Gaming machine

Abstract

We provide gaming machines that can reduce data size. [Solution] The pull-in range for the first type of symbol arranged in the third position overlaps with the pull-in range for the first type of symbol arranged in the first position in the first range, and overlaps with the pull-in range for the first type of symbol arranged in the second position in the second range. The first range and the second range do not overlap. When a specific role can be won, if the timing of operating the specific stop button coincides with the timing when the symbols in the first range are displayed in rotation, the first type of symbol arranged in the first position will be displayed stopped on the active line, and if the timing coincides with the timing when the symbols in the second range are displayed in rotation, the first type of symbol arranged in the second position will be displayed stopped on the active line. The performance control means can execute performances that assist in winning a specific role when a specific role is won in the internal lottery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, gaming machines (rotary gaming machines, slot machines) having a plurality of reels with symbols arranged on their outer peripheral surfaces are known. This type of gaming machine assigns a certain gaming value to gaming media such as medals or pachinko balls, and conducts a game to obtain such gaming media. Also, this type of gaming machine performs an internal lottery and starts the rotation of a plurality of reels upon the player's rotation start operation, and controls the stop of the plurality of reels in a manner corresponding to the result of the internal lottery upon the player's stop operation. Then, the result of the game is determined by the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line in the state where the plurality of reels have stopped, and payouts such as medals are made according to the result of the game.

[0003] In the above-described gaming machine, once a player transitions to a gaming state that is entered by winning a bonus, the player does not transition to the bonus state in subsequent games, and the game is executed in the gaming state that is entered by winning a bonus (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Even in a gaming machine like the one described in Patent Document 1, where once a player transitions to a game state triggered by winning a bonus, the player will not transition to the bonus state again in subsequent games, it is necessary to pre-store lottery data related to internal draws performed when the game is played in the bonus state, and stop control data used in stop control performed based on the winning pattern in the bonus state. However, there is a problem in that the data capacity is strained by the stop control data, which is used very infrequently.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a gaming machine that can reduce data capacity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This invention relates to a plurality of reels, Multiple stop buttons, A display window that makes the multiple reels visible, An internal lottery method for conducting an internal lottery, The aforementioned A reel control means for controlling the rotation and stopping modes of the reel, A means for determining whether a role has been awarded, A performance control means that performs control related to the performance, Equipped with, The aforementioned prize determination is made based on the combination of symbols that stop and are displayed on the valid line. The aforementioned plurality of reels include a specific reel, The plurality of stop buttons include a specific stop button corresponding to the specific reel, The aforementioned specific reel has a first type of symbol and a second type of symbol arranged on it. The aforementioned first type of design is arranged at least at the first position, the second position, and the third position. The second type of symbol is displayed in the display window when the first type of symbol arranged in the first position stops on the active line, and when the first type of symbol arranged in the second position stops on the active line. The reel control means stops the symbols within the pull-in range corresponding to the position of the reel at the time the stop button is operated onto the active line. The retraction range of the first type of pattern arranged at the first position and the retraction range of the first type of pattern arranged at the third position overlap, The retraction range of the first type of pattern arranged at the second position and the retraction range of the first type of pattern arranged at the third position overlap the second range, The first range and the second range do not overlap. The aforementioned internal lottery The target includes , Special role It includes, The symbols on the specific reels that constitute the winning combination of the specific role are the first type of symbols, When it is possible to win the aforementioned specific role, and when the specific stop button is operated at the timing when the symbols within the first range are rotating, the first type of symbols arranged at the first position are stopped and displayed on the active line. When it is possible to win the aforementioned specific role, and when the specific stop button is operated at the timing when the symbols within the second range are displayed in rotation, the first type of symbols arranged at the second position are stopped and displayed on the active line. When the aforementioned specific role is achieved, the second type of symbol is stopped and displayed in the display window on each of the multiple reels. The aforementioned performance control means is capable of executing a performance that assists in winning the specific role when the internal lottery results in the winning of the specific role. It is characterized by the following.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a gaming machine capable of reducing data capacity can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] [Figure 1] It is a front view showing the external configuration of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram for explaining the functional blocks of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing a winning area that can be won in an internal lottery in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and winning numbers associated with each winning area. [Figure 4] It is a diagram for explaining the symbol arrangement of the reels in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing winning symbol combinations of minor roles 1 to 16 and payouts of minor roles 1 to 16 in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing winning symbol combinations of minor roles 17 to 24 and payouts of minor roles 17 to 24 in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing winning symbol combinations of minor roles 25 to 36 and payouts of minor roles 25 to 36 in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] (A) is a state transition diagram of the gaming state in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a transition diagram related to the normal section and the advantageous section controlled by the AT control means and the production state during the advantageous section. [Figure 9](A) is a diagram showing the game results for each batting order when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" to "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 10" to "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Role 1", and the winning area "Special Small Role 2" are selected by internal lottery in the non-RT state of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (B) is a diagram showing the game results for each batting order when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" to "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 10" to "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Role 1", and the winning area "Special Small Role 2" are selected by internal lottery in the bonus establishment state. [Figure 10] This diagram illustrates a symbol that can be stopped in the middle position of the middle reel according to the timing of the stop button operation when a winning combination of the first type is awarded in a game in which the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6", winning area "Bat Order Bell 12", winning area "Special Small Win 1", or winning area "Special Small Win 2" is selected in a game according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This diagram illustrates a symbol that can be stopped in the middle position of the middle reel in accordance with the timing of the stop button operation in a game in which the winning area "Special Small Win 1" and the winning area "Special Small Win 2" are selected and the small win of the second form can be awarded. [Figure 12] (A) is a diagram illustrating a symbol that, in a game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, can be stopped in the middle position of the right reel depending on the timing of the stop button operation when the winning area "Special Small Role 1" is won in the bonus-established state and the stop button is operated in the 5th and 6th batting order. (B) is a diagram illustrating a symbol that, in a game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, can be stopped in the middle position of the right reel depending on the timing of the stop button operation when the winning area "Special Small Role 2" is won in the bonus-established state and the stop button is operated in the 5th and 6th batting order. [Figure 13] This diagram illustrates the pull-in range for symbols that can be stopped in the middle position of the left reel when small wins 34 and 36 can be won in a gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the pull-in range for the watermelon symbol arranged at stop number 2. [Figure 14] (A) is a diagram illustrating the symbols that are displayed when the player stops in a specific area in a game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the player is notified of batting order 4 during auxiliary play and the stop button is operated during batting order 4. (B) is a diagram illustrating the symbols that are displayed when the player stops in a specific area when the player is notified of batting order 5 during auxiliary play and the stop button is operated during batting order 5. [Figure 15] This figure shows the winning areas in the internal lottery of a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and the winning numbers associated with each winning area. [Figure 16] This diagram illustrates the arrangement of symbols on the reels in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] This figure shows the combination of winning symbols for minor role 1 and the payout in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] This diagram illustrates the pull-in range of the symbols that can be stopped on the lower row of the left reel when a small win 1 is possible in a game machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the pull-in range of the red 7 symbol arranged at stop number 4. [Figure 19] This diagram illustrates the symbols that stop and are displayed within a specific area when a minor role 1 is achieved in a game machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] This figure shows the winning areas in the internal lottery of a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the winning roles included in each winning area, and whether or not there is a lottery for the advantageous section. [Figure 21] This diagram illustrates the arrangement of symbols on the reels in a gaming machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] This figure shows the combinations of winning symbols for minor roles 1 to minor roles 9 and the payouts for minor roles 1 to minor roles 9 in a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] This figure shows the combinations of winning symbols for minor roles 10 to 19 and the payouts for minor roles 10 to 19 in a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] This diagram shows the combinations of winning symbols for Replay 1 to Replay 3 in a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] This figure shows the game results for each turn in a non-RT state in a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] This figure shows the game results for each batting order when a bonus is established in a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] This figure shows the game results for each batting order during the bonus state in a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] (A) is a diagram showing the combination of winning symbols and payouts for small wins included in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" in a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention; (B) is a diagram explaining the symbols that can be displayed in the middle of the middle reel and the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" is won, the BAR symbol "BAR" is displayed on the upper part of the right reel, and the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is displayed on the upper part of the left reel; (C) is a diagram showing the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line at the time of the first stop operation when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" is won and the stop button is operated in bat order 5. [Figure 29] This figure shows the stop control table acquired when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in a non-RT state or when the winning area "All 1-Coin Win" is won in a bonus state in a gaming machine of the third embodiment of the present invention; the stop control table acquired when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in a bonus state or when the winning area "All Small Wins" is won in a bonus state; and the stop control table acquired when the winning area "RBB&1-Coin Win 1" is won in a non-RT state or when the bonus state is established. [Figure 30](A) is a diagram showing a stop control table obtained when the winning area "common bell" is selected in an internal lottery during a non-RT state in a gaming machine of the third embodiment of the present invention; (B) is a diagram showing the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line at the time of the first stop operation when the winning area "common bell" is selected in an internal lottery during a non-RT state and the stop buttons are operated in the 5th and 6th turns of the game; (C) is a diagram explaining the symbols that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the second stop operation or the third stop operation is performed when the winning area "common bell" is selected in an internal lottery during a non-RT state and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the 5th and 6th turns of the game. [Figure 31] This diagram illustrates the positions in which the red 7 symbols "red 7" are displayed on the lower row of the left reel when the stop button is pressed at a timing that allows the red 7 symbols "red 7" arranged at stop numbers 7 to 9 to be displayed on the active line in the left reel of a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 32] (A) is a diagram showing the display configuration of the left reel that is visible from a specific area when the red 7 symbol arranged at stop number 7 is displayed on the lower part of the left reel in a gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a diagram showing the display configuration of the left reel that is visible from a specific area when the red 7 symbol arranged at stop number 9 is displayed on the lower part of the left reel. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] [First Embodiment] The first embodiment will be described below. The first embodiment described below is not intended to unduly limit the scope of the present invention as described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the first embodiment are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[0011] 1. Overview of the configuration of the gaming machine Figure 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of a slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is a type of gaming machine that uses tokens as a game medium.

[0012] The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment has a box-shaped casing consisting of a cabinet BX, an upper front door UD, and a lower front door DD, which houses a reel unit 310 (see Figure 2) consisting of multiple reels, from the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. A hopper unit 320 (see Figure 2), which serves as a medal dispensing device, is housed below the reel unit 310 inside the cabinet. The cabinet of the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment also houses a control board that controls the operation of the slot machine 1, which is equipped with a CPU, ROM (an example of an information storage medium), RAM, etc.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are each divided into 20 regions (hereinafter referred to as "frames") at regular intervals on their outer surface, and one of several types of symbols is arranged in each frame.

[0014] The front upper door UD and the front lower door DD are provided to be individually openable and closable. The front upper door UD is equipped with a display device 330, which serves as a display means for displaying various videos and images to assist or enhance the gameplay. The display device 330 has a display area 330a in which images are displayed, and a specific area 330b facing the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is made of a transparent liquid crystal display, allowing the rotation and stopping states of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 to be observed through the display device 330. When the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped, three symbols (upper, middle, and lower) that are arranged consecutively on the outer surface of each of the multiple types of symbols arranged at regular intervals on the outer surface of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 can be observed from the front of the slot machine 1 through the display device 330.

[0015] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, each reel is provided with upper, middle, and lower display positions for observing the symbols through the display device 330, and an active line L1 is set for the combination of display positions on each reel. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the number of tokens required for one game, the so-called prescribed number of tokens (prescribed number), is set to 3 in all game states, and when tokens equivalent to the prescribed number of tokens are inserted, the active line L1, which is composed of the middle sections of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, is activated.

[0016] The game result is determined by the combination of symbols that stop and are displayed on the active line L1. If the combination of symbols on the active line L1 corresponds to a predetermined winning combination, the hopper unit 320 dispenses medals, etc., as if the winning combination has been achieved.

[0017] The front upper door UD is equipped with a game information display unit DS. The game information display unit DS consists of LEDs, lamps, a 7-segment display, etc., and displays various game information such as the number of medal credits, the number of medals paid out or acquired in one game, the total number of medals paid out or acquired in bonus mode, information on the winning combination in the current game, and information suggesting how to press stop buttons B1, B2, and B3, which are related to medal payouts.

[0018] The 7-segment display of the game information display unit DS displays a notification display corresponding to the winning role command, which is a control signal created based on the winning information, which is information about the role won in this game, when a predetermined number of medals are inserted and the start lever SL is operated. After the notification display is shown, when the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 stop, the notification display ends and the number of medals paid out or acquired is displayed. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, a notification display is executed in which each segment of the game information display unit DS lights up and turns off in a display mode corresponding to the winning role command.

[0019] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, multiple sound devices 340 for sound-based effects are provided on the front lower door DD. Various sounds are output from the sound devices 340 to assist or enhance the gameplay.

[0020] The front lower door DD is equipped with various operating means. These operating means include a max bet button MB for inserting a predetermined number of credited (stored) medals, a start lever SL for initiating the start operation by rotating the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 to begin playing, stop buttons B1 to B3 for initiating the stop operation by the player, and a settlement button BS for settling the credited medals.

[0021] Furthermore, a medal payout port MO and a medal receiving tray MP are provided at the bottom of the front lower door DD, and the number of medals corresponding to the game result are dispensed from the medal payout port MO to the medal receiving tray MP. Also, when the settlement button BS is pressed while the number of credited medals is stored in the game machine, a settlement process is executed in response to the pressing of the settlement button BS, dispensing a number of medals corresponding to the number of credits (the number of medals credited) from the hopper unit 320, and the medals are dispensed from the medal payout port MO to the medal receiving tray MP.

[0022] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment. The slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment is controlled by a game control means 10 which serves as a control board. The game control means 10 receives input signals from input means, which are a plurality of operation detection means, such as a coin insertion switch 210, a bet switch 220, a start switch 230, a stop switch 240, a setting change switch 250, and a reset switch 260, and performs various calculations to execute the game. Based on the calculation results, it controls the operation of output means such as the performance device 300, the reel unit 310, the hopper unit 320, and the game information display unit DS.

[0023] Furthermore, the game control means 10 includes a setting change means 100, an input acceptance means 105, a random number generation means 110, an internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a prize determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a replay processing means 160, a game state transition control means 170, a performance control means 180, a storage means 190, and an assist time control means (AT control means) 200. Each means constituting the game control means 10 reads and executes the respective control program pre-stored in the storage means 190 when executing each control process.

[0024] The setting change means 100 performs control (setting change control) to change the setting value stored in the setting value storage means 191 of the storage means 190. When the setting change switch 250 is in the ON state and setting changes are permitted, the setting change means 100 receives an input signal output from the reset switch 260 provided on the power supply and cyclically changes the setting value in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → ... → setting 6 → setting 1 → ... and confirms the setting value based on the start lever SL being operated and receiving a start signal output from the start switch 230.

[0025] In slot machine 1, the degree of advantage in the game can be changed according to the setting value determined in the setting value storage means 191. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the degree of advantage in the game can be changed according to the setting value by changing the probability of winning in various draws (draws related to the transition of performance states, etc.) by the AT control means 200. In other words, the setting change means 100 is configured to change the setting value, which is a value that can change the probability of winning a prize in the draw by the AT control means 200.

[0026] In addition, the slot machine 1 only needs to be configured to allow the degree of advantage in the game to be changed according to the setting value. For example, it may be configured so that the probability of winning in some of the winning areas among the winning areas that can be won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is changed. In other words, the setting change means 100 may be configured to change the setting value, which is a value that can change the probability of winning a role in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120. To put it another way, the setting value only needs to be configured as a value that can change the degree of advantage in the game.

[0027] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when setting change control is performed by the setting change means 100, the control related to the game state performed by the game state transition control means 170 and the control related to the advantageous section performed by the AT control means 200 are initialized, the game state is set to the non-replay time (hereinafter, replay time is also referred to as "RT") state described later, and the control related to auxiliary games that the AT control means 200 was performing before the setting change is also initialized and the normal section is set. On the other hand, in the slot machine 1, when the power supply to the game control means 10 is cut off (power out) and then the power supply is resumed, the control related to the game state performed by the game state transition control means 170 and the control related to the advantageous section performed by the AT control means 200 are configured to resume from the state before the power outage, and the control related to auxiliary games that the AT control means 200 was performing before the power outage is also configured to maintain the state before the power outage.

[0028] The coin insertion acceptance means 105, during the coin insertion acceptance period, when a coin is inserted into the coin slot MI (see Figure 1) and the coin insertion switch 210 is activated, sets the inserted coin to the inserted state. When the bet switch 220 is activated, executing a bet operation by pressing the max bet button MB with the coins credited, the means sets the credited coins to the inserted state, up to a specified number of coins (3 coins). Based on the fact that a number of coins equivalent to the specified number of coins have been set to the inserted state, it performs a process to activate the game start operation on the start lever SL.

[0029] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the first press of the start lever SL, which is activated based on the insertion of a specified number of tokens, is accepted as the player's operation to start playing, triggering the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and also triggering the internal lottery means 120, which will be described later, to perform an internal lottery.

[0030] The random number generation means 110 is a means for generating random numbers for the lottery. In the first embodiment, the term "random number" includes not only values ​​that occur randomly in a mathematical sense, but also values ​​that, even if their generation is regular, can function as effectively random numbers because the timing of their acquisition is irregular.

[0031] The internal lottery means 120 is a means for performing an internal lottery to determine whether a winning combination is achieved based on a start signal output when the player performs a start operation on the start lever SL and the start switch 230 detects the start operation, and performs lottery table selection processing, random number determination processing, lottery flag setting processing, etc.

[0032] In the lottery table selection process, the system selects which of the multiple internal lottery tables stored in the internal lottery table storage means 192 of the storage means 190 will be used to perform the internal lottery, based on the current game state. In each internal lottery table, each of the multiple random numbers (for example, 65,536 random numbers from 0 to 65,535) is associated with various roles such as replays, minor roles, and bonuses, as well as losses (misses).

[0033] In the following description, "bonus" refers to a feature that activates a special mechanism or a continuous special mechanism activation device upon winning; "bonus activated" means that a bonus is won and the special mechanism or continuous special mechanism activation device is activated; and "bonus state" means the state in which the special mechanism or continuous special mechanism activation device is activated.

[0034] In the random number determination process, a random number (random number for drawing) generated by the random number generation means 110 for each game is obtained based on the start signal output from the start switch 230. The obtained random number is then compared with the internal drawing table selected in the drawing table selection process, and a determination is made based on the comparison result as to whether or not a winning combination has been achieved.

[0035] In the lottery flag setting process, based on the result of the random number determination process, the lottery flag corresponding to the winning combination is set from a non-established state (first flag state, OFF state) to an established state (second flag state, ON state). In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, if two or more combinations are won simultaneously, the lottery flag corresponding to each of the two or more combinations that were won simultaneously is set to an established state. In addition, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is provided with lottery flags whose established state can be carried over to subsequent games until a win is achieved (carry-over flags) and lottery flags whose established state is reset to a non-established state without being carried over to subsequent games regardless of whether a win is achieved (carry-over non-carry-over flags). Furthermore, the lottery flag setting information is stored in the lottery flag storage means 193 of the storage means 190.

[0036] The reel control means 130 starts the rotation drive of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 and performs reel rotation control to control the rotation pattern of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 based on the start signal output from the start switch 230, which is activated when the player performs a start operation on the start lever SL. Furthermore, when the rotation state of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 reaches a state of steady rotation at a predetermined speed (for example, about 80 rpm), the reel control means 130 performs control to activate the stop operation detected by the stop switch 240 when the stop buttons B1 to B3 corresponding to each reel are pressed. Then, when the stop switch 240 that detected the stop operation outputs a reel stop signal, the reel control means 130 performs control to stop each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 corresponding to the stop switch 240 that detected the stop operation (reel stop control).

[0037] In the following description, when the reel control means 130 starts the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and the player presses the valid stop buttons B1 to B3 respectively, the first press will be referred to as the first stop operation, the second press as the second stop operation, and the third press as the third stop operation.

[0038] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, the rotating reel corresponding to the pressed stop button is stopped within a predetermined period of 190ms from the time when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed (when the stop switch 240 detects the stop operation). Here, when stopping the rotating reels within 190ms from the time the stop button is pressed, the stopping position of each rotating reel is configured to allow a maximum of 4 frames of rotation from the time the stop button is pressed until the reel stops, based on the diameter and rotation speed of each reel.

[0039] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, the range in which symbols can be pulled onto the active line L1 (pulling range) is a total of 5 frames from the frame displayed on the active line L1 at the time the stop button is pressed until it rotates 4 frames.

[0040] When reel stop control is executed, the reel control means 130 performs a logic calculation process to determine the stopping position of the rotating reel based on a predetermined priority order, which includes a pull-in process that stops the rotating reel so that as many winning combinations as possible with the lottery flag set to the "established" state can be awarded, and a kick-off process that stops the rotating reel so that winning combinations with the lottery flag set to the "not established" state cannot be awarded, and a table reference process that determines the stopping position of the rotating reel by referring to the stop control table stored in the reel control data storage means 194 of the storage means 190, thereby stopping the rotating reel and displaying a symbol on the active line L1 (hereinafter, stopping the rotating reel by reel stop control and displaying a symbol on the active line L1 is also referred to as "stop display").

[0041] In the first embodiment of the slot machine 1, when multiple types of small wins are won in the internal lottery, there are two methods for determining the priority of candidate stopping positions: one is to determine the priority according to the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1 (quantity priority control), and the other is to determine the priority according to the number of medals paid out based on the predetermined payout for each small win (coin priority control). However, when executing coin priority control, if the same small win with the same payout is won multiple times, the priority of candidate stopping positions that can award each of these small wins is treated as the same.

[0042] The prize determination means 140 performs a prize determination process to determine whether a winning combination has been achieved based on the stopping patterns of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Specifically, while referring to the prize determination table stored in the prize determination table storage means 195 of the storage means 190, it determines whether the symbol combinations displayed on the active line L1 when all of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped correspond to predetermined winning combinations. The prize determination table is provided so that the presence or absence of a bonus, replay, or minor win can be determined (hereinafter referred to as "prize determination") based on the symbol combinations displayed on the active line L1 in the state in which each reel has stopped. In the following description, the symbol combinations that indicate the winning combination will also be referred to as "prize symbol combinations".

[0043] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, each process is executed based on the result of the prize determination means 140 in the prize determination process. As for the processes executed based on the result of the prize determination, for example, if a small win is achieved, the payout control means 150 is instructed to determine the number of medals to be paid out; if a replay is achieved, the replay processing means 160 is instructed to execute the next game without consuming medals; and if a win that triggers a transition to a game state such as a bonus is achieved, the game state transition control means 170 is instructed to transition to a new game state.

[0044] The payout control means 150 performs payout processing related to the payout of medals according to the game result. Specifically, when a minor win is achieved, it determines the number of medals to be paid out in the game based on the predetermined payout for each win, and controls the hopper unit 320, which acts as a payout device, to pay out the number of medals corresponding to the determined payout amount.

[0045] The hopper unit 320 dispenses the number of medals instructed by the dispensing control means 150. The hopper unit 320 is equipped with a dispensing medal detection switch 325 that operates each time a medal is dispensed. The dispensing control means 150 is configured to manage the number of medals actually dispensed from the hopper unit 320 based on the input signal from the dispensing medal detection switch 325. If medal credit is permitted, instead of actually dispensing medals, the hopper unit 320 performs a credit addition process, which adds the number of medals dispensed to the number of credits (number of credited medals) stored in the credit storage area (not shown) of the storage means 190, thereby virtually dispensing medals.

[0046] The replay processing means 160, when the winning determination means 140 determines that a combination of symbols indicating the winning of one of the multiple types of replay symbols described later has stopped and is displayed on the active line L1, performs a replay processing (re-play processing) to set the machine to a ready state that allows the next game to be played without requiring the insertion of tokens. In other words, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when a replay is won, an automatic insertion process is performed in which a predetermined number of tokens are automatically inserted without using the player's tokens (including credit tokens), and the machine waits for the start operation of the next start lever SL with the same active line L1 as the previous game set.

[0047] The game state transition control means 170 performs the process of transitioning game states between multiple game states, and the process of activating and terminating bonuses. Here, the transition conditions for each game state may be defined as one condition or multiple conditions. If multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state based on the fulfillment of any one of the multiple predetermined conditions, or on the fulfillment of all of the multiple predetermined conditions.

[0048] The performance control means 180 is capable of receiving various information, including commands, from each of the other means that constitute the game control means 10 (setting change means 100, input acceptance means 105, random number generation means 110, internal lottery means 120, reel control means 130, winning determination means 140, payout control means 150, replay processing means 160, game state transition control means 170, AT control means 200), and is connected to the game control means 10 in a unidirectional communication manner so as not to transmit information to each of the other means that constitute the game control means 10. Based on the various information (signals, commands) transmitted from each of the other means that constitute the game control means 10, the performance control means 180 performs various calculations to execute performances using performance data stored in the performance control data storage means 196 of the storage means 190, and controls the operation of output means such as the performance device 300, including the display device 330 and sound device 340, based on the calculation results.

[0049] The performance control means 180 controls performances related to the game, such as image and video performances using the display device 330 and sound performances using the sound device 340. Specifically, when a player operates various components of the slot machine 1, such as inserting medals, operating the max bet button MB, start lever SL, and stop buttons B1 to B3, or when game events occur, such as changes in the game state, the performance control means 180 controls the execution of performances that enhance the game or assist the game by lighting or flashing lamps and LEDs, and outputting sound from the sound device 340. The performance control means 180 also causes each component of the performance device 300 to execute performances based on each performance state.

[0050] The AT control means 200 is an auxiliary game control means that performs control related to the transition between an advantageous section (advantageous period), which is a section (period) in which control related to instruction functions, including auxiliary games that display notifications assisting in the winning of pre-set roles on the game information display unit DS, can be executed, and a normal section (non-advantageous period, non-advantageous section), which is a section (period) in which control related to auxiliary games (control related to instruction functions) based on the results of internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 cannot be executed, using data stored in the AT control data storage means 197, thereby performing control related to the normal section, advantageous section, and auxiliary games.

[0051] The AT control data storage means 197 stores data used in various controls related to multiple types of performance states, including the normal state and the AT state, which are executed within the advantageous period (various flags, counters, etc., which are set to the ON state or OFF state in a predetermined control process).

[0052] The AT control means 200 sets the performance state to the AT state (assist time state) under predetermined conditions during the advantageous section, and provides operation notification to assist in winning the predetermined winning combination by displaying information (an example of operation instruction information) corresponding to the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 that enable the winning of the predetermined combination on the game information display unit DS which has a 7-segment display. Furthermore, in the slot machine 1, when operation notification by the AT control means 200 is executed, the performance control means 180, described later, executes a navigation performance that displays an indicator corresponding to the correct sequence of hits on the display device 330. In this way, in the slot machine 1, in the AT state, the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 are notified through operation notification and navigation performance assistance for winning, thereby executing an advantageous auxiliary game (AT game, notification game) for the player.

[0053] The AT control means 200, when a predetermined termination condition for ending the advantageous period, which will be described in more detail later, is met, executes a predetermined termination process that ends the advantageous period and starts the normal period from the next game, and a predetermined initialization process that initializes information related to the advantageous period, such as various flags and numerical values ​​set within the advantageous period.

[0054] The AT control means 200, in a game in which the advantageous period has started, adds a value "1", which is equivalent to one game, to the value stored in the first advantageous period counter 197a (stored value) each time a game is played, and performs a game count update process that cumulatively increments the stored value of the first advantageous period counter 197a. The AT control means 200 also performs a difference in tokens update process that cumulatively records the difference (difference in tokens) obtained by subtracting the number of tokens paid out by the number of tokens inserted from the game in which the advantageous period started, in the second advantageous period counter 197b.

[0055] In the first embodiment, the AT control means 200, when controlled in an advantageous section, performs a game count update process that cumulatively adds (updates) a value of "1", which corresponds to one game, to the stored value of the first advantageous section counter 197a each time a game is executed, regardless of the game state, and a difference in the number of medals update process that cumulatively updates the stored value of the second advantageous section counter 197b to a value corresponding to the difference in the number of medals.

[0056] Furthermore, in the difference in the number of tokens update process that updates the stored value of the second advantageous section counter 197b, the AT control means 200 also sets the result of the subtraction to the second advantageous section counter 197b if the stored value of the second advantageous section counter 197b becomes less than "0" when the number of tokens paid out in the game is less than the prescribed number of tokens inserted. In other words, the AT control means 200 is configured to be able to set a negative value to the second advantageous section counter 197b.

[0057] When 4000 games have been played, that is, when the stored value of the first advantageous section counter 197a reaches the value "4000", the AT control means 200 determines that a specific termination condition has been met as a predetermined termination condition for ending the advantageous section, and executes a predetermined termination process to end the advantageous section and start the normal section from the next game.

[0058] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 determines that a specific termination condition has been met as a predetermined termination condition for ending the advantageous section when more than 2400 medals are acquired in the advantageous section, that is, when the stored value of the second advantageous section counter 197b exceeds the value "2400", and executes a predetermined termination process to end the advantageous section and start the normal section from the next game. For this reason, in slot machine 1, for example, if the stored value of the second advantageous section counter 197b is a negative value of "-900" before transitioning to a performance state in which medals can be acquired, then in the performance state in which medals can be acquired, a total of 3301 medals can be acquired: 900 medals until the stored value of the second advantageous section counter 197b becomes "0", and 2401 medals until the stored value of the second advantageous section counter 197b becomes "2401" or more.

[0059] The AT control means 200 initializes all information used in various control processes during the advantageous period, such as each flag set to the ON state during the advantageous period and values ​​set during the advantageous period, during a predetermined initialization process. The AT control means 200 can also terminate the advantageous period if a predetermined termination condition (normal termination condition) other than the specific termination condition is met, and executes the predetermined initialization process and predetermined termination process when the normal termination condition is met. Details of the normal termination conditions set by the AT control means 200 in the first embodiment will be described later.

[0060] 2. Configuration of the gaming machine in the first embodiment Next, with reference to Figures 3 to 14, the details of each component of the slot machine 1 in the first embodiment will be described.

[0061] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> Figure 3 shows the winning areas that are subject to internal drawing in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, and the winning numbers associated with each winning area.

[0062] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment has a regular big bonus (hereinafter, the regular big bonus is also referred to as "RBB") as a bonus, which is a continuous activation device for a special feature of type 1.

[0063] As shown in Figure 3, in the first embodiment of the slot machine 1, the winning areas that are subject to internal lottery include the winning area "Replay A", the winning area "Replay B", the winning area "All Small Wins", the winning area "All 1-Coin Wins", the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Win 1", the winning area "Special Small Win 2", the winning area "Missed Win", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Win", and the winning area "RBB", and the winning numbers 1 to 21 are associated with each of these areas. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with the result of the internal lottery when the player does not win (lose).

[0064] The winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12", "Special Small Win 1", and "Special Small Win 2" are configured such that, depending on the game state, small wins corresponding to the batting order can be awarded from the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0065] Here, "batting order" refers to the sequence in which the stop buttons B1 through B3 are pressed. In the following description, the timing at which the stop buttons B1 through B3 are operated will also be referred to as "operation timing."

[0066] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the order in which the three stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed consists of six types of pressing orders, from pressing order 1 to pressing order 6. Press order 1 is a pressing order called "sequential pressing," in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B1 → stop button B2 → stop button B3. Press order 2 is a pressing order called "scissors pressing," in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B1 → stop button B3 → stop button B2. Press order 3 is a pressing order in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B2 → stop button B1 → stop button B3. Press order 4 is a pressing order in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B2 → stop button B3 → stop button B1. Press order 5 is a pressing order in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B3 → stop button B1 → stop button B2. Furthermore, batting order 6 is a so-called reverse batting order, where the stopping operation is performed in the order of stop button B3 → stop button B2 → stop button B1.

[0067] For example, in the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 12," when the game state is in a bonus state, the operation patterns (correct batting order) of stop buttons B1 to B3 are set to allow the winning of small wins with a payout (9 coins) that is set to be greater than the prescribed number of coins. Specifically, in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" and "Batting Order Bell 7," the correct batting order is set to batting order 1; in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 2" and "Batting Order Bell 8," the correct batting order is set to batting order 2; in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 3" and "Batting Order Bell 9," the correct batting order is set to batting order 3; in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 4" and "Batting Order Bell 10," the correct batting order is set to batting order 4; in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 5" and "Batting Order Bell 11," the correct batting order is set to batting order 5; and in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 6" and "Batting Order Bell 12," the correct batting order is set to batting order 6.

[0068] In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 determines whether each winning area is a winner or loser, starting from the winning area with the largest number among the winning areas to which the lottery value number is associated, and moving toward the losing area with winning number 0.

[0069] In the first embodiment of the slot machine 1, the carry-over flag is associated with the RBB, while the minor role and replay are associated with the non-carry-over flag. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, if the internal lottery hits a winning area including the RBB, the state in which the RBB lottery flag is established is carried over until the RBB is won. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 also performs an internal lottery to determine whether the minor role and replay are won, even in a game where the RBB lottery flag's established state has been carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, in a game where the RBB lottery flag's established state has been carried over, if a minor role or replay is won, the lottery flags corresponding to two or more roles, consisting of the already won RBB lottery flag and the minor role or replay lottery flag won in the internal lottery, are set to the established state.

[0070] <Internal Lottery Table> In the first embodiment, the slot machine 1 stores in the internal lottery table storage means 192 three internal lottery tables used in the internal lottery conducted by the internal lottery means 120: internal lottery table A used in the non-RT state, internal lottery table B used in the bonus state, and internal lottery table C used in the bonus state. In each of the internal lottery tables A to C, a lottery value is associated with each winning area that is the target of the lottery.

[0071] <Random number generation process> In the first embodiment, the internal lottery means 120, in the random number determination process, sequentially subtracts the random number obtained from the random number generation means 110 by the number of lottery values ​​associated with each winning area in the internal lottery table obtained from the internal lottery table storage means 192. If the result of the subtraction is a negative value, it is determined that the player has won in the winning area corresponding to the number of lottery values ​​that was subtracted. Furthermore, if the result of the subtraction is a positive value after subtracting by all the number of lottery values ​​stored in the internal lottery table, it is determined that the player has not won any role and is therefore unsuccessful.

[0072] <Arrangement of patterns> Figure 4 shows the symbols arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, 10 types of symbols are arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3: the white 7 symbol "White 7", the red BAR symbol "Red BAR", the blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", the green BAR symbol "Green BAR", the replay A symbol "RPA", the replay B symbol "RPB", the bell symbol "BL", the cherry symbol "CH", the watermelon symbol "WM", and the blank symbol "BK". In addition, 20 symbols are arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0073] <Reel control means> In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, regardless of the game state, the priority order for the winning combinations to be stopped on the active line L1 in the reel stop control is set to "replay > small win > bonus". In other words, when a bonus and a small win or a bonus and a replay are both won, the reel control means 130 performs a stop control that prioritizes the small win or replay over the bonus.

[0074] Furthermore, as described above, the reel control means 130 is configured to rotate up to 4 frames from the time the stop button is pressed until the reel stops. Therefore, it is configured to stop and display on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of the stop buttons B1 to B3 for symbols arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less among the symbols arranged on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0075] Specifically, the reel control means 130 is configured to stop the watermelon symbol "WM" and bell symbol "BL" on the left reel R1, the watermelon symbol "WM", bell symbol "BL", and cherry symbol "CH" on the middle reel R2, and the bell symbol "BL" on the right reel R3, regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3, if they can be stopped on the active line L1.

[0076] Furthermore, the reel control means 130 can stop symbols even if they are not the same symbol, as long as they are arranged at intervals of four frames or less. For example, if either the replay A symbol "RPA" arranged at stop number 0 and stop number 15 of the left reel R1, or the replay B symbol "RPB" arranged at stop number 5 and stop number 10, can be stopped on the active line L1, the replay A symbol "RPA" or the replay B symbol "RPB" can be stopped regardless of the timing of operation of the stop button B1.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, on the right reel R3, within the pull-in range (symbols from stop number 3 to 12) of the replay A symbol "RPA" positioned at stop number 3 and 8, the white 7 symbol "White 7" positioned at stop number 6 and the red BAR symbol "Red BAR" positioned at stop number 7 are arranged. Within the pull-in range (symbols from stop number 0 to 2 and 13 to 19) of the replay B symbol "RPB" positioned at stop number 13 and 18, the blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR" positioned at stop number 16 and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR" positioned at stop number 17 are arranged.

[0078] <Winning combinations for minor roles> Figures 5 to 7 show the combinations of winning symbols for small wins 1 to 36 and the payouts for small wins 1 to 36 that slot machine 1 has.

[0079] As shown in Figure 5, the symbols that make up the winning combinations for small wins 1 to 16, which are set to pay out 1 coin, which is a number of coins less than the prescribed number of coins to be inserted (3 coins), are as follows: the symbols on the left reel R1 consist of the replay A symbol "RPA" or the replay B symbol "RPB"; the symbols on the middle reel R2 consist of the combination of the white 7 symbol "White 7" and the watermelon symbol "WM" or the green BAR symbol "Green BAR" and the blank symbol "BK"; and the symbols on the right reel R3 consist of the combination of the replay A symbol "RPA", the replay B symbol "RPB", the white 7 symbol "White 7" and the red BAR symbol "Red BAR" or the blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR" and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR".

[0080] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of minor roles 17 to 24 set for a single payout consist of symbols that can be stopped on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop button B2. The symbols on the left reel R1 and the right reel R3 can be stopped on the active line L1 if the timing of operation of stop button B1 and stop button B3 are such that each symbol can be stopped on the active line L1. If the stop operation is performed at a timing different from that, a win cannot be achieved.

[0081] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the winning symbol combinations "BL-RPA(Blue BAR)-WM(BK)" for the 25 small wins set for a single payout and "BL-RPB(Red BAR)-WM(BK)" for the 26 small wins set for a single payout are configured such that the symbols on the left reel R1 and the symbols on the right reel R3 are symbols that can be won regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 and B3, and the symbols on the middle reel R2 are configured such that the pull-in range consists of 10 symbols out of 20, and the pull-in range for the replay A symbol "RPA" or the Blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR" does not overlap with the pull-in range for the replay B symbol "RPB" or the Red BAR symbol "Red BAR".

[0082] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of minor roles 27 to 30, which are set to pay out on one coin, can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 if the timing of stopping the stop buttons B1 to B3 on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is such that the symbols can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1. If the stopping operation is performed at a timing other than that, it will not be possible to win a prize.

[0083] As shown in Figure 7, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of minor roles 31 to 36, which are set to pay out 9 coins, a number greater than the prescribed number of coins inserted (3 coins), are arranged at intervals of no more than 4 frames on each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Therefore, when reel stop control is performed to make minor roles 31 to 36 stop and display on the active line L1, they are configured to stop and display on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0084] <Game state transition control means> Figure 8(A) is a state transition diagram showing the game states that can be transitioned from each game state in the control related to the transition of game states performed by the game state transition control means 170 of the first embodiment.

[0085] As shown in Figure 8(A), the non-RT state is a game state that corresponds to the initial state among multiple types of game states (initial game state, normal game state), and is a non-bonus state in which a bonus is not activated or established. In the non-RT state, the game state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using internal lottery table A, in which the probability of winning a replay is set to 8978 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3).

[0086] The bonus-established state is a game state that is entered when, in the non-RT state, the player wins either the "RBB" winning area or the "RBB & 1-coin win" winning area in the internal lottery, and RBB is set to the established state. In the bonus-established state, the game state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using internal lottery table B, in which the probability of winning a replay is set to 8982 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3).

[0087] The bonus state is a game state that is entered when an RBB is won and the RBB is activated. In the bonus state, the game state transition control means 170 determines whether the termination condition of the activated RBB has been met based on the total number of medals paid out. If the number of medals paid out exceeds a predetermined number (for example, 100 medals), the bonus state is terminated by ending the operation of the RBB, and the game state is transitioned to the non-bonus state, the non-RT state. In the bonus state, the game state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table C.

[0088] In the internal lottery table C, random numbers are associated with two winning areas: "All Small Wins," which includes all small wins from small win 1 to small win 36, and "All 1-Coin Wins," which includes all small wins from small win 1 to small win 30, where the payout is set to 1 coin.

[0089] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, during the operation of the RBB, the probability of winning in the winning area "all small winning combinations" or the winning area "all single-card winning combinations" is higher than the probability of winning in any of the winning areas including small winning combinations in the gaming state where the RBB is not operating, and when the RBB is operating, the probability of winning in the winning area "all small winning combinations" is set to the same probability as the sum of the probabilities of winning in any two of the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 12" in the gaming state where the RBB is not operating.

[0090] Due to such a configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, in the gaming state where the RBB is operating, the winning probability of all small winning combinations increases compared to the gaming state where the RBB is not operating, and the probability of winning in any small winning combination is also configured to be the same or increase.

[0091] Also, the slot machine 1 is configured such that during the operation of the RBB, the probability of winning in the winning area "all small winning combinations" is lower than the probability of winning in any of the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 12" (the winning probability obtained by summing the respective winning probabilities of the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 12").

[0092] With such a configuration, in the first embodiment, after lowering the lower limit of the expected value of the medal acquisition rate in the state where the RBB is operating to less than 100%, the medal acquisition performance regarding the state where the RBB is not operating can be designed, so that the design freedom of the slot machine 1 can be significantly improved.

[0093] <AT control means> FIG. 8(B) is a state transition diagram showing details of the normal section and the advantageous section controlled by the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment, and the production state controlled during the advantageous section.

[0094] As described above, the normal section is a period during which no control is performed regarding auxiliary games based on the results of the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120. In games played within the normal section, the AT control means 200 performs a favorable section lottery, which is a lottery to determine whether to end the normal section and start the favorable section, based on the winning area selected in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120.

[0095] In the advantageous section lottery, the AT control means 200 first obtains an advantageous section transition lottery table from the AT control data storage means 197, which is a data table in which "start of advantageous section" and "miss (failure)" are associated with each of several random numbers. Then, the AT control means 200 obtains a random number from the random number generation means 110, compares the obtained random number with the advantageous section transition lottery table, and decides whether or not to start the advantageous section based on the comparison result.

[0096] The AT control means 200 performs a favorable section lottery so that the probability obtained by multiplying the probability of winning a winning area in the internal lottery by the probability of winning "start of favorable section" in the favorable section lottery is 1 / 17500 or more.

[0097] In the first embodiment, the AT control means 200 is configured to perform a favorable section lottery when it wins in the internal lottery one of the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 12", "Special Small Role 1", "Special Small Role 2", or "Replay A", and not perform a favorable section lottery when it wins any other winning area. Furthermore, the AT control means 200 performs a favorable section lottery with a high probability of winning "Start of Favourite Section" of approximately 1 / 1.5.

[0098] In the advantageous period, the AT control means 200 has states (performance states) related to the instruction function, namely a normal state, a CZ state, and an AT state. In the normal state, it is configured not to perform assistance for winning small roles 31 to 36 when winning in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12". In the CZ state and the AT state, it is configured to perform assistance for winning small roles 31 to 36 when winning in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12". Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured such that the proportion of time spent in the advantageous period during the overall gameplay can be 70% or more.

[0099] The normal state is the performance state that corresponds to the normal state among several types of performance states (normal performance state), which is set when the performance state has not transitioned to any other performance state. When the performance state transitions to the normal state, the AT control means 200 performs an incremental update to the normal game counter (not shown), which counts the number of games played in the normal state, by adding a value of "1" corresponding to one game each time a game is played. When the value of the normal game counter reaches the value of "700", the AT control means 200 determines that the conditions for transitioning to the CZ state (CZ transition conditions) have been met, and transitions the performance state from the normal state to the CZ state.

[0100] The AT control means 200 is configured to perform a CZ lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the CZ state in a game in which the internal lottery in the normal state has resulted in a winning area that does not include RBB. The AT control means 200 is configured to perform a CZ lottery in which, if the internal lottery results in the winning area "Special Small Role 1" or the winning area "Special Small Role 2", the probability of winning "Transition to CZ state" is higher than when other winning areas are won, thereby increasing the probability of a favorable outcome for the player. If "Transition to CZ state" is won in the CZ lottery, the AT control means 200 transitions the performance state from the normal state to the CZ state.

[0101] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 performs a normal AT lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state when it wins the winning area "Replay 2" in the internal lottery. If it wins "Transition to AT state", it determines that the conditions for transitioning to the AT state (AT transition conditions) have been met, and transitions from the normal state to the AT state.

[0102] The CZ state is configured to allow transition to the AT state with a higher probability than the normal state when a control is executed to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state as part of the auxiliary gameplay control, making it a more advantageous state for the player than the normal state. The AT control means 200 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined number of games (for example, 10 games) in the CZ game counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the CZ state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played by subtracting the stored value of the CZ game counter by a value "1" which corresponds to 1 game.

[0103] The AT control means 200 is configured to perform a CZ-in AT lottery in each game played in the CZ state to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state. If the CZ-in AT lottery results in "transition to AT state", the AT control means 200 transitions the performance state from the CZ state to the AT state after 10 games have been played from the start of the CZ state.

[0104] The AT control means 200, in the gameplay from the time the player wins the "transition to AT state" in the AT lottery during the CZ until the CZ state ends, executes a lottery during the CZ to determine whether or not to add (add) the number of times one set of AT state is executed for the AT state to which the player transitions from the CZ state via the AT transition state.

[0105] On the other hand, if 10 games are played in the CZ state without winning the "transition to AT state" lottery during the CZ, the AT control means 200 terminates the CZ state and transitions the performance state back to the normal state.

[0106] The AT control means 200 is configured to execute lotteries related to auxiliary games performed in the CZ state (AT lottery during CZ, lottery for increasing the number of sets during CZ) regardless of the results of the internal lottery. The AT control means 200 is configured such that, with respect to lotteries related to auxiliary games performed in the CZ state, if the winning area "Special Small Role 1" or the winning area "Special Small Role 2" is won in the internal lottery, the probability of "not winning (miss)" is lower than if the other winning areas were won, resulting in a more favorable outcome for the player (in the case of an AT lottery during CZ, the probability of "transitioning to AT state" becomes higher).

[0107] The AT state is a more advantageous state for the player than the normal state because it provides assistance for winning small roles 31 to 36 when winning in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12".

[0108] The AT control means 200 sets an initial value (50 games) corresponding to a predetermined number of games in the AT game counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the AT state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played by subtracting the stored value of the AT game counter by a value of "1" which corresponds to one game.

[0109] The AT control means 200 is configured to perform an add-on lottery to determine whether to add (add) the duration of the AT state when the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 results in a win in the winning area "Special Small Role 1", the winning area "Special Small Role 2", or the winning area "Replay 2". The AT control means 200 determines whether to add the value determined by the lottery to the stored value of the AT game counter, and if the value determined by the add-on lottery is 1 or greater, it performs an add-on process to add the determined value to the AT game counter.

[0110] The AT control means 200 determines that the AT state termination condition (AT termination condition) has been met when the stored value of the AT game counter becomes "0" due to a decrement update performed each time a game is played in the AT state, terminates the AT state, and also determines that the normal termination condition among the termination conditions of the advantageous section has been met, and performs a predetermined initialization process which initializes information related to the advantageous section, and a predetermined termination process which terminates the advantageous section and starts the normal section from the next game.

[0111] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 determines that the AT termination conditions have been met when the stored value of the first advantageous section counter 197a reaches the value "4000" in the AT state, and when the stored value of the second advantageous section counter 197b exceeds the value "2400" in the AT state, it terminates the AT state, and also determines that a specific termination condition among the termination conditions of the advantageous section has been met, and executes a predetermined initialization process which initializes information related to the advantageous section, and a predetermined termination process which terminates the advantageous section and starts the normal section from the next game.

[0112] 3. Reel stop control in each game state Next, we will describe the details of the reel stop control performed in each game state in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment.

[0113] <Game results when winning in the winning area, including minor roles, in each game state> Figure 9(A) shows the game results for each operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 when winning in the non-RT state in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 4" to "Batting Order Bell 6", "Batting Order Bell 10" to "Batting Order Bell 12", "Special Small Role 1", and "Special Small Role 2".

[0114] As shown in Figure 9(A), in slot machine 1, when a player wins in the non-RT state between the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 4" to "Bat Order Bell 6", "Bat Order Bell 10" to "Bat Order Bell 12", "Special Small Win 1", and "Special Small Win 2", there is a 1 / 2 probability that one of the small wins set to pay out for one winning coin will be awarded, regardless of the batting order of stop buttons B1 to B3, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that no win will be awarded (a miss).

[0115] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when the player wins in the non-RT state in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6", the winning area "Bat Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Win 1", or the winning area "Special Small Win 2", regardless of the batting order of stop buttons B1 to B3, there is a 1 / 2 probability that one of the winning small wins from small win 1, small win 3, small win 5, small win 7, small win 9, small win 11, small win 13, or small win 15 will be awarded, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that no win will be awarded, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0116] Figure 9(B) shows the game results for each operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 4" to "Bat Order Bell 6", winning area "Bat Order Bell 10" to "Bat Order Bell 12", winning area "Special Small Role 1", and winning area "Special Small Role 2" are selected in the bonus-established state.

[0117] As shown in Figure 9(B), in slot machine 1, when a bonus is achieved and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 4", "Bat Order Bell 5", "Bat Order Bell 10", or "Bat Order Bell 11" is selected, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with an incorrect batting order, one of the winning combinations set to pay out 1 coin will be awarded with a probability of 1 / 2. If stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with a correct batting order, one of the winning combinations set to pay out 9 coins will be awarded with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0118] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when a bonus is triggered and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6" or "Bat Order Bell 12" is selected, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated during batting order 1 to 4, there is a 1 / 2 probability that one of the selected small wins from small wins 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 will be awarded. If stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated during batting order 5, there is a 1 / 2 probability that one of the selected small wins from small wins 25 and 26 will be awarded, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that no small win will be awarded (missed).

[0119] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when a bonus is triggered and the player wins in the winning area "Special Small Win 1" or the winning area "Special Small Win 2", if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 1 to 4, there is a 1 / 2 probability that one of the winning small wins from small win 1, small win 3, small win 5, small win 7, small win 9, small win 11, small win 13, or small win 15 will be awarded, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that no small win will be awarded, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0120] In slot machine 1, when a bonus is triggered, if the winning area "Special Small Win 1" is selected, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 5 or turn 6, there is a 1 / 5 probability that one of Small Win 2, Small Win 4, Small Win 6, Small Win 8, Small Win 10, Small Win 12, Small Win 14, or Small Win 16 will be awarded. If none of Small Win 2, Small Win 4, Small Win 6, Small Win 8, Small Win 10, Small Win 12, Small Win 14, or Small Win 16 are awarded, there is a 1 / 2 probability that one of Small Win 1, Small Win 7, Small Win 9, or Small Win 15 will be awarded. There is a 1 / 2 probability that no small win will be awarded, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0121] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when a bonus is established, if the winning area "Special Small Win 2" is selected, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 5 and turn 6, there is a 1 / 5 probability that one of Small Win 2, Small Win 4, Small Win 6, Small Win 8, Small Win 10, Small Win 12, Small Win 14, or Small Win 16 will be awarded. If none of Small Win 2, Small Win 4, Small Win 6, Small Win 8, Small Win 10, Small Win 12, Small Win 14, or Small Win 16 are awarded, there is a 1 / 2 probability that one of Small Win 3, Small Win 5, Small Win 11, or Small Win 13 will be awarded. There is also a 1 / 2 probability that no small win will be awarded, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0122] <Reel stop control related to the winning combination of a single payout> Next, we will explain the reel stop control that is executed when a winning area "Bat Order Bell 6", "Bat Order Bell 12", "Special Small Win 1", or "Special Small Win 2" is won in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment. In the following description, small wins 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15, which are set to pay out one coin less than the prescribed number of coins, will be collectively referred to as small wins of the first embodiment, and small wins 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16, which are set to pay out one coin less than the prescribed number of coins, will be collectively referred to as small wins of the second embodiment.

[0123] Figure 10 illustrates the symbols that can be stopped in the middle of the middle reel R2 that constitutes the active line L1 when a small win of the first type is achieved in a game in which the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", winning area "Special Small Win 1", or winning area "Special Small Win 2" is achieved, depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B2.

[0124] As shown in Figure 10, the reel control means 130 of the first embodiment is configured such that when the stop button B2 is operated at the timing when the symbols arranged at stop numbers 0, 1, 12 to 19 are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, the blank symbol "BK" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1, and when the stop button B2 is operated at the timing when the symbols arranged at stop numbers 2 to 11 are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, the watermelon symbol "WM" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0125] In other words, the reel control means 130 is configured such that when a winning combination of the first type is awarded in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6", winning area "Bat Order Bell 12", winning area "Special Small Win 1", or winning area "Special Small Win 2" shown in Figures 9(A) and (B), the blank symbol "BK" or the watermelon symbol "WM" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1 in priority to the white 7 symbol "White 7" and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR" arranged on the middle reel R2.

[0126] Figure 11 illustrates the symbols that can be stopped in the middle of the middle reel R2, which constitutes the active line L1, depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B2, in a game where the winning area "Special Small Win 1" and the winning area "Special Small Win 2" have been won and the second type of small win is possible to be awarded.

[0127] As shown in Figure 11, in the first embodiment, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the white 7 symbol "white 7" on the active line L1 when the stop button B2 is operated at the timing when the symbols arranged at stop numbers 6 to 10, which are within the pull-in range of the white 7 symbol "white 7", are rotating and displayed on the active line L1. When the stop button B2 is operated at the timing when the symbols arranged at stop numbers 0 and 16 to 19, which are within the pull-in range of the green BAR symbol "green BAR", are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, the green BAR symbol "green BAR" stops and displays on the active line L1.

[0128] Furthermore, if the stop button B2 is operated at a time when the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" cannot be stopped and displayed, the reel control means 130 will stop and display one of the blank symbols "BK" and the watermelon symbol "WM" that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0129] Thus, in the reel stop control of the first embodiment that enables the winning of a minor role in the first mode, when the middle reel R2 is stopped, the blank symbol "BK" and the watermelon symbol "WM" are stopped and displayed on the active line L1 in priority to the white 7 symbol "White 7" and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR". Furthermore, in the reel stop control that enables the winning of a minor role in the second mode, when the middle reel R2 is stopped, the white 7 symbol "White 7" and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR" are stopped and displayed on the active line L1 in priority to the blank symbol "BK" and the watermelon symbol "WM".

[0130] Figure 12(A) illustrates the symbols that can be stopped in the middle position of the right reel R3, which constitutes the active line L1, when a bonus is established, the winning area "Special Small Win 1" is won, and the stop button B3 is pressed as the first stop, depending on the timing of the stop button B3 operation.

[0131] As shown in Figure 12(A), in the first embodiment, the reel control means 130, when the stop button B3 is operated at the timing when the white 7 symbol "white 7" reaches the middle position of the right reel R3 which constitutes the active line L1 before the replay A symbol "RPA", and when symbols with stop numbers 6 and 7 are rotating and being displayed, stops the white 7 symbol "white 7" on the active line L1 in priority to the replay A symbol "RPA".

[0132] Furthermore, if the timing of the stop button B3 being operated coincides with the timing when the blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR" reaches the middle position of the right reel R3 which constitutes the active line L1, and the symbols with stop numbers 16 and 17 are being rotated and displayed, the replay button B3 is operated before the blue BAR symbol "RPB", then the replay button B3 is operated before the blue BAR symbol "RPB", and the blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1 in priority to the blue BAR symbol "RPB".

[0133] Then, if the timing of the stop button B3 being operated coincides with the timing when the symbols with stop numbers 0-5, 8-15, 18, and 19, which constitute the active line L1, are rotating and being displayed, the replay A symbol "RPA" and replay B symbol "RPB" reach the middle position of the right reel R3, which constitutes the active line L1, before the white 7 symbol "White 7" and the blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", the replay A symbol "RPA" and replay B symbol "RPB" are stopped and displayed on the active line L1 with priority over the white 7 symbol "White 7" and the blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR".

[0134] Figure 12(B) illustrates the symbols that can be stopped in the middle position of the right reel R3, which constitutes the active line L1, when a bonus is established, the winning area "Special Small Role 2" is won, and the stop button B3 is pressed as the first stop operation, depending on the timing of the operation of the stop button B3.

[0135] As shown in Figure 12(B), in the first embodiment, the reel control means 130, when the stop button B3 is operated at the same time that the symbol with stop number 7 is displayed, which is the timing when the red BAR symbol "red BAR" reaches the middle position of the right reel R3 that constitutes the active line L1 before the replay A symbol "RPA", stops and displays the red BAR symbol "red BAR" on the active line L1 in priority to the replay A symbol "RPA".

[0136] Furthermore, if the timing of the stop button B3 being operated coincides with the timing when the green BAR symbol "Green BAR" reaches the middle position of the right reel R3 which constitutes the active line L1 before the replay B symbol "RPB", the reel control means 130 will stop and display the green BAR symbol "Green BAR" on the active line L1 in priority to the replay B symbol "RPB".

[0137] Then, the reel control means 130, if the timing of the stop button B3 being operated is the timing when the symbols with stop numbers 0-6, 8-16, 18, and 19, which constitute the active line L1, are rotating and displayed, that is, the timing when the replay A symbol "RPA" and replay B symbol "RPB" reach the middle position of the right reel R3, which constitutes the active line L1, before the red BAR symbol "Red BAR" and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR", will stop and display the replay A symbol "RPA" and replay B symbol "RPB" on the active line L1, with priority over the red BAR symbol "Red BAR" and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR".

[0138] <Relationship between winning combinations (Type 1 and Type 2) and gameplay> Thus, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Bat Order Bell 12" is won, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 to batting order 4, the replay A symbol "RPA" or replay B symbol "RPB" is stopped and displayed in the middle of the right reel R3, and the small win of the first embodiment becomes possible. Furthermore, in slot machine 1, the winning area "Special Small Win 1" and the winning area "Special Small Win 2" are selected, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 1 to turn 4, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 5 and turn 6, and stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the white 7 symbol "White 7", red BAR symbol "Red BAR", blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", and green BAR symbol "Green BAR" are not displayed in the middle position of the right reel R3, in which case the small win of the first form can be awarded.

[0139] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the winning combination of the first embodiment can be awarded in any game where the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6" or "Bat Order Bell 12" is selected, or in any game where the winning area "Special Small Win 1" or "Special Small Win 2" is selected. This makes it difficult for the player to guess which combination has been selected in the game, thus preventing the player from discerning the result of the internal lottery and creating unintended exploitation.

[0140] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured to perform reel stop control that makes it possible to stop the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" in the middle position of the middle reel R2 when the winning area "special small win 1" or the winning area "special small win 2" is won, and to perform reel stop control that makes it impossible to stop the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" in the middle position of the middle reel R2 when the winning area "batting order bell 6" or the winning area "batting order bell 12" is won.

[0141] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment can stop and display any of the following symbols on the middle reel R2, which constitute the winning symbol combination for the small prize in the first embodiment: the watermelon symbol "WM", the white 7 symbol "White 7" arranged within the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM", the blank symbol "BK", and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR" arranged within the pull-in range of the blank symbol "BK". Therefore, the symbols defined as the winning symbol combination for the small prize in the first embodiment can be displayed by the player's operation, and fairness in the game can be ensured.

[0142] Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Bat Order Bell 12" is hit, the small win 35 and the small win of the first embodiment, as well as the small win of the second embodiment, are all awarded simultaneously. However, regardless of the game state or the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, the small win of the second embodiment is not awarded.

[0143] Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the slot machine 1, if the winning area "Special Small Win 1" and the winning area "Special Small Win 2" are won, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 5 and turn 6, and stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the white 7 symbol "White 7", red BAR symbol "Red BAR", blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", and green BAR symbol "Green BAR" can be stopped and displayed in the middle position of the right reel R3, then the small win of the second embodiment can be won.

[0144] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment can display the second type of small win when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6" and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 12" are selected, but the winning combination does not result in a prize. In addition, it can win prizes when the winning area "Special Small Win 1" and the winning area "Special Small Win 2" are selected. This allows the second type of small win to be displayed by the player's operation, thus ensuring fairness in the game.

[0145] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9(A), the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured such that when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Bat Order Bell 12" is hit in a non-RT state, the small prize 35, which is set to pay 9 coins, will not be awarded regardless of how the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated. The slot machine 1 is also configured such that when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 5" and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 7" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 11" are hit in a non-RT state, the small prize, which is set to pay 9 coins, will not be awarded, but when the winning area is hit in a bonus state, the small prize, which is set to pay 9 coins, can be awarded if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct batting order.

[0146] In other words, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured such that when the game state is in a bonus state, the probability of winning a small win set to pay 9 coins, which is more than the prescribed number of coins, when winning in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 12" is higher when the game state is in a bonus state than when the game state is in a non-RT state.

[0147] This configuration allows slot machine 1 to suppress the expected value of medal acquisition when the game state is not in RT state, while increasing the expected value of medal acquisition when a bonus is established. This enhances the gameplay experience when a bonus is established and increases the player's interest in playing.

[0148] The winning areas "Batting Order Bell 6" and "Batting Order Bell 12" constitute the first predetermined winning pattern in the first embodiment, and the winning areas "Special Small Win 1" and "Special Small Win 2" constitute the second predetermined winning pattern in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the right reel R3 constitutes the predetermined reel and the first reel in the first embodiment, and the replay A symbol "RPA" and the replay B symbol "RPB", which are symbols on the right reel R3 that constitute the winning symbol combinations of the minor roles 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 of the first embodiment, constitute the first symbol in the first embodiment, and the white 7 symbol "white 7", the red BAR symbol "red BAR", the blue BAR symbol "blue BAR", and the green BAR symbol "green BAR", which are symbols on the right reel R3 that constitute the winning symbol combinations of the minor roles 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 of the second embodiment, constitute the second symbol in the first embodiment. Furthermore, batting order 6, which is the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 that makes it possible to win small prize 35 when the winning area "batting order bell 6" or the winning area "batting order bell 12" is won, constitutes a specific operation mode in the first embodiment.

[0149] Furthermore, the left reel R1 constitutes the second reel in the first embodiment, and the replay A symbol "RPA" and the replay B symbol "RPB" of the left reel R1, which constitute the winning symbol combinations of small win 1, small win 3, small win 5, small win 7, small win 9, small win 11, small win 13, and small win 15, constitute the third symbol in the first embodiment, and the middle reel R2 constitutes the third reel in the first embodiment, and the middle reel R2, which constitutes the winning symbol combinations of small win 1 to small win 8 In the first embodiment, the fourth symbol consists of the white 7 symbol "White 7" and the green BAR symbol "Green BAR" among the symbols on the middle reel R2 that constitute the winning symbol combinations for minor roles 9 to minor roles 16, and the fifth symbol in the first embodiment consists of the watermelon symbol "WM" among the symbols on the middle reel R2 that constitute the winning symbol combinations for minor roles 1 to minor roles 8 and the blank symbol "BK" among the symbols on the middle reel R2 that constitute the winning symbol combinations for minor roles 9 to minor roles 16.

[0150] <Stopping behavior when winning minor roles 34 and 36> Next, we will explain the symbols that stop and are displayed within the specific area 330b when a winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 12" is selected, and the AT control means 200 performs prize-winning assistance, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct batting order, resulting in a prize of 9 coins, using the cases of prizes 34 and 36 as examples.

[0151] As shown in Figure 7, the winning symbol combination for minor role 34 is "WM-BL-RPA(RPB)", and the winning symbol combination for minor role 36 is "WM-BL-WM(BK)". Therefore, in slot machine 1, when minor role 34 or minor role 36 is won, the watermelon symbol "WM" stops and is displayed in the middle of the left reel R1, which constitutes the active line L1.

[0152] Figure 13 illustrates the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged on the left reel R1. As shown in Figure 13, the watermelon symbol "WM" is arranged on the left reel R1 at stop numbers 2, 3, 8, 13, and 18. The watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at stop numbers 3, 8, 13, and 18 are spaced four frames apart, and their pull-in ranges do not overlap. Furthermore, the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" at stop number 2 is the range where a total of five symbols are arranged, from the watermelon symbol "WM" at stop number 2 to the white 7 symbol "White 7" at stop number 6.

[0153] Therefore, the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 overlaps with the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 18 for the single frame of stop number 2, and overlaps with the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 3 for the four frames from stop number 3 to stop number 6. Furthermore, the single frame of stop number 2, where the pull-in ranges of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 and the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 18 overlap, does not overlap with the four frames from stop number 3 to stop number 6, where the pull-in ranges of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 and the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 3 overlap.

[0154] With this configuration, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 3 on the active line L1 when the stop button B1 is operated at the timing when symbols within the range of stop numbers 3 to 6 are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, and stops and displays the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 18 on the active line L1 when the stop button B1 is operated at the timing when symbols within the range of stop number 2 are rotating and displayed on the active line L1. This prevents the probability of winning small prizes 34 and 36 from changing depending on the timing of the stop button B1 operation, even if the reel control means 130 controls the reel to not stop the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 on the active line L1.

[0155] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, even if the bell symbol "BL" is positioned at stop number 2 on the left reel R1, the control to prevent it from stopping in the same way as the watermelon symbol "WM" will not affect the probability of winning a prize. However, if the bell symbol "BL" stops and is displayed within the specific area 330b, it may lead the player to believe that a medal will be paid out, and the symbols displayed within the specific area 330b may reduce the gameplay. In addition, in slot machine 1, if symbols other than the watermelon symbol "WM" and the bell symbol "BL" are positioned, the probability of winning other prizes will change depending on the timing of the operation of stop button B1, and it will also affect the stopping control of other prizes. Furthermore, in slot machine 1, ten types of symbols are arranged around the left reel R1 to the right reel R3: the white 7 symbol "White 7", the red BAR symbol "Red BAR", the blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", the green BAR symbol "Green BAR", the replay A symbol "RPA", the replay B symbol "RPB", the bell symbol "BL", the cherry symbol "CH", the watermelon symbol "WM", and the blank symbol "BK". Arranging an eleventh type of symbol at the stop number 2 position of the left reel R1 would be a configuration that violates the regulations for gaming machines.

[0156] Thus, in the first embodiment of the slot machine 1, the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 on the left reel R1 overlaps with the pull-in range of the watermelon symbols "WM" positioned at stop numbers 3 and 18. As a result, the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 does not stop on the active line L1. However, since the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 3 and the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 18 are the ones that can stop, the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 will be displayed on the active line L1. Therefore, the probability of winning a prize does not change depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B1, and the impact on gameplay when displayed within a specific area 330b is minimal. This makes it possible to position the watermelon symbol "WM" at stop number 2, and simplifies the design of the symbols arranged on the reels.

[0157] Figure 14(A) is a diagram illustrating the symbols arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that are displayed when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 4" and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 10" are selected, and bat order 4 is announced as the correct bat order in the auxiliary game, and the small win 34 is achieved by operating stop buttons B1 to B3 with bat order 4. As shown in Figure 14(A), in slot machine 1, the winning symbol combination "WM-BL-RPA(RPB)" for small win 34 is displayed when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 4" and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 10" are selected, and bat order 4 is announced as the correct bat order in the auxiliary game, and small win 34 is achieved by operating stop buttons B1 to B3 with bat order 4.

[0158] As shown in Figure 4, the bell symbol "BL" is arranged on the circumference of the middle reel R2 at stop numbers 3, 8, 13, and 18. On the circumference of the right reel R3, the replay A symbol "RPA" is arranged at stop numbers 3 and 8, and the replay B symbol "RPB" is arranged at stop numbers 13 and 18. On the right reel R3, the bell symbol "BL" is arranged at stop numbers 4, 9, 14, and 19, which are below the replay A symbol "RPA" and the replay B symbol "RPB" in the direction of reel rotation. When the replay A symbol "RPA" and the replay B symbol "RPB" arranged on the right reel R3 stop and are displayed in the middle of the right reel R3, the bell symbol "BL" stops and is displayed in the lower part of the right reel R3.

[0159] Figure 14(B) is a diagram illustrating the symbols arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that are displayed when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 5" and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 11" are selected, and bat order 5 is announced as the correct bat order in the auxiliary game, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with bat order 5, resulting in a win of small prize 36. As shown in Figure 14(B), in slot machine 1, the winning symbol combination for small prize 36, "WM-BL-WM(BK)", is displayed when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 5" and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 11" are selected, and bat order 5 is announced as the correct bat order in the auxiliary game, and small prize 36 is awarded when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with bat order 5.

[0160] As shown in Figure 4, on the circumference of the right reel R3, watermelon symbols "WM" are arranged at stop numbers 5 and 10, and blank symbols "BK" are arranged at stop numbers 0 and 15. On the right reel R3, bell symbols "BL" are arranged at stop numbers 4, 9, 14 and 19, which are above the watermelon symbols "WM" and blank symbols "BK" in the direction of reel rotation. When the watermelon symbols "WM" and blank symbols "BK" arranged on the right reel R3 stop and are displayed in the middle of the right reel R3, the bell symbols "BL" stop and are displayed in the upper part of the right reel R3.

[0161] In the first embodiment, the reel control means 130 stops the watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at stop numbers 3, 8, 13, and 18 of the left reel R1 on the active line L1 when it is possible to win small wins 34 and 36 and the stop button B1 is operated. As a result, in the slot machine 1, the watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at stop numbers 3, 8, 13, and 18 of the left reel R1 are stopped and displayed in the middle row, and the bell symbols "BL" arranged at stop numbers 4, 9, 14, and 19 are stopped and displayed in the lower row of the left reel R1. In other words, in slot machine 1, the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 on the left reel R1 stops in the middle row, which prevents the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 3 from stopping in the lower row of the left reel R1, and thus prevents the bell symbol "BL" positioned at stop number 4 from being displayed within the specific area 330b.

[0162] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the winning combinations 34 and 36, which are set to pay out 9 coins, are won, the winning combinations for winning combination 34 "WM-BL-RPA(RPB)" and 36 "WM-BL-WM(BK)" are displayed on the active line L1, and symbols other than the bell symbol "BL" are displayed in the middle of the left reel R1 and the right reel R3. However, within the specific area 330b, when the winning combination 34 is won, the lower part of the left reel R1, the middle part of the middle reel R2, and the lower part of the right reel R3 are displayed. The bell symbol "BL" is displayed when the player wins a small prize of 36, and when the player wins a small prize of 36, the bell symbol "BL" is displayed in the lower position of the left reel R1, the middle position of the middle reel R2, and the upper position of the right reel R3. In other words, the bell symbol "BL," which the player associates with a medal payout when it is displayed within the specific area 330b, is displayed in each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. This allows for a gameplay experience that suggests to the player that they have won a medal through the symbols displayed within the specific area 330b, thereby enhancing the gameplay experience.

[0163] In this configuration, the left reel R1 constitutes a predetermined reel in the first embodiment, the stop button B1 constitutes a predetermined stop button in the first embodiment, the specific area 330b constitutes a display window in the first embodiment, the watermelon symbol "WM" constitutes the first predetermined symbol in the first embodiment, and the bell symbol "BL" constitutes the second predetermined symbol in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the position of stop number 3 on the left reel R1 constitutes the first predetermined position, the position of stop number 18 constitutes the second predetermined position, and the position of stop number 2 constitutes the third predetermined position. Furthermore, the overlapping range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 and the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 3, covering four frames from stop number 3 to 6, constitutes the specific range and the first range, while the overlapping range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 and the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 18, covering one frame at stop number 2, constitutes the second range. In addition, minor roles 34 and 36 constitute the predetermined roles in the first embodiment.

[0164] 4. Summary of the First Embodiment As described above, in the first embodiment of the slot machine 1, the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 on the left reel R1 overlaps with the pull-in range of the watermelon symbols "WM" positioned at stop numbers 3 and 18. Although the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 2 does not stop on the active line L1, the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 3 and the watermelon symbol "WM" positioned at stop number 18, whichever of the two is stopable, will be displayed on the active line L1. Therefore, the probability of winning a prize does not change depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B1, and the watermelon symbol "WM" that has little impact on gameplay when displayed within a specific area 330b can be positioned at stop number 2, making it easier to design the symbols arranged on the reels.

[0165] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when the winning combinations 34 and 36, which are set to pay out 9 coins, are won, the winning combinations for winning combination 34 "WM-BL-RPA(RPB)" and winning combinations for winning combination 36 "WM-BL-WM(BK)" will be displayed on the active line L1, and symbols other than the bell symbol "BL" will be displayed in the middle of the left reel R1 and the right reel R3. However, within a specific area 330b, when the winning combination 34 is won, the lower part of the left reel R1, the middle part of the middle reel R2, and the lower part of the right reel R3 will each display a bell. When the symbol "BL" stops and a small win of 36 is achieved, the bell symbol "BL" will stop and be displayed on the lower part of the left reel R1, the middle part of the middle reel R2, and the upper part of the right reel R3. In other words, the bell symbol "BL," which the player associates with a payout when it stops within a specific area 330b, will stop and be displayed on each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. This allows for a gameplay experience where the symbols displayed within the specific area 330b suggest to the player that they have won a medal, thereby enhancing the gameplay experience.

[0166] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the slot machine 1, which is a modified version of the first embodiment, will be described. The second embodiment of the slot machine 1 is configured such that the positions of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that constitute the active line L1, the configuration of the winning area including the small wins that are won by internal lottery in the non-RT state and the bonus-established state, the small wins that can be won when the winning area including the small wins is hit, and the symbols arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are different. As other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components common to the first embodiment and their descriptions are omitted.

[0167] 1. Configuration of the gaming machine Details of each component of the slot machine 1 in the second embodiment will be described below.

[0168] <Effective lines> In the second embodiment of the slot machine 1, each reel is provided with an upper, middle, and lower display position for observing the symbols through the display device 330, and an active line L1 is set for the combination of display positions on each reel. In the second embodiment of the slot machine 1, the number of tokens required for one game, the so-called prescribed number of tokens (prescribed number), is set to 3 in all game states, and when tokens equivalent to the prescribed number of tokens are inserted, the active line L1, which consists of the lower position of the left reel R1, the middle position of the middle reel R2, and the lower position of the right reel R3, is activated.

[0169] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> Figure 15 shows the winning areas that are subject to internal drawing in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, and the winning numbers associated with each winning area.

[0170] As shown in Figure 15, in the second embodiment of the slot machine 1, the winning areas that are subject to internal lottery include the winning area "Replay A", the winning area "Replay B", the winning area "All Small Wins", the winning area "All 1-Coin Wins", the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "Missed Win", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Win", and the winning area "RBB", and the winning numbers 1 to 17 are associated with each of these areas. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with the result of the internal lottery when the player does not win (lose).

[0171] <Arrangement of patterns> Figure 16 shows the symbols arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 16, 10 types of symbols are arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3: the red 7 symbol "Red 7", the BAR symbol "BAR", the replay symbol "RP", the bell A symbol "BLA", the bell B symbol "BLB", the watermelon symbol "WM", the cherry symbol "CH", the blank A symbol "BKA", the blank B symbol "BKB", and the blank C symbol "BKC". In addition, 20 symbols are arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0172] <Stopping behavior when winning minor role 1> Figure 17 shows the combinations of winning symbols for small win 1 and the payouts for small win 1 in slot machine 1. In the second embodiment of slot machine 1, small win 1 is awarded when the winning area "common bell" is hit, and small win 1 is not included in the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8".

[0173] As shown in Figure 17, the winning symbol combination for small win 1, which is set to pay out 8 coins, more than the prescribed number of coins to be inserted (3 coins), consists of "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BLA-WM (CH, BKB)". In games where small win 1 can be won, the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination for small win 1 can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0174] Figure 18 illustrates the pull-in ranges of the red 7 symbol "Red 7", the BAR symbol "BAR", the blank A symbol "BKA", and the blank B symbol "BKB" arranged on the left reel R1. As shown in Figure 18, the left reel R1 has the red 7 symbol "Red 7" at stop numbers 2 and 4, the blank A symbol "BKA" at stop number 7, the BAR symbol "BAR" at stop number 12, and the blank B symbol "BKB" at stop number 17. The symbols at stop numbers 2, 7, 12, and 17 are spaced four frames apart, and their pull-in ranges do not overlap.

[0175] Furthermore, the pull-in range for the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 is the range where a total of 5 symbols are arranged, from the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 to the cherry symbol "CH" positioned at stop number 8.

[0176] Therefore, the pull-in range for the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 overlaps with the pull-in range for the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 2, which spans three frames from stop number 4 to stop number 6, while the pull-in range for the blank A symbol "BKA" positioned at stop number 7 overlaps with the pull-in range for the blank A symbol "BKA" positioned at stop number 7, which spans two frames from stop number 7 to stop number 8. Furthermore, the pull-in range for the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 and the pull-in range for the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 2 overlaps with the pull-in range for the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 and the pull-in range for the blank A symbol "BKA" positioned at stop number 7, which spans two frames from stop number 7 to stop number 8, which overlap.

[0177] With this configuration, the reel control means 130 controls the reels so that if the stop button B1 is operated at the timing when symbols within the range of stop numbers 4 to 6 are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 2 is stopped and displayed on the active line L1. If the stop button B1 is operated at the timing when symbols within the range of stop numbers 7 and 8 are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, the blank A symbol "BKA" positioned at stop number 7 is stopped and displayed on the active line L1. This prevents the probability of winning small prize 1 from changing depending on the timing of the stop button B1 operation, even if the reel control means 130 controls the reels so that the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 is not stopped on the active line L1.

[0178] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, even if the replay symbol "RP" is positioned at stop number 4 on the left reel R1, and the control is executed so that it does not affect the probability of winning a prize, similar to the red 7 symbol "Red 7", if the replay symbol "RP" positioned at stop number 5 stops and is displayed on the lower part of the left reel R1 which constitutes the active line L1, the presence of two replay symbols "RP" side by side within a specific area 330b may lead the player to believe that some kind of bonus is being offered upon winning a replay, potentially reducing the playability depending on the symbols displayed within the specific area 330b. Additionally, in slot machine 1, if symbols other than the red 7 symbol "Red 7" and the replay symbol "RP" are positioned, the probability of winning other prizes changes depending on the timing of the operation of the stop button B1, and it also affects the stopping control of other prizes. Furthermore, in slot machine 1, ten types of symbols are arranged around the left reel R1 to the right reel R3: the red 7 symbol "Red 7", the BAR symbol "BAR", the replay symbol "RP", the bell A symbol "BLA", the bell B symbol "BLB", the watermelon symbol "WM", the cherry symbol "CH", the blank A symbol "BKA", the blank B symbol "BKB", and the blank C symbol "BKC". Arranging an eleventh type of symbol at the stop number 4 on the left reel R1 would be a configuration that violates the regulations for gaming machines.

[0179] Thus, in the second embodiment of the slot machine 1, the pull-in range of the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 on the left reel R1 overlaps with the pull-in range of the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 2 and the pull-in range of the blank A symbol "BKA" positioned at stop number 7. Therefore, even if the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 does not stop on the active line L1, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 2 and the blank A symbol "BKA" positioned at stop number 7 will still be able to pull in. Since whichever of the two symbols, "KA" or "BKA", can be stopped, the probability of winning a prize does not change depending on the timing of the operation of the stop button B1. Furthermore, when the red 7 symbol "Red 7" with stop number 2 or the blank A symbol "BKA" with stop number 7 is stopped and displayed on the lower part of the left reel R1 which constitutes the active line L1, the red 7 symbol "Red 7", which does not stop and is therefore not displayed within the specific area 330b, can be placed at the position of stop number 4, thus minimizing the impact on gameplay and simplifying the design of the symbols arranged on the reels.

[0180] Figure 19 is a diagram illustrating the symbols arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that stop and are displayed within a specific area 330b when the winning area "Common Bell" is won and small win 1 is achieved. As shown in Figure 19, in slot machine 1, the winning symbol combination for small win 1, "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BLA-WM (CH, BKB)", stops and is displayed on the lower part of the left reel R1, the middle part of the middle reel R2, and the lower part of the right reel R3, which constitute the active line L1.

[0181] As shown in Figure 16, the bell A symbol "BLA" is arranged on the circumference of the middle reel R2 at stop numbers 1, 6, 11, and 16. On the circumference of the right reel R3, the watermelon symbol "WM" is arranged at stop numbers 1 and 6, the cherry symbol "CH" is arranged at stop numbers 8, 13, 16, and 18, and the blank B symbol "BKB" is arranged at stop number 19. On the right reel R3, the watermelon symbol "WM" is positioned at stop numbers 1 and 6, the cherry symbol "CH" is positioned at stop number 16, and the bell A symbol "BLA" is positioned at stop numbers 0, 5, and 15, which are above the reel rotation direction. When the symbols positioned at stop numbers 1, 6, and 16 on the right reel R3 stop and are displayed in the lower section of the right reel R3, the bell A symbol "BLA" stops and is displayed in the middle section of the right reel R3.

[0182] In the second embodiment, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the red 7 symbol "Red 7", blank A symbol "BKA", BAR symbol "BAR", and blank B symbol "BKB", which are arranged at stop numbers 2, 7, 12, and 17 of the left reel R1, on the active line L1 when it is possible to win a minor role 1 and the stop button B1 is operated. In other words, the reel control means 130 is configured not to stop and display the red 7 symbol "Red 7" at stop number 4 on the active line L1 when it is possible to win a minor role 1 and the stop button B1 is operated at the same time that the symbols at stop numbers 4 to 8 of the left reel R1 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0183] As a result, in slot machine 1, the symbols positioned at stop numbers 2, 7, 12, and 17 on the left reel R1 will stop and be displayed in the lower row, causing the bell A symbol "BLA" positioned at stop numbers 11 and 16, or the bell B symbol "BLB" positioned at stop numbers 1 and 6, to stop and be displayed in the middle row of the left reel R1. In other words, in slot machine 1, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 on the left reel R1 will stop and be displayed in the lower row, causing the cherry symbol "CH" positioned at stop number 3 to stop and be displayed in the middle row of the left reel R1, thus preventing the bell B symbol "BLB" positioned at stop number 1 from being displayed within the specific area 330b.

[0184] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when a small win 1, which is set to pay out 8 coins, is won, the winning symbol combination for small win 1, "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BLA-WM (CH, BKB)", is displayed on the active line L1, and within the specific area 330b, the bell A symbol "BLA" or the bell B symbol "BLB" can be displayed in the middle of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. In other words, the bell A symbol "BLA" or the bell B symbol "BLB", which the player associates with a payout when displayed within the specific area 330b, are displayed on each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, thereby realizing a gameplay feature that suggests to the player that they have won a medal by the symbols displayed within the specific area 330b, and thus enhancing the gameplay experience.

[0185] In this configuration, the left reel R1 constitutes a predetermined reel in the second embodiment, the stop button B1 constitutes a predetermined stop button in the second embodiment, the red 7 symbol "Red 7", the BAR symbol "BAR", the blank A symbol "BKA", and the blank B symbol "BKB" constitute the first predetermined symbols in the second embodiment, and the bell A symbol "BLA" and the bell B symbol "BLB" constitute the second predetermined symbols in the second embodiment. Furthermore, the position of stop number 2 on the left reel R1 constitutes the first predetermined position, the position of stop number 7 constitutes the second predetermined position, and the position of stop number 4 constitutes the third predetermined position. Furthermore, the reel pull-in range of the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 2 and the reel pull-in range of the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 overlap, forming the specific range and the first range. The reel pull-in range of the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 and the reel pull-in range of the blank A symbol "BKA" positioned at stop number 7 overlap, forming the second range. In addition, minor role 1 constitutes a predetermined role in the second embodiment.

[0186] 2. Summary of the second embodiment As described above, in the second embodiment of the slot machine 1, the pull-in range of the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 on the left reel R1 overlaps with the pull-in range of the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 2 and the pull-in range of the blank A symbol "BKA" positioned at stop number 7. As a result, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 4 does not stop on the active line L1. Since whichever of the patterns "BKA" that can be stopped will be displayed on the active line L1, the probability of winning a prize will not change depending on the timing of the operation of the stop button B1. Furthermore, when the red 7 symbol "Red 7" with stop number 2 or the blank A symbol "BKA" with stop number 7 is displayed on the lower part of the left reel R1 which constitutes the active line L1, the red 7 symbol "Red 7", which does not stop within the specific area 330b and therefore has little impact on gameplay, can be placed at the stop number 4 position, making it easier to design the symbols to be arranged on the reels.

[0187] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when a small win 1, which is set to pay out 8 coins, is achieved, the winning symbol combination for small win 1, "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BLA-WM (CH, BKB)", is displayed on the active line L1, and within the specific area 330b, the bell A symbol "BLA" or the bell B symbol "BLB" can be displayed in the middle of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. In other words, the bell A symbol "BLA" or the bell B symbol "BLB", which the player will associate with a payout when displayed within the specific area 330b, can be displayed on each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, thus enabling a gameplay feature that suggests to the player that they have won a coin through the symbols displayed within the specific area 330b, thereby enhancing the gameplay experience.

[0188] [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the slot machine 1, which is a modified version of the first and second embodiments, will be described. In the third embodiment of the slot machine 1, the positions of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that constitute the active line L1 are the same as in the second embodiment (the lower part of the left reel R1, the middle part of the middle reel R2, and the lower part of the right reel R3). In addition, the third embodiment of the slot machine 1 is configured such that the configuration of the winning combinations included in the winning areas that can be won by the internal lottery in each game state, the combinations that can be won when a winning combination is achieved in each winning area, and the symbols arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are different. Furthermore, the configuration of the control executed when the advantageous period begins in the third embodiment of the slot machine 1 is different from that of the first and second embodiments. As other configurations are the same as in the first and second embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for components common to the first and second embodiments and their descriptions are omitted.

[0189] 1. Configuration of the gaming machine Details of each component of the slot machine 1 in the third embodiment will be described below.

[0190] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> Figure 20 shows the winning areas that are subject to internal lottery in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, the winning numbers and winning roles associated with each winning area, the winning areas that can be won in each game state, and the winning areas in which, if a win is achieved in the internal lottery, the advantageous section lottery described later is performed by the AT control means 200. In Figure 20, winning areas that can be won in each game state and in which the advantageous section lottery is performed if a win is achieved are indicated by "〇", and winning areas that can be won in each game state and in which the advantageous section lottery is not performed if a win is achieved are indicated by "●".

[0191] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment has a regular big bonus (hereinafter, the regular big bonus is also referred to as "RBB") as a bonus, which is a continuous activation device for a special first-class feature. Furthermore, the slot machine 1 has game states controlled by the game state transition control means 170, which include a non-RT state, which is a general state where the RBB is not set to be established and the RBB is not operating; a bonus established state, which is a state to which the player transitions when the RBB is set to be established, and in which the RBB is maintained internally until the RBB is activated; and a bonus state, which is a state to which the player transitions when the RBB is activated, and in which the RBB is operating.

[0192] As shown in Figure 20, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, the winning areas that are subject to internal lottery include the winning area "All Small Wins", the winning area "All Single Wins", the winning area "Replay 1" to the winning area "Replay 3", the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "Rare Win", the winning area "RBB & Single Win 1", the winning area "RBB & Single Win 2", and the winning area "RBB", and the winning numbers 1 to 18 are associated with each of these areas. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with the result of the internal lottery when the result is a loss.

[0193] <Arrangement of patterns> Figure 21 shows the symbols arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, as shown in Figure 21, 10 types of symbols are arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3: the red 7 symbol "Red 7", the white 7 symbol "White 7", the BAR symbol "BAR", the replay symbol "RP", the bell symbol "BL", the cherry symbol "CH", the watermelon A symbol "WMA", the watermelon B symbol "WMB", the blank A symbol "BKA", and the blank symbol "BKB". In addition, 20 symbols are arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0194] <Winning combinations for minor roles> Figures 22 to 24 show the combinations of winning symbols for small wins 1 to 19 and replays 1 to 3 that Slot Machine 1 has, as well as the payouts for small wins 1 to 19.

[0195] As shown in Figure 22, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of minor roles 1 to 4, which are set to pay out 8 coins, a number greater than the prescribed number of coins inserted (3 coins), are arranged at intervals of no more than 4 frames on each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Therefore, when reel stop control is performed to make minor roles 1 to 4 stop and display on the active line L1, they are configured to stop and display on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0196] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 22, the symbols that make up the winning combination for small win 5, which is set to pay out 3 coins, the same number as the specified number of coins inserted, consist of the symbols on the middle reel R2 and the symbols on the right reel R3, which can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B2 and B3. The symbols on the left reel R1 can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 if the timing of operation of stop button B1 is such that each symbol can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, but if the stop operation is performed at a timing different from that, it is not possible to win.

[0197] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 22 and 23, the symbols that make up the winning combinations for minor roles 6 to 9 and minor role 16, which are set to pay out one coin (a payout of fewer coins than the prescribed number of coins inserted), are arranged at intervals of no more than four frames on each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. For this reason, when reel stop control is performed to make minor roles 6 to 9 stop and display on the active line L1, they are configured to stop and display on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0198] As shown in Figure 23, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of minor roles 10 and minor role 11 set for a single payout consist of symbols on the left reel R1 and the right reel R3 that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 and B3, and the symbols on the middle reel R2 are set to be within a pull-in range consisting of 10 symbols out of 20, and the pull-in range of watermelon A symbol "WMA" and the pull-in range of watermelon B symbol "WMB" do not overlap with each other.

[0199] Furthermore, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of minor roles 12 and minor role 13 set for a single payout consist of symbols on the left reel R1 and the middle reel R2 that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 and B2, and the symbols on the right reel R3 are set up so that the pull-in range consists of 10 symbols out of 20, and the pull-in range for the red 7 symbol "red 7" or watermelon A symbol "WMA" does not overlap with the pull-in range for the white 7 symbol "white 7", watermelon B symbol "WMB", or blank A symbol "BKA".

[0200] Furthermore, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of minor roles 14 and 15 set for a single payout are configured such that the symbol on the right reel R3 is a symbol that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of the operation of stop button B3, and the symbols on the left reel R1 and the middle reel R2 can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 if the timing of the operation of stop buttons B1 and B2 is such that each symbol can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, but if the stop operation is performed at a timing other than that, it is not possible to win.

[0201] Furthermore, the symbols that make up the winning combination of 17 small wins set for one payout consist of symbols on the middle reel R2 that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop button B2, and symbols on the left reel R1 and the right reel R3 that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 if the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 and B3 is such that each symbol can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, but if the stop operation is performed at a timing other than that, it is not possible to win.

[0202] Furthermore, the symbols that make up the winning combination of 18 small wins set for one payout consist of symbols on the left reel R1 and symbols on the middle reel R2 that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 and B2. The symbols on the right reel R3 can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 if the timing of operation of stop button B3 is such that each symbol can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1. If the stop operation is performed at a timing other than that, it is not possible to win.

[0203] Furthermore, the symbols that make up the winning combination of 19 small wins set for one payout are configured such that the symbols on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 if the timing of the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 is such that each symbol can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1. If the stop operation is performed at a timing other than that, it will not be possible to win.

[0204] In the third embodiment of the slot machine 1, when it is possible to win small wins 5, 10-15, and 17-19, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated at a time when it is not possible to stop and display the symbols that constitute the winning symbol combinations for small wins 5, 10-15, and 17-19 on the active line L1, the machine is configured to execute a reel stop control that stops and displays a symbol combination different from any of the winning symbol combinations on the active line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0205] As shown in Figure 24, the symbols that make up the winning combinations for Replay 1 and Replay 3 are arranged at intervals of no more than 4 frames on each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Therefore, when reel stop control is performed to make Replay 1 and Replay 3 stop and display on the active line L1, they are configured to stop and display on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0206] <Performance state controlled during the advantageous period> As shown in Figure 20, the AT control means 200 of the third embodiment is configured to execute an advantageous section lottery with a probability of approximately 1 / 1.5 when the internal lottery is conducted when the game state is not in an RT state and the winning area "Replay 2", "Replay 3", "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", "Common Bell", "Rare Role", "RBB & 1-Coin Role 1", "RBB & 1-Coin Role 2", or "RBB", and when the internal lottery is conducted when the game state is in a bonus-established state and the winning area "Replay 2", "Replay 3", "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", "Common Bell", or "Rare Role" is won, and the advantageous section lottery is executed with a probability of approximately 1 / 1.5.

[0207] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 is configured not to perform a favorable section lottery when the winning area "Replay 1" is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, when the winning area "Replay 1", the winning area "RBB & 1-coin win 1", or the winning area "RBB & 1-coin win 2" is won in the internal lottery during the bonus state, or when the winning area "All small wins" or the winning area "All 1-coin wins" is won in the internal lottery during the bonus state. Details of the gameplay due to the favorable section lottery when each winning area is won will be described later.

[0208] In the advantageous period of the third embodiment, the AT control means 200 has a first start state, a second start state, a normal state, a CZ state, and an AT state as states (performance states) related to the instruction function. Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment is configured such that the proportion of time spent in the advantageous period during the overall gameplay can be 70% or more.

[0209] In the third embodiment, the AT control means 200 performs a replay notification lottery to determine whether or not to notify the operation mode that will enable the winning of replay 1 when the winning area "replay 3" is selected in the internal lottery. If the AT control means 200 decides not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery, it performs a lottery related to an instruction function corresponding to the performance state in which the game is being played. More details will be described later.

[0210] Furthermore, in the third embodiment of the slot machine 1, when the advantageous period is in effect and no notification of the operation pattern is given, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 3 to turn 6, the control related to the instruction function by the AT control means 200 is not executed. In other words, when no notification of the operation pattern is given, the slot machine 1 is configured to recommend playing by operating stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1 and turn 2.

[0211] The first starting state is a performance state that is set when the game state is not in an RT state and is in a normal section, and the player is selected by internal lottery to be the target of the advantageous section lottery for the winning area "RBB", the winning area "RBB & 1-coin payout 1", or the winning area "RBB & 1-coin payout 2", and the player transitions from the normal section to the advantageous section based on the advantageous section lottery resulting from winning a winning area including RBB. In the first starting state, the AT control means 200 terminates the first starting state and transitions the performance state to the normal state when one game is played.

[0212] The second starting state is a performance state that is set when the game state is a non-RT state or a bonus state and is in a normal section, and the player is selected by internal lottery to be the target of the advantageous section lottery for the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", winning area "Common Bell", winning area "Rare Role", winning area "Replay 2", and winning area "Replay 3", and the player transitions from the normal section to the advantageous section based on the advantageous section lottery based on winning a winning area that does not include RBB.

[0213] In the second start state, the AT control means 200 refers to the game state at the time the second start state is initiated. If the game state at the time the second start state is initiated is a non-RT state, the AT control means 200 terminates the second start state after one game is played and transitions the performance state to the normal state. Also, if the game state at the time the second start state is initiated is a bonus-established state, the AT control means 200 decides to execute the AT state after the second start state ends, terminates the second start state after one game is played, and transitions the performance state to the AT state.

[0214] With this configuration, in slot machine 1, during gameplay in the normal section (first game), if the game transitions from the normal section to the advantageous section, the performance state is set to either the first start state or the second start state by a control process that sets the performance state by the AT control means 200 during the first game. Next, in slot machine 1, during gameplay following the first game (second game), the game is played with the performance state set to either the first start state or the second start state. If the performance state is the first start state, the game transitions to the normal state. If the performance state is the second start state, the performance state transitions to either the normal state or the AT state depending on the gameplay state in the second game.

[0215] The normal state is the performance state that corresponds to the normal state among several types of performance states (normal performance state), which is set when the performance state has not transitioned to any other performance state. When the performance state transitions to the normal state, the AT control means 200 performs an increment update to the normal game counter (not shown), which counts the number of games played in the normal state, by adding a value of "1" which corresponds to one game each time a game is played. In addition, the AT control means 200 performs an advantageous section termination lottery to determine whether or not to terminate the advantageous section when the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery, or when the winning area "replay 3" is won in the internal lottery and it is decided not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery.

[0216] The AT control means 200 determines that the normal termination condition among the conditions for ending the advantageous period has been met when the stored value of the normal game counter becomes the value "700" or when the advantageous period lottery is won for "end of advantageous period", and executes a predetermined initialization process which initializes information related to the advantageous period along with the end of the normal state, and a predetermined termination process which ends the advantageous period and starts the normal period from the next game.

[0217] The CZ state is configured to allow control to transition to the AT state as an auxiliary gameplay control, and is a more advantageous state for the player than the normal state. The AT control means 200 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined number of games (for example, 10 games) in the CZ game counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the CZ state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played by subtracting the stored value of the CZ game counter by a value of "1" which corresponds to 1 game.

[0218] The AT control means 200 is configured to perform a CZ-in AT lottery in each game played in the CZ state to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state. If the CZ-in AT lottery results in "transition to AT state", the AT control means 200 transitions the performance state from the CZ state to the winning performance state after 10 games have been played from the start of the CZ state.

[0219] The AT control means 200, in the game played until the CZ state ends after winning the AT lottery for "transition to AT state" and the CZ state ends, executes a CZ game count increase lottery to determine whether or not to increase (add) the number of times the AT state is executed for the AT state to which the player transitions after the CZ state ends.

[0220] On the other hand, the AT control means 200 terminates the CZ state if 10 games are played in the CZ state without winning the "transition to AT state" in the AT lottery during the CZ. If the AT control means 200 terminates the CZ state while the conditions for transitioning to AT have not been met, it transitions the performance state from the CZ state to the normal state.

[0221] The AT control means 200 is configured to execute lotteries related to auxiliary games performed in the CZ state (AT lottery during CZ, AT game count increase lottery during CZ) regardless of the results of the internal lottery. Furthermore, the AT control means 200 is configured such that, when the internal lottery results in the lottery related to auxiliary games performed in the CZ state, the probability of "not winning (losing)" is lower than when other winning areas are won, and the probability of a favorable result for the player (in the case of the AT lottery during CZ, "transition to AT state") is higher when the internal lottery results in the winning area "rare role", or when the internal lottery results in the winning area "replay 3" and it is decided not to announce the operation method in the replay notification lottery.

[0222] In AT mode, each time a win occurs in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", assistance is provided for the entry of Bell A to Bell D, making it a more advantageous state for the player than the normal state or CZ state.

[0223] When the AT state is started, the AT control means 200 sets an initial value (40 games) corresponding to a predetermined number of games in the stored value of the AT game counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197. Each time a game is played in the AT state, the AT control means 200 performs a decrement update, subtracting the stored value of the AT game counter 197f by a value of "1" which corresponds to one game.

[0224] The AT control means 200 performs an add-on lottery to determine the value to be added to the AT game counter when the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 results in a win in the winning area "Rare Role", or when the internal lottery results in a win in the winning area "Replay 3", and the replay notification lottery determines not to notify the operation method.

[0225] The AT control means 200 determines that the AT state termination condition (AT termination condition) has been met when the stored value of the AT game counter becomes "0", and terminates the AT state, returning the performance state to the normal state.

[0226] <Details of control using the first and second start states> As described above, the reel control means 130 of the third embodiment is configured to stop and display the winning symbol combinations for small wins or replays on the active line L1, prioritizing them over bonuses. Furthermore, the reel control means 130 is configured to stop and display a symbol combination on the active line L1 that is different from the winning symbol combinations for any of the winning small wins 5, 10 to 15, and 17 to 19 when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated at an operation timing that makes it impossible to win any of the winning small wins 5, 10 to 15, or 17 to 19, and to execute reel stop control so that the symbols are not won.

[0227] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, when the game state is in a bonus-established state, the internal lottery will result in either a small win or a replay, so the winning symbol combination for RBB will not be displayed on the active line L1, and the bonus-established state will be maintained.

[0228] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, once the game state is set to the bonus-established state, gameplay continues in the bonus-established state thereafter. Therefore, when the advantageous section ends and the normal section begins based on the fulfillment of the normal termination condition or specific termination condition in the advantageous section, the game state becomes the bonus-established state and is controlled to the normal section. For this reason, in the slot machine 1, after transitioning from the advantageous section to the normal section while the game state is the bonus-established state, if the advantageous section lottery results in a "transition to the advantageous section" and the game transitions to the advantageous section, the performance state is set to the second start state. Since the game state at the start of the second start state is the bonus-established state, the performance state is configured to transition to the AT state after one game is played in the second start state.

[0229] In the slot machine 1 having such gameplay, as described above, when the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is executed, the control related to the game state and the control related to the advantageous period are initialized, so that the game state is set to a non-RT state and set to a normal period.

[0230] Therefore, in slot machine 1, if the system is configured to always set the performance state to AT state when transitioning from the normal section to the advantageous section, there is a risk that the system will be reset to the normal section due to initialization when the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is executed, which could result in an extremely high probability of transitioning to the AT state immediately after the setting change control.

[0231] In this configuration, in slot machine 1, when the AT state is started based on the transition to the advantageous section immediately after the setting change control is executed, the performance control means 180 executes the performance in the normal state (normal performance), which prevents the player from visually recognizing that the current performance state is the AT state. However, this requires data and programs specifically for the normal performance in the AT state immediately after the setting change, which increases the program capacity related to the performance.

[0232] Furthermore, in a slot machine 1 with this configuration, although the AT state immediately after a setting change can be made invisible through normal animations, the AT state is still being executed by the AT control means 200, which creates a loophole that makes it easier to transition to the AT state immediately after a setting change and to win medals.

[0233] On the other hand, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, when transitioning from the normal section to the advantageous section, the AT control means 200 refers to the winning area selected by the internal lottery and has a configuration that determines whether to set the performance state to be set at the start of the advantageous section to the first starting state or the second starting state.

[0234] The AT control means 200 sets the performance state at the start of the advantageous period to the first start state when it starts based on winning in one of the winning areas, which can only be won in an internal lottery during a non-RT state: winning area "RBB", winning area "RBB&1-coin win 1", or winning area "RBB&1-coin win 2". As described above, the first start state is a performance state that transitions to the normal state after one game is played.

[0235] Therefore, in slot machine 1, even if the game state at the start of the advantageous section is a bonus-established state, if the setting change control is executed and the game state in the normal section transitions from a non-RT state to the advantageous section, the performance state can be set to the normal state via the first starting state.

[0236] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 sets the performance state at the start of the advantageous section to the second start state when it starts an advantageous section based on winning in one of the winning areas, which can be won even in the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state: winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8", winning area "Common Bell", winning area "Rare Role", winning area "Replay 2", and winning area "Replay 3". The AT control means 200 is configured to refer to the game state when playing in the second start state and to determine the performance state to transition to after one game has been played in the second start state.

[0237] Specifically, the AT control means 200 determines that the transition state after one game in the second starting state will be the normal state if the game state during gameplay in the second starting state is a non-RT state, and determines that the transition state after one game in the second starting state will be the AT state if the game state during gameplay in the second starting state is a bonus-established state.

[0238] In the third embodiment of the slot machine 1, the game state during gameplay in the second starting state becomes a non-RT state only when the advantageous period is started based on the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", winning area "Common Bell", winning area "Rare Role", winning area "Replay 2", or winning area "Replay 3" being selected in the internal lottery during the non-RT state.

[0239] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 of the third embodiment is configured not to perform a favorable section lottery when the winning area "RBB&1-coin win 1" and the winning area "RBB&1-coin win 2", which are winning areas that can be won by internal lottery in the bonus winning state, which is a game state set when the RBB is carried over to the established state.

[0240] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, the game state when playing in the second starting state becomes a bonus-established state only when the advantageous period is started based on the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", winning area "Common Bell", winning area "Rare Role", winning area "Replay 2", or winning area "Replay 3" being selected in the internal lottery in the bonus-established state.

[0241] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment is configured such that, when setting change control is performed by the setting change means 100, the game state is set to a non-RT state and set to a normal section, but when transitioning from the normal section to the advantageous section immediately after setting change control, it is set to a normal state based on the start of the advantageous section, and when transitioning from the normal section to the advantageous section when the game state is a bonus established state, it is set to an AT state based on the start of the advantageous section, thereby realizing gameplay that improves the marketability while having an advantageous section.

[0242] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment can prevent the emergence of a strategy that makes the immediate period after the setting change control is initiated excessively advantageous, and when the transition to the advantageous period immediately after the setting change control is executed, data and programs for executing different effects from the set effect state become unnecessary, thus preventing an increase in the program capacity related to the effects.

[0243] <Advantageous section lottery when winning in winning area "RBB" or winning area "Replay 1"> As described above, in the third embodiment, the winning area "Replay 1" is configured so that Replay A is won alone, while the winning area "Replay 2" is configured so that Replay A and Replay B are won simultaneously, and these are configured as different winning areas. In the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, Replay A is awarded in both cases, whether the winning area "Replay 1" or the winning area "Replay 2" is won.

[0244] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, in a game in which Replay A is won, the player cannot determine whether the winning area "Replay 1" or the winning area "Replay 2" was won.

[0245] Furthermore, in the internal lottery table A, the winning area "Replay 1" and the winning area "RBB" are each associated with the value "4" as the lottery value, so the winning probabilities for the winning area "Replay 1" and the winning area "RBB" are 4 / 65536 (1 / 16384), respectively. Also, in the internal lottery table A, the winning area "Replay 2" is associated with the value "8718" as the lottery value, so the winning probability for the winning area "Replay 2" is 8718 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.5). And, in the internal lottery table A, the winning area "Replay 3" is associated with the value "256" as the lottery value, so the winning probability for the winning area "Replay 3" is 256 / 65536 (1 / 256).

[0246] Therefore, in the non-RT state where internal lottery using the internal lottery table A is executed, the probability of winning in any one of the winning areas "Replay 1" to "Replay 3" is 8978 / 65536 (about 1 / 7.3).

[0247] Also, as described above, in the internal lottery table B, since the number of lottery values associated with the winning area "RBB" is associated with the winning area "Replay 1", the value "8" is associated with the winning area "Replay 1" as the number of lottery values. Therefore, the winning probability of the winning area "Replay 1" is 8 / 65536 (1 / 8192). In the internal lottery table B, the number of lottery values associated with the winning area "Replay 2" and the number of lottery values associated with the winning area "Replay 3" are the same as those in the internal lottery table A.

[0248] Therefore, in the bonus establishment state where internal lottery using the internal lottery table B is executed, the probability of winning in any one of the winning areas "Replay 1" to "Replay 3" is 8982 / 65536 (about 1 / 7.3).

[0249] Also, as shown in FIG. 20, the AT control means 200 executes advantageous range lottery when winning in the winning area "RBB" in the non-RT state and when winning in the winning area "Replay 2" in the non-RT state or the bonus establishment state. As described above, since the winning area "Replay 1" is a replay with different winning probabilities in the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state (the lottery with fluctuating replay probabilities), the AT control means 200 cannot execute predetermined one-to-one processing for each winning area depending on the game state when winning in the winning area "Replay 1" (because the winning probability of the winning area "Replay 1" fluctuates depending on the game state, and if an advantageous range lottery is executed based on winning in the winning area "Replay 1", the probability of winning in the winning area "Replay 1" and moving to the advantageous range will also fluctuate and will not be one-to-one). Therefore, in order to maintain the fairness of the game, it is configured not to execute the advantageous range lottery.

[0250] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 is configured to execute a lottery related to the instruction function according to the performance state in any of the following cases when the advantageous period has started: when the winning area "RBB" is won in a non-RT state, when the winning area "Replay 1" is won in a non-RT state or when a bonus has been established, or when the winning area "Replay 2" is won in a non-RT state or when a bonus has been established. In addition, the AT control means 200 is configured to execute the same lottery as the lottery related to the instruction function according to the performance state in any of the following cases when the advantageous period has started: when the winning area "Replay 1" is won in a non-RT state or when a bonus has been established, or when the winning area "Replay 2" is won in a non-RT state or when a bonus has been established.

[0251] In other words, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment includes an auxiliary game control means that controls a normal section and a favorable section, and controls auxiliary games in the favorable section, and has multiple types of winning patterns, namely a first winning pattern, a second winning pattern, and a third winning pattern, in which the first winning pattern is a bonus that is won alone, and the second and third winning patterns include a specific replay, and in both cases of winning the second winning pattern and winning the third winning pattern, a specific replay is awarded, and the game states include a normal game state, a bonus establishment state which is entered when a bonus is won in the normal game state, and a bonus state which is entered when a bonus is awarded, and in the internal lottery table used in the internal lottery in the bonus establishment state, the first winning pattern is associated with the internal lottery used in the internal lottery in the normal game state The selected lottery values ​​are associated with the second winning pattern, and the auxiliary game control means executes a favorable period lottery in the normal section to determine whether or not to transition to the favorable section when the first winning pattern is won in the internal lottery, or when the third winning pattern is won in the internal lottery. The auxiliary game control means does not execute a favorable period lottery in the normal section when the third winning pattern is won in the internal lottery. The auxiliary game control means can execute a lottery related to the instruction function based on the winning pattern in the favorable section in any of the cases of the first winning pattern, the second winning pattern, or the third winning pattern. The auxiliary game control means can execute a common lottery for the instruction function based on the winning of the second winning pattern in the internal lottery and for the instruction function based on the winning of the third winning pattern in the internal lottery.

[0252] Because of this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment performs the advantageous section lottery when the winning area "RBB" is won and when the winning area "Replay 2" is won, but does not perform it when the winning area "Replay 1" is won, which is a winning area where the probability of winning a replay changes between the non-RT state and the bonus-established state. Therefore, although there is a difference in the control content related to the start of the advantageous section between the winning area "RBB" and the winning area "Replay 2" and the winning area "Replay 1", when the advantageous section has started, the winning area " Regardless of whether the player wins in "RBB", the winning area "Replay 1", or the winning area "Replay 2", the lottery related to the instruction function can be executed. Furthermore, in the lottery related to the instruction function based on winning in the winning area where Replay 1 is awarded, whether the player wins in the winning area "Replay 1" or the winning area "Replay 2", there are constraints in maintaining fairness in the control related to the transition to the advantageous section. Since a common lottery can be executed in the lottery related to the instruction function based on winning in the winning area where Replay 1 is awarded, it is possible to prevent players from feeling that they have lost out due to constraints that are necessary to maintain fairness in the game.

[0253] This AT control means 200 constitutes the auxiliary game control means in the third embodiment, the winning area "RBB" constitutes the first winning mode in the third embodiment, the winning area "Replay 1" constitutes the second winning mode in the third embodiment, the winning area "Replay 2" constitutes the third winning mode in the third embodiment, and Replay 1 constitutes the specific replay in the third embodiment. In addition, the non-RT state constitutes the normal game state.

[0254] 2. Details of the role configuration and reel stop control Next, we will describe the details of the winning combinations that can be achieved in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, according to the results of the internal lottery, and the details of the reel stop control performed by the reel control means 130.

[0255] <Game results in each game state> Figure 25 shows the game results for each operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win or replay is selected in the internal lottery during a non-RT state. Figure 26 shows the game results for each operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win or replay is selected in the internal lottery during a bonus state. Figure 27 shows the game results for each operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win is selected in the internal lottery during a bonus state.

[0256] As shown in Figure 25, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Payout 1", and the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Payout 2" are selected during the non-RT state, a small payout set to 1 coin is awarded regardless of the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0257] In other words, in slot machine 1, when not in RT mode, even if you win in one of the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8" or "Common Bell," which are winning areas that include one of the small wins 1 to 4 set to pay out 8 coins, the machine is configured so that small wins 1 to 4 cannot be won.

[0258] In slot machine 1, if the winning area "Common Bell" is hit in non-RT state, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, turn 3, or turn 4, the small prize 8, which is set to pay out 1 coin, will be awarded with a probability of 1 / 1. If stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, turn 5, or turn 6, the small prize 9, which is set to pay out 1 coin, will be awarded with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0259] As shown in Figure 26, in slot machine 1, when a bonus is triggered and the winning area "Beat Order Bell 1" to "Beat Order Bell 8" is selected, the order of the stop buttons B1 to B3 (correct order of hitting) is set so that there is a 1 / 1 probability of winning one of the small prizes 1 to 4, which are set to pay out 8 coins. Also, as shown in Figure 26, in slot machine 1, when a bonus is triggered and the winning area "Beat Order Bell 1" to "Beat Order Bell 8" is selected, the machine is configured so that there is a 1 / 1 probability of winning one of the small prizes 6 to 11, which are set to pay out 1 coin.

[0260] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, if the winning area "Common Bell" is hit while a bonus is active, regardless of how stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated, there is a 1 / 1 probability that a small win 3, which is set to pay out 8 coins, will be awarded.

[0261] As shown in Figures 25 and 26, the winning area "Rare Role", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Role 1", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Role 2", and the winning areas "Replay 1" to "Replay 3" all share the same characteristics: when a win occurs in a non-RT state, the roles that can be awarded are determined by the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, and when a win occurs in a bonus state, the roles that can be awarded are determined by the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0262] As shown in Figure 27, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "All Small Wins" is hit during the bonus state, regardless of the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, small win 3, which is set to pay out 8 coins, will be awarded with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0263] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "All 1-coin payout" is hit during the bonus state, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during turn 1, turn 3, or turn 4, the small payout 8, which is set to pay out 1 coin, will be awarded with a probability of 1 / 1. If stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during turn 2, turn 5, or turn 6, the small payout 9, which is set to pay out 1 coin, will be awarded with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0264] <Details of winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8"> Next, we will explain in detail the configuration of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8," and the reel stop control that is executed when a win occurs in one of these areas.

[0265] As shown in Figures 25 and 26, the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1" and "Bat Order Bell 5," where batting order 3 is set as the correct batting order, are configured such that the small wins that can be awarded when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with batting order 3 or batting order 4 in a non-RT state result in a payout of 1 coin, and the small wins that can be awarded when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with batting order 4, which shares the same stop button as batting order 3 for the first stop operation in a bonus state, both result in a small win of 6.

[0266] Furthermore, the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 2" and "Batting Order Bell 6," where batting order 4 is set as the correct batting order, are configured such that both the small win that can be won when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with batting order 3 or batting order 4 in a non-RT state, and the small win that can be won when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with batting order 3, which shares the same first stop button as batting order 4, in a bonus state, are small win 6.

[0267] In addition, the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 4" and "Batting Order Bell 8" with batting order 6 set as the correct batting order are configured such that when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6 in the non-RT state, they are small roles set for one payout that can be won, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 where batting order 6 and the stop button that is first stopped are common in the bonus establishment state, they are small roles set for one payout that can be won, both of which are configured to be small role 10 or small role 11.

[0268] On the other hand, the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 3" and "Batting Order Bell 7" with batting order 5 set as the correct batting order are configured such that the small role set for one payout that can be won when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6 in the non-RT state is small role 9, and the small role set for one payout that can be won when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 6 where batting order 5 and the stop button that is first stopped are common in the bonus establishment state is configured to be small role 10 or small role 11.

[0269] Regarding the details of the reel stop control executed when winning in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 3" and "Batting Order Bell 7", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 3" will be used as an example for explanation. FIG. 28(A) is a diagram showing the winning symbol combinations and payouts of small roles 3, 8 to 12 included in the winning area "Batting Order Bell 3".

[0270] As shown in FIG. 28(A), among the small roles included in the winning area "Batting Order Bell 3", the symbols constituting the winning symbol combinations of small roles 3, 10, and 11 are such that the symbols on the left reel R1 are composed of the red 7 symbol "Red 7", the BAR symbol "BAR", the blank A symbol "BKA", and the blank B symbol "BKB", and the symbols on the right reel R3 are composed of the BAR symbol "BAR" and the cherry symbol "CH".

[0271] Figure 28(B) is a diagram illustrating the possible symbols that can be displayed on the active line L1, the payout for each symbol, and the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1 when a symbol that can be displayed on the middle row of the middle reel R2 is stopped. This is done when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in bat order 5, and the BAR symbol "BAR" is stopped on the right reel R3 and the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is stopped on the left reel R1.

[0272] As shown in Figure 28(B), in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Beat Order Bell 3" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the batting order 5, if the BAR symbol "BAR" is displayed on the upper part of the right reel R3 and the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is displayed on the lower part of the left reel R1, then the bell symbol "BL", which constitutes the winning symbol combination for small win 3, the watermelon A symbol "WMA", which constitutes the winning symbol combination for small win 10, and the watermelon B symbol "WMB", which constitutes the winning symbol combination for small win 11, can be displayed on the middle part of the middle reel R2.

[0273] In slot machine 1, when the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is stopped on the lower part of the left reel R1 and the BAR symbol "BAR" is stopped on the upper part of the right reel R3, if the bell symbol "BL" is stopped on the middle part of the middle reel R2, one symbol combination that makes up the winning symbol combination for small win 3, "Red 7-BL-BAR", can be stopped on the active line L1. If the watermelon A symbol "WMA" is stopped on the middle part of the middle reel R2, one symbol combination that makes up the winning symbol combination for small win 10, "Red 7-WMA-BAR", can be stopped on the active line L1. If the watermelon B symbol "WMB" is stopped on the middle part of the middle reel R2, one symbol combination that makes up the winning symbol combination for small win 11, "Red 7-WMB-BAR", can be stopped on the active line L1.

[0274] Given this configuration, in slot machine 1, if the red 7 symbol "Red 7" stops on the lower part of the left reel R1 and the BAR symbol "BAR" stops on the upper part of the right reel R3, then even if the middle reel R2 stops on the middle part of either the bell symbol "BL", the watermelon A symbol "WMA", or the watermelon B symbol "WMB", the number of symbol combinations that can be stopped on the active line L1 will be 1, and there will be no difference in the number of possible symbol combinations.

[0275] Therefore, in slot machine 1, the bell symbol "BL," which is part of the winning combination for small win 3 (which is set to pay out 8 coins and pays out the most coins when it is won), has to be stopped and displayed in the middle of the middle reel R2. In the non-RT state, if the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in bat order 5, the small win set to pay out 1 coin will not be won, and the small win 3 which is set to pay out 8 coins will be won, making it difficult to suppress the payout rate in the non-RT state.

[0276] Figure 28(C) is a diagram illustrating the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1 when, in the third embodiment, the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in bat order 5, and when stop button B3 is stopped for the first time, a symbol that can be stopped on the upper part of the right reel R3 is stopped.

[0277] As shown in Figure 28(C), in slot machine 1, stopping the bell symbol "BL" which makes up the winning symbol combination for small win 9 "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB) - Red 7 (White 7 - BAR - BKB) - BL" on the upper position of the right reel R3 results in the largest number of symbol combinations, 16, that can be stopped on the active line L1. Also, as mentioned above, in slot machine 1, stopping the BAR symbol "BAR" or the cherry symbol "CH" on the upper position of the right reel R3 makes it possible to stop the winning symbol combination for small win 3, which is set to pay 8 coins "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB) - BL - BAR (CH)" on the active line L1.

[0278] With this configuration, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Ball Order Bell 3" is selected in the internal lottery during a non-RT state, the bell symbol "BL" is given priority over other symbols by the quantity priority control and is stopped on the upper part of the right reel R3 which constitutes the active line L1, thereby limiting the possible winning combinations in that game to small win 9. When the winning area "Ball Order Bell 3" is selected in the internal lottery during a bonus state, the BAR symbol "BAR" or the cherry symbol "CH" is given priority over other symbols by the number priority control and is stopped on the upper part of the right reel R3 which constitutes the active line L1, and the number priority control is also executed in subsequent stopping operations, allowing small win 3 to be achieved.

[0279] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, even if the winning area "Bat Order Bell 7" is selected and stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed during batting order 5, the reel stop control is performed in much the same way as when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" is selected. This allows for the winning of small prize 9 if the machine is not in RT mode, and allows for the winning of small prize 3 if the machine is in bonus mode.

[0280] Thus, in the third embodiment of the slot machine 1, when a bonus is established, the correct spinning sequence that makes it possible to win small win 3, which is set to pay out 8 coins, is set to spinning sequence 5. When the machine is operated with spinning sequence 6, which is the same as spinning sequence 5 and the first stop operation is the same, the winning areas "spinning sequence bell 3" and "spinning sequence bell 7" have symbols that make up the winning symbol combination, where the symbol on the right reel R3 is the same as small win 3 and small win 10 and small win 11, which are set to pay out 1 coin, and when the machine is not in RT mode and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped with spinning sequence 5 or spinning sequence 6, the machine performs reel stop control so that it is possible to win small win 9, which is different from small win 10 and small win 11, where the symbol on the right reel R3 that makes up the winning symbol combination

[0281] This configuration eliminates the need to design the symbols that make up the winning combinations for small win 3, small win 10, and small win 11 in slot machine 1 so that the number of symbol combinations that make up the winning combinations for small win 10 and small win 11 is greater than the number of symbol combinations that make up the winning combination for small win 3, even with the same batting order 5. Instead, it is sufficient to design the symbols so that the number of symbol combinations that make up the winning combination for small win 9 when stop button B3 is pressed as the first stop is greater than the number of symbol combinations that make up the winning combination for small win 3. This makes it easier to design the reel stop control when winning in the winning area "Batting Order Bell 3" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 7", which include small win 3, small win 9, small win 10, and small win 11, and to design the symbols arranged on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0282] Furthermore, as described above, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, when the game state transitions to the bonus-established state, the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is executed thereafter, and the game state is maintained in the bonus-established state until the game state is initialized.

[0283] Here, in slot machine 1, if, hypothetically, stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during the 5th spin, and the machine is in a non-RT state, and the small prize 9 is awarded only if the winning area "Spin Bell 3" or "Spin Bell 7" is hit, then when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during the 5th spin and the small prize 9 is awarded, there is a risk that the player will perceive the machine as being in a non-RT state because the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is executed and the game state is initialized.

[0284] In contrast, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment is configured such that, as shown in Figures 25 and 26, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6, the small win 9 is awarded with a probability of 1 / 1, regardless of whether the game state is in a non-RT state or a bonus state.

[0285] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment is configured to facilitate the design of the reel stop control when winning the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 7", which include small wins 3, 9, 10, and 11, and the design of the symbols arranged on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. In either the non-RT state as the initial state of play, or the bonus-established state which continues in subsequent play once transitioned, if the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5, a win is possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the player from determining that the setting change control by the setting change means 100 has been executed, as the result of stopping stop buttons B1 to B3 in batting order 5 results in a win of small win 9.

[0286] <Stop control table> Next, the details of the reel stop control performed by the reel control means 130 will be described. In the third embodiment, the reel control means 130 obtains a stop control table stored in the reel control data storage means 194 from the winning area selected by the internal lottery and the game state in the game. The reel control means 130 refers to the obtained stop control table and, if it is possible to perform stop control using the stop control table, is pre-configured to stop and display one symbol selected from the five symbols that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 based on the stop control table on the active line L1.

[0287] Figure 29 shows the stop control tables stored in the reel control data storage means 194, including the stop control table acquired when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in a non-RT state or when the winning area "All 1-Coin Win" is won in a bonus state, the stop control table acquired when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in a bonus state or when the winning area "All Small Wins" is won in a bonus state, and the stop control table acquired when the winning area "RBB&1-Coin Win 1" is won in a non-RT state or when a bonus state is established.

[0288] As shown in Figure 29, the reel control means 130 acquires a stop control table in which "Red 7 (BAR-BKA-BKB)-BL-BL" is set as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, in both cases: when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in the non-RT state, and when the winning area "All 1-coin win" is won in the bonus state.

[0289] Furthermore, the reel control means 130 acquires a stop control table in which "Red 7 (BAR-BKA-BKB)-BL-BAR (CH)" is set as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, in both cases: when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in the bonus state, and when the winning area "All Small Wins" is won in the bonus state.

[0290] The reel control means 130 then acquires a stop control table in which "Red 7 (BAR-BKA-BKB)-Red 7 (White 7-BAR-BKA)-CH" is set as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, in both cases: when the winning area "RBB&1-coin win 1" is won in a non-RT state, and when the winning area "RBB&1-coin win 1" is won in a bonus state.

[0291] This section explains the details of reel stop control using a stop control table, using as an example the reel stop control that is executed when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in a non-RT state and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 5 or turn 6. Figure 30(A) shows the stop control table obtained when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in an internal lottery in a non-RT state, and Figure 30(B) shows the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1 when a symbol that can be stopped is stopped on the upper part of the right reel R3 in the case where the winning area "Common Bell" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 5 or turn 6, that is, when stop button B3 is the first stop.

[0292] As shown in Figure 30(B), in slot machine 1, the bell symbol "BL", which constitutes the winning symbol combination for small win 9 "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB) - Red 7 (White 7 - BAR - BKB) - BL", is stopped and displayed on the upper part of the right reel R3, resulting in the largest number of symbol combinations that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, which is 16. Therefore, the bell symbol "BL" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1. Also, as shown in Figure 30(A), the reel control means 130 has the symbol combination set in the stop control table as "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB) - BL - BL".

[0293] Based on these conditions, when the winning area "common bell" is selected in the internal lottery during the non-RT state and the stop button B3 is pressed for the first stop operation, the reel control means 130 executes reel stop control using the stop control table, thereby stopping and displaying the bell symbol "BL" on the active line L1 without performing any process to obtain symbol information from the rotating right reel R3 to determine if there are any symbols that can be stopped within the set pull-in range from the timing of the stop button B3 operation. In slot machine 1, when the bell symbol "BL" is stopped and displayed on the upper part of the right reel R3, the only winning combinations that can be achieved in that game are limited to the small win 9.

[0294] Figure 30(C) illustrates the symbols that can be displayed on the active line L1 when the second or third stop operation is performed, in a case where the winning area "Common Bell" is selected in the internal lottery during a non-RT state, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the 5th or 6th turn of the game.

[0295] As mentioned above, in slot machine 1, the only winning combinations in this game are limited to the small win 9. Therefore, the symbols on the left reel R1 and the middle reel R2 that make up the winning combination of small win 9, "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB) - Red 7 (White 7 - BAR - BKB) - BL", can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0296] As shown in Figure 30(A), the stop control table obtained when the winning area "Common Bell" is selected in the internal lottery during the non-RT state has the symbol combination "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BL" set.

[0297] Therefore, when the winning area "common bell" is selected in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 5 or turn 6, the reel control means 130 performs reel stop control using a stop control table in the stop control of the left reel R1 based on the stop operation of stop button B1. This means that the reel control means 130 stops and displays the symbols that can be stopped on the active line L1 from among the red 7 symbol "red 7", BAR symbol "BAR", blank A symbol "BKA", and blank B symbol "BKB", without performing the process of obtaining symbol information from the rotating left reel R1 to determine if there are symbols that can be stopped within the set pull-in range from the timing of the stop button B1 operation.

[0298] However, as shown in Figure 30(C), in slot machine 1, when the first stop operation is performed on stop button B3 and the bell symbol "BL" is displayed on the upper part of the right reel R3, and the only winning combination in this game is limited to small win 9, if stop button B2 is stopped, the bell symbol "BL" is not set in the symbols of the middle reel R2 that constitute the winning combination for small win 9, and the symbol combination "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BL" is configured as a winning combination for small win 7 that is not included in the winning area "Common Bell" (see Figure 22). Therefore, if the bell symbol "BL" is displayed on the middle part of the middle reel R2, the winning combination for small win 7 "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BL", which has not been won, will be displayed on the active line L1, making the game machine invalid and violating the rules for game machines.

[0299] Given this configuration, the reel control means 130 is pre-configured to switch, in the internal lottery during a non-RT state, to a reel stop control that, when the winning area "common bell" is selected and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 5 or turn 6, to a reel stop control that, based on the stop button B2 being stopped, uses a stop control table to stop the middle reel R2, which is rotating and obtains symbol information from the middle reel R2 to stop on the active line L1, depending on whether there are symbols that can be stopped within the set pull-in range from the timing of the stop button B2 operation.

[0300] Thus, in the third embodiment, when the slot machine 1 wins the winning area "common bell" in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, it acquires a stop control table in which the symbol combination "red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BL" is set. Slot machine 1 is configured such that when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed during turn 5 or turn 6, if stop buttons B1 and B3 are pressed, reel stop control using a stop control table is executed, stopping and displaying the symbols that constitute the winning combination for small win 9 on the lower row of the left reel R1 and the upper row of the right reel R3 without performing the logic calculations required when executing quantity priority control. If stop button B2 is pressed, the system switches from reel stop control using a stop control table to reel stop control that obtains information on the symbols that constitute the winning combination for small win 9 from the rotating middle reel R2 and stops on the active line L1, thereby executing reel stop control that displays the symbols that constitute the winning combination for small win 9 on the middle row of the middle reel R2.

[0301] In slot machine 1, if the winning area "common bell" is won in the internal lottery during a non-RT state, and if the symbols can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 by reel stop control using the stop control table shown in Figure 30(A), the reel stop control using the stop control table is executed without performing the process of searching for a stopable symbol from within the pull-in range, setting the symbol to stop, and then stopping it on the active line L1. If performing reel stop control using the stop control table would make the game machine unplayable, the stop control data is pre-configured to perform the process of searching for a stopable symbol from within the pull-in range, setting the symbol to stop, and then stopping it on the active line L1.

[0302] Next, we will explain the reel stop control that is executed when the winning area "Common Bell" is selected in the internal lottery during the bonus-established state. As shown in Figure 29, the stop control table acquired when the winning area "Common Bell" is selected in the internal lottery during the bonus-established state has the same symbol combination "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BAR (CH)" as the winning symbol combination for small win 3 (see Figure 22) set to "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BAR (CH)".

[0303] As mentioned above, each symbol that makes up the winning combination for minor role 3 is configured to stop on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 to B3. Furthermore, minor role 3 is set to pay out 8 coins, and when it is won, it pays out more coins than when minor roles 8, 9, or 12, which are included in the winning area "common bell," are won.

[0304] Therefore, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "common bell" is selected in the internal lottery during the bonus-established state, the reel stop control is executed using a stop control table without performing the process of searching for a stoppable symbol from within the pull-in range, setting the symbol to stop, and then stopping it on the active line L1. The stop control data is pre-configured so that the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination for small win 3 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0305] Next, we will explain the reel stop control that is executed when the winning area "All Small Wins" is selected in the internal lottery during the bonus state. As shown in Figure 29, the stop control table obtained when the winning area "All Small Wins" is selected is the same as the stop control table obtained when the winning area "Common Bell" is selected in the internal lottery during the bonus state.

[0306] As shown in Figure 20, the winning area "All Small Wins" includes Small Wins 1 to 4, which are set to pay out 8 coins, Small Win 5, which is set to pay out 3 coins, and Small Wins 6 to 19, which are set to pay out 1 coin. In the coin-priority control, the symbols that make up the winning symbol combinations of Small Wins 1 to 4 are not given priority.

[0307] Given this configuration, when the winning area "All Small Wins" is won, the reel control means 130 obtains the same stop control table as the one obtained when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in the internal lottery during the bonus establishment state, and executes reel stop control, thereby stopping and displaying the symbols that constitute the winning symbol combination of Small Win 3 on the active line L1.

[0308] As a result, in the third embodiment of the slot machine 1, as shown in Figures 26 and 27, the winning combinations that can be achieved are the same depending on whether the winning combination in the internal lottery during the bonus state is the "common bell" winning area or the winning combination in the internal lottery during the bonus state is the "all small wins" winning area, and depending on the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0309] Next, we will explain the reel stop control that is executed when the winning area "All 1-coin combination" is selected in the internal lottery during the bonus state. As shown in Figure 29, the stop control table obtained when the winning area "All 1-coin combination" is selected is the same as the stop control table obtained when the winning area "Common Bell" is selected in the internal lottery during the non-RT state.

[0310] As shown in Figure 20, the winning area "All 1-coin combination" includes minor combinations 6 to 19, which are set to pay out as one coin, and in the coin-priority control, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of minor combinations 6 to 19 are not given priority.

[0311] With this configuration, when the winning area "All 1-coin win" is won, the reel control means 130 obtains the same stop control table as the one obtained when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, and executes reel stop control. As a result, when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, turn 3, and turn 4, the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination for small win 8 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1. When stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, turn 5, and turn 6, the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination for small win 9 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0312] As a result, in the third embodiment of the slot machine 1, as shown in Figures 25 and 27, the winning combinations that can be achieved are the same depending on the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, whether the winning combination "common bell" is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state or the winning combination "all 1-coin combination" is won in the internal lottery during the bonus state.

[0313] As described above, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment is configured such that once the game state transitions to a bonus state, it will not transition to a bonus state in subsequent games. Furthermore, if the internal lottery in the non-RT state results in a winning area including RBB, if the winning area "RBB & 1-coin win 1" or the winning area "RBB & 1-coin win 2" is won, a small win will occur and RBB will not be won. Thus, the transition to a bonus state is limited to when the winning area "RBB" is won and RBB is won in that game, and the game is configured such that it only occurs in limited circumstances when the game is played in a bonus state.

[0314] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment consists of stop control data used when the winning area "All Small Wins" is won in the bonus state, which is the same as stop control data (first stop control data) used when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in the internal lottery in the bonus state, and stop control data used when the winning area "All 1-Coin Wins" is won in the bonus state, which is the same as stop control data (second stop control data) used when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state.

[0315] As a result, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment can reduce the data capacity required for stop control data that is used only in limited opportunities, such as stop control data used when a win occurs in the winning area "all small wins" during the bonus state, and stop control data used when a win occurs in the winning area "all single wins" during the bonus state.

[0316] In this winning area, "Common Bell," constitutes the first winning pattern in the third embodiment; the winning area, "All Small Wins," constitutes the second winning pattern in the third embodiment; the winning area, "All 1-Coin Wins," constitutes the third winning pattern in the third embodiment; the winning area, "RBB," the winning area, "RBB & 1-Coin Win 1," and the winning area, "RBB & 1-Coin Win 2," constitute the fourth winning pattern in the third embodiment. Furthermore, small win 3, which is set to pay out 8 coins, more than the prescribed number of coins (3) required to start the game, constitutes the first small win in the third embodiment; small wins 8 and 9, which are set to pay out 1 coin, less than the prescribed number of coins, constitute the second small win in the third embodiment; and RBB, which transitions to a bonus state when won and to a bonus state when awarded, constitutes a specific win in the third embodiment. Furthermore, the non-RT state constitutes the first game state in the third embodiment, the bonus-established state constitutes the second game state in the third embodiment, and the bonus state constitutes the third game state in the third embodiment.

[0317] Furthermore, the stop control data used when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in the internal lottery during the bonus state, and when the winning area "All Small Wins" is won in the internal lottery during the bonus state, and the stop control data is set to execute reel stop control using a stop control table in which the symbol combination "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BAR (CH)" is set, so that the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination for Small Win 3 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1, and the stop control data used when the winning area "Common Bell" is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, and when the winning area "All 1 The second stop control data in the third embodiment is set to be used when a "winning combination" is achieved, and the reel stop control is performed using a stop control table in which the symbol combination "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BL" is set, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, turn 3, and turn 4, the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination for small win 8 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, turn 5, and turn 6, the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination for small win 9 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0318] <Left reel stop control> Next, we will explain the details of the reel stop control that is performed when the stop button B1 is pressed and the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1. As shown in Figure 21, the left reel R1 has the red 7 symbol "Red 7" arranged at stop number 3 and stop numbers 7 to 9. Also, in slot machine 1, the lower row of the left reel R1 constitutes the active line L1.

[0319] Given this configuration, in slot machine 1, when the red 7 symbol "Red 7" with stop number 9, which is arranged on the left reel R1, stops and is displayed on the active line L1, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" stops and is displayed on the upper, middle, and lower sections of the left reel R1 in a specific area 330b.

[0320] Figure 31 illustrates the position of the red 7 symbols displayed on the lower row of the left reel R1 when the stop button B1 is pressed at a timing that allows the red 7 symbols arranged at stop numbers 7 to 9 on the active line L1 to be stopped.

[0321] As shown in Figure 31, in slot machine 1, if a winning combination is achieved in one of the winning areas "Ball Order Bell 1" to "Ball Order Bell 8", "Common Bell", "RBB & 1-Coin Win 1", "RBB & 1-Coin Win 2", "Replay 1", or "Replay 2", and the red 7 symbols arranged at stop numbers 7 to 9 are displayed on the active line L1, then when the stop button B1 is pressed as the first stop, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" arranged at stop number 7 is displayed on the active line L1.

[0322] On the other hand, in slot machine 1, if the player wins the "Replay 3" area, which is a winning combination that includes the red 7 symbol "Red 7" as a symbol on the left reel R1 that constitutes the winning symbol combination, and the stop button B1 is pressed as the first stop at a timing that allows the red 7 symbols "Red 7" arranged in stop numbers 7 to 9 to be displayed on the active line L1, then the red 7 symbol "Red 7" arranged in stop number 9 will be displayed on the active line L1.

[0323] Thus, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, when the stop button B1 is pressed for the first stop operation, the red 7 symbol "red 7" positioned at stop number 8 on the left reel R1 is not displayed on the active line L1.

[0324] Figure 32(A) shows the display configuration of the left reel R1 that is visible from a specific area 330b when the red 7 symbol, which is positioned at stop number 7, is displayed on the lower part of the left reel R1. As shown in Figure 32(A), in slot machine 1, the display configuration in which the bell symbol "BL" is displayed on the upper part of the left reel R1, the replay symbol "RP" is displayed on the middle part, and the red 7 symbol "red 7" is displayed on the lower part is visible from a specific area 330b.

[0325] Figure 32(B) shows the display configuration of the left reel R1 that is visible from a specific area 330b when the red 7 symbol, which is positioned at stop number 9, is displayed on the lower part of the left reel R1. As shown in Figure 32(B), in slot machine 1, the display configuration in which the red 7 symbol "red 7" is displayed on the upper, middle, and lower parts of the left reel R1 is visible from a specific area 330b.

[0326] As described above, the AT control means 200 is configured to execute a lottery related to an instruction function corresponding to the performance state in which the game is being played if it is determined not to execute a replay notification lottery which determines whether or not to notify the operation mode that will result in winning the winning area "Replay 3" and making it possible to win Replay 1. Furthermore, the slot machine 1 is configured to recommend playing by operating stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1 and turn 2 if the operation mode notification is not performed. In the slot machine 1, as shown in Figures 25 and 26, if the winning area "Replay 3" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and turn 2, Replay 3, which consists of the winning symbol combination "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-Red 7 (White 7, BKB)", is awarded.

[0327] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, when the winning area "Replay 3" is won and the replay notification lottery is not performed, it is recommended to stop stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1 and turn 2, and when a lottery related to the instruction function corresponding to the performance state in which the game is being played is performed, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" arranged at stop number 9 is stopped and displayed on the active line L1, so that the display mode in which the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is stopped and displayed on the upper, middle, and lower sections of the left reel R1 as shown in Figure 32(B) can be seen from a specific area 330b.

[0328] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment executes a lottery related to the instruction function according to the performance state, and when the lottery has increased the likelihood of being advantageous to the player, the stop button B1 is pressed for the first stop operation, and the display pattern in which the red 7 symbol "red 7" is stopped and displayed on the upper, middle, and lower positions of the left reel R1, which is visible from a specific area 330b, can suggest to the player that the possibility of control being executed in a way that is advantageous to the player has increased, and the display pattern visible from the specific area 330b can enhance the player's interest in the game.

[0329] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment, when the machine wins in the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Payout 1", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Payout 2", the winning area "Replay 1", and the winning area "Replay 2", and the stop button B1 is performed as the first stop operation, that is, when the machine has won in the winning area "Replay 3", and it has decided not to perform the replay notification lottery which determines whether or not to notify the operation that makes it possible to win Replay 1, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" arranged at stop number 9 is stopped and displayed on the active line L1, so that the display configuration shown in Figure 32(A) in which the bell symbol "BL" is stopped and displayed on the upper part of the left reel R1, the replay symbol "RP" is stopped and displayed on the middle part, and the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is stopped and displayed on the lower part becomes visible from a specific area 330b.

[0330] In this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment has won in the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1" to "Bat Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Payout 1", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Payout 2", the winning area "Replay 1", and the stop button B1 is in the first stop position, and the advantage of the instruction function is less favorable than when it is decided not to perform the replay notification lottery which determines whether or not to notify the operation mode that makes it possible to win in the winning area "Replay 3", and the stop button B1 is in the first stop position, causing the left reel R The display configuration in which the red 7 symbol "Red 7" stops on the upper, middle, and lower rows of reel 1 is not visible from the specific area 330b, while the display configuration in which the bell symbol "BL" stops on the upper row of left reel R1, the replay symbol "RP" stops on the middle row, and the red 7 symbol "Red 7" stops on the lower row is visible from the specific area 330b. This prevents the display configuration of the symbols arranged on left reel R1 that is visible from the specific area 330b from excessively raising the player's expectations, and prevents the display configuration visible from the specific area 330b from decreasing the player's interest in the game.

[0331] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when stop button B1 is pressed as the first stop operation, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 8 on the left reel R1 is not displayed on the active line L1. Therefore, when stop button B1 is pressed as the first stop operation, the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is displayed in the middle and lower positions of the left reel R1, preventing the display of unclear information from being visible from the specific area 330b, and preventing a decrease in the player's enjoyment of the game due to the display visible from the specific area 330b.

[0332] 3. Summary of the third embodiment As described above, the slot machine 1 of the third embodiment can reduce the data capacity required for stop control data that is used only in limited opportunities, such as stop control data used when a win occurs in the winning area "all small wins" during the bonus state, and stop control data used when a win occurs in the winning area "all single wins" during the bonus state.

[0333] [Other embodiments] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured not to stop and display the first predetermined symbols arranged at the third predetermined position on the predetermined reels on the active line L1, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured, for example, so that when the game state is a bonus state and a combination of winning symbols is possible in which the symbols on the predetermined reels consist of the first predetermined symbols, the first type of symbols arranged at the third predetermined position will stop and display on the active line L1.

[0334] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a non-RT state as a first predetermined game state and a bonus-established state as a second predetermined game state, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 may be configured such that, for example, it has an RBB in which a shift role is won and the selected shift role is awarded, thereby activating an RB (Regular Bonus) as a first type special role; a first predetermined game state has a general state during RBB operation where the RBB is in operation and the RB has not been won or activated; and a second predetermined game state has an RB-established state during RBB operation where the RBB is in operation, the RB has been won, and the RB has not been activated.

[0335] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the reel control means 130 is configured such that when a bonus is established and the winning area "Special Small Role 1" or the winning area "Special Small Role 2" is selected, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 5 and turn 6, the timing of operating stop button B3 is such that when the white 7 symbol "White 7", red BAR symbol "Red BAR", blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", and green BAR symbol "Green BAR" reach the middle of the right reel R3 which constitutes the active line L1 before the replay A symbol "RPA" or the replay B symbol "RPB", the white 7 symbol "White 7", red BAR symbol "Red BAR", blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", and green BAR symbol "Green BAR" are stopped and displayed in priority to the replay A symbol "RPA" or the replay B symbol "RPB", but the means is not limited to this. The reel control means 130 may be configured such that, for example, when a bonus is established and the winning area "Special Small Role 1" and the winning area "Special Small Role 2" are selected, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 5 and turn 6, the timing of the operation of stop button B3 is such that the symbols within the pull-in range of the white 7 symbol "White 7", red BAR symbol "Red BAR", blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", and green BAR symbol "Green BAR" are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, and the reel control means 130 takes priority over the replay A symbol "RPA" or replay B symbol "RPB" to stop and display the white 7 symbol "White 7", red BAR symbol "Red BAR", blue BAR symbol "Blue BAR", and green BAR symbol "Green BAR".

[0336] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6" and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 12" are won, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5, which is different from the correct batting order but whose first stop operation is the same as the correct batting order, a symbol different from the replay A symbol "RPA" and the replay B symbol "RPB" is stopped and displayed on the right reel R3, but is not limited to this. Slot machine 1 may be configured such that, for example, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Bat Order Bell 12" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct batting order, the symbols on the right reel R3 for the winning combinations, the winning combination of the first type and the winning combination of the first type, are made to be awarded by stopping the first symbol on the active line L1 when the first stop operation is to stop button B3, thereby making the winning combination of

[0337] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a left reel R1 as a predetermined reel and a stop button B1 as a predetermined stop button, but it is not limited to this. For example, it may have a middle reel R2 as a predetermined reel and a stop button B2 as a predetermined stop button, or it may have a right reel R3 as a predetermined reel and a stop button B3 as a predetermined stop button.

[0338] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the slot machine 1 has winning areas "Bat Order Bell 3" and "Bat Order Bell 7" as specific winning patterns, a first operation pattern for bat order 5, and a second operation pattern for bat order 6, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 may be configured such that a first operation pattern is one in which a specific stop button is operated at a first timing, and a second operation pattern is one in which a specific stop button is operated at a second timing different from the first timing, so that the first operation pattern and the second operation pattern are composed of the same bat order.

[0339] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that, for the small win 9 that can be won when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" or "Bat Order Bell 7" is selected in the internal lottery during a non-RT state, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during batting order 5 or batting order 6, the small win 9 can also be won when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" is selected in the internal lottery during a non-RT state or bonus state, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during batting order 5 or batting order 6, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may also be configured such that, in the case where stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during batting order 5 or batting order 6 and the small win 9 can be won, it is limited to the case when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 3" or "Bat Order Bell 7" is selected in the internal lottery during a non-RT state.

[0340] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the slot machine 1 has stop control data that is used as second stop control data when the winning area "common bell" is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, and when the winning area "all 1-coin win" is won in the internal lottery during the bonus state, and it performs reel stop control using a stop control table in which the symbol combination "red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB)-BL-BL" is set, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, turn 3, and turn 4, the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination for small win 8 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, turn 5, and turn 6, the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination for small win 9 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1, but is not limited to this. Slot machine 1 may have, for example, a second stop control data which is set to stop reel stop control using a stop control table that has the symbol combination "Red 7 (BAR, BKA, BKB) - Red 7 (White 7 - BAR - BKB) - CH" set, which is used for reel stop control when the winning area "RBB & 1-coin win 1" is won, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, turn 3, and turn 4, the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination for small win 6 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1, when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination for small win 9 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 5 and turn 6, the symbols that make up the winning symbol combinations for small win 16 and small win 18 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0341] In this configuration, the slot machine 1 may be configured such that when the winning area "common bell" is hit in a non-RT state, a small win 3 is awarded regardless of the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0342] In other words, the slot machine 1 has a fifth winning pattern (winning area "RBB & 1-coin win 1") as one of several winning patterns whose success or failure is determined in an internal lottery, and the internal lottery means 120 executes an internal lottery that includes the first winning pattern and the fifth winning pattern as targets when the game state is the first game state or the second game state, and the reel control means 130 may be configured to execute stop control using first stop control data that enables the first small win when the first winning pattern or the second winning pattern is won in the internal lottery, and to execute stop control using second stop control data that enables the second small win when the third winning pattern or the fifth winning pattern is won in the internal lottery, and the first stop control data and the second stop control data may each consist of stop control data used in the stop control of a different winning pattern.

[0343] With this configuration, slot machine 1 can reduce the data capacity required for stop control data that is used only in limited opportunities, such as stop control data used when winning in the bonus state's winning area "all small wins" and stop control data used when winning in the bonus state's winning area "all single wins". Furthermore, it eliminates the need to prepare different stop control data depending on the game state for stop control data used when winning in the winning area "common bell", thereby reducing the design cost of stop control data required for the winning area "common bell".

[0344] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a non-RT state as a first game state, a bonus-established state which is entered when an RBB is won as a second game state, and a bonus state which is entered when an RBB is awarded as a third game state, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to have, for example, an RBB in which an RB (Regular Bonus) as a first-class special prize is activated when a shift role is won and the selected shift role is awarded, a first game state which is a general state with RBB in operation where RBB is in operation and RB has not been won or is not in operation, a second game state which is an RB-established state with RBB in operation where RBB is in operation, RB has been won, and RB is not in operation, and a third game state which is an RB-established state where RB has been activated when an RB is awarded. In this configuration, the RB that can be won when the RBB is in operation constitutes a specific role.

[0345] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a left reel R1 as a specific reel and a stop button B1 as a specific stop button, but is not limited to this. For example, it may have a middle reel R2 as a specific reel and a stop button B2 as a specific stop button, or it may have a right reel R3 as a specific reel and a stop button B3 as a specific stop button.

[0346] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that the red 7 symbol "red 7" is arranged at stop numbers 7 to 9 on the left reel R1, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured such that, for example, the red 7 symbol "red 7" is arranged at stop numbers 7 and 8, and a symbol different from the red 7 symbol "red 7" and different from the symbols on the left reel R1 that constitute the winning symbol combinations for the first and second roles is arranged at stop number 9. In this configuration, it is preferable that the slot machine 1 is configured such that the upper row of the left reel R1 constitutes the active line L1.

[0347] Furthermore, in this configuration, the slot machine 1 may be configured to stop and display the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 7 on the active line L1 (upper row of the left reel R1) when the first win occurs, and to prevent the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 8 from stopping and displaying on the active line L1 regardless of the result of the internal lottery. In other words, the first position may consist of the position of stop number 7, and the second position may consist of the position of stop number 8.

[0348] Furthermore, in this configuration, the slot machine 1 may be configured to stop and display the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 7 on the active line L1 (upper row of the left reel R1) when the first win occurs, and to stop and display the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 8 on the active line L1 when the second win occurs. In other words, the first position may be the position of stop number 7, and the third position may be the position of stop number 8.

[0349] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that the red 7 symbol "Red 7" positioned at stop number 8 of the left reel R1 is not displayed when stopped, regardless of the result of the internal lottery and the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, but is not limited to this. For example, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in an operation manner in which stop buttons B1 for batting orders 3 to 6 are operated after the second stop operation, the slot machine 1 may be configured to display the red 7 symbol "Red 7" at stop number 8 on the active line L1 if the timing of the operation of stop button B1 is such that the red 7 symbol "Red 7" at stop number 7 cannot be displayed when stopped, but the red 7 symbols "Red 7" at stop numbers 8 and 9 can be displayed when stopped.

[0350] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured not to notify whether or not it is in a favorable period, but it is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to notify, for example, that it is in a favorable period when the expected value of medal acquisition becomes 1 or more due to the assistance of winning small roles.

[0351] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments, the slot machine 1 has multiple reels, from the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and multiple stop buttons, from stop buttons B1 to stop buttons B3 corresponding to the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. However, it is not limited to this, and may also have, for example, a fourth reel and a stop button corresponding to the fourth reel.

[0352] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a max bet button MB for inserting a predetermined number of tokens, but it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be configured to have a single bet button for inserting one token in addition to the max bet button MB.

[0353] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to insert and dispense tokens as game value, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 may be configured to set the game value to an inserted state based on an insertion signal output from a game value management device (dedicated unit) provided outside the slot machine 1 and capable of recording the total number of game values ​​that the player can use for playing by electromagnetic means, and to output a payout signal to the game value management device when it is time to pay out game value, and the game value management device may record the game value corresponding to the payout signal on a predetermined recording medium by electromagnetic means. In other words, the slot machine 1 may be composed of a so-called tokenless game machine.

[0354] In this configuration, the slot machine 1 is configured to have, for example, a credit display means that displays the number of credits corresponding to the amount of money inserted into the game value management device by the player. The slot machine 1 is also configured to be able to credit game value equivalent to a maximum of 16,368 tokens, and if game value exceeding 16,368 tokens is credited, the game control means may be set to an error state, and the game may be disabled (the game value is not set to the inserted state and the start operation to the start lever SL is not activated) until the number of credits reaches 16,368 tokens or less by dispensing game value through a method that is electromagnetically recorded on a predetermined recording medium via the game value management device.

[0355] Furthermore, in this configuration, the slot machine 1 may not have an upper limit set on the number of games that can be played during the advantageous period, and the advantageous period may have a configuration in which only an upper limit on the difference in the number of tokens is set as a specific termination condition.

[0356] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured to set initial values ​​for the stored values ​​of each counter and storage means, and to perform decrement updates that subtract 1 each time a game is played, or increment updates that add 1 each time a game is played. However, the method for updating each counter and storage means may be configured to perform multiplication, division, etc., and is not particularly limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0357] 1. Slot machine (amusement machine) 120 Internal drawing method 130 Reel control means 170 Game state transition control means B1 Stop button (specific stop button) B2 Stop button B3 Stop button R1 Left reel (specific reel) R2 Middle Reel R3 Right reel

Claims

[Claim 1] Multiple reels, Multiple stop buttons, A display window that makes the multiple reels visible, An internal lottery method for conducting an internal lottery, Reel control means for controlling the rotation and stopping modes of the reel, A means for determining whether a role has been awarded, It comprises a performance control means for performing performance control, The aforementioned prize determination is made based on the combination of symbols that stop and are displayed on the valid line. The aforementioned plurality of reels include a specific reel, The plurality of stop buttons include a specific stop button corresponding to the specific reel, The aforementioned specific reel has a first type of symbol and a second type of symbol arranged on it. The aforementioned first type of design is arranged at least at a first position, a second position, and a third position. The second type of symbol is displayed in the display window when the first type of symbol arranged in the first position stops on the active line, and when the first type of symbol arranged in the second position stops on the active line. The reel control means stops the symbols within the pull-in range corresponding to the position of the reel at the time the stop button is operated onto the active line. The retraction range of the first type of pattern arranged at the first position and the retraction range of the first type of pattern arranged at the third position overlap, The retraction range of the first type of pattern arranged at the second position and the retraction range of the first type of pattern arranged at the third position overlap with the second range, The first range and the second range do not overlap. The subject of the aforementioned internal lottery includes specific roles, The symbols on the specific reels that constitute the winning combination of the specific role are the first type of symbols, When it is possible to win the aforementioned specific role, and when the specific stop button is operated at the timing when the symbols within the first range are rotating, the first type of symbols arranged at the first position are stopped and displayed on the active line. When it is possible to win the aforementioned specific role, and when the specific stop button is operated at the timing when the symbols within the second range are displayed in rotation, the first type of symbols arranged at the second position are stopped and displayed on the active line. When the aforementioned specific role is achieved, the second type of symbol is stopped and displayed in the display window on each of the multiple reels. The aforementioned performance control means is capable of executing a performance that assists in winning the specific role when the internal lottery results in the winning of the specific role. A gaming machine characterized by the following features.

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