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.