System for playing a game
First Claim
1. 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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for playing a multiplayer zero-sum game includes a gaming server operable under program control to regulate the progress of at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game by a predetermined plurality of players, a user access facility corresponding to each player, a plurality of portals associated with a plurality of competing game provider entities, and a clearing account facility having a separate clearing account for each game provider entity. Each user access facility is operable by a player to access the gaming server for participation in the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game through a selectable one of the plurality of portals, wherein each portal can be logically connected to a plurality of user access facilities simultaneously.
89 Citations
82 Claims
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1. A system for playing a multiplayer zero-sum game, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A server system for a multiplayer zero-sum game, comprising:
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a gaming server operable under program control to regulate the progress of at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game in which a predetermined plurality of players can participate, the gaming server being communicable with a plurality of portals associated with a plurality of competing game provider entities, by means of a communication network, and accessible by any one of the plurality of players through a selectable one of the plurality of portals; a clearing account facility having a separate clearing account for each game provider entity; 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; 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. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of operation of a system for playing a multiplayer zero-sum game, comprising the steps of:
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controlling a gaming server 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; establishing access to the gaming server for players participating in the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game through 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; maintaining a separate clearing account for each game provider entity; maintaining a register of the players currently participating in the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game, the register including, for each participating player, data representative of a corresponding portal through which the player accessed the gaming server; accepting a wager from any participating player on the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game; and determining whether a wager placed by any one of the participating players is successful or unsuccessful in response to progress of the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method of operation of a server system for playing a multiplayer zero-sum game, comprising the steps of:
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controlling a gaming server 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; establishing access to the gaming server along a communication network through a plurality of portals associated with a plurality of competing game provider entities, wherein each portal can serve multiple players simultaneously; maintaining a separate clearing account for each game provider entity; maintaining a register of players currently participating in the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game, the register including, for each participating player, data representative of a corresponding portal through which the player accessed the gaming server; accepting a wager from any participating player on the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game; and determining whether a wager placed by any one of the participating players is successful or unsuccessful in response to progress of the at least one instance of the multiplayer zero-sum game. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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Specification