Patent ID: 8535144

Claim:
A processor-implemented method for providing a gaming activity wherein a plurality of players provide respective entry fees, wherein one or more processors are configured to perform: defining, for one or more event outcomes, respective payout ratios; the one or more processors receiving, for each player, entry data indicative of an entry fee provided by the player and an event outcome selected by the player; the one or more processors adding, for each player, at least a portion of the received entry data to a repository of collective entry data; the one or more processors allocating to each player, on the basis of a primary portion of the entry fee provided by that player and the event outcome selected by that player, one or more primary entries in relation to a primary gaming activity whereby, in the case that for a given player the event outcome selected by the player is identified as a winning outcome, that player is awarded a primary prize based on the primary portion of the entry fee provided by the player and the payout ratio defined for the event outcome selected by the player; and the one or more processors allocating to each player, on the basis of an auxiliary portion of the entry fee provided by that player, an auxiliary entry having a different event outcome, wherein the different outcome of the auxiliary entry is defined such that the auxiliary entry will be a winning entry if the selected event outcome of the primary entry is not identified as the winning outcome, whereby in the case that the selected event outcome of the primary entry is not identified as a winning outcome, the auxiliary entry must be identified as a winning entry; and wherein the auxiliary portion of the entry fee provided by the player is fully refunded in the case that the auxiliary entry is not a winning entry, and wherein in the case that the auxiliary entry is a winning entry the player wins a supplementary prize having a value greater than the value of the auxiliary portion of the entry fee, such that the player's maximum potential loss is less than the value of the primary portion of the entry fee.