Game value compensation system

Abstract

To provide a game value compensation system for using a game value which can be used by a player who is a member of a game parlor as a valuable value in another game parlor different from the game parlor.SOLUTION: The game value compensation system 100 enables the valuable value to be used in the other store 60 by acquiring the valuable value and managing it as the other store deposit which is the valuable value associated with the other store 60 which is a game store different from the game store 10 when the stored balls which are the game value usable in the game store 10 by the member 20a of the game store 10 are compensated as the valuable value (deposit) by the compensation system of the stored balls.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming value compensation system that enables a player to use gaming media that he or she has deposited at a gaming parlor as valuable value at another gaming parlor. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, gaming parlors that provide games using gaming machines such as "pachinko gaming machines" that use gaming balls and "slot machines" that use gaming medals have provided a service to customers who are members of the gaming parlor, in which gaming media (for example, gaming media such as gaming balls and gaming medals) that customers have acquired through games are kept as saved gaming media, and the saved gaming media are refunded when the member returns to the parlor, allowing the customer to resume playing at any time they wish without having to take the gaming media out of the gaming parlor.

[0003] In the operation of this service, information regarding the game media deposited by a player is managed by the gaming parlor in association with the player's membership information, and the game media are refunded based on the information regarding the game media. Therefore, for example, if the management device that manages the information regarding the game media is damaged or lost due to a disaster or if the gaming parlor goes bankrupt, it is conceivable that the game media will not be refunded. In preparation for such an event, a third-party management center manages the information regarding the game media transmitted from the management device as backup data, separate from the gaming parlor's management device, and if the gaming parlor is unable to refund the game media, a technology is known that compensates for the game media owned by members on behalf of the gaming parlor if the gaming parlor is unable to refund the game media (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-259623 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the currently operating compensation system for stored gaming media, known as the saved ball compensation system, compensation is provided as follows: First, information about the stored gaming media managed by the gaming parlor is sent to a management center, where it is managed as backup data. If the gaming parlor is subsequently unable to refund the stored gaming media, the gaming parlor notifies the management center of this. Upon receiving this notification, the management center compensates for the stored gaming media deposited at the gaming parlor, based on the backup data of information about the stored gaming media, together with compensation organizations such as saved ball compensation funds that compensate for the stored gaming media. At this time, the management center first provides compensation information to the player who deposited the stored gaming media at the gaming parlor, offering to provide the player with prizes such as sweets, daily necessities, or electrical appliances that the player desires as compensation for the stored gaming media (hereinafter, "prizes such as sweets, daily necessities, and electrical appliances" will be referred to as "general prizes"). Upon receiving this compensation notice, the player selects the general prize desired based on the number of game media saved and submits a compensation request to the management center to request compensation. The management center then provides the selected general prize to the player, thereby compensating for the saved game media. The management center then bills the compensation organization for the expenses incurred in providing the general prize to the player, in other words, the expenses related to the compensation of the saved game media. The compensation organization that receives the bill then pays (settles) the expenses (money) to the management center. In this way, in the conventional saved ball compensation system, compensation for saved game media is implemented by the management center providing the general prize desired by the player, instead of the compensation organization that ultimately compensates for the saved game media.

[0006] However, since some customers deposit their gaming media at a gaming parlor in order to continue playing when they return, many customers would rather receive a monetary or other valuable equivalent to the gaming media in accordance with the number of gaming media they have deposited, rather than receiving compensation for the gaming media as a general prize, and would like to use that valuable equivalent to continue playing at another gaming parlor. Therefore, there is a need for a system that allows the valuable equivalent to the gaming media to be used at another gaming parlor.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a gaming value compensation system that allows gaming value that can be used by players who are members of a gaming establishment to be used as valuable value at another gaming establishment other than the gaming establishment in question. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the gaming value compensation system of the present invention is a system for allowing gaming value that can be used at a gaming establishment by a customer who is a member of the gaming establishment to be used as valuable value at another gaming establishment other than the gaming establishment, and is characterized by having a valuable value management means that, based on a compensation request from the player who is the compensation recipient and has been notified that the specified compensation requirements have been met, acquires all or part of the valuable value equivalent to the gaming value and manages it as valuable value held at the other establishment and associated with the other establishment, thereby making the valuable value usable at the other establishment.

[0009] In the above invention, the gaming value is a gaming medium deposited at the gaming establishment, the specified compensation requirement is that the gaming establishment is unable to manage the gaming medium, the notification is given to the player by a management company that manages gaming medium information, which is information regarding the gaming medium recorded at the gaming establishment, as a third party, and the compensation request includes a compensation request requesting the management company for the valuable value to compensate for the gaming medium, and a compensation use request requesting the valuable value management means to manage the valuable value compensated based on the compensation request as valuable value held at another establishment, and the valuable value management means may obtain the valuable value from a compensation management unit that manages the valuable value at the management company.

[0010] In the above invention, the invention may include an identity verification means for acquiring identity verification information, which is information that can confirm that the person to be compensated is the person in question, and the valuable management means may have a usage restriction function for managing the valuable as valuable held at the other store when the identity verification means confirms that the person to be compensated is the person in question.

[0011] In the above invention, a personal identification request to confirm whether the person to be compensated is the person in question based on member identification information, which is information for identifying the member read from a recording medium, is sent to a personal identification matching unit that can determine whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, and the personal identification means may obtain a response to the personal identification request from the personal identification matching unit as the personal identification information.

[0012] In the above invention, a mobile terminal of the person to be compensated, which is associated with a recording medium on which member identification information, which is information for identifying the member, is recorded, sends a personal information of the person to be compensated entered into the mobile terminal, along with an identity verification request to confirm whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, to an identity matching unit that can determine whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, and the identity verification means may obtain a response to the identity verification request from the identity matching unit as the identity verification information.

[0013] In the above invention, the valuable management means may have a fee collection function for collecting a usage fee from the other store and / or the person to be compensated when managing the valuable as valuable held at the other store.

[0014] In the above invention, when the valuable management means collects the usage fee from the person to be compensated, the valuable management means may deduct the usage fee from the valuable, and the remaining amount after deducting the usage fee from the valuable may be the valuable held at the other store.

[0015] In the above invention, the valuable management means may have a fee distribution function for distributing the usage fee.

[0016] In the above invention, the valuable managing means may have a same-day movement restriction function for managing the valuable as the valuable held at the other store from the day after the date on which the valuable is acquired. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the gaming value compensation system of the present invention, the valuable value management means acquires all or part of the valuable value equivalent to the gaming value based on a compensation request from a compensation recipient, who is a player who has been notified that the specified compensation requirements have been met, and manages it as valuable value held at another store, thereby making the valuable value available for use at another store. Therefore, when gaming value that can be used by a player who is a member of a gaming establishment (for example, gaming value such as gaming media deposited at the gaming establishment) is compensated for by the saved ball compensation system, all or part of the valuable value equivalent to the gaming value (for example, valuable value equivalent to the gaming media compensated for by the saved ball compensation system) is acquired based on a compensation request from the person to be compensated for, and this valuable value is managed as valuable value deposited at another establishment (for example, deposits at another establishment), so that the valuable value can be used at another establishment. Therefore, when gaming value that can be used by a player who is a member at a gaming establishment (for example, gaming value such as gaming media deposited at the gaming establishment) is compensated for by the saved ball compensation system, the valuable value equivalent to the gaming media provided by the implementation of the compensation can be managed as valuable value deposited at another establishment (deposits at the other establishment), so that the valuable value can be used at another establishment.

[0018] According to the gaming value compensation system of the present invention, the gaming value available to players who are members of a gaming establishment is the gaming medium deposited at the gaming establishment, and the predetermined compensation requirement is that the gaming establishment becomes unable to manage the gaming medium. The notification that the predetermined compensation requirement has been met is sent to the player by a management company that manages the gaming medium information, which is information about the gaming medium recorded at the gaming establishment, as a third party. The compensation request includes a compensation request from the management company requesting valuable value to compensate for the gaming medium, and a compensation use request from the valuable value management means to manage the valuable value compensated based on the compensation request as valuable value held at another establishment. The valuable value management means then obtains the valuable value from a compensation management unit that manages valuable value at the management company based on the compensation request. In this case, if the gaming medium stored at the gaming parlor becomes unmanageable, the management company will inform the player that the specified compensation requirements have been met, and the player who is the compensation recipient who has received the information will make a compensation request including a compensation request and a compensation use request. Furthermore, based on the compensation request from the compensation recipient, the valuable management means acquires all or part of the valuable equivalent to the gaming medium from the compensation management unit of the management company. The valuable management means then manages the valuable acquired from the compensation management unit as valuable held at another parlor, allowing the compensation recipient to use the valuable at another parlor.

[0019] The gaming value compensation system of the present invention includes an identity verification means for verifying the identity of the person to be compensated by acquiring identity verification information, and the valuable management means has a usage restriction function that allows the use of valuables held at other stores when the identity verification means has verified that the person to be compensated is the person to be compensated. This prevents the valuables from being used by people who are not the person to be compensated.

[0020] According to the gaming value compensation system of the present invention, an identity verification request to confirm whether the person to be compensated is the person in question is sent to an identity matching unit that can determine whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, based on member identification information that is information for identifying the member read from the recording medium, and the identity verification means obtains the response to the identity verification request from the identity matching unit as identity verification information. In this case, the identity verification unit determines whether the person to be compensated is the person in question based on the member identification information recorded on the recording medium, and the determination result is acquired by the identity verification means as identity verification information (a response to an identity verification request). Therefore, even if the identity verification means does not have a function for determining whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, the identity of the person to be compensated can be confirmed based on the identity verification information (a response to an identity verification request) acquired from the identity verification unit.

[0021] According to the gaming value compensation system of the present invention, a mobile terminal of the person to be compensated, which is associated with a recording medium on which member identification information, which is information for identifying the member, is recorded, sends a personal information of the person to be compensated entered into the mobile terminal, along with an identity verification request to confirm whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, to an identity matching unit that can determine whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, and the identity verification means obtains the response to the identity verification request from the identity matching unit as identity verification information. Therefore, the identity verification unit determines whether the person to be compensated is the person in question based on personal information transmitted from a mobile terminal associated with the recording medium on which member identification information is recorded, and the determination result is acquired by the identity verification means as identity verification information (a response to an identity verification request). Therefore, even if the identity verification means does not have a function for determining whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, the identity of the person to be compensated can be confirmed based on the identity verification information (a response to an identity verification request) acquired from the identity verification unit.

[0022] According to the gaming value compensation system of the present invention, the valuable management means has a fee collection function for collecting a usage fee from the other store and / or the person to be compensated when managing the valuable as valuable held at the other store. Therefore, a usage fee can be collected from either or both of the other store and the person to be compensated.

[0023] According to the gaming value compensation system of the present invention, when the valuable value management means collects the usage fee from the person to be compensated, it deducts the usage fee from the valuable value and sets the remaining amount after deducting the usage fee from the valuable value as the valuable value held at another store. Therefore, it is possible to reliably collect usage fees from the person to be compensated.

[0024] According to the gaming value compensation system of the present invention, the valuable value management means has a fee distribution function for distributing usage fees. Therefore, the collected usage fees can be distributed to others.

[0025] According to the gaming value compensation system of the present invention, the valuable management means has a same-day transfer restriction function that manages the valuable as valuable held at another store from the day after the date the valuable was acquired. Therefore, by having the valuable management means manage the acquired valuable as a valuable held at another store from the day after the acquisition date, when the valuable is managed as a valuable held at another store, the valuable becomes something that was acquired on or before the previous day, and therefore, in principle, cannot be refunded or exchanged for cash at another store. This prevents the valuable from being used at gaming facilities other than the other store, and ensures that the valuable can be used at the other store. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a conventional compensation system, for example, a saved ball compensation system. [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a compensation system for saved balls when using the gaming value compensation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the gaming value compensation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and an outline of the configuration of each of a gaming establishment, a management company, a compensation organization, another establishment, and a compensation recipient terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow from when valuables held at other stores become available for use at other stores to when expenses related to the implementation of compensation are settled in the gaming value compensation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the flow from when valuables held at other stores become available for use at other stores to when expenses related to the implementation of compensation are settled in the gaming value compensation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a gaming value compensation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and an outline of the configuration of each of a gaming establishment, a management company, a compensation organization, another establishment, and a compensation recipient terminal. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow from when valuables held at other stores become available for use at other stores to when expenses related to the implementation of compensation are settled in the gaming value compensation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a gaming value compensation system according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and an outline of the configuration of each of a gaming establishment, a management company, a compensation organization, another establishment, and a compensation recipient terminal. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow from when valuables held at other stores become available for use at other stores to when expenses related to the implementation of compensation are settled in the gaming value compensation system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a gaming value compensation system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and an outline of the configuration of each of a gaming establishment, a management company, a compensation organization, another establishment, and a compensation recipient terminal. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow from when valuables held at other stores become available for use at other stores to when expenses related to the implementation of compensation are settled in the gaming value compensation system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a gaming value compensation system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and an outline of the configuration of each of a gaming establishment, a management company, a compensation organization, another establishment, and a compensation recipient terminal. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow from when valuables held at other stores become available for use at other stores to when expenses related to the implementation of compensation are settled in the gaming value compensation system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] First, based on the attached drawings, we will explain the conventional compensation system for compensating for saved game media, which are game media deposited in game parlors, and the compensation system for saved balls when using the game value compensation system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and then we will provide a detailed explanation of the game value compensation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following explanation, we will use as an example a case where a game customer deposits game balls acquired through play as saved game media at a gaming parlor that provides games using a "pachinko gaming machine" (hereinafter, "pachinko gaming machine" will be referred to as "pachinko machine"), which uses game balls as the gaming medium. The game media acquired by a player through play is called "held balls," and the game media deposited by a player at the gaming parlor is called "saved game media" or "saved balls." "Saved balls" can only be used again for play on the day of play (before the gaming parlor closes), while "saved balls" can be used again for play from the following day onwards (after the gaming parlor closes). Furthermore, "held balls" can be used by both member players who are registered members of the gaming establishment (hereinafter, "member players" will also be referred to as "members") and general players who are not registered members of the gaming establishment, and are used when a gaming machine is moved, etc. On the other hand, "saved balls" can only be used by members, and are used when acquired gaming media are to be used the next day or later. Furthermore, "number of held balls" refers to the number of held balls that a player has acquired through playing, and "number of saved balls" refers to the number of saved gaming media that a member has deposited with the gaming establishment.

[0028] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a conventional compensation system, for example, a saved ball compensation system. Figure 1 shows a case in which a member 2a, who is a player 2 who has registered as a member of amusement parlor 1, has deposited 10,000 saved balls (equivalent to 40,000 yen) at amusement parlor 1 that is a member of the saved ball compensation system. At this time, the gaming establishment 1 manages information related to the saved balls (saved gaming medium) associated with the member information of member 2a, such as member information such as member 2a's name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and email address, as well as information related to the member's recording medium, which is a recording medium issued to member 2a by the gaming establishment 1, the number of saved balls for each member 2a, and the rental rate for gaming balls at the gaming establishment 1. The information related to saved balls managed by the gaming establishment 1 is transmitted to a management company 3, which manages information related to saved balls as a third party (in FIG. 1, information related to member 2a's saved balls (for example, information such as the number of saved balls of 10,000 balls (equivalent to 40,000 yen)) is transmitted), and is managed by the management company 3 as backup data.

[0029] Subsequently, for example, if amusement parlor 1 goes out of business due to bankruptcy or other reasons, amusement parlor 1 will be unable to manage or refund the saved balls, and will notify management company 3 of this fact. Management company 3 will then provide member 2a with a compensation notice to provide the member 2a with a general prize desired by member 2a as compensation for the saved balls, based on the information on the saved balls that it had managed as backup data. If member 2a, who is a compensation recipient 2b, receives this compensation notice and wishes to be compensated for the saved balls, he or she selects a general prize desired based on the number of saved balls (10,000 balls) that he or she had deposited with amusement parlor 1 and submits a compensation request to management company 3 to request compensation for the saved balls. Management company 3, which has received the compensation request from compensation recipient 2b, will then compensate the saved balls to compensation recipient 2b based on the compensation request and the backup data, on behalf of compensation organization 4, such as a saved ball compensation fund, which is a predetermined organization that ultimately compensates for the saved balls. At this time, compensation for the saved balls is carried out by providing a general prize equivalent to the saved balls of 10,000 balls selected by the compensation recipient 2b.

[0030] Thereafter, the management company 3 bills the compensation organization 4 for expenses incurred in providing the general prize to the compensation recipient 2b, specifically, expenses including the price of the general prize and shipping costs, i.e., expenses related to the compensation for the saved balls. The compensation organization 4 then pays (settles) the expenses (money) to the management company 3 upon receiving the bill. In this way, in the conventional saved ball compensation system, compensation for the saved balls is implemented by the management company 3 providing the general prize desired by the compensation recipient 2b based on the compensation request from the compensation recipient 2b, instead of the compensation organization 4 that ultimately compensates for the saved balls. As a result, even if the saved balls that the member 2a deposited with the gaming parlor 1 with the intention of continuing playing are provided as general prizes once compensation is implemented, preventing the compensation recipient 2b from continuing playing.

[0031] First Embodiment Next, a compensation system for saved balls when using the gaming value compensation system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the compensation system, and shows a case in which 10,000 saved balls (equivalent to 40,000 yen) are deposited by a member 20a, who is a player 20 who has registered as a member at a gaming facility 10 that is a member of the compensation system.

[0032] In the gaming establishment 10, game medium information (hereinafter, "game medium information" will also be referred to as "saved ball information"), which is information related to saved balls associated with the member information of the member 20a, is recorded and managed. The saved ball information includes, for example, member information such as the name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and email address of the member 20a, as well as unique recording medium identification information recorded on a member recording medium (e.g., a member IC card) 70, which is a recording medium issued to the member 20a by the gaming establishment 10, the number of saved balls at the gaming establishment 10 for each member 20a, the rental rate of game balls at the gaming establishment 10, and the like. The saved ball information managed by the gaming establishment 10 is transmitted to a management company 30, which manages the saved ball information as a third party (in FIG. 2, the saved ball information of the member 20a (e.g., information such as the number of saved balls of 10,000 balls (equivalent to 40,000 yen)) is transmitted), and is managed as backup data by the management company 30.

[0033] Thereafter, for example, if the gaming establishment 10 goes out of business due to bankruptcy or other reasons, the gaming establishment 10 will be unable to manage or refund the saved balls, and will notify the management business 30 of this fact. In response, the management business 30 will provide the member 20a with a compensation notice (notification that the specified compensation requirements have been met) to compensate for the saved balls, based on the saved ball information managed as backup data, assuming that the gaming establishment 10 will be unable to manage the saved balls (saved gaming media) and that the specified compensation requirements have been met. If the member 20a, who is the compensation recipient 20b, receives this compensation notice and wishes to be compensated for the saved balls, he or she will make a compensation request.

[0034] Here, the compensation request includes a compensation request that requests monetary value (deposit) to compensate for saved balls from the management business operator 30, which carries out compensation for saved balls on behalf of a compensation organization 40 such as a saved ball compensation fund, which is a specified organization that ultimately compensates for saved balls, and a compensation utilization request that requests the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 100, which is provided in the settlement company 50 described below, to manage the valuable value compensated based on the compensation request as valuable value deposited at another gaming establishment 60 other than gaming establishment 10 (hereinafter, ``gaming establishments other than gaming establishment 10'' will also be referred to as ``other establishments'').

[0035] First, the compensation recipient 20b submits a compensation request to the management business operator 30 to request compensation for the saved balls. The management business operator 30 then receives the compensation request from the compensation recipient 20b and, based on the compensation request and backup data of the saved ball information, provides, on behalf of the compensation organization 40, to the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 100, valuable value (a deposit of 40,000 yen) equivalent to the 10,000 saved balls deposited in the gaming parlor 10. In this way, in the saved ball compensation system using the gaming value compensation system 100, the compensation for saved balls provided by the management business operator 30 is acquired by the gaming value compensation system 100 as valuable value, rather than as a general prize.

[0036] Meanwhile, the compensation recipient 20b makes a compensation utilization request to the gaming value compensation system 100, requesting that the valuable value (a deposit of 40,000 yen) equivalent to the saved balls compensated based on the compensation request be managed as valuable value deposited at another store (hereinafter, "valuable value deposited at another store" will also be referred to as "deposit at another store"). This compensation utilization request is made by the compensation recipient 20b to the gaming value compensation system 100 provided in the settlement company 50 via the other store 60. Then, upon receiving the compensation utilization request, the gaming value compensation system 100 manages the valuable value (a deposit of 40,000 yen) acquired from the management business operator 30 as a deposit at another store (valuable value deposited at another store) and notifies the other store 60 of this. In addition, at this time, when managing the valuables as a deposit at another store, the gaming value compensation system 100 verifies the identity of the compensation recipient 20b, and manages the valuables as a deposit at another store only if the identity of the compensation recipient 20b can be verified.

[0037] The gaming value compensation system 100 also collects a usage fee (2,000 yen) as a fee for using the gaming value compensation system 100 to manage the valuable value as a deposit at another store. This usage fee is collected by deducting it from the valuable value (40,000 yen deposit) that the gaming value compensation system 100 acquires from the management business operator 30. The remaining amount (38,000 yen) obtained by deducting the usage fee (2,000 yen) from the valuable value (40,000 yen deposit) becomes the actual deposit at the other store. As a result, the 38,000 yen deposit at the other store becomes available for use at the other store 60, and the compensated person 20b can continue playing using the deposit at the other store. Furthermore, a portion (1,000 yen) of the usage fee (2,000 yen) collected by the gaming value compensation system 100 is distributed to the management business operator 30. In addition, the compensation recipient 20b can continue playing using the game balls by converting the deposit at the other store into game balls at the rental rate of game balls at the other store 60 (for example, the rental rate of 4 yen per ball, the same as at the game store 10).

[0038] In this way, when saved balls, which are gaming value that a member 20a of the gaming facility 10 can use at the gaming facility 10, are compensated as valuable value (deposit) under the saved ball compensation system, the gaming value compensation system 100 manages the valuable value as a deposit from another facility, which is valuable value associated with another facility 60 that is a gaming facility other than the gaming facility 10, thereby making the valuable value equivalent to the saved balls deposited at the gaming facility 10 usable at the other facility 60. Therefore, compared to conventional saved ball compensation systems in which compensation is implemented only by providing general prizes equivalent to saved balls, the valuable value managed as a deposit from another facility can be used at the other facility 60, so that the compensated person 20b can continue playing at the other facility 60 using the valuable value, just like saved balls that were deposited at the gaming facility 10 for the purpose of continuing playing. The management business operator 30 then bills the compensation organization 40 for the amount of valuables (equivalent to the deposit) provided to the gaming value compensation system 100 by compensating the compensation recipient 20b for the saved balls, as well as expenses equivalent to the fees for transferring the valuables. Upon receiving the bill, the compensation organization 40 then pays the management business operator 30 money to cover the expenses. As mentioned above, in the gaming value compensation system 100, the "gaming value" that the member 20a can use at the gaming establishment 10 refers to the "saved balls" that can only be used by the member 20a, out of the "held balls" or "saved balls" that are "gaming value" that can be used for games at the gaming establishment 10. Furthermore, the "valuable value" refers to money (deposit) that is compensated to the compensation recipient 20b by the management business operator 30 on behalf of the compensation organization 40 when specified compensation requirements are met, and is ultimately paid by the compensation organization 40 to the management business operator 30 as expenses for implementing compensation.

[0039] Next, based on Figures 3 to 5, we will explain the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 100, as well as the configuration of each of the gaming establishment 10, the management business operator 30, the compensation organization 40, the other establishment 60, and the compensation recipient terminal 21, which is a terminal such as a smartphone owned by the compensation recipient 20b.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 100, and an outline of the configuration of each of the gaming establishment 10, the management company 30, the compensation organization 40, the other establishment 60, and the compensation recipient terminal 21. The compensation recipient terminal 21 is an information terminal such as a smartphone or tablet owned by the compensation recipient 20b. The compensation recipient terminal 21 includes a control unit 21a that controls each function of the compensation recipient terminal 21, an input / display unit 21b such as a touch panel display that can accept information input by the compensation recipient 20b and display various information, and a communication unit 21c that communicates with external devices other than the compensation recipient terminal 21. The control unit 21a is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a storage device that stores electronic data such as programs for operating the CPU and can read the stored electronic data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a storage device that can both read and write electronic data, and controls each function of the compensation recipient terminal 21. The compensation recipient terminal 21 can input and check predetermined information via the input / display unit 21b and can connect to a network such as the Internet (not shown) via the communication unit 21c to communicate with external devices. The person to be compensated 20b can use the person to be compensated terminal 21 to communicate with the management company 30, other stores 60, etc., and exchange various information.

[0041] The gaming value compensation system 100 is provided within the settlement company 50 and includes a control means 101 that controls each function of the gaming value compensation system 100, a valuable value management means 102 that acquires and manages valuable value (deposits) provided by the implementation of compensation for saved balls from the compensation management unit 31 of the management business operator 30, a recording means 103 that records the valuable value acquired by the valuable value management means 102, an identity verification means 104 that verifies the identity of the compensation recipient 20b, and a communication means 105 that enables the gaming value compensation system 100 to communicate with external devices. The control means 101 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU that performs various processes according to a program, a ROM that is a recording device that records electronic data such as programs for operating the CPU and can read the recorded electronic data, and a RAM that is a recording device that can both read and write electronic data, and controls each function of the valuable value management means 102, recording means 103, identity verification means 104, communication means 105, etc. that are equipped in the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0042] The valuable value management means 102 acquires valuable value from the compensation management unit 31 of the management business operator 30 based on a compensation request from the compensation recipient 20b who has received notification that the specified compensation requirements have been met. At this time, the valuable value acquired by the valuable value management means 102 is provided by the management business operator 30 through compensation for the saved balls. The valuable value management means 102 then manages the valuable value as a deposit at another store (valuable value deposited at another store), which is valuable associated with the other store 60, thereby making the valuable value provided by the compensation management unit 31 of the management business operator 30 usable at the other store 60. Since compensation by the management business operator 30 is made for the "saved balls" that can only be used by the member 20a deposited at the gaming facility 10, the amount of the valuable value corresponds to the number of saved balls deposited by the member 20a at the gaming facility 10. The valuable value management means 102 acquires all of the valuable value equivalent to this number of saved balls. In the gaming value compensation system 100, an example is shown in which the valuable value management means 102 acquires all of the valuable provided by the management business operator 30 through compensation, but the valuable value management means 102 may acquire only a portion of the valuable provided by the management business operator 30 as compensation for saved balls, or the valuable value management means 102 may be able to set whether to acquire all or a portion of the provided valuable value according to the wishes of the compensation recipient 20b. In addition, when only a portion of the valuable value is acquired from the compensation management unit 31 of the management business operator 30, the unacquired valuable value may be used to provide general prizes as before, or may be used to pay various expenses such as fees incurred when the valuable value is transferred from the management business operator 30 to the gaming value compensation system 100 of the settlement company 50.

[0043] Here, the predetermined compensation requirement is that the management of stored balls becomes impossible at the gaming facility 10. The inability to manage stored balls means that the management of stored balls becomes impossible when the management device 11 of the gaming facility 10 that manages stored ball information is damaged or lost due to a disaster or the like, or when the gaming facility 10 goes out of business due to reasons such as bankruptcy. As described above, the compensation request from the compensation recipient 20b includes a compensation request requesting valuable value (deposit) to compensate for the saved balls from the management business operator 30, and a compensation utilization request requesting that the gaming value compensation system 100 manage the valuable value compensated based on the compensation request as a deposit at another store (valuable value deposited at another store). Therefore, when the compensation recipient 20b wishes to be compensated for the saved balls, he or she makes a compensation request requesting valuable value to the management business operator 30, and also makes a compensation utilization request requesting that the gaming value compensation system 100 manage the valuable value as a deposit at another store. At this time, the compensation request and compensation utilization request are transmitted from the compensation recipient terminal 21, the compensation request to the management business operator 30 is accepted by the compensation management means 31c of the management business operator 30, and the compensation utilization request to the gaming value compensation system 100 is accepted by the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 100 via the management device 61 of the other store 60. When a compensation request (a compensation request and a compensation use request) is sent from the compensation recipient terminal 21, it may be sent through an application installed on the compensation recipient terminal 21 or by other communication means such as e-mail. Also, the system may be configured so that a compensation request can be made without using the compensation recipient terminal 21, in which case it may be sent by mail such as a postcard. In addition, the compensation request (request for compensation and request for compensation use) includes personal information about the compensation recipient 20b, such as the name, date of birth, address, telephone number, email address, and PIN number set as membership information at the gaming facility 10, entered or written by the compensation recipient 20b.

[0044] When compensation recipient 20b makes a compensation request, management business operator 30 compensates for the stored balls based on this compensation request. Compensation for the stored balls is implemented by a transfer of valuable (deposit) from compensation management unit 31 of management business operator 30 to valuable value management means 102. At this time, the acceptance of the compensation request from compensation recipient 20b, the transfer of valuable to valuable value management means 102, and the recording of valuable at management business operator 30 are managed by compensation management unit 31 provided in management business operator 30. When compensation management unit 31 accepts the compensation request and becomes able to implement compensation for the stored balls, it notifies valuable value management means 102 to that effect, and upon receiving the notification from compensation management unit 31, valuable value management means 102 requests compensation management unit 31 to acquire valuable. In response, compensation management unit 31, which has accepted the request to acquire valuable, transfers (provides) the valuable to valuable management means 102. In this way, the valuable management means 102 acquires the valuable from the compensation management unit 31 of the management business operator 30, and records the acquired valuable in the recording means 103 for management.

[0045] Thereafter, when the valuable management means 102 receives a compensation utilization request from the compensated person 20b via the management device 61 of the other store 60, the valuable recorded in the recording means 103 by the valuable management means 102 is associated with the other store 60 and managed as a deposit at the other store (valuable value deposited at the other store). At this time, the compensation utilization request received by the valuable management means 102 includes a gaming store designation that specifies the gaming store at which the compensated person 20b wishes to continue playing using the deposit at the other store. Therefore, the valuable management means 102 determines that the gaming store designated by the gaming store designation is the other store 60 to which the valuable should be associated, and manages the valuable as a deposit at the other store in association with the other store 60. In addition, the gaming store designation may be included from the beginning in the compensation use request from the compensation recipient 20b, or may be added by the management device 61 of the other store 60 when the compensation use request from the compensation recipient 20b passes through the management device 61 of the other store 60.

[0046] The valuable management means 102 is also provided with a usage restriction function. Therefore, the valuable management means 102 manages the valuable as a deposit at another store only when the usage restriction function confirms that the compensated person 20b is the correct person. Specifically, the valuable management means 102 associates the valuable with the other store 60 and manages it as a deposit at another store only when, in addition to receiving a compensation use request from the compensated person 20b, the identity of the compensated person 20b can be confirmed by the identity confirmation means 104, which will be described later. Furthermore, when the valuable management means 102 manages the valuable as a deposit at another store, it notifies the other store 60 of this fact. This allows the other store 60 to know that the valuable is now available as a deposit at another store, allowing the compensated person 20b to play games at the other store 60 using the deposit at another store. The deposit at another store is recorded in the recording means 103, similar to the valuable provided by the compensation management unit 31.

[0047] Furthermore, the valuable management means 102 has a fee collection function for collecting a usage fee from both or either the compensated person 20b and the other store 60 when managing the valuable as a deposit at another store. Specifically, when the valuable management means 102 associates the valuable recorded in the recording means 103 with the other store 60 and manages it as a deposit at another store, if the usage fee is to be collected from the compensated person 20b, the valuable management means 102 deducts the usage fee from the valuable and treats the remaining amount after deducting the usage fee from the valuable as the deposit at the other store. For example, if the valuable (deposit) is 40,000 yen and the usage fee is 2,000 yen, the remaining amount of 38,000 yen obtained by subtracting the usage fee of 2,000 yen from the valuable of 40,000 yen becomes the deposit at the other store. This ensures that the usage fee can be collected from the compensated person 20b. Furthermore, when collecting a usage fee from the other store 60, for example, after managing the valuable (deposit) recorded in the recording means 103 as a deposit from the other store, if the deposit from the other store is used by the person to be compensated 20b at the other store 60, payment of a usage fee of 2,000 yen may be requested from the other store 60. It is possible to arbitrarily set whether to collect a usage fee from both or either the person to be compensated 20b and the other store 60.

[0048] Furthermore, the valuable management means 102 has a fee distribution function for distributing the usage fee collected as described above. When managing valuable (deposits) as deposits at other stores, the valuable management means 102 distributes a portion of the usage fee collected from both or either of the compensated person 20b and the other store 60 to another party, for example, the management business operator 30. Specifically, in the case of collecting a usage fee from the compensated person 20b described above, a portion (1,000 yen) of the 2,000 yen usage fee collected from the compensated person 20b is distributed to the management business operator 30. Note that the distribution destination of the collected usage fee is not limited to the management business operator 30, and may be, for example, another business operator or organization such as a system management company responsible for the maintenance and management of the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0049] The valuable management means 102 also has a same-day transfer restriction function that manages the valuable (deposit) as a deposit from another store from the day after the date on which the valuable (deposit) was acquired. The valuable management means 102 records the date on which the valuable was acquired from the compensation management means 31c of the management business operator 30, and when it detects that the date is the next day or later, it manages the acquired valuable as a deposit from another store. In this way, by making the valuable acquired by the valuable management means 102 for the other store 60 a deposit from the day after the acquisition date, when the valuable is managed as a deposit from another store, the valuable is considered to have been deposited on or before the previous day, and therefore, in principle, cannot be refunded or exchanged for cash at the other store 60. This prevents the deposit from being used at gaming facilities other than the other store 60, and allows it to be used reliably at the other store 60, just like saved balls deposited to continue playing. The date can be detected by providing the valuable value management means 102 with a calendar function or the like.

[0050] The recording means 103 records valuables such as the valuables (deposits) acquired from the compensation management unit 31 and the other-store deposits that are valuables associated with the other stores 60. For example, the recording means 103 records the valuables and the other-store deposits in a recording device capable of recording electronic data, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), that is provided in the playing value compensation system 100. Also, for example, the recording means 103 may record the valuables and the other-store deposits in a recording device provided outside the playing value compensation system 100, separate from the recording device, or may record the valuables and the other-store deposits in a recording device on a cloud computing system connected to the playing value compensation system 100 via the communication means 105.

[0051] The identity verification means 104 performs identity verification of the compensated person 20b. The identity verification of the compensated person 20b is performed by the identity verification unit 32 provided in the management business operator 30, and the identity verification means 104 acquires the determination result and performs identity verification. Specifically, the identity verification of the compensated person 20b is performed by the identity verification unit 32 of the management business operator 30, upon receiving an identity verification request from the compensated person 20b via the management device 61 of the other store 60, which requests identity verification to verify whether the compensated person 20b is the person in question. Then, the response to the identity verification request from the identity verification unit 32, in other words, the determination result of the identity verification performed by the identity verification unit 32, is acquired by the identity verification means 104 as identity verification information (information that can verify that the compensated person 20b is the person in question). As will be described later, the identity verification unit 32 of the management company 30 is capable of verifying whether the compensation recipient 20b is the person in question, and notifies the result to the identity verification means 104 as identity verification information. Then, the identity verification means 104 that has acquired the identity verification information performs identity verification based on the identity verification information, and when the identity of the compensation recipient 20b is verified, it notifies the valuable management means 102 to that effect. The mechanism by which the request for personal identification is transmitted from the compensation recipient 20b to the personal identification unit 32 of the management company 30 via the management device 61 of the other store 60 will be described later.

[0052] The communication means 105 is connected to a network such as the Internet by wire or wirelessly, and communicates with external devices provided outside the gaming value compensation system 100. Specifically, the communication means 105 communicates with external devices such as the communication means 34 provided in the management business operator 30, the communication means 61d of the management device 61 provided in another store 60, and recording devices such as HDDs and SSDs provided outside the gaming value compensation system 100 or recording devices on cloud computing, and transmits and receives information to and from each other.

[0053] The amusement facility 10 is equipped with a management device 11 that collectively manages the membership information and ball storage information of members 20a who have registered with the amusement facility 10, a recording medium management device 12 that manages recording media (e.g., IC cards) issued by the amusement facility 10 to players 20, a gaming device 13 that accepts the recording media and lends gaming media such as gaming balls to be used in games, and a gaming machine 14 that is a pachinko machine that can be played using the gaming balls loaned from the gaming device 13. The management device 11 is equipped with a control means 11a that controls each function of the management device 11, a ball storage management means 11b that manages ball storage information, a member information management means 11c that manages member information of member 20a, and a communication means 11d that enables the management device 11 to communicate with external devices, and is connected to the recording medium management device 12, gaming device 13, and gaming machine 14 so that they can communicate with each other via this communication means 11d.

[0054] The control means 11a of the management device 11 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU that performs various processes according to a program, and ROM and RAM that serve as recording devices, and controls the ball storage management means 11b, member information management means 11c, and communication means 11d. When the member 20a wishes to carry over the acquired gaming media to the next day or later and continue playing, the saved ball management means 11b records the gaming media deposited at the gaming facility 10 as saved balls, associates them with the member information of the member 20a, and records and manages saved ball information. The saved ball management means 11b also transmits this saved ball information to the saved gaming medium information management unit 33 of the management business 30 via the communication means 11d, and reports the number of saved balls, etc. The saved ball information may be saved ball information that is finalized when the gaming facility 10 closes, or the latest saved ball information may be transmitted each time the saved ball information is updated. The member information management means 11c records and manages member information of the member 20a who has registered as a member at the gaming establishment 10. The member information includes the name, date of birth, address, telephone number, email address, personal identification number set by the gaming establishment 10, recording medium identification information (e.g., card ID) of the recording medium issued by the recording medium management device 12 described below, and unique mobile terminal identification information of the compensated person terminal 21 owned by the member 20a, such as an International Mobile Equipment Identifier. The communication means 11d is connected to a network such as the Internet via wired or wireless means, and communicates with external devices located outside the management device 11, such as the recording medium management device 12, gaming device 13, gaming machine 14, and external devices such as the gaming medium information management unit 33 of the management operator 30.

[0055] The recording medium management device 12 issues recording media to players 20 and manages the recording media. The recording media include general recording media (not shown) issued to players 20 who are not registered as members of the gaming establishment 10, and member recording media 70 issued to players 20 who are members 20a who are registered as members of the gaming establishment 10. The recording medium management device 12 writes predetermined information to the general recording media and the member recording media 70, and issues these recording media to players 20. When issuing the member recording media 70 to the member 20a, the recording medium management device 12 associates recording medium identification information (e.g., a card ID) that is unique identification information of the member recording media 70 with the personal information of the member 20a, and also associates the international mobile equipment identification number of the compensated person terminal 21 owned by the member 20a with the recording medium identification information of the member recording media 70, and notifies the member information management means 11c of this as part of the member information.

[0056] The gaming device 13 and the gaming machine 14 are installed in correspondence with each other. The gaming device 13 accepts the recording medium issued by the recording medium management device 12 and lends gaming balls, which are gaming media, to the player 20 at a predetermined lending rate in exchange for debiting prepaid value associated with the recording medium (value paid in advance to the gaming facility 10). The player 20 can use the loaned gaming balls to start playing on the gaming machine 14 corresponding to the gaming device 13. In the gaming machine 14, the game progresses as gaming balls are shot onto the gaming board, and when the gaming balls pass through multiple winning areas (winning holes) provided on the gaming board, a predetermined number of gaming balls are awarded to the player 20 as prize gaming media. These prize gaming media become the balls that the player 20 has acquired through the game.

[0057] The management business operator 30 manages, as a third party, the saved game medium information (saved ball information), which is information relating to saved balls recorded in the gaming establishment 10, and performs compensation for the saved balls on behalf of the compensation organization 40. To this end, the management business operator 30 is provided with a compensation management unit 31 for collectively managing the reception of compensation requests from the compensated person 20b, the transfer of valuables to the valuable management means 102, and the recording of valuables at the management business operator 30, an identity verification unit 32 for verifying the identity of the compensated person 20b in response to an identity verification request to confirm whether the compensated person 20b is the person in question, a saved game medium information management unit 33 for managing the saved ball information reported from the gaming establishment 10, and a communication means 34 for communicating with external devices. The compensation management unit 31 has a control means 31a that controls each function of the compensation management unit 31, a compensation notification means 31b that notifies the member 20a of compensation notification (notification that the specified compensation requirements have been met), a compensation management means 31c that records and manages the value at the management business operator 30 and manages the reception of compensation requests and the transfer of valuables, and a compensation claim means 31d that claims expenses related to the implementation of compensation from the compensation organization 40. Furthermore, the identity verification unit 32 has a control means 32a that controls each function of the identity verification unit 32 and an identity verification means 32b that verifies whether the compensation recipient 20b is the person in question to verify their identity, and the saved game medium information management unit 33 has a control means 33a that controls each function of the saved game medium information management unit 33 and a saved game medium information management means 33b that manages saved ball information.

[0058] The control means 31a of the compensation management unit 31 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU that performs various processes according to a program, and ROM and RAM that serve as recording devices, and controls each function of the compensation notification means 31b, compensation management means 31c, compensation claim means 31d, etc. When the predetermined compensation requirements are met, the compensation notification means 31b receives a notification from the gaming facility 10 and issues an acquisition request to the gaming medium information management means 33b of the gaming medium information management unit 33 to acquire backup data of the latest saved ball information (saved gaming medium information) managed by the saved gaming medium information management means 33b. In response to the acquisition request, the saved gaming medium information management means 33b provides the compensation notification means 31b with the backup data of the latest saved ball information. Based on the member information of the member 20a of the gaming facility 10 among the saved ball information, the compensation notification means 31b notifies the member 20a who has saved balls at the gaming facility 10 of the compensation notification (notification that the predetermined compensation requirements have been met). At this time, the compensation notification is notified to the compensated person terminal 21. The notification to the member 20a may be sent via an application installed on the compensated person terminal 21, or by email using the email address included in the member information. Furthermore, if the notification is not sent to the compensation recipient terminal 21, the notification may be sent by mail such as a postcard addressed to the address included in the member information.

[0059] The compensation management means 31c records the value at the management business operator 30 in a recording device such as an HDD or SSD, or a recording device on a cloud computing system, and manages the deposit and withdrawal of the value. Furthermore, the compensation management means 31c accepts compensation requests made to the management business operator 30 from compensation recipients 20b, who are members 20a who have received a compensation notice (notice that the specified compensation requirements have been met), and provides compensation for the saved balls based on the compensation request. Specifically, based on the compensation request, the compensation management means 31c makes an acquisition request to the saved game medium information management means 33b to acquire backup data of the latest saved ball information (saved game medium information). In response to the acquisition request, the saved game medium information management means 33b provides the compensation management means 31c with backup data of the latest saved ball information. The compensation management means 31c then provides the value (deposit) equivalent to the saved balls based on the number of saved balls for each compensated recipient 20b from the saved ball information. This provision of valuable value is carried out when compensation management means 31c, which has received a compensation request and is now able to compensate for the saved balls, notifies valuable value management means 102 that it is able to compensate for the saved balls, and awaits an acquisition request from valuable value management means 102 that has received the notification. Upon receiving an acquisition request from valuable value management means 102, compensation management means 31c transfers valuable equivalent to the saved balls to valuable value management means 102 to provide the valuable, in other words, compensate for the saved balls. The transfer of valuable (deposit) may be a remittance to valuable value management means 102 or a transfer of funds to valuable value management means 102. After providing the valuable, compensation management means 31c updates and records the amount of valuable withdrawn, the remaining amount of valuable at management business operator 30, etc.

[0060] The compensation claim means 31d claims the expenses incurred in carrying out the compensation for the saved balls from the compensation organization 40. Specifically, the compensation claim means 31d claims the expenses equivalent to the total amount of valuable value transferred to the valuable value management means 102 and the fees for transferring the valuable value as expenses incurred in carrying out the compensation for the saved balls from the saved game medium compensation settlement means 41 provided in the compensation organization 40. Then, in response to the claim, the saved game medium compensation settlement means 41 of the compensation organization 40 pays the expenses, including the amount equivalent to the valuable value provided to the valuable value management means 102 by the management business operator 30 in carrying out the compensation for the saved balls. In this way, in the saved game ball compensation system using the gaming value compensation system 100, the expenses related to carrying out the compensation for the saved balls are finally settled by the compensation organization 40. The claim from the compensation claim means 31d to the saved game medium compensation settlement means 41 may be made via a network such as the Internet via the communication means 34, or may be made by mail.

[0061] The control means 32a of the identity verification unit 32 is made up of a microcomputer including a CPU that performs various processes according to a program, and a ROM and RAM that serve as storage devices, and controls the functions of the identity verification means 32b. The identity verification means 32b receives an identity verification request to verify whether the compensated person 20b is the person in question, and performs identity verification of the compensated person 20b, in other words, determines whether the compensated person 20b is the person in question. The identity verification request is transmitted by the compensated person 20b who has made the compensation request having the recording medium management device 62 installed in the other arcade 60 read the member's recording medium 70, which is a recording medium issued to the member 20a by the gaming facility 10. Specifically, when the compensated person 20b brings the member's recording medium 70 of the gaming facility 10 to the other arcade 60 and has the recording medium management device 62 of the other arcade 60 read the member's recording medium 70, the recording medium identification information (e.g., a card ID), which is unique identification information recorded on the member's recording medium 70, is read, and the identity verification request together with the recording medium identification information is transmitted via the management device 61 of the other arcade 60 to the identity verification means 32b of the management business 30. Upon receiving the identity verification request, the identity verification means 32b collates the received recording medium identification information with the recording medium identification information of the member information in the saved ball information to identify the member information linked to the received recording medium identification information. Furthermore, the identity verification means 32b acquires personal information about the compensation recipient 20b included in either or both of the compensation request request and the compensation use request from the compensation recipient 20b, and collates this personal information with the identified member information to determine whether the person is the person in question and verify their identity. The identity verification means 32b then notifies the identity verification means 104 of the gaming value compensation system 100 of the determination result as a response (identification information) to the identity verification request. The identity verification means 32b may determine whether the person is the same as the person in question by, for example, verifying the specified member information with the member information of the person to be compensated 20b who has been notified of the compensation notification by the compensation notification means 31b, or may request the person to be compensated 20b to enter a PIN number set as member information at the gaming facility 10 when the member recording medium 70 is read by the recording medium management device 62, and the entered PIN number is sent together with a request for identity verification, and the determination may be made by verifying the PIN number. Also, the above-mentioned "recording medium identification information" corresponds to "member identification information" which is information for identifying the member 20a.

[0062] The control means 33a of the stored game medium information management unit 33 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU that performs various processes according to a program, and a ROM and RAM that serve as recording devices, and controls the functions of the stored game medium information management means 33b. The saved game medium information management means 33b receives reports of saved ball information (saved game medium information) from the gaming facility 10 and manages the saved ball information as backup data. Specifically, the gaming facility 10 reports saved ball information, for example, at closing time, to the saved game medium information management means 33b of the management business operator 30, and the reported saved ball information is mirrored as is by the saved game medium information management means 33b and recorded as backup data. Then, when a predetermined compensation condition is met, in other words, when the gaming facility 10 is unable to manage saved game media, the latest backup data of saved ball information is notified to the compensation notification means 31b and the compensation management means 31c in response to a request for backup data of saved ball information (saved game medium information) from the compensation notification means 31b and the compensation management means 31c of the compensation management unit 31. In addition, the recording medium on which the game medium information management means 33b records backup data may be a recording device such as an HDD or SSD provided in the game medium information management means 33b, or it may be a recording device provided outside the game medium information management means 33b, or a recording device on a cloud computing system connected to the game medium information management means 33b via communication means 34.

[0063] The communication means 34 of the management business operator 30 is connected to a network such as the Internet by wire or wirelessly, and communicates with external devices provided outside the management business operator 30. Specifically, the communication means 34 communicates with the communication means 105 provided in the gaming value compensation system 100, the communication means 61d of the management device 61 provided in another store 60, and external devices such as recording devices such as HDDs and SSDs provided outside the gaming medium information management means 33b and recording devices on cloud computing, and transmits and receives information between them.

[0064] Compensation organization 40 is a specified organization such as a saved ball compensation fund that settles expenses incurred in implementing the compensation for saved balls in response to a request from management business operator 30, which implements compensation for saved balls (saved gaming media) on behalf of compensation organization 40. In a saved ball compensation system using gaming value compensation system 100, compensation for saved balls is implemented by management business operator 30 on behalf of compensation organization 40. However, since all expenses incurred in implementing the compensation are settled by compensation organization 40 after the fact, compensation for saved balls is essentially implemented by compensation organization 40. For this reason, compensation organization 40 is provided with saved gaming media compensation settlement means 41. When a predetermined compensation requirement (the gaming facility 10 becomes unable to manage the stored balls) is met and the management business operator 30 compensates for the stored balls, the stored gaming medium compensation settlement means 41 pays money to the management business operator 30 in response to a request from the compensation management department 31 of the management business operator 30 to settle expenses equivalent to the total amount of valuable value (equivalent to the deposit) provided by the compensation for the stored balls and the total amount of fees for transferring the valuable value. This payment (settlement) of money may be a deposit into an account such as a transfer, or may be a remittance or fund transfer.

[0065] Similar to the gaming establishment 10, the other establishment 60 is equipped with a management device 61 that collectively manages the membership information and ball storage information of the members 20a who have registered with the other establishment 60, a recording medium management device 62 that manages the recording media issued by the other establishment 60 to the players 20, a gaming device 63 that accepts the recording media and lends gaming media such as gaming balls to be used in games, and a gaming machine 64 that is a pachinko machine that can be played using the gaming balls lent from the gaming device 63. Similar to the management device 11 of the gaming facility 10, the management device 61 comprises control means 61a for controlling each function of the management device 61, stored ball management means 61b for managing stored ball information, member information management means 61c for managing member information of the member 20a, and communication means 61d for the management device 61 to communicate with external devices, and further comprises deposit management means 61e for withdrawing and managing deposits at other stores managed by the settlement company 50 for use at the other store 60. Note that the stored ball management means 61b and communication means 61d in the management device 61 are similar to those in the management device 11 of the gaming facility 10, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0066] In addition to having the same functions as the member information management means 11c of the gaming establishment 10, the member information management means 61c has an identity verification request transmission function that, when a member recording medium 70 of the gaming establishment 10 is accepted by the recording medium management device 62 described below, transmits an identity verification request to the identity verification unit 32 of the management business operator 30 based on the recording medium identification information (card ID) of this member recording medium 70. Specifically, upon receiving notification of the recording medium identification information (card ID) from the recording medium management device 62, the member information management means 61c transmits this recording medium identification information to the identity verification unit 32 together with the identity verification request. The recording medium management device 62 of the other arcade 60 has the same functions as the member information management means 11c of the gaming facility 10, and also has an external recording medium reading function that allows it to read information from recording media other than its own arcade. Therefore, in addition to recording media issued by the recording medium management device 62 itself, the recording medium management device 62 can accept member recording media 70 issued to members 20a of the gaming facility 10 from among recording media issued by the gaming facility 10. For example, the recording medium management device 62 accepts a member recording medium 70 issued by the gaming facility 10 and reads the recording medium identification information (card ID) recorded on this member recording medium 70. The recording medium management device 62 then notifies the member information management means 61c of the read recording medium identification information (card ID).

[0067] The deposit management means 61e accepts a compensation utilization request made to the other store 60 by the compensation recipient 20b, and notifies the compensation utilization request to the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 100 of the settlement company 50. Furthermore, when the valuable (deposit) provided to the valuable management means 102 by the compensation of saved balls is managed by the valuable management means 102 as a deposit at another store based on a compensation request including a compensation utilization request, the deposit management means 61e debits the deposit at another store from the valuable management means 102 and records and manages it for use at the other store 60. The recording and management of the deposit at another store may be performed using an account separately set up at the other store 60, or may be performed using a recording device such as an HDD or SSD provided in the management device 61, or may be performed using the recording device, or may be performed using a recording device provided external to the management device 61. The withdrawn deposit from the other store may be converted into gaming balls in accordance with the rental rate of gaming balls at the other store 60 and used, or may be used to exchange for general prizes or special prizes that can be exchanged for gaming balls at the other store 60 (prizes that the player 20 can bring to a prize exchange and have purchased at a predetermined market price), or may be used for various services such as beverage services provided at the other store 60. Furthermore, if the withdrawn deposit from the other store has a remainder that cannot be used up even after conversion into gaming balls, exchange for general prizes or special prizes, or various services provided at the other store 60, the compensated person 20b may make an additional deposit to use up the remainder, or the remainder may be recorded as an unrealized gain at the other store 60. The remainder may also be collected as an additional part of the usage fee, or the remainder may be refunded to the compensation organization 40 via the management business operator 30. The gaming devices 63 and gaming machines 64 installed in the other arcade 60 are similar to the gaming devices 13 and gaming machines 14 in the arcade 10, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] Figure 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the process from when the gaming facility 10 reports the saved balls to the management company 30, to when the deposits from other facilities become available at the other facility 60 and the expenses related to the implementation of compensation are settled. First, the gaming facility 10 transmits stored ball information to the gaming medium information management unit 33 of the management business operator 30, and when the number of stored balls and the like are reported, the received stored ball information is managed as backup data in the gaming medium information management unit 33. If the gaming facility 10 subsequently goes out of business due to reasons such as bankruptcy, this fact is notified to the compensation management unit 31 of the management business operator 30. Upon receiving this notification, the compensation management unit 31 requests the gaming medium information management unit 33 to acquire backup data of the stored ball information (storage medium information), and the gaming medium information management unit 33, upon receiving this request, provides the compensation management unit 31 with the latest backup data of the stored ball information. Thereafter, the compensation management unit 31 provides compensation information to the member 20a (notifying that the specified compensation requirements have been met) based on the backup data of the stored ball information.

[0069] Next, the compensation recipient 20b, who is the member 20a who has received the compensation notice from the compensation management unit 31 of the management business operator 30, makes a compensation request to the compensation management unit 31 in response to the compensation notice. The compensation management unit 31, which has received the compensation request, then makes an acquisition request to the game storage medium information management unit 33 to acquire backup data of the saved ball information based on the compensation request. In response to the acquisition request, the game storage medium information management unit 33 provides the backup data of the saved ball information to the compensation management unit 31, and the compensation management unit 31 becomes able to compensate for the saved balls. At this stage, the compensation management unit 31 notifies the valuable management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 100 at the settlement company 50 that compensation for the saved balls is possible. Upon receiving this notification, the valuable management means 102 makes a request to the compensation management unit 31 to acquire valuable value (deposit). The compensation management unit 31, which has received the acquisition request from the valuable value management means 102, transfers the valuable (deposit) to the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 100. Then, in the gaming value compensation system 100, the valuable acquired by the valuable value management means 102 is recorded in the recording means 103.

[0070] On the other hand, the compensation recipient 20b makes a compensation utilization request to the gaming value compensation system 100 via the other store 60. At this time, the compensation utilization request transmitted from the compensation recipient terminal 21 is made to the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 100 via the management device 61 of the other store 60. Meanwhile, the compensated person 20b makes an identity verification request to the identity verification unit 32 of the management company 30 via the other store 60. At this time, the compensated person 20b brings the member's recording medium 70 (member's IC card) of the gaming facility 10 that he or she owns to the other store 60 and has the recording medium management device 62 installed in the other store 60 read the member's recording medium 70 of the gaming facility 10. Then, the recording medium management device 62 transmits the identity verification request to the identity verification unit 32 of the management company 30 via the management device 61 of the other store 60. Then, when the identity verification unit 32 determines whether the compensated person 20b has been verified, the determination result is notified to the identity verification means 104 of the gaming value compensation system 100 as identity verification information. Thereafter, in the gaming value compensation system 100, the identity verification means 104 performs identity verification of the compensated person 20b based on the identity verification information, and if the identity is verified, the valuable value management means 102 is notified of this fact. In this case, in the gaming value compensation system 100, the valuable value management means 102 manages the acquired valuable value (deposit) as a deposit at the other store 60 based on the compensation request including the compensation request and the compensation use request and the identity verification of the compensation recipient 20b by the identity verification means 104, and notifies the other store 60 of this fact. When the other store 60 receives this notification, the deposit management means 61e of the management device 61 withdraws the other store's deposit from the valuable value management means 102, thereby enabling the other store 60 to play using the other store's deposit. At this time, although not shown in the figure, the deposit management means 61e may withdraw and manage all of the other store's deposits at once from the valuable value management means 102, or may withdraw and manage a predetermined amount of the other store's deposit each time in response to a request from the compensated person 20b. Then, the other store's deposit managed by the deposit management means 61e of the other store 60 is converted into gaming balls in accordance with the gaming ball rental rate at the other store 60, allowing the compensated person 20b to continue playing using the gaming balls. Thereafter, the compensation claim means 31d in the compensation management department 31 of the management business operator 30 makes a claim to the gaming medium compensation settlement means 41 of the compensation organization 40 for expenses incurred in implementing the compensation for the saved balls, and in response to the claim, the gaming medium compensation settlement means 41 pays (settles) the expenses related to implementing the compensation for the saved balls.

[0071] In the above example, the valuable management means 102 is shown as making a request to the compensation management unit 31 to acquire valuable (deposit) immediately after receiving notification from the compensation management unit 31 that compensation for the stored balls can be implemented, but the timing at which the valuable management means 102 makes a request to acquire valuable can be set as desired. For example, instead of making a request to acquire valuable (deposit) immediately after receiving notification from the compensation management unit 31 that compensation for the stored balls can be implemented, the valuable management means 102 may be configured to wait for the receipt of a compensation use request or personal identification information from the compensated person 20b, and then make a request to the compensation management unit 31 to acquire valuable (deposit) after receiving the compensation use request or after the personal identification of the compensated person 20b, as shown in Figure 5. By configuring it in this manner, the valuable value can be acquired and managed as a deposit at another store 60 when the compensation recipient 20b's intention to use the valuable value (deposit) at another store 60 becomes more certain, making it easier for the settlement company 50 to manage the valuable value.

[0072] Second Embodiment Next, a gaming value compensation system 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 110. Since the gaming value compensation system 110 has the same functions as the gaming value compensation system 100, the following description will focus on the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 110 that differs from that of the gaming value compensation system 100. Furthermore, since the gaming establishment 10, management business operator 30, compensation organization 40, settlement company 50, other establishment 60, and compensation recipient terminal 21 each have the same functions as those described in the description of the gaming value compensation system 100, the following description will focus on the differences between using the gaming value compensation system 110 and using the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0073] In the gaming value compensation system 110, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone owned by the person to be compensated 20b is used as the person to be compensated terminal 21. In addition, in the gaming value compensation system 110, the person to be compensated terminal 21 is associated with a member's recording medium 70, and the international mobile device identification number, which is mobile terminal identification information unique to the person to be compensated terminal 21, is registered in advance as member information. In the gaming value compensation system 110, the request for identity verification is not transmitted to the identity verification unit 32 of the management company 30 by the person to be compensated 20b bringing the member's recording medium 70 to another store 60 and having the recording medium management device 62 read it, but rather, as shown in FIG. 6 , the request for identity verification is transmitted to the identity verification unit 32′ of the management company 30 from the person to be compensated 20b's terminal 21 associated with the member's recording medium 70 owned by the person to be compensated 20b. In other words, in the gaming value compensation system 110, the request for identity verification is transmitted to the management company 30 directly from the person to be compensated 20b, without going through the other store 60. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, which is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow from reporting saved balls to the management company 30 to the other store 60 being able to use the deposit at that store and the settlement of expenses related to the implementation of compensation, in the gaming value compensation system 110, a request for identity verification is sent directly from the compensation recipient 20b to the identity verification unit 32' of the management company 30.

[0074] Furthermore, in the gaming value compensation system 110, when the compensated person 20b transmits an identity verification request from the compensated person terminal 21, the compensated person terminal 21 is required to input personal information of the compensated person 20b, such as the name, date of birth, address, telephone number, email address, and PIN number set by the gaming establishment 10, and an identity verification request to verify whether the compensated person 20b is the person in question is transmitted together with this personal information to the identity verification unit 32′ of the management company 30. Furthermore, the identity verification request in this case includes the international mobile equipment identity number, which is mobile terminal identification information unique to the compensated person terminal 21. Then, the identity verification means 32b' of the identity verification unit 32' identifies member information linked to the international mobile device identification number based on the international mobile device identification number included in the identity verification request received from the compensation recipient terminal 21, and determines whether the person is the person in question (identity verification) by verifying the identified member information with the personal information of the compensation recipient 20b received together with the identity verification request. The identity verification means 32b' then notifies the result to the identity verification means 104 of the gaming value compensation system 110 as a response to the identity verification request (identity verification information). The identity verification means 104 can then obtain the response to the identity verification request from the identity verification unit 32' of the management business operator 30 as identity verification information. Other configurations and flows are the same as those of the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0075] 7 shows a case in which the valuable value management means 102 makes a request to the compensation management unit 31 to acquire valuable value (deposit) immediately after receiving notification from the compensation management unit 31 that compensation for saved balls can be implemented, as in the gaming value compensation system 100 shown in FIG. 4, but the timing at which the valuable value management means 102 makes a request to acquire valuable value can be set arbitrarily, as in the gaming value compensation system 100. Therefore, as in the case of the gaming value compensation system 100 shown in FIG. 5, the valuable value management means 102 may be configured to wait for the receipt of a compensation use request or personal identification information from the compensated person 20b, and then make a request to the compensation management unit 31 to acquire valuable value (deposit) after receiving the compensation use request or after verifying the identity of the compensated person 20b, and acquire the valuable value.

[0076] Third Embodiment Next, a gaming value compensation system 120 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 120. Note that the gaming value compensation system 120 has the same functions as the gaming value compensation system 100, and therefore the following description will focus on the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 120 that differs from that of the gaming value compensation system 100. Furthermore, since the gaming establishment 10, management business operator 30, compensation organization 40, settlement company 50, other establishment 60, and compensation recipient terminal 21 each have the same functions as those described in the description of the gaming value compensation system 100, the following description will focus on the differences between the use of the gaming value compensation system 120 and the use of the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0077] In the gaming value compensation system 120, the compensation management unit 31′ of the management business operator 30 has a compensation use request reception function that enables reception of a compensation use request. Therefore, in the gaming value compensation system 120, a compensation use request transmitted from the compensation recipient terminal 21 is not transmitted to the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 120 of the settlement company 50 via the management device 61 of the other store 60, but is transmitted to the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 120 of the settlement company 50 via the compensation management unit 31′ of the management business operator 30, as shown in FIG. 8 . At this time, the compensation use request received from the compensation recipient terminal 21 is received by the compensation management means 31c′ of the compensation management unit 31′. Then, the compensation management means 31c′ that received the compensation use request transmits the compensation use request to the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 120 of the settlement company 50. In the gaming value compensation system 120, the compensation use request is sent to the settlement company 50 without going through the other store 60, so the compensation use request sent from the compensation recipient terminal 21 is configured to include a gaming store designation from the beginning. In this way, the valuable value management means 102 that receives the compensation use request sent from the compensation recipient terminal 21 makes it clear that the gaming store to which the valuable value (deposit) is to be associated is the other store 60 designated by the gaming store designation. Therefore, the valuable value management means 102 can correctly associate the valuable value (deposit) with the other store 60 and manage it as a deposit at the other store. With the above configuration, the compensation recipient 20b can submit both a compensation request and a compensation utilization request to the management company 30, thereby reducing the hassle for the compensation recipient 20b compared to submitting a compensation utilization request via the other store 60. Furthermore, the settlement company 50 only needs to deal with the management company 30 from the acquisition of valuable value (deposit) to managing the valuable value as a deposit at another store, and only needs to deal with the other store deposit and usage fees with the other store 60, simplifying information management. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9 , which is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the flow from reporting saved balls to the management company 30 to making the other store deposit available at the other store 60 and settling expenses related to compensation implementation, in the gaming value compensation system 120, both the compensation request and the compensation utilization request, i.e., the compensation request, are sent directly from the compensation recipient 20b to the compensation management unit 31′ of the management company 30. Other configurations and processes are similar to those of the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0078] 9 shows a case in which, similar to the gaming value compensation system 100 shown in FIG. 4, the valuable value management means 102 makes a request to the compensation management unit 31′ to acquire valuable (deposit) immediately after receiving notification from the compensation management unit 31′ that compensation for saved balls can be implemented, but the timing at which the valuable value management means 102 makes a request to acquire valuable can be set arbitrarily, similar to the gaming value compensation system 100. Therefore, similar to the gaming value compensation system 100 shown in FIG. 5, the valuable value management means 102 may be configured to wait for the receipt of a compensation use request or personal identification information from the compensation recipient 20b, and then make a request to the compensation management unit 31′ to acquire valuable (deposit) and acquire the valuable after receiving the compensation use request or after verifying the identity of the compensation recipient 20b.

[0079] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a gaming value compensation system 130 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 130. The gaming value compensation system 130 is an embodiment that combines the configurations of both the gaming value compensation system 110 and the gaming value compensation system 120 described above. Therefore, the gaming value compensation system 130 uses a compensation recipient terminal 21, which is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone owned by the compensation recipient 20b and associated with the member's recording medium 70, and an identity verification request is transmitted from the compensation recipient terminal 21 to the identity verification unit 32' of the management company 30. At this time, the identity verification unit 32' receives the identity verification request, as well as personal information and the international mobile device identity number of the compensation recipient 20b, from the compensation recipient terminal 21. Then, in the identity verification unit 32', the identity verification means 32b' identifies member information based on the international mobile device identification number, and collates the identified member information with the personal information of the compensated person 20b to determine whether or not the person is the person in question (identity verification). The identity verification means 32b' then notifies the identity verification means 104 of the gaming value compensation system 130 of the determination result as a response to the identity verification request (identity verification information). Then, the identity verification means 104 can obtain the response to the identity verification request from the identity verification means 32b' of the management business operator 30 as identity verification information.

[0080] Furthermore, in the gaming value compensation system 130, the compensation management unit 31′ of the management business operator 30 has a compensation utilization request reception function that can receive a compensation utilization request, so the compensation utilization request transmitted from the compensation recipient terminal 21 is received by the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 130 at the settlement company 50 via the compensation management unit 31′ of the management business operator 30. At this time, the compensation utilization request is transmitted by the compensation management means 31c′ of the compensation management unit 31′ to the valuable value management means 102 of the gaming value compensation system 130 at the settlement company 50. With this configuration, the compensation recipient 20b can make both a compensation request and a compensation utilization request to the management business operator 30, which reduces the hassle for the compensation recipient 20b compared to when making a compensation utilization request via another store 60. Furthermore, for the settlement company 50, all transactions from acquiring the valuable value (deposit) to managing said valuable value as a deposit at another store are conducted only with the management business operator 30, and only transactions with the other store 60 for the deposit at another store and the usage fee are required, making it easier to manage information. In the gaming value compensation system 130 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 11, which is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the flow from reporting saved balls to the management business operator 30 to making the deposit at another store available for use at the other store 60 and settling the expenses related to the implementation of compensation, compensation requests, including compensation request requests and compensation use requests, and identity verification requests, are all sent directly from the compensation recipient 20b to the management business operator 30. Therefore, the compensation recipient 20b only needs to complete all of the procedures he or she would otherwise have to complete to use valuable value (deposits) as deposits at another store with the management business operator 30, thereby reducing the complexity of the procedures required of the compensation recipient 20b. The other configurations and flows are the same as those of the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0081] 11 also shows a case in which the valuable value management means 102 makes a request to the compensation management unit 31′ to acquire valuable value (deposit) immediately after receiving notification from the compensation management unit 31′ that compensation for saved balls can be implemented, as in the gaming value compensation system 100, but the timing at which the valuable value management means 102 makes a request to acquire valuable value can be set arbitrarily, as in the gaming value compensation system 100. Therefore, as in the case of the gaming value compensation system 100 shown in FIG. 5, the valuable value management means 102 may be configured to wait for the receipt of a compensation use request or personal identification information from the compensated person 20b, and then make a request to the compensation management unit 31′ to acquire valuable value (deposit) after receiving the compensation use request or after verifying the identity of the compensated person 20b, and acquire the valuable value.

[0082] Fifth Embodiment Next, a gaming value compensation system 140 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 140. Since the gaming value compensation system 140 has the same functions as the gaming value compensation system 100, the following description will focus on the configuration of the gaming value compensation system 140 that differs from that of the gaming value compensation system 100. Furthermore, since the gaming facility 10, the compensation organization 40, the other facility 60, and the compensation recipient terminal 21 each have the same functions as those described in the description of the gaming value compensation system 100, the following description will focus on the differences between using the gaming value compensation system 140 and using the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 12 , the gaming value compensation system 140 according to the fifth embodiment is provided within a management business operator 30′, unlike the gaming value compensation system 100 according to the first embodiment which is provided within a settlement company 50. The management business operator 30′ in which the gaming value compensation system 140 is provided has both the configuration of the management business operator 30 and the configuration of the settlement company 50, and performs both the business of the management business operator 30, such as compensation for saved balls, and the business of the settlement company 50, such as management of deposits at other stores (valuable value deposited at other stores). In other words, the management business operator 30′ is operated as a single company that combines the management business operator 30 and the settlement company 50. In the gaming value compensation system 140 provided within such a management business operator 30′, unlike the gaming value compensation system 100, the compensation management unit 31″, the identity verification unit 32″, and the gaming value compensation system 140 transmit and receive various information and acquire valuable value within the management business operator 30′.

[0084] Similar to the gaming value compensation system 100, the gaming value compensation system 140 comprises a control means 101 that controls each function of the gaming value compensation system 140, a valuable value management means 102′ that acquires and manages valuables (deposits) from a compensation management section 31″ provided within the management business operator 30′, a recording means 103 that records the valuables acquired by the valuable management means 102′, an identity verification means 104′ that verifies the identity of the person to be compensated 20b, and a communication means 105 that enables the gaming value compensation system 140 to communicate with external devices. The valuable value management means 102′ acquires valuables from the compensation management section 31″ within the management business operator 30′ based on a compensation request from the person to be compensated 20b, and associates the valuables with the other store 60 to manage them as deposits from the other store (valuable value deposited at the other store). The control means 101, recording means 103, and communication means 105 are the same as those in the gaming value compensation system 100, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0085] When the gaming value compensation system 140 is used, of the compensation requests transmitted from the compensation recipient terminal 21 of the compensation recipient 20b, the compensation request is received by the compensation management means 31c' of the compensation management unit 31'' provided in the management business operator 30', similar to the gaming value compensation system 100. On the other hand, of the compensation requests transmitted from the compensation recipient terminal 21 of the compensation recipient 20b, the compensation utilization request is received by the valuable value management means 102' of the gaming value compensation system 140 provided in the management business operator 30' via the management device 61' of the other store 60. Therefore, when the gaming value compensation system 140 is used, the compensation utilization request made by the compensation recipient 20b to the other store 60 is notified to the valuable value management means 102' of the gaming value compensation system 140 provided in the management business operator 30' by the deposit management means 61e' of the management device 61' of the other store 60. On the other hand, when a compensation request is made by the compensation recipient 20b, compensation for the saved balls is carried out by the management business operator 30' based on this compensation request. At this time, the flow leading up to the implementation of compensation for the saved balls, for example, a notification from the compensation management means 31c'' to the valuable value management means 102' that compensation for the saved balls can be implemented, a request from the valuable value management means 102' to the compensation management means 31c'', and a transfer (provision) of the valuable value from the compensation management means 31c'' to the valuable value management means 102', are the same as in the case of the gaming value compensation system 100, but in the gaming value compensation system 140, the notification that compensation for the saved balls can be implemented, the request to acquire the valuable value, the transfer of the valuable value, etc. are carried out between the compensation management means 31c'' of the compensation management unit 31'' and the valuable value management means 102' of the gaming value compensation system 140, both of which are provided within the management business operator 30'. Furthermore, when the valuable management means 102′ receives a compensation utilization request from the compensation recipient 20b via the management device 61′ of the other store 60, the valuable management means 102′ manages the valuable (deposit) acquired from the compensation management means 31c″ as a deposit at the other store (valuable value deposited at the other store). As a result, the valuable managed by the compensation management unit 31″ within the management business operator 30′ becomes available for use at the other store 60.

[0086] Furthermore, the identity verification means 104′ of the gaming value compensation system 140 performs identity verification by obtaining the identity verification judgment result of the compensation recipient 20b from the identity verification unit 32″ provided in the management business operator 30′ as a response to the identity verification request (identity verification information). As in the gaming value compensation system 100, when the compensation recipient 20b sends an identity verification request via the management device 61′ of the other store 60, the identity verification unit 32″ in the management business operator 30′ determines whether or not the compensation recipient 20b is the person in question by the identity verification means 32b″ of the identity verification unit 32″ that receives this identity verification request. Then, the identity verification means 32b'' notifies the identity verification means 104' of the playing value compensation system 140 provided within the management business operator 30' of the determination result as a response to the identity verification request (identity verification information). In this way, in the playing value compensation system 140, the identity verification means 32b'' of the identity verification unit 32'', both provided within the management business operator 30', notifies the identity verification means 104' of the playing value compensation system 140 of the response to the identity verification request (identity verification information). When configured as a gaming value compensation system provided within the management business operator 30′, like the gaming value compensation system 140, the identity matching unit 32″ and identity verification means 104′ may be configured together as a single means, and this means may determine whether the person to be compensated 20b is the person in question, and if the identity of the person to be compensated 20b is confirmed based on the determination result, this fact may be directly notified to the valuable value management means 102′.

[0087] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow from when the gaming facility 10 reports the saved balls to the management business operator 30′, until the other facility 60 is able to use the deposits from the other facility, and the expenses related to the implementation of the compensation are settled. As shown in FIG. 13, when the gaming value compensation system 140 is used, when the compensation management unit 31″ is ready to implement compensation for the saved balls, the compensation management unit 31″ notifies the valuable value management means 102′ of the gaming value compensation system 140 provided within the management business operator 30′ that the saved balls can be compensated. Similarly, the valuable value management means 102′, which has received this notification, requests the compensation management unit 31″ provided within the management business operator 30′ to acquire the valuable value (deposit), and the compensation management unit 31″, which has accepted the acquisition request from the valuable value management means 102′, transfers the valuable value (deposit) to the valuable value management means 102′ of the gaming value compensation system 140.

[0088] Furthermore, a compensation utilization request transmitted from the compensation recipient terminal 21 of the compensation recipient 20b is made to the valuable value management means 102′ of the gaming value compensation system 140 provided within the management business 30′ via the management device 61′ of the other store 60. Furthermore, when the member's recording medium 70 (member's IC card) of the gaming store 10 held by the compensation recipient 20b is read by the recording medium management device 62 installed in the other store 60, an identity verification request is transmitted to the identity verification unit 32″ of the management business 30′ via the management device 61′ of the other store 60, and the identity verification means 32b″ of the identity verification unit 32″ that has received the identity verification request determines whether the compensation recipient 20b is the person in question. Then, the identity verification means 32b″ notifies the identity verification means 104′ of the gaming value compensation system 140 provided within the management business 30′ of the determination result as a response to the identity verification request (identity verification information). In this way, when the gaming value compensation system 140 is used, some of the processing, such as sending and receiving various information and acquiring valuables, which was previously carried out with the settlement company 50, is carried out within the management company 30's company, but the other configurations and processes are the same as those of the gaming value compensation system 100.

[0089] In the gaming value compensation system 140, similarly to the gaming value compensation system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the timing at which the valuable management means 102′ makes a request to acquire valuable can be set arbitrarily. Therefore, similarly to the gaming value compensation system 100 shown in Fig. 5, the valuable management means 102′ of the gaming value compensation system 140 may be configured to wait for the receipt of a compensation use request or personal identification information from the compensation recipient 20b, and then make a request to acquire valuable (deposit) to the compensation management unit 31′ to acquire the valuable after receiving the compensation use request or after verifying the identity of the compensation recipient 20b.

[0090] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0091] For example, in the first embodiment of the gaming value compensation system 100 to the fifth embodiment of the gaming value compensation system 140 of the present invention, the gaming machines 14, 64 installed in the gaming parlor 10 and the other parlor 60 are pachinko machines, but the gaming machines may be, for example, "reel-type gaming machines" that use gaming medals, or so-called "smart gaming machines" that can be played using predetermined gaming points that are intangible electronic data rather than using physical gaming media such as gaming balls or gaming medals. In such cases, the stored gaming media are gaming medals or predetermined gaming points that are intangible electronic data. In addition, a limit may be placed on the number of gaming media to be compensated, for example, up to 250,000 if the gaming media are gaming balls, or up to 50,000 if the gaming media are gaming medals.

[0092] Furthermore, for example, in the first embodiment of the gaming value compensation system 100 of the present invention, an example has been shown in which the valuable management means 102 has a function for collecting a usage fee, but the amount of the fee to be collected is arbitrary. Furthermore, the valuable management means 102 may be configured without a function for collecting a usage fee, or without a function for distributing a portion of the usage fee. Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the gaming value compensation system 100 of the present invention, an example has been shown in which the valuable management means 102 has a usage restriction function for managing valuables (deposits) as deposits at other stores only when identity verification has been completed by the identity verification means 104. However, the gaming value compensation system 100 may be configured without the identity verification means 104, or the valuable management means 102 may be configured without a usage restriction function. Furthermore, the valuable management means 102 may not have a same-day movement restriction function.

[0093] Furthermore, for example, in the gaming value compensation system 100 of the first embodiment, the gaming value compensation system 120 of the third embodiment, and the gaming value compensation system 140 of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, an example has been shown in which the person to be compensated 20b brings the member's recording medium 70 of the gaming facility 10 to another facility 60 and has this member's recording medium 70 read by the recording medium management device 62 of the other facility 60, and a personal identification request is sent to the personal identification unit 32, 32" of the management business operator 30, 30' via the management device 61, 61' of the other facility 60, but if there is an information terminal such as a personal computer that has the function of being able to read and write various information from a recording medium, the person to be compensated 20b may use this information terminal to have the member's recording medium 70 read, and a personal identification request may be sent from this information terminal to the personal identification unit 32, 32" of the management business operator 30. In this case, the request for personal identification is sent directly from the compensation recipient 20b to the management business operator 30, 30' using the information terminal, without going through the other store 60. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1. Amusement parlor 2. Customers 2a Members (member players) 2b Persons eligible for compensation 3 Management company 4 Compensation Organization (Prescribed Organization) 10. Amusement parlors 11 Management device 11a Control means 11b Ball storage management method 11c Member information management method 11d. Means of communication 12 Recording medium management device 13 Gaming devices 14 Gaming machines (pachinko machines) 20 players 20a Members (member players) 20b Compensated Persons 21 Compensation recipient terminal 21a Control means 21b Input display means 21c Means of communication 30,30′ Management company 31,31′,31″ Compensation Management Department 31a Control means 31b Compensation information means 31c,31c′,31c″ Compensation management means 31d Means for claiming compensation 32, 32', 32" Identity verification section 32a Control means 32b, 32b', 32b" Identity verification means 33 Storage game media information management department 33a Control means 33b Storage game media information management means 34 Means of communication 40 Compensation Organization (Prescribed Organization) 41 Storage game media compensation settlement means 50 payment companies 60 Amusement parlors (other stores) 61,61′ Management device 61a Control means 61b Storage ball management method 61c Member information management means 61d Means of communication 61e, 61e′ Deposit management means 62 Recording Media Management Device 63 Gaming devices 64 Gaming machines (pachinko machines) 70 Member's Recording Media 100,110,120,130,140 Gaming Value Compensation System 101 Control means 102,102' Value Management Instruments 103 Recording means 104,104' Identity verification method 105 Means of communication

Claims

1. A gaming value compensation system for allowing a player who is a member of a gaming establishment to use gaming value that can be used at the gaming establishment as valuable value at another gaming establishment other than the gaming establishment, comprising: a valuable management means for acquiring all or part of the valuable equivalent to the gaming value based on a compensation request from the person to be compensated, who is the player, who has received notification that a predetermined compensation requirement has been met, and managing the valuable as a valuable held at the other store and associated with the other store, thereby enabling the valuable to be used at the other store; A gaming value compensation system characterized by:

2. The gaming value is a gaming medium deposited in the gaming establishment, The predetermined compensation requirement is that the gaming establishment becomes unable to manage the gaming medium, The information is provided to the player by a management company that manages, as a third party, the stored gaming medium information, which is information about the stored gaming medium recorded at the gaming establishment, The compensation request includes a compensation request for requesting the management business operator for the valuable to compensate for the gaming medium, and a compensation utilization request for requesting the valuable management means to manage the valuable to be compensated based on the compensation request as the valuable held at the other store, The valuable management means acquires the valuable from a compensation management unit that manages the valuable at the management company.

2. The gaming value compensation system according to claim 1.

3. an identity verification means for acquiring identity verification information that can verify that the person to be compensated is the person himself / herself, the valuable management means has a usage restriction function of managing the valuable as the valuable held at the other store when the identity of the person to be compensated is confirmed by the identity confirmation means; 3. The gaming value compensation system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. An identity verification request for verifying whether the person to be compensated is the person in question is sent to an identity verification unit capable of determining whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, based on member identification information, which is information for identifying the member, read from the recording medium; the identity verification means acquires, as the identity verification information, a response to the identity verification request from the identity matching unit; 4. The gaming value compensation system according to claim 3.

5. a mobile terminal of the person to be compensated, which is associated with a recording medium on which member identification information, which is information for identifying the member, is recorded, and a request for identity verification to confirm whether the person to be compensated is the person in question is transmitted to an identity verification unit capable of determining whether the person to be compensated is the person in question, together with the personal information of the person to be compensated input to the mobile terminal; the identity verification means acquires, as the identity verification information, a response to the identity verification request from the identity matching unit; 4. The gaming value compensation system according to claim 3.

6. the valuable management means has a fee collection function of collecting a usage fee from the other store and / or the person to be compensated when managing the valuable as the valuable held at the other store; 3. The gaming value compensation system according to claim 1 or 2.

7. When collecting the usage fee from the person to be compensated, the valuable management means deducts the usage fee from the valuable, and sets the remaining amount obtained by deducting the usage fee from the valuable as the valuable held at the other store.

7. The gaming value compensation system according to claim 6.

8. The valuable management means has a fee distribution function for distributing the usage fee.

7. The gaming value compensation system according to claim 6.

9. the valuable management means has a same-day movement restriction function for managing the valuable as the valuable held at the other store from the day after the date on which the valuable is acquired, 3. The gaming value compensation system according to claim 1 or 2.

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