System for playing a game

Abstract

Abstract of the DisclosureA system for playing a zero-sum game includes a gaming server operable under program control to regulate the progress one or more instances of the zero-sum game such as multiplayer poker, and a number of portal websites on the World Wide Web of the Internet. The gaming server is also accessible on World Wide Web and enables participation in the instance of the zero-sum game by a predetermined number of players. The gaming server initiates further instances of the zero-sum game when all prior instances of the game have the predetermined plurality of participating players. Each player is able to access the gaming server by means of a corresponding Internet-enabled computer workstation, access for each player occurring through a respective one of the number of portal websites. The system maintains a register of players participating in the instance of the game. The register includes, for each participating player, data representative of a corresponding portal website through which the player accessed the gaming server. The gaming server provides a wagering facility operable by each player to place a wager on the instance of the zero-sum game, as well as a discrimination facility responsive to progress of the instance of the zero-sum game to determine whether any wager placed by anyone of the participating players is successful or unsuccessful. The gaming server maintains a clearing account corresponding to each one of the number of portal websites and each portal maintains a credit account for each player who is participating in the instance of the zero-sum game through that portal. The gaming server credits the clearing account of a portal associated with a player who has made a successful wager on the instance of the game with an amount equivalent to the total of all the unsuccessful wagers in that turn.

Description

Detailed Description of the InventionFIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001] This invention relates to a system for playing a game, more specifically, a multiplayer zero-sum game and, in particular, to a system for playing a multiplayer zero-sum game on which wagers may be placed, such as multiplayer poker. The invention extends to the method of operation of the system for playing the game.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002] The game of poker is widely played in many jurisdictions, particularly in the United States of America. A traditional game of poker is a multiplayer game, generally accommodating a minimum of 4 and a maximum of between 8 and 10 players. In a turn of the game, one of the participating players assumes the role of a dealer and deals five cards (an "initial hand"), from a conventional deck of 52 playing cards, to each participating player, inclusive of the dealer. The playing cards in the initial hand are dealt face down to each player who does not, at this stage of the game, di...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enables efficient player pooling and dynamic game instance management, reducing waiting times and increasing game duration by drawing players from multiple sources, and effectively settling transactions across different entities.

Problems solved by technology

If a poker game has no vacancies available, a would-be player may have to wait a considerable time before a vacant playing position becomes available, allowing the player to join the game, which causes frustration and which may cause the would-be player to leave the casino.

Conversely, a would-be player may also have to wait for a considerable period before a sufficient number of other would-be players become available to establish a poker game and to enable play to commence, which may also cause frustration and lead to player attrition.

Both of these situations are tedious and, particularly in an on-line environment, costly in terms of connection charges to the World Wide Web of the Internet.

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