Patent ID: 7722459

Claim:
A method of conducting a game comprising a plurality of game sessions, the method comprising acts of: providing for an entry of a player and a plurality of other players in the plurality of game sessions through an interface of one or more computer systems; prior to play by the player of the plurality of game sessions, accepting payment of a single entry fee through a payment component of a computer system to provide the player access to the plurality of game sessions; providing the player with an option of paying a bet protection fee through a payment component of a computer-based bet protection system for the plurality of game sessions, the bet protection fee being separate from the single entry fee; determining a standing of the player in the game relative to standings of the plurality of other players in the game on a controller of the computer-based bet protection system; and determining, on the controller of the computer-based bet protection system, whether the determined standing meets a predetermined standing, and, if not, refunding at least a portion of the single entry fee if the player had paid the bet protection fee.