Patent ID: 8047913

Claim:
A system for playing a multiplayer zero-sum game, comprising: a gaming server operable under program control to regulate the progress of at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game, the gaming server enabling participation in the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game by a predetermined plurality of players; a plurality of portals associated with a plurality of competing game provider entities, each portal being communicable with the gaming server by means of a communication network; a clearing account facility having a separate clearing account for each game provider entity; a user access facility corresponding to each player, each user access facility being operable by a player to access the gaming server for participation in the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game along the communication network through a selectable one of the plurality of portals, wherein each portal can be logically connected to a plurality of user access facilities simultaneously; a register of players currently participating in the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game, the register including, for each currently participating player, data representative of a corresponding portal through which the player accessed the gaming server; a wagering means operable by each player to place a wager on the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game; and discrimination means responsive to progress of the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game to determine whether a wager placed thereon by any one of the participating players is successful or unsuccessful.