Patent ID: 7798901
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A gaming method, comprising: designating a gaming tournament time of a gaming tournament, the gaming tournament time having a start time and an end time; receiving enrollment data from a plurality of first players at respective player computers; enabling each of the player computers for playing at least one game in the gaming tournament during the gaming tournament time; receiving enrollment data from a second player including authorization data indicative of the second player authorizing a software agent to play games in the gaming tournament on behalf of the second player, the software agent to be executed by a proxy computer; enabling the software agent to play at least one game via the proxy computer during the gaming tournament time; configuring a game playing behavior of the software agent to allow the second player to select game playing behavior corresponding to selected categories of particular predetermined high, moderate or low skill levels; determining a first winning player, if any, from the plurality of first players and the second player based on outcomes of the games played by the plurality of first players and the software agent; and if the first winning player is determined, generating data indicative of a first value payout to be awarded to the first winning player.