Game parlor system

Abstract

To suppress so-called business currency exchange which is a settlement based on the deposit of a large bill by an outsider who is not a player.SOLUTION: When the settlement of the balance at a settlement machine is prohibited by satisfying a predetermined condition, it is possible to notify a player of the fact that the settlement of the balance is prohibited on a lending device. This can suppress so-called business exchange by an outsider and prevent complaints from occurring in advance due to the fact that the player goes to the settlement machine and cannot settle even though the settlement of the balance is prohibited.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for an amusement park. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been provided systems for game arcades that aim to prevent losses in game arcades. For example, the game arcade system of Patent Document 1 judges whether the settlement amount is equal to or exceeds the high-value settlement threshold amount, and if it is judged to be equal to or exceeds the high-value settlement threshold amount, and if the number of high-value settlements in the card unit (rental device) that issued the settlement card that is the subject of the settlement reaches the threshold number, the ID of the lending device and the number of high-value settlements are displayed on a notification screen, thereby making it possible to identify lending devices that may be using counterfeit currency. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-075180 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Now, so-called commercial exchanges are sometimes performed by outsiders who are not players, in which high-value bills are inserted into a dispensing device, and then exchanged for cash without playing. When such commercial exchanges are performed, the settlement reserve in the settlement machine, which is originally prepared for players, is reduced, which can lead to problems such as not being able to settle normal payments or placing a work burden on game parlor employees to replenish the settlement reserve. In the above-mentioned conventional technology, when the number of high-value settlements has reached a threshold number, the ID of the dispensing device and the number of high-value settlements are simply displayed, and no measures against commercial exchanges can be taken. It may also be possible to prohibit outsiders from using the payment machine to make payments without actually playing, but since creating an incentive for outsiders to play would improve the business performance of the amusement arcade, it is necessary to meet such needs.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a system for an amusement arcade that suppresses so-called business exchange, which is settlement based on the deposit of large value bills by outsiders who are not players. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a gaming facility system including a gaming device (e.g., a lending device 2) that is provided in correspondence with a gaming machine, converts inserted currency (e.g., banknotes) into gaming value (e.g., gaming points) that can be consumed in a game, thereby enabling the gaming machine to play the game, and records and issues a recording medium (e.g., an IC card 10) containing a deposit balance of the inserted currency that has not been converted into gaming value by accepting a return operation (e.g., operation of a return button 26) by a player, a settlement machine (e.g., a settlement machine 7 having a payout outlet 32 ​​including a banknote outlet and a coin outlet for returning banknotes and coins corresponding to the deposit balance) capable of executing a settlement process for settling the deposit balance, and a management device (e.g., the management device 6 that manages information related to the gaming machine in FIG. 5) that manages the gaming device and the settlement machine and is capable of receiving information related to the game, The management device includes: as information related to the game received from the managed object, at least information related to the inserted currency (e.g., the deposit amount in FIG. 5), information on the currency converted into game value (e.g., the spent amount in FIG. 5), information related to the remaining deposit amount (e.g., the balance in FIG. 5), information related to the game value spent in the game (e.g., the out in FIG. 5), and information that can identify the recording medium (e.g., the card ID in FIG. 5) are managed in correspondence with each other; The settlement machine is a prohibition means (for example, a control unit 37 that executes the processes of S11 to S17 in FIG. 9) for prohibiting the settlement process of the recording medium when information managed by the management device for the recording medium satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, a condition related to an upper limit of a balance, a consumption amount, or an out value); The gaming device comprises: When the return operation for the recording medium is accepted, a notification means (for example, a display unit 24 that displays the notification screen 41 of FIG. 6) is provided to notify the player that the settlement process for the recording medium is prohibited by the prohibition means if the information related to the game satisfies the specified condition.

[0007] According to the present invention, when a predetermined condition is satisfied and the settlement of the balance at the settlement machine is prohibited, the gaming device can notify the fact that the settlement of the balance is prohibited. This can suppress so-called business currency exchange by outsiders and prevent complaints from occurring due to the fact that a person goes to the settlement machine and is unable to settle the balance even though the settlement of the balance is prohibited. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Overall configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention [Diagram 2] A functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the rental device. [Diagram 3] Front view of the payment machine [Figure 4] Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the settlement machine [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of information managed in a management device. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when settlement is prohibited on the rental device. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when settlement is prohibited at a settlement machine. [Figure 8] A flowchart showing the flow of processing related to the card return operation in the lending device. [Figure 9] A flowchart showing the process of accepting a card at a payment machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a gaming facility system. A plurality of gaming machines 1, such as pachinko machines and slot machines, are installed in the gaming facility, and a rental device 2 is provided corresponding to each gaming machine 1. These gaming machines 1 and rental devices 2 are connected to a relay device 4, two by two, and the relay device 4 is connected to a management device 6 via a LAN 5. In addition, an information display device 3 is provided above each gaming machine 1. The information display device 3 has a liquid crystal display unit 3a, and receives various gaming signals (game information) output from the gaming machine 1 via the lending device 2 and the relay device 4, and creates and displays various display information. The relay device 4 collects information from the gaming machine 1, the lending device 2, and the information display device 3.

[0010] In the gaming facility, an adjustment machine 7 and a POS (not shown) are also installed, and these adjustment machines 7 and the POS are also connected to the management device 6 via the LAN 5. As will be described in detail later, the settlement machine 7 is a balance settlement machine equipped with a card reader / writer 34a (card R / W 34a in FIG. 4), and when the IC card 10 inserted from the card insertion / ejection slot 34 shown in FIG. 3 is accepted by the card R / W 34a, a settlement process is executed to return the deposit balance recorded on the accepted IC card 10. The POS is a prize exchange device installed at a prize exchange counter in an amusement facility and operated by an employee. The POS also has a card R / W (not shown), and when the IC card 10 is accepted by the card R / W, a prize exchange process is executed based on the game value such as owned points and saved points specified by the acceptance.

[0011] The member card 10a and the general card 10b as IC cards 10 shown in Fig. 3 each have an IC chip (not shown) built in and are recording media capable of identifying the gaming value and the deposit balance (monetary value). Of these, the general card 10b is a general recording medium issued to an unspecified number of general players, and is distinguished from the member card 10a issued to members who have registered in advance. In addition, the IC chip of the IC card 10 records a card ID (information capable of identifying the recording medium) such as a member ID or general ID, which will be described later.

[0012] The management device 6 is installed in, for example, an office in the game center, and includes a control unit (determination means) as a management means (not shown), and an I / F unit (reception means) as a transmission / reception unit. The control unit of the management device 6 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU, and storage units such as ROM and RAM, and the control unit is connected to a keyboard 6b, a monitor 6a, a printer (not shown), etc., which are operated by the manager of the game center. The management device 6 receives the game signal output from the gaming machine 1 through the lending device 2 and the relay device 4 in sequence at the I / F section, thereby managing the game information for each gaming machine 1 and the personal data of each registered member.

[0013] In addition, the management device 6 is capable of receiving information related to games at its I / F unit, and is configured as a management means that manages (stores in its own memory unit) information on all equipment in the gaming arcade, including the rental device 2 and the settlement machine 7, as well as the operating status of the gaming machine 1 (information on the rental device 2, the information display device 3, the settlement machine 7, etc.). For the sake of simplicity, the management device 6 will be simply referred to as the "management device 6" including the control unit and the I / F unit. Although omitted in FIG. 1, several hundred gaming machines 1 of various models are subject to management by the management device 6.

[0014] The gaming machine 1 of this embodiment is, for example, a so-called sealed-in type pachinko gaming machine or a medal-less type slot machine in which gaming value is managed only by information. Specifically, the pachinko machine shown on the left side of Fig. 1 is an enclosed type pachinko game machine that uses circulating pachinko balls enclosed in the machine beforehand. The game value used in the game machine 1 is virtual pachinko balls, but it is a game value stored in a memory unit inside the machine, and unlike conventional payout type game machines, the balls shot onto the board 11 circulate and are not paid out outside the game machine even if they win, and the game value (game points) in the memory unit increases or decreases depending on the game.

[0015] When the pachinko machine receives the game points from the lending device 2, it becomes possible to fire pachinko balls equal to the game points, and when the game points reach "0", it becomes impossible to fire pachinko balls. The pachinko machine transmits the game points to the lending device 2 in response to a counting operation (for example, a touch operation on the touch panel described below) and subtracts the game points. The gaming machine 1 displays various game data (number of jackpots, number of special drawing draws, etc.) on the information display unit 13 in response to an information display operation (operation on the same touch panel).

[0016] That is, as shown in Fig. 1, the pachinko machine has a surface 11 from which pachinko balls are shot, a launching handle 12 constituting the launching device, and a touch panel type information display unit 13 having a touch panel on its surface. The surface 11 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 14 and a pattern display unit (special pattern display unit / normal pattern display unit) in the display unit 14, a special pattern 1 start hole 15, a special pattern 2 start hole 16, and a big prize hole 17. In pachinko machines, a jackpot lottery is held on special chart 1 by winning the so-called center hole (special chart 1 start hole 15) (or on special chart 2 by winning the electric chute). One jackpot lottery is also called a start. When a jackpot is won in the jackpot lottery, the jackpot game starts (transition to jackpot state), and the jackpot entry hole 17 is opened for a round (R) according to the type of special chart. In this case, for example, the upper limit for the number of wins in 1R is 10, and when a jackpot entry hole 17 is won, 15 game points are added.

[0017] The slot machine shown on the right side of Figure 1 is a medal-less slot machine that allows you to play without using actual medals. The slot machine also stores and manages the game value (game points) stored in the memory unit inside the machine, and a game can be started on the condition that the game points have a specified number (for example, 3 points) required to play at least one game. When a player acquires points according to the type of winning combination, the points are added to the game points in the data without paying out medals, and the slot machine mainly manages the increase and decrease of the points.

[0018] When the slot machine receives the gaming points from the lending device 2, it becomes possible to bet points equal to the gaming points. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine has a display window 18, a start lever 19, stop buttons 20 (left stop button, center stop button, and right stop button), a touch panel type information display unit 21, a BET button 22, etc. A player can view the symbols drawn on the reels provided inside through the display window 18. By operating the BET button 22 by the player, a predetermined number of credited (stored) game points are bet (the player bets the aforementioned three points). When the start lever 19 is operated in this state, an internal lottery is executed and the variation of the symbols is started (the game is started), and by operating the stop button 20, the variation of the reels is stopped by so-called pull-in control.

[0019] In a slot machine, as is well known, bonus roles (BB and RB roles) are set in addition to small roles and replay roles. When the stop button 20 is operated by a player in a state where any role is internally won during the internal lottery, a winning occurs when a pattern corresponding to the internally won role is stopped and displayed on a preset effective line. When a winning occurs, a game score is awarded according to the type of winning role. For example, there are 3-point winning roles, 5-point winning roles, 10-point winning roles, and 15-point winning roles, and when the winning role is a 15-point winning role, 15 game points are awarded. When the winning role is a bonus role (BB, RB), the bonus state (BB state, RB state) is entered. The BB state and the RB state are game states (jackpot states) that are more advantageous to the player than the normal state, and the game points awarded for the small roles or the winning probability are improved, so that the player can earn game points all at once. In addition, like the information display unit 13 of a pachinko machine, the information display unit 21 of a slot machine is capable of displaying not only counting buttons for the counting operation, but also game points and various operating data (number of times a game has been played, number of times a bonus has been generated, etc.).

[0020] From the gaming machine 1 such as the pachinko machine or slot machine, various gaming signals including the following gaming signals are transmitted (output) to the lending device 2. ·Out signal: A signal indicating the number of points used in the game. - Safe signal: A signal indicating the number of points obtained as a result of the game. · Jackpot signal: A signal that is output when a jackpot condition occurs. As mentioned above, the gaming value acquired by the player through play, the number of points managed primarily on the gaming machine 1 side, is also referred to as gaming points, and the number of points managed primarily on the lending device 2 side is also referred to as owned points.

[0021] The above gaming signals may be a data signal that is a collection of data items (for example, OUT = a data item that indicates the consumed (used, put-in) value (OUT) in units of one ball since the previous data transmission), or a data signal that summarizes multiple pieces of gaming information in a telegram. In this case, data can be collected in units of a predetermined period (for example, 200 ms), and the collected data and a data signal in a telegram that can identify the status at that time can be the transmission target (output target). In addition to the data signal, the gaming signal can of course include pulse signals, status signals, etc. Furthermore, various gaming information is transmitted from the gaming machine 1 to the lending device 2 side (relay device 4 side) by signal output in accordance with the execution of a game using gaming points, and various signals are output depending on the model, not limited to the above gaming signals.

[0022] As for the rental device 2, there is one for pachinko machines that is placed on the left side of the pachinko machine as shown in FIG. 1, and one for slot machines that is placed on the right side of the slot machine. For ease of explanation, however, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components common to both and they will be described together. The lending device 2 is a gaming device provided in correspondence with each gaming machine 1, such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, and enables playing on the gaming machine 1 by converting inserted currency into gaming value that can be consumed in playing the game.

[0023] The lending device 2 shown in Figure 1 has a status lamp 2L that indicates the gaming status of the corresponding gaming machine 1 and the status of the lending device 2 (error state, etc.), a bill insertion slot 23 into which bills such as 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen bills are inserted, a touch panel type LCD display 24 that accepts operation inputs from the player and displays various gaming data, a lending button 25 for performing lending operations, a return button 26 for performing return operations, a re-play button 27 for performing re-play operations, and a card insertion / ejection slot 28 into which an IC card 10 can be inserted and ejected.

[0024] 2 is a functional block diagram mainly showing the rental device 2. As shown in the figure, the rental device 2 has a control unit 29 (notification means, reception means, judgment means) and an I / F unit 29e as a transmission / reception unit. The control unit 29 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 29a, a ROM 29b, a RAM 29c, an I / O 29d, etc. The I / F unit 29e receives various game information (receives signal output, etc.) in response to the execution of a game using game points on the corresponding gaming machine 1, and receives setting information, etc. through communication with the management device 6, etc.

[0025] The peripheral parts connected to the control unit 29 include the LEDs constituting the above-mentioned status lamp 2L, a banknote processing unit 23a which determines the authenticity of banknotes inserted into the banknote insertion slot 23, the LCD display unit 24 and the touch panel provided on the display unit 24, a loan button 25, a re-play button 27, and a return button 26, as well as an I / F unit 29e which transmits and receives various signals and information between the gaming machine 1 and the management device 6, a card R / W 28a which reads and writes various information recorded on the IC card 10 inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 28, a card stock unit 28b which can stock up to 10 general cards 10b, and a short-range communication unit 2C having a short-range communication function which can contactlessly read various information recorded on the IC card 10 owned by the player or on a mobile terminal not shown.

[0026] The lending device 2 operates as follows. (1) Receives the various game signals described above from the gaming machine 1, tallying and storing them, and transmits them to the management device 6 and the information display device 3 via the relay device 4. It also transmits the player's deposit balance and game points to the management device 6. Receives various setting information (gaming machine number, model name, point unit price, etc.) from the management device 6 and stores it.

[0027] (2) When a bill is inserted through the bill insertion slot 23, the bill is added to the deposit balance and stored. When the IC card 10 is inserted through the card insertion / ejection slot 28, the deposit balance and the number of points associated with the card ID are read out and displayed. For example, in a pachinko machine lending device 2, when the lending button 25 is operated, the points corresponding to a certain amount (for example, 1,000 yen) are converted into game points in increments of 250 points and transmitted to the gaming machine 1. When the replay button 27 is operated, the points are converted into game points in increments of 250 points and transmitted to the gaming machine 1. The number of points, game points, and total number of points (the sum of the number of points and game points) are stored and displayed. The device receives point addition information and point subtraction information from the gaming machine 1, updates the stored number of points according to the received point addition information and point subtraction information, and transmits point number information to the relay device 4 according to the update of the number of points.

[0028] (3) When at least one of the deposited balance and the owned points exists and the player operates the return button 26 (return operation), the deposited balance and the owned points are recorded on the IC card 10 (the card 10 is paid out from the insertion / ejection slot 28) and issued. When the owned points are recorded, type information (e.g., information on the lending rate) corresponding to the gaming machine 1 that acquired them is also recorded in association with the points. The gaming points are not recorded on the IC card 10, but remain on the gaming machine 1 side. The number of points held may also be referred to as held balls, and for the sake of simplicity, the deposit balance will be abbreviated to "balance" and the control unit 29 of the lending device 2 will be abbreviated to "lending device 2." In the lending device 2, the balance recorded on the IC card 10 corresponds to the remaining amount of the inserted coins that has not been converted into gaming points (game value).

[0029] (4) When the balance is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (for example, 9,000 yen or more) and a return operation is performed using the return button 26, information related to the game, such as the balance usage history associated with the IC card 10 and whether or not there has been a draw (see Figure 5 described below), is obtained from the management device 6. Then, when the acquired balance is associated with a usage history or with a run, the lending device 2 issues the IC card 10. On the other hand, when the acquired balance is associated with no usage history and no run, the information related to the game satisfies a predetermined condition, and a predetermined notification is made on the display unit 24 (see FIG. 6), prompting the player to perform a confirmation operation. The IC card 10 is issued by accepting this confirmation operation, and the confirmation operation, acceptance means, and notification means will be described in detail later.

[0030] (5) Up to 10 IC cards are stocked. The above-mentioned lending device 2 enables various information such as currency acceptance processing, value granting processing, balance, points held, lending points (points at the time of lending), conversion points, deposit amount, counted points, lending points, sales amount that is the value of the lending points, and recording medium acceptance and issuance processing to be identified in the management device 6 through serial communication with the relay device 4.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the settlement machine is equipped with a banknote insertion slot 31 into which currency (for example, banknotes such as 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen bills) is inserted, a payout outlet 32 ​​including a "banknote outlet" and a "coin outlet" for returning banknotes and coins corresponding to the balance, a touch panel type LCD display unit 33 that accepts operation inputs from the player and displays various information, a card insertion / ejection slot 34 into which an IC card 10 can be inserted and ejected, and a short-range communication unit 35 with a short-range communication function that can contactlessly read various information recorded on a mobile terminal or the like.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram mainly showing the settlement machine 7. As shown in the figure, the settlement machine 7 has a control unit 37 (prohibition means, judgment means) and an I / F unit 37e as a transmission / reception unit. The control unit 37 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 37a, ROM 37b, RAM 37c, I / O 37d, etc. The I / F unit 37e enables transmission and reception of information related to games to and from the management device 6, etc.

[0033] The peripheral parts connected to the control unit 37 include an LED constituting a status lamp 7L (not shown in Figure 3) that indicates the status (error state) of the settlement machine 7, an LCD display unit 33 and the touch panel provided on the display unit 33, a banknote processing unit 31a that determines the authenticity of banknotes inserted into the banknote insertion slot 31, a dispensing mechanism including a banknote dispensing outlet 32 ​​for dispensing and returning banknotes and coins, a short-range communication unit 35, a card R / W 34a that reads and writes various information recorded on an IC card 10 inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 34, a card stock unit 34b that can store up to 10 general cards 10b, and an I / F unit 37e that transmits and receives various signals and information between the management device 6 and the like.

[0034] The control unit 37 of the settlement machine 7 (hereinafter abbreviated as "the settlement machine 7") settles the balance recorded on the IC card 10 by executing the following settlement process. That is, when a general card 10b associated with a balance is accepted by the card R / W 34a, if points are also associated with the general card 10b, the balance is settled and the general card 10b is returned to the player (discharged from the card insertion / ejection slot 34) and the player is prompted to exchange the points for a prize at the POS. On the other hand, if points are not associated with the general card 10b, the balance is settled and the card 10b is collected in the card stock section 34b in the machine.

[0035] When the membership card 10a associated with the balance is accepted by the card R / W 34a, the balance is settled regardless of whether the membership card 10a has points or not, and then the membership card 10a is returned to the player. In addition, in the settlement machine 7, when a bill is inserted through the bill insertion slot 31, the inserted amount can be added to the balance recorded in the IC card 10.

[0036] For example, when a general card 10b is inserted into the settlement machine 7, information regarding the balance associated with the card 10b, the balance usage history, and whether or not there is any out (usage value) used in playing on the gaming machine 1 is obtained from the management device 6 (see Figure 5). Thus, like the lending device 2 described above, the settlement machine 7 settles the balance when it determines that the acquired balance is equal to or exceeds a predetermined amount (for example, 9,000 yen or more) and also determines that there is a history of the balance being used or that there is a run-out. On the other hand, if it determines that there is a balance of 9,000 yen or more but that there is no history of the balance being used or that there is no run-out, it prohibits the settlement process for the card 10b as this satisfies a predetermined condition and displays this on the display unit 33 (see FIG. 7). In this way, when settlement is prohibited in the settlement machine 7, it is possible to settle the balance by accepting a cancellation operation by an arcade employee.

[0037] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information relating to a game that is recorded in the management device 6 in association with the management ID and the card ID. As shown in the figure, the management device 6 manages each of the items included in the information related to games received from managed objects such as the lending device 2, such as "management ID," "card ID," "machine number," "deposit amount," "consumption amount," "balance," "points held," "out," and "safe," in association with each other. As mentioned above, "balance" represents the remaining deposit amount, and the other items represent the following:

[0038] · Management ID: An ID (identification information) assigned to each player in correspondence with the card ID. Card ID: the ID of the IC card 10 accepted as a managed item, which is the membership number (membership ID) in the case of a membership card 10a, and the general ID in the case of a general card 10b. · Machine number: The machine number of the managed device (rented device 2 in the figure). Deposit amount: The remaining deposit amount (yen) Amount spent: Amount spent (yen) Points: The number of points counted by the counting operation in the gaming machine 1 Out: The number of points consumed on machine 1 Safe: The number of points awarded to the player as a result of playing on gaming machine 1.

[0039] In this way, the management device 6 manages, as information related to play received from the lending device 6, etc., at least information regarding the amount of currency inserted (for example, the amount deposited "10,000" yen in the same figure), information regarding the currency converted into game value (for example, the amount spent "1,000" yen), information regarding the balance (for example, the balance "10,000"), information regarding the game value spent in play (for example, the out "10"), and information that can identify the IC card 10 (for example, the card ID "111222"), in correspondence with each other.

[0040] In other words, the information on the game in Fig. 5 includes information on the operation such as the total outs and total safes consumed during the period from the start to the end of the game of the relevant player, as well as the presence or absence of outs during the period, in addition to the balance and the usage history. In addition, in order to more appropriately manage the period from the start to the end of the game of the relevant player, a management ID assigned to each player is associated and managed in addition to the card ID. It is to be noted that the identification of the player can be performed based on the membership number, etc., as well as face recognition.

[0041] In the management device 6, a management ID is assigned when the balance is recorded or when the number of balls held is recorded to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the period managed by one management ID is until the player finishes playing, for example, when the non-operating time on the gaming machine 1 using the card 10 has exceeded a predetermined time, when the prize exchange is performed, or when the balance is settled at the settlement machine 7. In this way, during the period managed by one management ID, even if the IC card 10 is issued and inserted into another lending device 2, it can be managed by the same management ID.

[0042] When an IC card 10 is inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 34, the settlement machine 7 determines whether or not settlement processing is possible based on the information in Fig. 5 associated with the card ID. In this case, the predetermined condition for not being able to perform settlement processing, that is, forbidding settlement processing, includes the condition that the balance of the management ID associated with the card ID is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit (e.g., equal to or greater than the 9,000 yen), and both the amount of consumption and the out amount managed on a player-by-player basis are less than a predetermined value (e.g., less than "1"). Therefore, the settlement process corresponding to the management IDs "111111" to "444444" in FIG. 5 is possible or not as follows:

[0043] ·Management ID:111111 → The balance is 10,000 yen and the amount consumed and outflow are both 0 (there is no usage history of the balance or outflow), so settlement is not possible. ·Management ID:222222 → Although the balance is 10,000 yen and the amount consumed is 0 yen, settlement is possible because the amount outstanding is 10. ·Management ID:333333 → Although the balance is 9,000 yen and the out is 0, the amount consumed is 1,000 yen, so settlement is possible. ·Management ID:444444 → Although the balance is 10,000 yen, the amount consumed and out are 10,000 yen and 2,875 respectively, so settlement is possible.

[0044] As described above, whether or not settlement processing is possible can be determined for each management ID associated with a card ID, but the determination may be made for each card ID instead of for each management ID. In addition, the specified conditions in the settlement machine 7 and the lending device 2 may be preset to include a condition that the balance is determined to be equal to or greater than a specified upper limit, and at least information regarding the conversion of currency managed on a player basis into gaming value or information regarding the gaming value consumed in play is less than a specified value.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a notification screen 41 on the display unit 24 of the rental device 2 when a predetermined condition is met and the settlement process is prohibited. That is, when the information related to the game satisfies a predetermined condition, when the return operation of the IC card 10 is performed by pressing the return button 26 on the lending device 2, the notification screen 41 of Fig. 6 is displayed on the display unit 24. The notification screen 41 informs the player that the settlement process for the IC card 10 is prohibited by displaying the message "Because the lending or game cannot be confirmed, the balance cannot be settled. Would you like to return the card?", and also displays a "Return" button 41a and a "Cancel" button 41b.

[0046] Even if the predetermined condition is met, if the player simply leaves the seat, it is unlikely that settlement will be made, so the player returns the IC card 10 by pressing the "return" button 41a (predetermined operation). In this way, the display unit 24 that displays the notification screen 41 and the touch panel function as a receiving means that receives a predetermined operation by the player, and issues the IC card 10 by receiving a predetermined operation on the notification screen 41 while the notification is being displayed on the notification screen 41.

[0047] On the other hand, if the player wishes to settle the account, he or she can confirm the settlement prohibition condition on the screen 41 and press the "Cancel" button 41b to continue the lending operation on the lending device 2 or play on the corresponding gaming machine 1. After that, the IC card 10 is returned by performing the return operation again. This is because the amount of consumption and outs are added with the lending operation and play, and the condition for prohibiting the settlement process is no longer met (the notification screen 41 is no longer displayed).

[0048] In the lending device 2, it is possible to set in advance in the management device 6 whether or not to accept a lending operation using the lending button 25 while a notification is being displayed on the notification screen 41. Therefore, when the lending device 2 is set to accept a lending operation during such a notification, the notification screen 41 may be closed or an IC card 10 may be issued (returned) by performing a lending operation as a specified operation. Also, while a notification is being given on the notification screen 41, a game may be played on the corresponding gaming machine 1, and if an out occurs, the notification on the notification screen 41 may be ended or the IC card 10 may be returned. Such settings relating to notifications on the notification screen 41 (including settings relating to the execution or end of the notification) or settings relating to predetermined operations may be configured to be made (determined) in advance by the gaming facility manager on the management device 6.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a notification screen 42 on the display unit 33 when the settlement process in the settlement machine 7 is prohibited. When a predetermined condition is satisfied for the IC card 10 inserted through the card insertion / ejection slot 34, the settlement machine 7 notifies on a notification screen 42 that settlement with the IC card 10 is prohibited.

[0050] The notification screen 42 notifies the player with a message saying "Your balance cannot be settled because your loan or play cannot be confirmed," and also displays a "Return" button 42a and a "Call" button 42b. Therefore, the player receives the IC card 10 by pressing the "return" button 42a, and then plays a game on the gaming machine 1 or performs a rental operation on the rental device 2, thereby making it possible to settle the balance for that IC card 10 at the settlement machine 7. On the other hand, when the player presses the "call" button 42b, the settlement machine 7 calls an employee of the gaming facility, and accepts an operation by the employee to lift the prohibition of settlement, so that the balance can be settled.

[0051] In this way, the settlement machine 7 can also notify the player via the notification screen 42 that settlement processing is prohibited, so that even if an outsider attempts to make a business change, the business change can be prevented in advance, and future business changes by outsiders can be suppressed. 8 and 9 show the flow of processing related to the IC card 10 accepted by the lending device 2 and the settlement machine 7, respectively.

[0052] 8 starts, the lending device 2 waits until the return button 26 of the IC card 10 is pressed (S1: NO). When the return button 26 is pressed (S1: YES), the lending device 2 transmits the card ID of the IC card 10 accepted by the lending device 2 to the management device 6, and receives information related to the game of the management ID associated with the card ID from the management device 6.

[0053] The lending device 2 then judges whether the received information on the game satisfies a predetermined condition (S3). As a result, if the balance of the IC card 10 is less than 9,000 yen, or if the balance is more than 9,000 yen but the player's spending amount or out is "1" or more, it is judged that the predetermined condition is not met (S3: NO), and the IC card 10 is returned (S6). On the other hand, if it is determined that the balance of the IC card 10 is, for example, 9,000 yen or more, and the amount of the player's consumption is, for example, less than 1 yen and the out is also determined to be less than 1, thereby satisfying the specified conditions (S3: YES), the lending device 2 displays the notification screen 41 of Figure 6 to notify the player that settlement processing at the settlement machine 7 is prohibited (S4).

[0054] In this case, while the notification is being displayed on the notification screen 41, the lending device 2 accepts the operation of pressing the "Return" button 41a (S5: YES), returns the IC card 10 (in S6, the card 10 is paid out and issued from the insertion / ejection slot 28), and ends this process (returns).

[0055] On the other hand, if the operation of pressing the "Cancel" button 41b on the notification screen 41 is accepted (S5: NO), the process returns to S1. Therefore, after the player confirms the conditions for prohibiting settlement on the screen 41 and presses the "Cancel" button 41b, the player can continue to perform the lending operation on the lending device 2 or play on the corresponding gaming machine 1. As a result, if the player performs a return operation again using the return button 26 (S1: YES), the information related to that game no longer satisfies the predetermined conditions (S2, S3: NO), so the IC card 10 will be returned (S6).

[0056] 9, when the adjustment machine 7 receives the IC card 10 inserted from the card insertion / ejection slot 34 in the card R / W 34a (S11), it reads the card ID of the IC card 10 and transmits it to the management device 6. As a result, the adjustment machine 7 receives information related to the game of the management ID associated with the card ID (information managed by the management device 6) from the management device 6 (S12).

[0057] The settlement machine 7 then judges whether the received information on the game satisfies a predetermined condition (S13). As a result, if the balance of the IC card 10 is less than 9,000 yen, or if the balance is 9,000 yen or more but the player's consumption amount or out is "1" or more, it is judged that the predetermined condition is not satisfied (S13: NO), and the settlement process is executed (S14). Therefore, in this case, the balance associated with the IC card 10 is returned as bills or coins from the payout opening 32 and settled, thereby completing the settlement process (returning). In addition, as described above, the settlement process is performed according to whether the IC card 10 is a general card 10b or a member card 10a. For example, a general card 10b that does not have an associated number of points will be collected in the card stock section 34b in the settlement machine 7, while a member card 10a will be returned to the player after the balance has been settled, regardless of whether it has any points or not.

[0058] On the other hand, if the settlement machine 7 determines that the balance of the IC card 10 is, for example, 9,000 yen or more, and that the amount spent by the player is, for example, less than 1 yen and the out is also less than 1, thereby determining that the specified conditions are met (S13: YES), the notification screen 42 in Figure 7 is displayed to notify the player that the settlement process is prohibited (S15).

[0059] In this case, by accepting an operation of pressing the "return" button 42a while the notification is being displayed on the notification screen 42 in the settlement machine 7 (S16: YES), the IC card 10 is returned (S7) and this process is terminated (returned).

[0060] On the other hand, if the "return" button 42a is not pressed (S16: NO), such as when the "call" button 42b is pressed on the notification screen 42, the process ends without executing the settlement process. When the "call" button 42b is pressed by the player, the employee who is called as described above will perform the operation to release the prohibition of settlement.

[0061] As described above, the settlement machine 7 of this embodiment is configured as a prohibition means for prohibiting the settlement process of the accepted IC card 10 when information managed by the management device 6 for that card 10 satisfies specified conditions, and the lending device 2 is configured as a notification means for notifying the player, for example on a notification screen 41, that the settlement process of the card 10 is prohibited by the prohibition means when information related to the game satisfies specified conditions when accepting a return operation for the accepted IC card 10.

[0062] According to this, when the settlement of the balance at the settlement machine 7 is prohibited due to meeting a predetermined condition, it is possible to notify the fact that the settlement of the balance is prohibited at the lending device 2. This makes it possible to suppress so-called business currency exchange by outsiders, and to prevent complaints from occurring due to the fact that a person goes to the settlement machine 7 and is unable to settle the balance even though the settlement of the balance is prohibited.

[0063] The management device 6 is capable of managing information relating to games on a player-by-player basis, for example by associating it with a management ID, and can determine whether the balance in the settlement machine 7 or lending device 2 as a managed object is above a predetermined upper limit (for example, above 9,000 yen), and of course can make this determination itself based on the information relating to games managed by itself.

[0064] In addition, the specified conditions in this embodiment include the condition that the balance is determined to be equal to or greater than a specified upper limit (e.g., 9,000 yen), and information obtained by converting currency managed on a player-by-player basis into gaming value (e.g., the amount consumed), or information regarding the gaming value consumed in a game (e.g., an out), is less than a specified value (e.g., "1"). According to this, the conditions for prohibiting the settlement of the balance by the settlement machine 7 include that the balance has not been consumed or that no consumption of gaming value has occurred in the gaming machine 1, so that it is possible to expect players to consume their balance or gaming value, thereby creating an incentive for outsiders to play.

[0065] The lending device 2 issues an IC card 10 by receiving a predetermined operation (e.g., touching the “return” button 41a on the notification screen 41) using a reception means (e.g., the display unit 24 that displays the notification screen 41 of Figure 6) while a notification is being made by a notification means (e.g., the display unit 24). According to this, the IC card 10 is issued after the player or an outsider is made aware by the notification means that the balance settlement at the settlement machine 7 is prohibited, so that it is possible to prevent complaints due to inability to settle the balance from occurring.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be modified or expanded as follows, or each modified example may be combined with the above-described embodiment, or each modified example may be combined. The possibility of settlement is determined based on whether or not the information related to the game managed by the management device 6 satisfies certain conditions, but it is also possible to determine whether or not settlement is possible for a general card 10b, while for a membership card 10a, the lending device 2 may return the card 10a and the settlement process may be performed at the settlement machine 7 without determining whether or not settlement is possible.

[0067] A camera (not shown) that captures an image of a player is provided in the lending device 2, and the image signal from the camera is transmitted to the management device 6 as information for face authentication of the player, whereby the management device 6 performs face authentication based on the image signal, and can identify the player. In this way, the management device 6 may assign a player ID based on face authentication (captured image) in addition to the management ID, record information related to the game for each player ID, and manage the players on a player-by-player basis. Also, the presence or absence of settlement prohibition may be recorded for each player ID, and the management device 6 or the like may be configured to notify the player corresponding to that player ID the next time he or she visits the establishment.

[0068] The possibility of settlement is determined based on the conditions regarding whether or not there is an amount consumed and whether or not there is an out, but the predetermined conditions can be changed as appropriate, such as determining based on the condition regarding whether or not there are points owned. In addition, the management device 6 may manage the time of deposit at the rental device 2 and the settlement machine 7, record the elapsed time until the return operation is performed at the rental device 2, and if the elapsed time is greater than a predetermined time (e.g., 10 minutes), determine that settlement is possible and accept the return operation (issue an IC card 10).

[0069] The determination process performed by the rental device 2 or the settlement machine 7 may be performed by the management device 6, and the processes performed by each device may be performed by other devices. Expressions such as "above or below," "below," "exceeds," and "less than" may or may not include the value, or may include both. The predetermined upper limit value, the predetermined value, or related setting information, thresholds, etc. may be set arbitrarily by an administrator, etc. if set in advance, or may be set by the manufacturer of the management device 6, or may be downloaded from an external management server (for example, a chain store headquarters, a gaming machine manufacturer, etc.) and set.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the target gaming machine 1 is assumed to be an enclosed pachinko gaming machine or a medal-less slot machine, but it may be a pachinko gaming machine or a slot machine that uses pachinko balls or medals. In that case, the lending device 2 is configured to dispense pachinko balls or medals to enable playing on the gaming machine 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] In the drawing, 1 is a gaming machine, 2 is a lending device (gaming device), 6 is a management device (receiving means, management means, judgment means), 7 is a settlement machine, 24 is a display unit (reception means, notification means), 29 is a control unit (notification means, reception means, judgment means), and 37 is a control unit (prohibition means, judgment means).

Claims

1. A gaming facility system includes a gaming device provided in correspondence with a gaming machine, which enables playing on the gaming machine by converting inserted currency into gaming value that can be consumed in playing, and which records and issues a recording medium containing a deposit balance of the inserted currency that has not been converted into gaming value upon receiving a return operation by a player, a settlement machine capable of executing a settlement process for settling the deposit balance, and a management device that manages the gaming device and the settlement machine and is capable of receiving information relating to playing, The management device includes: managing, as the information related to the game received from the managed object, at least information related to the inserted currency, information on the conversion of the currency into game value, information related to the deposit balance, information related to the game value consumed in the game, and information capable of identifying the recording medium, in association with each other; The settlement machine is a prohibition unit that prohibits the settlement process for the recording medium when information about the recording medium managed by the management device satisfies a predetermined condition; The gaming device comprises: A gaming facility system characterized in that, when accepting the return operation for the recording medium, it is provided with an alarm means for notifying a player that the settlement process for the recording medium will be prohibited by the prohibition means if the information related to the game satisfies the specified condition.

2. the management device is capable of managing information relating to the game on a player-by-player basis, and is provided with a determination means for determining whether or not the deposit balance in the management device or the managed object is equal to or exceeds a predetermined upper limit; 2. An amusement facility system as described in claim 1, wherein the specified condition includes a condition that the judgment means judges that the deposit balance is equal to or greater than a specified upper limit, and information regarding the conversion of currency managed on a player basis into gaming value or information regarding the gaming value consumed in the game is less than a specified value.

3. The gaming device includes a reception means for receiving a predetermined operation by a player, 3. The game arcade system according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is issued by receiving a predetermined operation from the receiving means while the notifying means is making a notification.

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