker field, especially in what triggers the professional game makers, will have a significant, positive impact on our work in no time."

During his time at PokerStars, Scott played a key part of designing the most advanced online poker loyalty program, and as one of the previously largest players of the network, his insight was used to craft a program that had appeal to the new players, old players as well as the largest players on the internet.

"Hybrid Interaction is committed to maximizing its clients’ Lifetime-value by bringing together key professionals from across all verticals of the iGaming community," said Scott. "I am thrilled to join this ROI-driven organization at such a pivotal time in online gambling history."

Net Entertainment, the world’s leading provider of high quality casino games, is pleased to announce the release of its latest game production Mythic Maiden™.

Mythic Maiden™ proves Net Entertainment’s ambition to fulfil desires of a truly authentic online gaming experience. If anticipation is quality, Net Entertainment offers it in the latest game production, Mythic Maiden TM – a brand new 5-reel and 30 bet line video slot taking place in a mysterious attic.

The excitement factor in Mythic Maiden is created by the Free Spins mode in which the player can multiply their winnings up to x10 and additional Free Spins are revealed from within an Iron Maiden that randomly fires out win multipliers. Mythic Maiden™ offers multipliers that can reach up to x30, increasing anticipation and providing great winning opportunities for the players.

Mythic Maiden™ has all the visual appeal characteristics of Net Entertainment games. The mysterious Mythic Maiden TM theme combined with groundbreaking mathematics, rich graphics, creepy animations and innovative multipliers captures the attention of video slot players of all ages and backgrounds.

Play Mythic Maiden video slot game at Unibet Casino or at Betsson Casino now!

Members of the European Parliament and top online gaming operators will attend October 19 roundtable discussions

The critical topic of responsible gambling will be front and centre of European gambling discussions on October 19, when the influential trade body European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) holds its Responsible Gaming Day in Brussels.

With the European Parliament´s final vote on its draft Report on Online Gambling due in November, the event is expected to attract a substantial audience, bringing together EU and national officials, regulators, experts and academia, and stakeholders representing the broad spectrum of the European gaming industry and player representatives.

The Report is widely expected to influence the European Commission´s follow up to the Green Paper consultation.

Among the experts involved is Andrew Beveridge, Chief Executive of the independent player protection and industry standards organisation eCOGRA, who recently chaired the process to develop a CEN Workshop Agreement for Responsible Remote Gambling Measures (CWA 16259:2011).

"Given the current interest by regulators, operators and other industry stakeholders in further developing common standards for player protection, this is an ideal time to reflect on the success of the CEN Workshop Agreement initiative, which involved over 30 participants from trade associations, licensing authorities, operators and leading academic experts on gambling behaviour," he said.

Beveridge added that already this year over 30 tier one European operators and software suppliers, including the EGBA Members and eCOGRA Safe and Fair sealholders, have voluntarily elected to implement the 134 evidence-based measures developed by CEN aimed at ensuring player protection and responsible operator behaviour, and are being annually audited to demonstrate full compliance.

Based on audit evidence and player feedback, it is evident that these measures are proving highly effective, and as the first Pan-European agreement aimed at providing a high level of player protection in the European Union, this will provide a valuable contribution to any further efforts to develop common standards.

Joachim Haeusler, Responsible Gaming Manager at bwin.party digital entertainment, said that for the effective prevention of gambling-related problems it is important that operators use clearly defined measures and are audited regularly for compliance.

"Being among the first operators to adopt the CWA 16259:2011 measures, bwin.party urges all responsible operators – private as well as state-owned – to adhere to clear player protection measures that are properly audited to ensure a safe gaming environment ," he said.

Malcolm Harbour MEP, Conservative Chairman of the European Parliament of the internal market and consumer protection committee, added: "Our recently adopted report on online gambling has shown that there is a clear support for common standards for consumer protection at EU level. These are a positive step towards establishing a single market regime for responsible and safe gambling and they will benefit consumers, industry as well as the Single Market."

Dr. Gerhard Bühringer, Professor for Addiction Research at the Technische Universität in Dresden said that the CWA 16259:2011 measures provide an important first step towards better protection of vulnerable gamblers and the prevention of underage gambling.

He added that protection measures should be further discussed, and – in addition to external and independent regular audits for all public and private gambling opportunities – a scientific analysis and evaluation under everyday conditions is essential to determine the efficacy of all protection measures, as a basis for possible further improvements.

Following the roundtable discussions, Tex Rees, who manages eCOGRA’s initiatives in responsible gambling and the organisation’s disputes mediation service, will be presenting a live demonstration of the internet tools that are available to identify and protect vulnerable players.

Her demo will illustrate to delegates how the CWA 16259:2011 measures have been implemented by the EGBA Members, demonstrating how the measures work to ensure player protection and responsible operator behaviour, how the requirements are regularly audited, and the results of recent studies on the effectiveness of the measures.

www.responsiblegamingday.eu/html/rgd-programme.html

Titan Poker’s popular online poker client has been optimized and new features added, including the revolutionary side game for predicting card outcomes.

Titan Poker, the leading online poker room has upgraded its software, adding a number of new features to its virtual tables as well as a revolutionary side game that enhances the online poker experience.

BackBet is an innovative game that easily attaches itself to the side of Titan Poker’s tables, allowing players to choose from a number of prop bet options that predict the outcome of cards to be dealt to the board and in the subsequent hand. Odds are presented for bets on which cards, color or suit will appear in the community cards, as well as what a player’s next pocket cards will be.

Players wager against funds in their account, not affecting their balance or the action at the poker table at which they are playing. BackBet is offered at real money Texas Hold’em type games at specially designated tables in the Titan Poker software.

As part of its software upgrade, Titan Poker’s client operation, stake filters, tournament timebanks, and chat messages have all been optimized. In addition, there are some completely new poker software features that will be welcomed by all players.

The new features include a Quick Deposit button at the tables for faster funding of player accounts; a hand history replay video tool; keyboard play support buttons; and an auto re-buy option for tournaments which allow the purchase of additional chips. In addition, Titan Poker now offers 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo cash games.

Titan Poker stages weekly poker tournaments with huge guaranteed prize pools and satellite series awarding players with seats at the biggest poker tournaments around the world. Poker novices and veteran poker players alike are invited to try out the free poker download at Titan Poker to enjoy the new and improved software features.