System for game parlor

Abstract

To provide a system for game parlors capable of flexibly handling which bill type is used without depending on a bill validator when banknotes are reprinted.SOLUTION: A recording medium issuing device is configured to record deposit information, the values of banknotes, into an IC card according to a time when an inserted banknote has been issued, so that even when bill types identifiable for every bill validator are changed, only bill types that meet the need of a game parlor can be used so as to enable flexible operation for changes in the bill types. Further, a management device can set whether to be available or not, so that even when there are bill types unavailable in the game parlor, it is not necessary to secure a recording medium issuing device for every bill validator, thereby reducing an inventory burden.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, technology has been disclosed relating to a voucher identification device (so-called bill validator) that is installed in a gaming media lending machine and identifies the authenticity and type (amount) of a voucher, while temporarily storing bills as necessary (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Although the above-mentioned voucher identification device can identify the type of voucher, it cannot determine whether or not the voucher can be used depending on its type. For this reason, amusement arcades must adopt bill validators that correspond to the vouchers (types) in circulation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-023975 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Now, as a measure against counterfeit bills, bill designs are periodically changed (so-called reprinting), and bill validators corresponding to the new bill types are introduced each time. However, depending on the amusement facility, which bill type to prioritize before and after the design change is determined based on the circulation status of the bill type, and the manufacturer of the gaming device must stock bill validators that are compatible with the old bill type, the new bill type, or both bill types in order to respond to the amusement facility's decision, which results in an inventory burden. Therefore, a system that can flexibly respond to whichever bill type is in circulation is desired.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an amusement arcade system that can flexibly respond to which ticket type to use when reprinting is performed without relying on bill validity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a gaming facility system including a recording medium issuing device (e.g., the lending device 2 or the settlement machine 7) including a bill discrimination means (e.g., a bill validator 23a, 31a and a control unit 29, 37) for discriminating bill information, which is information on inserted bills, and a deposit information recording means (e.g., a card R / W 28a, 34a and a control unit 29, 37) capable of recording, in association with a recording medium (e.g., an IC card 10b), deposit information indicating a deposit balance for receiving a loan of gaming value according to a value based on bill type information, which is the type of bill, among the bill information discriminated by the bill discrimination means, and a recording medium issuing means (e.g., a card stock unit 28b, 34b and a control unit 29, 37) for issuing the recording medium, and a management device for managing the bill information and the recording medium issuing device, The banknote information includes at least series information corresponding to the time when the banknote was issued (for example, information indicating the issue period corresponding to "D note" to "F note" in FIG. 5), the management device includes a setting means (including, for example, a monitor 6a for displaying the setting screen of FIG. 5 and a keyboard 6b as an input means) for setting whether or not a banknote can be used for each time the banknote was issued based on the series information; The deposit information recording means records deposit information corresponding to the value based on the banknote type information in association with the recording medium, based on the usability set by the setting means (for example, in response to a determination result that the deposited amount "10,000 yen" on screen 82 of Figure 8 is usable, an IC card 10b is issued on which the deposit information "10,000 yen" is recorded in association with the deposit information).

[0007] According to the present invention, the recording medium issuing device is capable of recording deposit information, which is the value of an inserted bill, on a recording medium depending on the time the bill was issued, so that even if the bill denomination that can be identified by each bill discrimination means such as a bill validator is changed, only the bill denomination that meets the needs of the amusement facility can be used, allowing for flexible operation in response to changes in bill denomination. Also, since usability can be set by the setting means of the management device, even if there is a bill denomination that is not used in the amusement facility, there is no need to secure a recording medium issuing device for each bill validator, and inventory burden can be reduced. [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 showing a setting screen for prohibiting use of a management device; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting screen for prohibiting use of a management device; [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display screen when a banknote that is set as unusable is inserted into the lending device. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the standby screen (a) of the settlement machine and the display screens (b) to (d) when a deposit process is being performed. [Figure 9] A flowchart showing the flow of a deposit process related to whether or not bills can be used 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 more detail later, the settlement machine 7 is equipped with a card reader / writer 34a (card R / W 34a in Figure 4), and when the card R / W 34a accepts the IC card 10 inserted through the card insertion / ejection slot 34 shown in Figure 3, it executes a settlement process to return the deposit balance recorded on the accepted IC card 10. Although not shown in the figure, the POS is a prize exchange device installed at a prize exchange counter in an amusement facility and is equipped with a card R / W. When the POS accepts the IC card 10 through the card R / W, it executes a prize exchange process based on the game value, such as points held or points saved, that is specified by the acceptance.

[0011] The member card 10a and the general card 10b as IC cards 10 shown in Fig. 3 are both recording media with built-in IC chips (not shown) that can identify gaming values ​​and deposit balances (deposit information). 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 that is issued to members who have registered in advance. In addition, a general ID is recorded as a card ID in the general card 10b, and a member ID (member number) is recorded in the member card 10a.

[0012] The management device 6 is installed in, for example, an office in the amusement facility, and includes a control unit (not shown) and an I / F unit as a transmitting / receiving unit. The control unit (setting means) 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 amusement facility. 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] The management device 6 is configured as a management means for managing (storing in a memory unit of the device 6) information on all the devices in the gaming facility, such as the operating status of the gaming machine 1, the lending device 2, the information display device 3, the settlement machine 7, etc. For example, the management device 6 manages the lending device 2, which is a recording medium issuing device, and the settlement machine 7, and receives information on games from these devices 2 and 7 and transmits setting information for the devices 2 and 7 (including information on prohibition settings regarding whether or not banknotes can be used, which will be described later) via the I / F unit. 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 provided in correspondence with each gaming machine 1 such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, and is a gaming device that allows a player to play on the gaming machine 1 by granting gaming value to the player based on the deposited balance.

[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 status, 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 (display means) that accepts operation input from the player and displays various gaming data and the like, 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 lending device 2. As shown in the figure, the lending device 2 has a control unit 29 (a deposit information recording means, a recording medium issuing means) and an I / F unit 29e as a transmitting / receiving 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 accepts various game information (receives signal output, etc.) in response to the execution of a game using game points in the corresponding gaming machine 1, and accepts 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 lamps 2L, a banknote processing unit 23a (banknote discrimination means) that discriminates 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 that transmits and receives various signals and information between the gaming machine 1 and the management device 6, a card R / W 28a (deposit information recording means) that reads and writes various information recorded on the IC card 10 inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 28, a card stock unit 28b (recording medium issuing means) that can stock up to 10 general cards 10b, and a short-range communication unit 2C having a short-range communication function that can contactlessly read various information recorded on the IC card 10 owned by the player or 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, tallys and stores 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 value, setting prohibiting the use of paper money, etc.) from the management device 6 and stores it.

[0027] (2) When a banknote is inserted through the banknote insertion slot 23, the banknote processing unit 23a discriminates banknote information, which is information about the banknote. The banknote information includes at least authenticity information, denomination information (note type information), and series information, which will be described in detail later. Also, a determination is made as to whether the inserted bill can be used based on the prohibition setting, and for bills determined to be usable, the deposit information according to the value based on the denomination information of the bill is added to the deposit balance and recorded. On the other hand, for bills determined to be unusable, the deposit information of the bill is not added to the deposit balance and the bill is returned (the bill is fed from the bill insertion slot 23).

[0028] (3) When the IC card 10 is inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 28, the deposit balance and the number of points associated with the card ID are read out and displayed on the display unit 24. 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 sent to the gaming machine 1. When the replay button 27 is operated, the number of points owned is converted into game points in increments of 250 points and sent to the gaming machine 1. The number of points owned, game points, and total number of points (the sum of the number of points owned and game points) are stored and displayed. It 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 sends point number information to the relay device 4 according to the update of the number of points.

[0029] (4) 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 and issued. In other words, the deposit information, etc. are recorded in association with the IC card 10, and the card 10 is dispensed 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. The gaming points are not recorded on the IC card 10, but remain on the gaming machine 1 side.

[0030] (5) Up to 10 IC cards are stocked. 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).

[0031] 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.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the settlement machine 7 is equipped with a bill insertion slot 31 into which bills such as 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen are inserted, a payout outlet 32 ​​including a "bill outlet" and a "coin outlet" for returning bills and coins corresponding to the balance, a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 33 (display means) that accepts operational inputs from the player and displays specified 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 in a mobile terminal or the like.

[0033] 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 (deposit information recording means, recording medium issuing means) and an I / F unit 37e as a transmitting / receiving 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 the transmission of information related to games to and from the management device 6, etc., and the reception of settings such as prohibition of use of banknotes.

[0034] 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, etc.) 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 (banknote discrimination means) that discriminates 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 (deposit information recording means) that reads and writes various information recorded on the IC card 10 inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 34, a card stock unit 34b (recording medium issuing means) that can stock 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, etc.

[0035] 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. Specifically, when a general card 10b, which has points associated with its balance, is inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 34 (when accepted by the card R / W 34a), 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. When a membership card 10a, which has points associated with its balance, is accepted by the card R / W 34a, the balance is settled and the membership card 10a is returned to the player, and the points are converted into saved points.

[0036] Furthermore, when a bill is inserted through the bill insertion slot 31, the settlement machine 7 executes a deposit process that can add the deposited amount (deposit information) to the balance recorded in the IC card 10 (see FIG. 8 described later). As a result, the settlement machine 7 is configured as a gaming device that can return the balance recorded in the card 10 (deposit information recorded in the deposit process) to the player.

[0037] In this case, the settlement machine 7, like the dispensing device 2, executes a judgment process (see Figure 9) for the inserted banknote based on the prohibition setting, and for banknotes that are judged to be usable, it returns the card 10 on which the deposit information of the banknote is added to the balance and recorded, whereas for banknotes that are judged to be unusable, it returns the banknote without adding the deposit information of the banknote to the balance (it dispenses the banknote from the banknote insertion slot 31).

[0038] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen related to the setting for prohibiting use of banknotes, which is displayed on the monitor 6a of the management device 6. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the management device 6 manages bill information of, for example, "1,000 yen," "2,000 yen," "5,000 yen," and "10,000 yen," as well as recording medium issuing devices such as the lending device 2 and the settlement machine 7 as prohibited "devices." The bill information identified by the bill processing unit 23a of the lending device 2 and the bill processing unit 31a of the settlement machine 7 (hereinafter also referred to as "bill validators 23a, 31a") includes the following information:

[0039] Authenticity information: Information regarding the authenticity of a banknote. If the inserted banknote is a genuine banknote, the recording medium issuing device will determine the banknote's denomination and series information. Counterfeit banknotes and banknotes suspected to be counterfeit but whose authenticity cannot be confirmed will be returned without determining the denomination or series information. Denomination information: This is the denomination information of the type of bill, and indicates the value based on the type of bill. Denominations include 1,000 yen bills, 2,000 yen bills, 5,000 yen bills, and 10,000 yen bills (see "1,000 yen" to "10,000 yen" in the figure). Therefore, the deposit information described above can be said to indicate the balance for receiving a loan of gaming value according to the value based on the denomination information.

[0040] Series information: This information corresponds to the time when the banknote was issued, and indicates the period during which the banknote was issued. For example, 1,000 yen notes, 5,000 yen notes, and 10,000 yen notes issued from 1984 to 2007 and 2,000 yen notes issued since 2000 are called "D notes", 1,000 yen notes, 5,000 yen notes, and 10,000 yen notes issued from 2004 to 2022 are called "E notes", and 1,000 yen notes, 5,000 yen notes, and 10,000 yen notes issued from 2024 are called "F notes" (see "D notes" to "F notes" in the same figure).

[0041] In the recording medium issuing device described above, the bill validators 23a and 31a can determine the authenticity, denomination, and series information of the bills. The bill validators 23a and 31a can return and reject counterfeit bills and bills suspected to be counterfeit but whose authenticity cannot be confirmed based on the results of bill authenticity determination, but they do not reject bills based on the results of denomination information and series information determination. This is because denomination information and series information only determine information related to the type and issuance date of the bill, and do not indicate whether the bill can be used or not.

[0042] Therefore, the management device 6 is configured to be able to set whether or not a banknote can be used for each banknote that can be inserted into the lending device 2 or the settlement machine 7, depending on the denomination information and series information contained in the banknote information, for each time the banknote was issued. In this case, the manager of the amusement facility will display the screen of Figure 5 on the monitor 6a of the management device 6, and will use an input means (setting means) such as the keyboard 6b or a mouse to set in advance which denominations and series will be available for use.

[0043] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, by checking the "2,000 yen" check box in the "D ticket" column, all denominations except for the 2,000 yen ticket, which is a D ticket, can be used. In other words, based on the denomination information and series information, check boxes are provided for specifying the corresponding denominations, "1,000 yen" to "10,000 yen," for each issue period determined to be "D note" to "F note." Checked banknotes (for example, 2,000 yen notes, which are D notes) are set as unusable, and other unchecked banknotes are set as usable.

[0044] In addition, by checking the "Equipment" column at the top of Figure 5, the above-mentioned usage enable / disable settings (prohibition settings) can be made individually for both the rental device 2 and the settlement machine 7, and the same settings as for the rental device 2 marked with a "●" can also be made for the settlement machine 7. As a result, when a 2,000 yen note is inserted through the insertion slot 23, 31 in the lending device 2 or the settlement machine 7, the display unit 24, 33 will display a message indicating that the note cannot be used (see Figures 7 and 8(c)), and the note will be ejected from the insertion slot 23, 31 and returned.

[0045] Also, for example, as shown in Figure 6, a check is placed on the "2,000 yen" "D ticket" and the "1,000 yen," "5,000 yen," and "10,000 yen" "F ticket," and the relevant usability settings are made for both the lending device 2 and the settlement device 7. As a result, in the lending device 2 and the settlement machine 7, 2,000 yen notes as D notes and 1,000 yen notes, 5,000 yen notes, and 10,000 yen notes as F notes are set as unusable, and 1,000 yen notes, 5,000 yen notes, and 10,000 yen notes as E notes are set as usable. Also, in the lending device 2 and the settlement machine 7, when a bill set as unusable is inserted from the insertion slot 23, 31, the display unit 24, 33 displays that the bill cannot be used (see Figures 7 and 8(c)), and the bill is ejected from the insertion slot 23, 31 and returned.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a notification screen on the display unit 24 when the bill inserted in the dispensing device 2 is unusable due to the above-mentioned setting. That is, in the dispensing device 2, in a standby state before inserting a bill, a standby screen (not shown) is displayed on the display unit 24, and when it is determined that the bill inserted from the bill insertion slot 23 is unusable, the standby screen is transitioned to the notification screen of Fig. 7. The notification screen of the same figure displays a message saying "This bill cannot be used" with a warning "CAUTION" and notifies the player.

[0047] The notification screen in Fig. 7 may be a screen that displays the fact that the bill is unusable by a display means. In addition, the type and number of units awarded are displayed in the upper column of the notification screen, but this may be changed as appropriate, such as by displaying the number of game points according to the lending rate or the playability of the gaming machine 1. In any case, when a bill set as unusable is inserted into the lending device 2, the bill is returned from the insertion slot 23 without recording the deposit information according to the value based on the bill type information of the bill in association with the IC card 10, and the display unit 24 displays the fact that the bill is unusable. The IC cards 10 include a membership card 10a and a general card 10b, and when a bill that can be used in the lending device 2 is inserted, the deposit information can of course be recorded in association with the membership card 10a.

[0048] 8(a) to (d) show transition screens 81 to 84, including a notification screen 83 on the display unit 33 when the bill inserted in the settlement machine 7 is unusable due to the above-mentioned setting. That is, in the settlement machine 7, in the standby state before inserting a bill, an image is displayed encouraging the insertion of the bill into the bill insertion slot 31 along with the message "If you are making a purchase, please insert a bill," as shown in the standby screen 81.

[0049] Next, as shown in the card sales screen 82, when a "10,000 yen" note is inserted into the insertion slot 31, the "inserted amount," "sale buttons" for "5,000 yen," "10,000 yen," and "full amount," and a "cancel" button 82a are displayed. As a result, when the "sale button" for "10,000 yen" is operated, for example, the screen transitions to an issuance screen 84 for an IC card 10b, and the card 10b is issued from the insertion / ejection slot 34 with deposit information indicating the balance for receiving a loan of 10,000 yen worth of gaming value. If the "Cancel" button 82a is operated on the card sales screen 82, the 10,000 yen is returned from the withdrawal port 32 without issuing the general card 10b, and the screen returns to the standby screen 81.

[0050] On the other hand, as shown in the notification screen 83, when a bill set as unusable is inserted, the above screens 82 and 84 are not displayed, and a "Cancel" button 83a is displayed together with a message indicating that the bill is unusable, "This bill cannot be used." Therefore, when the "Cancel" button 83a is operated, the bill is returned from the dispensing opening 32 without recording the deposit information (e.g., a balance of 10,000 yen) according to the value based on the bill denomination information (e.g., a 10,000 yen bill) in association with the IC card 10b, and then the screen returns to the standby screen 81. Fig. 9 shows the flow of the deposit process for inserted banknotes in the lending device 2 and the settlement machine 7. For ease of explanation, S1 to S7 below will be explained as steps executed by the settlement machine 7, and in the standby state before inserting banknotes, the standby screen 81 in Fig. 8(a) will be displayed.

[0051] That is, first, when a bill is inserted from the insertion slot 23 and accepted by the bill validator 31a (S1), the settlement machine 7 uses the bill validator 31a to determine the bill information (S2). When the settlement machine 7 determines that a banknote is genuine based on the authenticity information included in the banknote information, it determines the denomination information and series information of the banknote.

[0052] The settlement machine 7 then performs a process to determine whether the banknote can be used based on the determined denomination information and series information and the usability setting (S3). As a result, if the result of the determination regarding the usability of the banknote is OK (S4: YES), the settlement machine 7 records the deposit information according to the value based on the denomination information of the banknote in association with the IC card 10b, and becomes able to issue the card.

[0053] Specifically, for example, if it is set that only 2,000 yen D notes cannot be used (see FIG. 5), and the usability setting is compared with the denomination information and series information of the identified banknote, and it is determined that the banknote is not a D note and is not a 2,000 yen note (for example, a 10,000 yen E note), the usability determination result is OK (S4: YES), that is, the banknote is determined to be usable, and the screen 82 is displayed. Therefore, when the "10,000 yen" vend button on the screen 82 is operated, the deposit information "10,000 yen" is associated with the general card 10b, and the card 10b is issued (returned) from the insertion / ejection slot 34.

[0054] On the other hand, for example, if it is determined that the bill is a D note and a 2,000 yen note by checking the usability setting against the denomination information and series information of the identified bill, the usability determination result is not OK (S4: NO), that is, the bill is determined to be unusable. In this case, the bill is returned from the dispensing outlet 32 ​​(S6), the screen 83 of Fig. 8 is displayed (S7), and this process ends (returns). Note that after displaying the screen 83 as described above, the bill may be returned from the dispensing outlet 32 ​​after waiting for the "Cancel" button 83a on the screen 83 to be operated.

[0055] As described above, the management device 6 of this embodiment has a setting means for setting whether or not a banknote can be used for each time the banknote was issued, based on at least the series information, and for example, the deposit information recording means in the lending device 2 or the settlement machine 7 records deposit information corresponding to the value based on the denomination information of the banknote in question, in association with the IC card 10, based on the usability set by the setting means (see S3 to S5 in Figure 9).

[0056] According to this, in a recording medium issuing device such as the lending device 2 or the settlement machine 7, deposit information, which is the value of an inserted bill, can be recorded on the IC card 10 according to the time of issue of the bill, so that even if the identifiable bill denomination for each bill validator 23a, 31a is changed, only the bill denomination required by the game arcade can be used, allowing for flexible operation in response to changes in bill denomination. Also, since usability can be set by the management device 6, even if there is a bill denomination that is not used in the game arcade, there is no need to secure a recording medium issuing device for each bill validator 23a, 31a, and inventory burden can be reduced. In addition, the prohibition setting screen shown in Figure 5 etc. is configured so that the corresponding denominations "1,000 yen" to "10,000 yen" can be set for each issuance period "D note" to "F note", but it is sufficient if the screen is configured so that the usability of banknotes can be set at least for each issuance period.

[0057] When a banknote that is set as unusable is inserted, the recording medium issuing device returns the banknote without recording in the IC card 10 the deposit information (e.g., a balance of 10,000 yen) corresponding to the value based on the banknote's denomination information, and displays on the display units 24, 33 that the banknote is unusable. According to this, if a recording medium issuing device such as the lending device 2 or the settlement machine 7 determines that an inserted banknote cannot be used, this fact can be displayed to the player, allowing the player to understand the reason why the banknote cannot be used and eliminating the player's frustration due to not being able to insert the banknote.

[0058] In addition, the recording medium issuing device of this embodiment is a lending device 2 that is provided in correspondence with a gaming machine and enables playing on the gaming machine 1 by granting gaming value to the player based on the deposit balance recorded by the deposit information recording means, or a settlement machine 7 that enables the return of the deposit balance recorded on the recording medium by the deposit information recording means to the player. According to this, since the functions of a recording medium issuing device are provided in gaming devices such as the lending device 2 or the settlement machine 7, which are used frequently in gaming arcades, only the ticket types that meet the needs of the gaming arcade can be used, and flexible operation can be achieved in response to changes in ticket types.

[0059] 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. Although the deposit process is configured to be performed in the lending device 2 or the settlement machine 7, it may also be possible to perform the process in other devices or equipment in the amusement arcade, and a dedicated vending machine that performs the deposit process may be configured as the recording medium issuing device (not shown).

[0060] Although an example has been shown in which the determination of usability is made by the recording medium issuing device, this may be made by any device, such as the management device 6 or the relay device 4. For example, when this determination is made by the management device 6, series information identified by reading means (banknote discrimination means) such as the bill validators 23a, 31a may be received by the management device 6, and the usability of the banknote may be determined based on the received series information, and the determination result may be transmitted to the recording medium issuing device.

[0061] The usability setting by the management device 6 may be transmitted in advance to the recording medium issuing device, and if the recording medium issuing device is unable to receive information regarding usability from the management device 6, it may be possible to separately set whether or not to execute the deposit process based on the usability setting. Although the deposit information is recorded in association with the IC card 10, it may be recorded directly on the IC card 10. 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 the target 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]

[0062] In the drawing, 1 is a gaming machine, 2 is a lending device (recording medium issuing device, gaming device), 6 is a management device (setting means), monitor 6a (setting means), keyboard 6b (setting means), 7 is a settlement machine (recording medium issuing device, gaming device), 23a is a bill validator (banknote discrimination means), 24 is a display unit (display means), 28a is a card R / W (deposit information recording means), 28b is a card stock unit (recording medium issuing means), 29 is a control unit (banknote discrimination means, deposit information recording means, recording medium issuing means), 31a is a bill validator (banknote discrimination means), 33 is a display unit (display means), 34a is a card R / W (deposit information recording means), 34b is a card stock unit (recording medium issuing means), and 37 is a control unit (banknote discrimination means, deposit information recording means, recording medium issuing means).

Claims

1. A gaming facility system is provided with a recording medium issuing device including a bill discrimination means for discriminating bill information, which is information on inserted bills, a deposit information recording means for recording, in association with a recording medium, deposit information indicating a deposit balance for receiving a gaming value loan according to a value based on bill type information, which is the type of bill, among the bill information discriminated by the bill discrimination means, and a recording medium issuing means for issuing the recording medium, and a management device for managing the bill information and the recording medium issuing device, The banknote information includes at least series information corresponding to the time when the banknote was issued, the management device includes a setting means for setting whether or not a banknote is usable for each time when the banknote was issued based on the series information, The deposit information recording means records deposit information corresponding to the value based on the banknote's type information in accordance with the usability set by the setting means, in correspondence with the recording medium.

2. The recording medium issuing device includes a display means for displaying a predetermined display, An amusement park system as described in claim 1, wherein when a banknote set as unusable by the setting means is inserted, the banknote is returned without recording deposit information corresponding to the value based on the banknote's denomination information in association with the recording medium, and the display means displays a message indicating that the banknote is unusable.

3. 3. An amusement facility system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the recording medium issuing device is a gaming device provided in correspondence with a gaming machine and enabling playing on the gaming machine by granting gaming value to a player based on the deposit balance recorded by the deposit information recording means.

4. 3. The gaming facility system according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium issuing device is a gaming device which enables a player to return a deposit balance recorded on said recording medium by said deposit information recording means.

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