Gaming device

Abstract

A gaming device is provided that can make a specific amount of gaming media exceeding a payout unit amount (payout limit amount) usable in a gaming machine by a simple operation. [Solution] The gaming device 1 is equipped with a payout means 12 that executes a payout process that makes gaming media up to a predetermined payout limit available to the gaming machine 2 based on a specified payout operation, and a specific payout operation control unit 13 that enables a specific payout operation that causes the payout means 12 to execute a specific payout process that makes a specific amount of gaming media that exceeds the payout limit available to the gaming machine 2 when specific conditions are met, and by executing a single specific payout operation, a specific amount of gaming media can be made available to the gaming machine 2.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming device that is attached to a gaming machine that uses gaming media to play games. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, gaming machines that use predetermined gaming media for play, such as "pachinko gaming machines" that use gaming balls as gaming media and "slot machines" that use gaming medals as gaming media, have been provided with corresponding gaming devices. These gaming devices accept recording media such as IC cards issued by gaming parlors and deposits from players, and manage the lending of gaming media used in games played on the gaming machines. For example, when a player starts playing, the gaming device accepts a recording medium such as an IC card, and pays out a predetermined amount of gaming media in exchange for debiting a prepaid value that has been deposited by the player in advance and is associated with the recording medium, thereby lending out the gaming media.

[0003] Furthermore, when a player finishes a game and wishes to exchange the game media he or she has acquired for a prize, the gaming device counts the number of game media acquired by the player, which are managed by the gaming machine, based on a predetermined operation by the player, associates information regarding the counted number of game media with a recording medium, and ejects the recording medium.The player can then bring the recording medium ejected from the gaming device to a prize exchange counter installed in the gaming parlor and exchange the acquired game media for a desired prize according to the number of game media associated with the recording medium.

[0004] Meanwhile, players desire to associate only the number of gaming media required to exchange for a desired prize with a recording medium during counting in a gaming device, and to use up any remaining gaming media through play on the gaming machine. Accordingly, a machine-to-machine card processing machine (gaming device) has been proposed that allows a player to adjust the number of gaming media to a desired value with a simple operation (e.g., Patent Document 1). The machine-to-machine card processing machine described in Patent Document 1 sets a target value in advance, and if the gaming media acquired by a player through play during counting exceeds the target value, the excess gaming media can be paid out to the gaming machine. Therefore, by setting a desired target value, a player can adjust the number of gaming media associated with a recording medium during counting to match the target value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-039462 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Some gaming devices allow a player to set an away mode, which allows the player to leave the gaming machine while still retaining the machine in play, for example, to leave the seat in front of the gaming machine for a meal or a break, by performing a specific operation. When this away mode is set, the gaming device displays a message on an operation display screen, such as a touch panel display, indicating that the player is away from the gaming machine, and performs specific controls to prevent other players from playing the gaming machine. However, even when the away mode is set, in order to prevent theft of gaming media, the player must count all gaming media remaining in the gaming machine using the gaming device's counting function, and then associate information about the gaming media with the recording medium before leaving the gaming machine, just as when exchanging gaming media for prizes. This allows the player to leave the gaming machine without worrying about leaving any gaming media behind.

[0007] On the other hand, when the player returns to his seat and resumes playing, the gaming device must pay out the counted gaming media to the gaming machine so that the counted gaming media can be used again in the gaming machine. Specifically, the player has the gaming device accept the recording medium he possesses again, and then performs a predetermined payout operation, such as pressing a payout button on the gaming device, to pay out the gaming media from the gaming device to the gaming machine based on information about the gaming media associated with the recording medium. In this case, in a typical gaming device, the amount of gaming media paid out per payout operation (payout unit amount) is predetermined, so that in a single payout operation, for example, a maximum of 125 gaming balls in a "pachinko gaming machine" or a maximum of 50 gaming medals in a "slot machine" is paid out as one payout unit amount of gaming media.

[0008] Therefore, when a player resumes play after temporarily leaving their seat, if they acquire a large amount of game media immediately after resuming play, they can continue playing using the acquired game media. However, if they are unable to acquire game media for some time after resuming play, they must continue playing by repeatedly performing a payout operation each time they use up the game media (e.g., a maximum of 125 game balls or a maximum of 50 game medals) that are paid out in one payout operation. However, repeatedly performing a payout operation to continue playing in this way is cumbersome for players. In particular, when a player resumes play after temporarily leaving their seat after acquiring a large amount of game media, if they are unable to acquire game media for a while, the number of payout operations increases, which is even more cumbersome for the player. Therefore, there is a need for a gaming device that can easily perform a payout of a specific amount of game media that exceeds the payout unit amount (payout limit amount).

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming device that can make a specific amount of gaming media that exceeds a payout unit amount (payout limit amount) usable in a gaming machine with a simple operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, the gaming device of the present invention is installed alongside a gaming machine that uses gaming media for games, and is equipped with a payout means that executes a payout process that makes the gaming media available to the gaming machine in an amount equal to or less than a predetermined payout limit based on a predetermined payout operation, and a specific payout operation control unit that enables a specific payout operation that causes the payout means to execute a specific payout process that repeatedly executes the payout process to make a specific amount of the gaming media that exceeds the payout limit available to the gaming machine when a specific condition based on past performance is met, and is characterized in that by executing the specific payout operation once, the specific amount of the gaming media becomes available to the gaming machine.

[0011] In the above invention, the gaming machine is provided with a counting gaming media management unit that counts the playable gaming media, which are the gaming media that can be used in the gaming machine, and manages the counted number of playable gaming media as the number of counted gaming media, and the specific payout operation control unit may set the specific condition that the most recent number of counted gaming media managed by the counting gaming media management unit is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number.

[0012] In the above invention, the gaming machine is provided with a counting gaming media management unit that counts the playable gaming media, which are the gaming media that can be used in the gaming machine, and manages the counted number of playable gaming media as the number of counted gaming media, and a recording medium processing unit that handles recording media that have identification information attached to them that can identify the owner of the playable gaming media that have been transferred to the gaming device, and the specific payout operation control unit may have as its specific condition that the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit is the same as the identification information of the recording medium that has had the number of counted gaming media updated immediately before its acceptance and has been returned by the recording medium processing unit.

[0013] In the above invention, the specific payout operation control unit may not enable the specific payout operation even if the specific condition is met if the number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit immediately before the return of the recording medium by the recording medium processing unit is less than or equal to the payout limit amount.

[0014] In the above invention, the gaming machine is provided with a counting gaming media management unit that counts the playable gaming media, which are the gaming media that can be used in the gaming machine, and manages the counted number of playable gaming media as the number of counted gaming media, and a recording medium processing unit that handles recording media that have identification information attached to them that can identify the owner of the playable gaming media that have been transferred to the gaming device, and the specific payout operation control unit may set the specific condition that the most recent number of counted gaming media corresponding to the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number.

[0015] In the above invention, the gaming machine is provided with a counting gaming media management unit that counts the playable gaming media, which are the gaming media that can be used in the gaming machine, and manages the counted number of playable gaming media as the number of counted gaming media, and an available gaming media management unit that manages as the number of available gaming media either the number of counted gaming media managed by the counting gaming media management unit, the number of retained gaming media, which are the gaming media that can only be used on the day and are managed by the gaming facility where the gaming device is installed, and the number of saved gaming media, which are the gaming media deposited in the gaming facility so that they can be withdrawn and used later, or a total value obtained by combining and adding up at least two or more of the number of counted gaming media, the number of retained gaming media, and the number of saved gaming media, and the specific payout operation control unit may set the specific condition that the number of available gaming media managed by the available gaming media management unit is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the gaming device of the present invention, the device is installed alongside a gaming machine that uses gaming media to play games, and is equipped with a payout means that executes a payout process that makes gaming media up to a predetermined payout limit available to the gaming machine based on a predetermined payout operation, and a specific payout operation control unit that enables a specific payout operation that causes the payout means to execute a specific payout process that repeatedly executes a payout process to make a specific amount of gaming media that exceeds the payout limit available to the gaming machine when specific conditions based on past performance are met, and by executing a single specific payout operation, a specific amount of gaming media becomes available to the gaming machine. Therefore, when a player attempts to resume play after a temporary absence and pays out or grants gaming media to the gaming machine to make the gaming media available again, if a specific condition is met, a specific amount of gaming media exceeding the payout unit amount (payout limit amount) can be easily made available by a simple operation such as performing a specific payout operation once. This allows the number of gaming media available for play on the gaming machine to be easily restored to the state it was in immediately before the player left the machine, even if a large number of gaming media had been counted just before the player left the machine. This eliminates the hassle of continuing play after resuming play.

[0017] According to the gaming device of the present invention, a counting game media management unit is provided which counts playable game media and manages the counted number of playable game media as the number of counted game media, and a specific payout operation control unit sets a specific condition that the most recent number of counted game media managed by the counting game media management unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number. In conventional gaming devices, however, if a large number of counted game media is to be used after game resumption, multiple payout operations are required. However, with the gaming device of the present invention, by setting a specific upper limit in advance, when the number of counted game media, which is the number of playable game media managed by the gaming machine, is counted, the specific payout operation becomes possible, and a specific amount of game media can be made usable by executing the specific payout operation once. Therefore, the hassle of continuing game after game resumption can be eliminated.

[0018] According to the gaming device of the present invention, the device is equipped with a counting gaming media management unit that counts playable gaming media and manages the counted number of playable gaming media as the number of counted gaming media, and a recording medium processing unit that handles recording media that have identification information attached to them that can identify the owner of the playable gaming media transferred to the gaming device, and the specific payout operation control unit has a specific condition that the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit is the same as the identification information of the recording medium that has had the number of counted gaming media updated immediately before its acceptance and has been returned by the recording medium processing unit. In this way, when the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit at the start of a game is returned after the counting game medium management unit counts the playable game media and updates the number of counted game media, and then accepted again by the recording medium processing unit to resume play, the specific payout operation control unit enables the specific payout operation. Therefore, when a player wishes to resume play, simply by accepting again the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit at the start of play, a specific amount of game media can be made available for use in the gaming machine by performing a single specific payout operation. This eliminates the hassle of continuing play after resuming play.

[0019] According to the gaming device of the present invention, if the number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit immediately before the recording medium is returned by the recording medium processing unit is equal to or less than the payout limit amount, the specific payout operation control unit will not enable the specific payout operation even if a specific condition is met. Therefore, if the number of counted game media immediately before the return of the recording medium is equal to or less than the payout limit, the counted game media can be made available for use in the gaming machine based on a normal payout operation.

[0020] According to the gaming device of the present invention, the device is equipped with a counting gaming media management unit that counts playable gaming media, which are gaming media that can be used in the gaming machine, and manages the counted number of playable gaming media as the number of counted gaming media, and a recording medium processing unit that handles recording media that have identification information attached to them that can identify the owner of the playable gaming media transferred to the gaming device, and the specific payout operation control unit sets a specific condition that the most recent number of counted gaming media corresponding to the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number. In this way, if a player counts playable game media and then has the recording medium returned from the recording medium processing unit accepted by the recording medium processing unit of another gaming device, for example, if the player interrupts play and attempts to resume play on another gaming machine, and the number of counted game media managed as the number of counted game media in the count immediately before leaving the seat is equal to or exceeds a specific upper limit, the recording medium returned from the recording medium processing unit is accepted by the recording medium processing unit of the other gaming device, and the specific payout operation control unit enables the specific payout operation. Therefore, if the player resumes play when the most recent counted game media is equal to or exceeds a specific upper limit, as long as the gaming device is installed in the same gaming parlor, the same recording medium can be accepted by the recording medium processing unit, and a specific amount of game media can be made available on the gaming machine by executing a single specific payout operation. This eliminates the hassle of continuing play after resuming play.

[0021] According to the gaming device of the present invention, there is provided a counting gaming media management unit that counts playable gaming media, which are gaming media that can be used in the gaming machine, and manages the counted number of playable gaming media as the number of counted gaming media, and an available gaming media management unit that manages the number of available gaming media as either the number of counted gaming media managed by the counting gaming media management unit, the number of retained gaming media, which are gaming media that can only be used on the day and are managed by the gaming parlor where the gaming device is installed, and the number of saved gaming media, which are gaming media deposited in the gaming parlor so that they can be withdrawn and used later, or a total value obtained by combining at least two or more of the number of counted gaming media, the number of retained gaming media, and the number of saved gaming media, and the specific condition set by the specific payout operation control unit is that the number of available gaming media managed by the available gaming media management unit is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number. In this case, the gaming device of the present invention manages the number of available gaming media as either the number of counted gaming media, the number of retained gaming media, or the number of saved gaming media, or a total sum of at least two of the number of counted gaming media, the number of retained gaming media, and the number of saved gaming media. When this number of available gaming media is equal to or exceeds a specific upper limit, the specific payout operation control unit enables a specific payout operation. Thus, when a player resumes play if any of the above numbers of available gaming media is equal to or exceeds a certain number, a specific amount of gaming media can be made available on the gaming machine by executing a single specific payout operation. This eliminates the hassle of continuing play after resuming play. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of various devices installed in a gaming establishment, including a gaming device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a configuration block diagram for explaining the configuration of a gaming device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and the outline of the configurations of a gaming machine and a management device. [Figure 3] 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a payout process and a specific payout process in the gaming device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a specific payout process in a gaming device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the specific condition is that "the most recent number of counted gaming media managed by the counted gaming media management unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number." [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a gaming device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and the general configurations of a gaming machine and a management device. [Figure 6]A sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a specific payout process in a gaming device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the specific condition is that "the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit is the same as the identification information of the recording medium returned by the recording medium processing unit after the number of counted gaming media has been updated immediately before its acceptance." [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a gaming device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and the general configurations of a gaming machine and a management device. [Figure 8] A sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a specific payout process in a gaming device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when the specific condition is that "the most recent counted number of gaming media corresponding to the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number." [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a gaming device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and the configurations of a gaming machine and a management device. [Figure 10] A sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a specific payout process in a gaming device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, when the specific condition is that "the number of available gaming media managed by the available gaming media management unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number." [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a gaming device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and the general configurations of a gaming machine and a management device. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of a specific payout process when a counting process for counting a small amount of playable game media is executed after a specific condition is met in a gaming device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Hereinafter, a gaming device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of various devices installed in a gaming establishment PP, including a gaming device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of gaming machines 2 are installed in the gaming establishment PP, on which games can be played using gaming media. The gaming machine 2 is a "pachinko gaming machine" (hereinafter, "pachinko gaming machine" will be referred to as "pachinko machine") that uses gaming balls as the gaming medium, or a "slot machine" (hereinafter, "slot machine" will be referred to as "pachislot machine") that uses gaming medals as the gaming medium, and also includes "smart gaming machines" that are pachinko machines and pachislot machines and that can be played using non-physical electronic data gaming points as the gaming medium.

[0025] In pachinko machines, the game progresses by shooting game balls into the game board, and a predetermined number of game balls can be won by passing the game balls through multiple winning areas (winning slots) on the game board. In pachislot machines, the game progresses by using credits corresponding to the inserted game medals to spin the reels, and a predetermined number of game medals can be won based on the stopping status of the symbols on the reels. In addition, in "smart gaming machines," game balls are sealed and circulated inside the pachinko machine, allowing players to play using game points, which are electronic data, without touching the game balls. Furthermore, in "smart gaming machines," game points, which are electronic data, can be used as credits to play without using any game medals. In addition, in "smart gaming machines," a predetermined number of game points can be won based on the passing of game balls into winning areas and the stopping status of the symbols on the reels. As described above, the gaming media used to play games on the gaming machine 2 include gaming balls and gaming medals, which are physical objects, as well as gaming points, which are intangible electronic data.

[0026] Each gaming machine 2 installed in the gaming establishment PP is provided with a gaming device 1 connected to the gaming machine 2 in correspondence with the gaming machine 2 . The gaming device 1 is a so-called card unit that accepts recording media such as IC cards (not shown) and bills inserted by a player, and manages the lending of gaming media used for games on the gaming machine 2. Specifically, the gaming device 1 accepts recording media such as IC cards issued to a player from a gaming parlor PP, and pays out or grants gaming media in exchange for withdrawing prepaid value associated with the recording media. Paying out gaming media means, if the gaming machine 2 is not a "smart gaming machine," lending gaming balls or gaming medals, which are tangible gaming media, and making the gaming balls or gaming medals usable for games on the gaming machine 2. Also, granting gaming media means, if the gaming machine 2 is a "smart gaming machine," granting gaming points, which are electronic data, which are intangible gaming media, to the gaming machine 2 and making the gaming points usable for games on the gaming machine 2.

[0027] Furthermore, when the prepaid value is updated, the gaming device 1 manages information about the prepaid value by linking it to the recording medium using identification information (e.g., a card ID) attached to the recording medium, such as an IC card. Similarly, when a player acquires gaming media through a game on the gaming machine 2 and then ends the game or temporarily leaves the game before using up the gaming media, the gaming device 1 counts the gaming media (playable gaming media) managed by the gaming machine 2 and manages information about the counted gaming media by linking it to a recording medium, such as an IC card. The gaming device 1 then returns to the player a recording medium, to which various information, such as information about the prepaid value and information about the counted gaming media, is associated. By keeping the recording medium, such as an IC card, returned from the gaming device 1, the player can finish playing or temporarily leave the game with peace of mind without having to take out the gaming media.

[0028] Each gaming device 1 installed in the gaming establishment PP is connected via a hub 4 to a management device 3 that controls each gaming device 1 and each gaming machine 2 in an integrated manner. The management device 3 manages each gaming device 1 and each gaming machine 2 by transmitting setting information for changing various settings of each gaming device 1 and each gaming machine 2 to each gaming device 1 and each gaming machine 2. The management device 3 also receives gaming information transmitted from each gaming device 1 and each gaming machine 2 and manages various information in an integrated manner based on the gaming information. For example, when a prepaid value is debited by the gaming device 1, the management device 3 is notified of information regarding the prepaid value and identification information of the recording medium accepted by the gaming device 1 as gaming information. The management device 3 then updates and records the remaining amount of the prepaid value associated with the recording medium based on the gaming information. Furthermore, for example, when information about game media (playable game media) counted by the gaming device 1 is associated with a recording medium, the management device 3 is notified of the information about the counted game media (playable game media) and the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the gaming device 1 as game information. Then, based on the game information, the management device 3 updates and records information about the game media associated with the recording medium. The management device 3 also records and manages membership information of players associated with the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the gaming device 1, and responds to inquiries about membership information from the gaming device 1.

[0029] In addition, although not shown in the figure, in addition to the gaming device 1, gaming machine 2, and management device 3 described above, the gaming parlor PP is equipped with various devices such as a member information registration device for players to register as members of the gaming parlor PP, and a settlement machine for settling the remaining balance of prepaid valuables paid in advance to the gaming parlor PP.

[0030] Next, the configurations of the gaming device 1, the gaming machine 2, and the management device 3 will be described. In the following, the terms "game media" will be used differently depending on their management status. "Playable game media" refers to game media paid out or awarded from the gaming device 1 to the gaming machine 2, or game media acquired through a player's play, which are managed by the gaming machine 2 and can immediately be used for play on the gaming machine 2. When these "playable game media" are counted and transferred to the gaming device 1, they are associated with a recording medium such as an IC card and then managed by the management device 3 of the gaming parlor PP where the gaming device 1 is installed. At this time, the gaming device 1 records and manages the number of counted "playable game media" as the "number of counted game media." Furthermore, the gaming media managed by the management device 3 are classified into "retained gaming media" and "saved gaming media." "Retained gaming media" are gaming media that can only be used on the day of play (the time before the closing time of the gaming establishment PP), and are managed as usable by both players who have registered as members of the gaming establishment PP and players who have not registered as members of the gaming establishment PP. On the other hand, "saved gaming media" are gaming media that have been deposited at the gaming establishment PP to be withdrawn and used later, such as the next day, and are managed as usable only by players who have registered as members of the gaming establishment PP. Note that "playable gaming media" that have been counted and transferred to the gaming device 1 are subsequently treated as "retained gaming media" when managed by the management device 3.

[0031] In the following, the gaming machine 2 will be described as a "smart gaming machine" that is a type of pachinko machine and allows games to be played using gaming points, which are electronic data, as gaming media. Therefore, gaming media used for games in the gaming machine 2, such as gaming media provided to the gaming machine 2 from the gaming device 1 and gaming media counted from the gaming machine 2 and transferred to the gaming device 1, are all gaming points, which are intangible electronic data (hereinafter, "gaming points" will also be referred to as "gaming value").

[0032] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the gaming device 1, the gaming machines 2, and the management device 3. As shown in FIG. The gaming device 1 includes a control unit 10 that controls the gaming device 1, a recording medium processing unit 11 that can accept recording media held by a player, payout means 12 that executes a payout process based on a predetermined payout operation, a specific payout operation control unit 13 that enables a specific payout operation to cause the payout means 12 to execute a specific payout process, and a counted gaming media management unit 14 that counts playable gaming media and records and manages the number of counted playable gaming media. The gaming device 1 also includes a gaming device communication unit 15 that can communicate with external devices other than the gaming device 1, such as gaming machines 2 and management device 3.

[0033] The control unit 10 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs various processes according to a program, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 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 (Random Access Memory) that is a recording device that can both read and write electronic data, and controls all of the functions of the gaming device 1.

[0034] The recording medium processing unit 11 reads information recorded on a recording medium held by a player using a recording medium processing device (not shown), such as a card reader / writer, capable of reading and writing predetermined information from a recording medium such as an IC card, and accepts the recording medium. When a game ends or a player temporarily leaves their seat, the recording medium processing device writes the necessary information to the recording medium, then cancels the recording medium's acceptance status and returns the recording medium. When the recording medium is an IC card, the gaming device 1 inserts the IC card into a card insertion / ejection slot (not shown) provided in the housing of the gaming device 1, and a recording medium processing device provided inside the gaming device 1 reads and writes information from the inserted IC card. The recording medium processing device also cancels the IC card's acceptance status and returns the IC card through the card insertion / ejection slot based on the operation of a card return button provided in the housing of the gaming device 1, which is an operation button for ejecting the IC card.

[0035] The recording media accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11 can include IC cards with prepaid functions issued by gaming establishments (PPs) as well as IC chips (e.g., high-security IC chips capable of handling electronic money) installed in information terminals held by players. In such cases, for example, the recording medium processing device is configured as a contactless IC reader / writer capable of reading and writing information from the IC chip installed in the information terminal held by the player, and the recording medium processing device accepts the recording medium by reading the information recorded on the IC chip installed in the player's information terminal. Then, for example, after the IC chip is accepted once before the start of a game, the acceptance state of the recording medium is maintained as a logged-in state. On the other hand, when the acceptance state of the recording medium is to be canceled, the recording medium processing unit 11 communicates with the player's information terminal via the gaming device communication unit 15, changes the login state of the IC chip to a logged-out state, and cancels the acceptance state.

[0036] Recording media such as IC cards and IC chips in information terminals have unique identification information recorded on them for each recording medium, such as a card ID for an IC card. Therefore, when the received recording medium is an IC card, recording medium processing unit 11 associates the card ID, which is the identification information of the IC card, with various information, such as information about the prepaid value and information about the owned gaming media and saved gaming media, and notifies management device 3 of the card ID along with the various information as gaming information. In response to this, management device 3 updates and records the remaining amount of prepaid value, the remaining number of owned gaming media, the remaining number of saved gaming media, and the like, based on the gaming information. In addition, when the number of counted gaming media is recorded and managed by the counting gaming media management unit 14 described later, the recording medium processing unit 11 receives notification of this and the number of counted gaming media, and can associate this information with the identification information of the recording medium and transfer it to the management device 3, or record it directly on the recording medium, thereby updating the number of counted gaming media.

[0037] Furthermore, there are several types of IC cards issued by gaming establishments PP, including membership cards issued to players who have registered as members with the gaming establishment PP and visitor cards issued to players who have not registered as members. Among these, membership cards have a card ID associated with them, which contains information about prepaid value, as well as membership information about the player who has registered as a member with the gaming establishment PP, such as the player's name, date of birth, address, telephone number, email address, and preset PIN number. Therefore, the recording medium processing unit 11 can identify the owner of the accepted IC card by querying the management device 3, which manages membership information, using the card ID read from the IC card. By identifying the owner of the IC card in this way, it is also possible to identify the owner of the "playable gaming media" counted during the acceptance of the IC card.

[0038] Specifically, the recording medium processing unit 11 has a membership identification function that queries the management device 3 for membership information to identify the player in order to identify the owner of the playable game media counted by the gaming device 1 and transferred from the gaming machine 2 to the gaming device 1. When the counting game media management unit 14 counts the playable game media and manages the counted number of playable game media as the number of counted game media, the recording medium processing unit 11 uses identification information (e.g., a card ID) attached to the recording medium (e.g., an IC card) accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11 to query the management device 3 for membership information associated with the identification information. Then, for example, the information management unit 31 of the management device 3, which will be described later, collates the identification information with a database in which the member information is recorded, and identifies the member information linked to the identification information that matches the identification information notified in the query from the recording medium processing unit 11. Then, when the management device 3 notifies the recording medium processing unit 11 of the specified membership information, the recording medium processing unit 11 can use the membership information to identify the player linked to the identification information of the recording medium currently being accepted. In this way, the recording medium processing unit 11 can identify the owner of the playable game media counted by the counting game media management unit 14 and transferred from the gaming machine 2 to the gaming device 1 by using the identification information of the recording medium accepted when counting the playable game media by the counting game media management unit 14 to identify the membership information of the player who owns the recording medium. In this way, the recording medium processing unit 11 handles recording media such as IC cards and IC chips that have identification information such as a card ID attached, accepts the recording media when a game starts or resumes, and performs processing such as associating various information using the identification information of the recording media, and when a game ends or the player temporarily leaves the seat, it cancels the acceptance status of the recording media and returns the recording media to the player.

[0039] The payout means 12 executes a payout process based on a predetermined payout operation. The payout process is a process for making gaming media available for use in the gaming machine 2, and the payout operation is, for example, an operation in which a player presses an operation button (payout button) provided on the housing of the gaming device 1 for accepting the payout process, or an operation button (payout button) displayed for accepting the payout process on an operation display screen such as a touch panel display provided on the gaming device 1. Note that the payout operation is not limited to pressing a payout button, and may be any operation that can accept the payout process. When a player presses the payout button, the payout means 12 accepts and executes a payout process based on the pressing operation. The payout process may, for example, be a process of granting gaming value (gaming points) to the gaming machine 2 in exchange for withdrawing prepaid valuables, or a process of withdrawing owned gaming media or saved gaming media managed by the management device 3 and granting them to the gaming machine 2 as gaming value (gaming points). If the gaming machine 2 is a pachinko machine or pachislot machine that is not a smart gaming machine, the payout process is a process of paying out tangible gaming media, such as gaming balls or gaming medals, to the gaming machine 2 instead of electronic data gaming points. The payout means 12 inquires of the management device 3 about the remaining amount of prepaid valuables managed by the management device 3 and the remaining number of owned gaming media and saved gaming media, and awards gaming value (gaming points) within the range of the remaining amount of prepaid valuables owned by the player or the range of the remaining number of owned gaming media and saved gaming media.

[0040] Furthermore, when performing a payout process, the payout means 12 makes available to the gaming machine 2 a predetermined payout limit (payout unit amount) or less of the gaming media in one payout process. Generally, the gaming device 1 and the gaming machine 2 communicate by sending and receiving successive electronic messages. Therefore, when a payout process is executed and gaming media such as held gaming media or stored gaming media are transferred from the gaming device 1 to the gaming machine 2 as gaming value (gaming points), information about the gaming media is transferred as an electronic message. For example, when a player presses the payout button (payout operation), the payout means 12 transfers gaming value (gaming points) equivalent to a maximum of 200 gaming balls from the gaming device 1 to the gaming machine 2 for each payout operation, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 3. The maximum value of the gaming value transferred from the gaming device 1 to the gaming machine 2 is the payout limit. In this way, the payout process is a process of transferring gaming value (gaming points) equal to or less than the payout limit amount via electronic message and making the gaming value available to the gaming machine 2. Furthermore, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, for example, if two consecutive payout operations are performed, gaming value equivalent to 200 gaming balls, the payout limit amount, is transferred to the gaming machine 2 once for each payout operation, resulting in a total of gaming value equivalent to 400 gaming balls. In this way, in a normal payout process, when a player wishes to grant gaming value equivalent to 400 gaming balls to the gaming machine 2, two payout operations are always performed. Note that the gaming value transferred for each payout operation may be configured to be transferred in any amount specified as long as it is equal to or less than the payout limit amount (equal to gaming value equivalent to 200 gaming balls or less). Furthermore, the payout limit amount may also be any amount, such as gaming value (gaming points) equivalent to 125 gaming balls, as long as it is predetermined.

[0041] The specific dispensing operation control unit 13 enables a specific dispensing operation that causes the dispensing means 12 to execute a specific dispensing process when a specific condition is met, and causes the dispensing means 12 to execute the specific dispensing process based on the execution of this specific dispensing operation. The specific payout process is a process in which the payout means 12 repeatedly executes a payout process until a specific amount of gaming value (gaming points) exceeding the payout limit amount is granted to the gaming machine 2 based on the execution of a single specific payout operation, in order to make available to the gaming machine 2 a specific amount of gaming value (gaming points). For example, as shown in the lower part of Figure 3, when a specific condition is met, the specific payout operation control unit 13 makes the specific payout operation executable by, for example, displaying an operation button such as a lump payout button for accepting the specific payout operation on an operation display screen such as a touch panel display of the gaming device 1 so that the player can execute the specific payout operation. Then, when the player presses an operation button such as the lump payout button (specific payout operation), the specific payout operation control unit 13 accepts the specific payout operation and causes the payout means 2c to execute the payout process a predetermined number of times as the specific payout process until a specific amount of gaming value is granted to the gaming machine 2.

[0042] The specific payout operation control unit 13 also calculates how many payout processes are required to transfer game value up to the payout limit of 200 game balls per payout operation until a specific amount of game value is awarded. Furthermore, if it is necessary to transfer game value equivalent to a fractional number of game balls less than the payout limit in a payout process executed within a specific payout process, the specific payout operation control unit 13 adjusts the number of game value to be awarded to the gaming machine 2 in the payout process executed last as a specific payout process by the payout means 2c. Therefore, when a specific payout operation is executed by a player, the specific payout operation control unit 13 specifies the calculated number of payout processes and the number of game value to be awarded to the gaming machine 2 in the payout process executed last, and executes a payout operation to have the payout means 2c execute these payout processes as specific payout processes. This allows the payout means 12 to repeatedly execute the payout process a predetermined number of times until a specific amount of game value is awarded. The specific amount is the most recent number of playable game media counted by the counted game media management unit 14, which will be described later, that is, the most recent counted number of game media.

[0043] The lower part of Figure 3 shows an example where the most recent number of playable game media counted by the counting game media management unit 14, i.e., the number of counted game media, is a game value equivalent to 1,100 game balls, in other words, where the specific amount is a game value equivalent to 1,100 game balls. In this case, when a player executes a specific payout operation, the specific payout operation control unit 13 calculates that, in order to cause the payout means 12 to award game value equivalent to 1,100 game balls to the gaming machine 2, it is necessary to execute a payout process to transfer game value equivalent to 200 game balls five times as a specific payout process, followed by a payout process to transfer game value equivalent to 100 game balls once. The specific payout operation control unit 13 then executes a payout operation in accordance with the calculated number of times and the designation of the number of game values. Then, the payout means 12 executes a payout process to award game value equivalent to 200 game balls five times, followed by a payout process to award game value equivalent to 100 game balls. In this way, under the control of the specific payout operation control unit 13, the payout means 2c executes the payout process as a specific payout process until a specific amount of game value is awarded to the gaming machine 2. In this way, in the gaming device 1, without changing the payout limit of the gaming value transferred by the payout means 12 via a telegram as a payout process, the player can simply execute a specific payout operation once, in other words, by executing a simple operation such as pressing an operation button such as a lump-sum payout button displayed on the operation display screen of the gaming device 1, and can provide the gaming machine 2 with gaming value up to a specific amount exceeding the payout limit, thereby making it usable. This eliminates the hassle of continuing play after resuming play.

[0044] Furthermore, when a specific condition is met, the specific payout operation control unit 13 puts the player in a state where he or she can execute a specific payout operation. Then, the specific payout operation control unit 13 accepts the specific payout operation executed by the player. Therefore, the specific payout operation control unit 13 has a specific condition determination function that determines whether a preset specific condition is met. Then, depending on the determination result, the specific payout operation is put in a state where it can be executed, and the specific payout operation to be executed thereafter is accepted. The specific condition is the number of playable game media counted by the counted game media management unit 14 (described later), i.e., the number of counted game media. Specifically, the specific payout operation control unit 13 determines that the specific condition is met when the most recent counted game media recorded and managed by the counted game media management unit 14 is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit. The specific upper limit is, for example, a game value (game points) equivalent to 1,000 game balls. In other words, the specific payout operation control unit 13 determines that the specific condition is met when the most recent counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit 14 corresponds to 1,000 game balls or more, and makes the specific payout operation executable according to the determination result. Note that the specific condition can be set arbitrarily as long as it is based on past performance, such as the number of game media acquired by the player and the player's gaming status. In addition, the specific upper limit number is not limited to the gaming value equivalent to 1,000 gaming balls, but can be set arbitrarily.

[0045] Figure 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining the flow of the specific payout process when the specific condition is that "the most recent number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit 14 is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number." In the gaming device 1, a gaming value (gaming points) equivalent to 1000 gaming balls is set in advance as a specific upper limit number. First, when a player performs a payout operation to start playing, for example, in exchange for withdrawing a prepaid valuable, the payout means 12 executes a payout process and grants gaming value equivalent to 200 balls, which is the payout limit amount, to the gaming machine 2. Now, let us assume that the player hits a jackpot by passing a gaming ball through the winning area (winning port), earning a predetermined number of gaming values, and the number of playable gaming media managed by the gaming machine 2 becomes equivalent to 2000 balls.

[0046] Thereafter, for example, if the player counts 1,100 balls worth of playable game media by the counting game media management unit 14, leaving behind a game value (playable game media) equivalent to 900 balls in order to secure the playable game media, or so-called payout balls, that the player has acquired through the game, the most recent number of counted game media (the most recent counted number of playable game media) managed by the counting game media management unit 14 will be equivalent to 1,100 balls, exceeding the specific upper limit of 1,000 balls. The specific payout operation control unit 13 then determines that a specific condition has been met, and, depending on this determination result, makes it possible for the player to perform a specific payout operation. The specific payout operation performed by the player is then accepted. When a player executes a specific payout operation, the specific payout operation control unit 13, which has accepted the specific payout operation, causes the payout means 12 to execute a specific payout process. At this time, since the most recent number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit 14 is equivalent to 1,100 balls, the specific amount becomes a game value equivalent to 1,100 balls. Therefore, under the control of the specific payout operation control unit 13, the payout means 12 executes a payout process that awards a game value equivalent to 200 balls five times as a specific payout process, and then executes a payout process that awards a game value equivalent to 100 balls. In this manner, the specific payout process is executed.

[0047] The counting game media management unit 14 counts playable game media, which are game media that can be used in the gaming machine 2, and manages the counted number of playable game media as the number of counted game media. The counting game media management unit 14 executes a counting process for counting playable game media based on the player pressing an operation button, such as a counting button, provided on the housing of the gaming device 1. As described above, the gaming device 1 and the gaming machine 2 generally communicate by sending and receiving successive electronic messages, so when the playable game media (game value such as game points) managed by the gaming machine 2 are counted and transferred from the gaming machine 2 to the gaming device 1, information about the counted playable game media is also transferred as an electronic message.

[0048] In the counting process, when the counting button is pressed for a short time, a game value (game points) equivalent to one game ball is transferred to the gaming device 1 as a playable game medium, and when the counting button is pressed for a certain period of time, a game value equivalent to a predetermined number of game balls is transferred at once to the gaming device 1 as a playable game medium, for example, a game value equivalent to a maximum of 200 game balls, which is the same as the payout limit. Note that if the number of playable game media remaining in the gaming machine 2 is a game value equivalent to 200 or fewer game balls, it is also possible to transfer all playable game media to the gaming device 1 with a single operation of the counting button by pressing and holding the counting button. In this way, the counting game media management unit 14 executes the counting process in response to the player's operation of the counting button. The playable game media managed by the gaming machine 2 are counted by the counting game media management unit 14 and then transferred to the gaming device 1, and are then treated as retained game media by the management device 3. The number of counted playable game media is recorded and managed by the counting game media management unit 14 as the number of counted game media.

[0049] Furthermore, after recording and managing the number of counted game media, the counted game media management unit 14 notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13 that the number of counted game media has been managed and the number of counted game media being managed. This enables the specific payout operation control unit 13 to determine whether a specific condition is met, calculate the number of payout processes to be executed by the payout means 12 as a specific payout process, and specify the specific amount. The number of counted game media managed by the counting game media management unit 14 may be recorded by the counting game media management unit 14 using a recording device in the control unit 10 of the gaming device 1, or may be associated with the identification information of the recording medium by the recording medium processing unit 11 and then transferred to the management device 3 for recording, or may be recorded directly on a recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11. Furthermore, when the number of counted game media is managed by having the management device 3 record it, or when the number of counted game media is managed by having the management device 3 record it on a recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11, the counting game media management unit 14 is configured to also notify the recording medium processing unit 11 that the number of counted game media has been managed and the number of counted game media being managed. In this way, the recording medium processing unit 11 can associate information regarding the number of counted game media managed by the counting game media management unit 14 with the identification information of the recording medium and transfer it to the management device 3 or record it on the recording medium, thereby updating the number of counted game media.

[0050] The gaming device communication unit 15 is connected by wire or wirelessly to the gaming machine 2, the management device 3, a network (not shown), etc., and transmits and receives various information to and from external devices other than the gaming device 1, such as the gaming machine 2 and the management device 3. For example, the gaming device communication unit 15 continuously transmits and receives messages to and from the gaming machine 2 to which the gaming device 1 is connected. Through this communication by message, information on playable gaming media, information on the progress of the game, etc. is transmitted from the gaming machine 2 to the gaming device 1 as game information, and information on the payout process of the payout means 12 and the granting of gaming value by a specific payout process is transmitted from the gaming device 1 to the gaming machine 2 as rental information. On the other hand, between the gaming device 1 and the management device 3 connected thereto, the management device 3 transmits to the gaming device 1 information relating to prepaid value, possessed gaming media, and stored gaming media managed by the gaming establishment PP, as well as setting information for changing various settings of the gaming device 1 and gaming machine 2, and the gaming device 1 transmits to the management device 3 information relating to prepaid value, possessed gaming media, and stored gaming media managed by the gaming establishment PP, as well as identification information of the recording medium, for example, information relating to inquiries for identifying member information associated with a card ID.

[0051] In addition to the functions described above, the gaming device 1 is also equipped with functions that a typical gaming device has, such as a bill insertion slot (not shown) for inserting bills, and a currency identifier (not shown) for identifying the authenticity and type of bills inserted through this bill insertion slot.

[0052] The gaming machine 2 is equipped with a control unit 20 that controls games on the gaming machine 2 and overall controls each function of the gaming machine 2, and a gaming machine communication unit 21 that transmits and receives various information between the control unit 2 and the gaming device 1 connected to the gaming machine 2 (FIG. 2). The control unit 20 is composed of a microcomputer that includes a CPU that performs various processes according to a program, a ROM that is a storage device that records electronic data such as programs for operating the CPU and can read this recorded electronic data, and a RAM that is a storage device that can both read and write electronic data. The gaming machine communication unit 21, for example, continuously transmits and receives electronic messages to and from the gaming device 1 connected to the gaming machine 2, and transmits and receives various information through communication via these messages.

[0053] The management device 3 comprises a control unit 30 that controls all of the functions of the management device 3, an information management unit 31 that receives and manages various information notified from each gaming device 1 and each gaming machine 2, and a management device communication unit 32 that transmits and receives various information to and from each gaming device 1 connected to the management device 3 (FIG. 2), and manages all of the various information in addition to each gaming device 1 and each gaming machine 2. The control unit 30 is made up of a microcomputer that includes 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 this recorded electronic data, and a RAM that is a recording device that can both read and write electronic data.

[0054] The information management unit 31 manages various information including membership information of players who have registered as members with the gaming establishment PP, information on prepaid value paid in advance to the gaming establishment PP, information on owned gaming media, information on saved gaming media, information on the number of counted gaming media, etc. Then, based on receipt of various information and inquiries from the gaming device 1, the information management unit 31 updates and records the remaining amount of prepaid value, the remaining number of owned gaming media, the remaining number of saved gaming media, the number of counted gaming media, etc. At this time, the information management unit 31 uses the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the gaming device 1 to associate the remaining amount of prepaid value, the remaining number of owned gaming media, the remaining number of saved gaming media, the number of counted gaming media, etc. with the player's membership information and manages them. Therefore, in the management device 3, for example, when an inquiry is made from the gaming device 1, the information management unit 31 collates the identification information based on the identification information of the recording medium included in the inquiry (e.g., card ID), and identifies the membership information of the player who owns the recording medium on which the identification information is recorded, as well as various information associated with the identification information (information regarding the remaining amount of prepaid valuables, the remaining number of gaming media held, the remaining number of gaming media saved, the number of counted gaming media, etc.), and can respond to the inquiry. The management device communication unit 32 transmits and receives various information to and from external devices other than the management device 3, such as the gaming devices 1 connected to the management device 3, for example.

[0055] Second Embodiment Next, a gaming device 1a according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Since the gaming device 1a has the same functions as the gaming device 1, the following description will focus on the configuration of the gaming device 1a that differs from the gaming device 1. Furthermore, since the gaming machines 2 and the management device 3 also have the same functions as those described in the description of the gaming device 1, the following description will focus on the differences from those described in the description of the gaming device 1.

[0056] FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the gaming device 1a, the gaming machines 2, and the management device 3. As shown in FIG. In the gaming device 1a, similarly to the gaming device 1, when a player interrupts play due to a temporary absence while there are playable game media in the gaming machine 2, the playable game media are counted by the counting game media management unit 14, and the counted number of playable game media is managed by the counting game media management unit 14 as the number of counted game media. In the gaming device 1a, the counting game media management unit 14 also notifies the recording medium processing unit 11a that the number of counted game media has been managed and the number of counted game media being managed, and the information regarding the number of counted game media is associated with the identification information of the recording medium by the recording medium processing unit 11a and updated, after which the recording medium is returned to the player. At this time, the recording medium processing unit 11a records the identification information of the recording medium to be returned as accepted identification information, and when a player who has left his seat and returned to his seat causes the recording medium processing unit 11a to accept the recording medium again to resume play, the recording medium processing unit 11a compares the identification information of the newly accepted recording medium with the identification information recorded as accepted identification information to determine whether these identification information are the same.The recording medium processing unit 11a then notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13a of the result of this determination.

[0057] The specific condition for the specific payout operation control unit 13a in the gaming machine 1a is different from that for the specific payout operation control unit 13 in the gaming machine 1. Specifically, the specific condition for the specific payout operation control unit 13a is that the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11a is identical to the identification information of the recording medium returned by the recording medium processing unit 11a with the number of counted game media updated immediately before acceptance. Therefore, when a player has the recording medium processing unit 11a accept again a recording medium returned from the gaming machine 1a to temporarily leave the seat, the recording medium processing unit 11a determines whether the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11a is identical to the identification information recorded as accepted identification information, and notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13a of the determination result. Then, when the specific payout operation control unit 13a receives a determination result indicating that the identification information is identical, it determines that the specific condition is met and enables the execution of the specific payout operation in accordance with this determination result. As with the specific payout operation control unit 13, the most recent counted number of game media is used for the specific amount.

[0058] Figure 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the flow of the specific payout process when the specific condition is that "the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11a is the same as the identification information of the recording medium returned by the recording medium processing unit 11a after the number of counted gaming media has been updated immediately before its acceptance." First, when a player performs a payout operation to start playing, for example, the payout means 12 executes a payout process in exchange for withdrawing prepaid valuables, and game value equivalent to 200 balls, which is the payout limit, is granted to the gaming machine 2. Now, suppose the player hits a jackpot by passing a game ball through the winning area (winning slot), earning a predetermined number of game values, and the playable game media managed by the gaming machine 2 becomes equivalent to 1,234 balls. Then, for example, if the player temporarily leaves the seat and the counting game media management unit 14 counts the playable game media equivalent to 1,234 balls, which is the total game value managed by the gaming machine 2, the number of counting game media managed by the counting game media management unit 14 is updated to the equivalent of 1,234 balls. After the counting, the playable game media managed by the gaming machine 2 becomes equivalent to 0 balls.

[0059] When the player operates an operation button such as a card return button to temporarily leave the seat, the recording medium processing unit 11a records the identification information (e.g., card ID) of the recording medium (e.g., IC card) as accepted identification information, and then returns the recording medium. When the player then returns to the seat and reinserts the recording medium into the gaming device 1a, causing the recording medium processing unit 11a to accept the recording medium again, the recording medium processing unit 11a determines whether the identification information of the reaccepted recording medium is the same as the identification information recorded as accepted identification information. The recording medium processing unit 11a then notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13a of the determination result. If the specific payout operation control unit 13a receives a determination result indicating that the identification information matches, it determines that a specific condition has been met, and allows the player to perform a specific payout operation according to this determination result. The specific payout operation then is accepted. When a player executes a specific payout operation, the specific payout operation control unit 13a, which has accepted the specific payout operation, causes the payout means 12 to execute a specific payout process. At this time, since the most recent number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit 14 is equivalent to 1,234 balls, the specific amount becomes a game value equivalent to 1,234 balls. Therefore, under the control of the specific payout operation control unit 13, the payout means 12 executes a payout process to award a game value equivalent to 200 balls six times as a specific payout process, and then executes a payout process to award a game value equivalent to 34 balls. In this manner, the specific payout process in the gaming device 1a is executed.

[0060] The specific payout operation control unit 13a in the gaming device 1a may be configured to not enable a specific payout operation even if a specific condition is met if the number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit 14 immediately before the recording medium is returned by the recording medium processing unit 11a is equal to or less than the payout limit. Control to not enable the execution of a specific payout operation may be, for example, to not display an operation button such as a lump-sum payout button for accepting a specific payout operation on the operation display screen, or to disable the operation of an operation button such as a lump-sum payout button even if the operation is operated. If a specific payout operation is not enabled when the number of counted game media is equal to or less than the payout limit, the payout means 12 executes a normal payout process based on the execution of a payout operation by the player.

[0061] <Third embodiment> Next, gaming devices 1b, 1b' according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Since gaming devices 1b, 1b' have the same functions as gaming device 1, the following description will focus on the configuration of gaming device 1b that differs from gaming device 1. Furthermore, gaming machines 2, 2' and management device 3 also have the same functions as those described in the description of gaming device 1, so the following description will focus on the differences from those described in the description of gaming device 1.

[0062] 7 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of gaming devices 1b and 1b', and the configurations of gaming machines 2 and 2' and management device 3. Note that gaming device 1b' is a different gaming device having the same functions as gaming device 1b, and gaming machine 2' is a different gaming machine having the same functions as gaming machine 2. Therefore, the following will mainly explain the configuration of gaming device 1b. In the gaming device 1b, when the counting game media management unit 14b counts the playable game media and records and manages the counted number of playable game media as the number of counted game media, the number of counted game media is not managed within the gaming device 1b but is managed by the management device 3. Therefore, in the gaming device 1b, when the counting game media management unit 14b counts the playable game media and records and manages the counted number of playable game media, the counting game media management unit 14b notifies the recording medium processing unit 11b that the number of counted game media has been managed and the number of counted game media to be managed. Then, the recording medium processing unit 11b associates information regarding the number of counted game media with identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11b, and then notifies the management device 3 of the information regarding the number of counted game media and the identification information.

[0063] In the management device 3, based on the information regarding the counted gaming medium and the identification information of the recording medium notified by the recording medium processing unit 11b, the information management unit 31b associates the information regarding the number of counted gaming media linked to the member information with the identification information of the recording medium, along with various other information (information regarding the remaining amount of prepaid valuables, the remaining number of owned gaming media, the remaining number of saved gaming media, etc.), and updates the information regarding the number of counted gaming media, and records the number of counted gaming media. In this way, within the gaming establishment PP, the counted number of game media, which is the number of playable game media counted by the gaming device 1b connected to the gaming machine 2, is also associated with the identification information of the recording medium and managed in the management device 3. Therefore, even if a recording medium returned from the gaming device 1b is accepted by another gaming device 1b' connected to a gaming machine 2' other than the gaming machine 2, by making an inquiry from this gaming device 1b' to the management device 3, the counted number of game media associated with the identification information of the recording medium can also be ascertained in the gaming device 1b'.

[0064] Furthermore, the specific condition in the specific payout operation control unit 13b of the gaming machine 1b is different from that in the specific payout operation control unit 13 of the gaming machine 1. Specifically, the specific condition is that the most recent number of counted gaming media corresponding to the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11b is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number. Therefore, the recording medium processing unit 11b of the gaming device 1b has a counted game media number inquiry function that uses the identification information of the received recording medium to inquire about the most recent number of counted game media recorded and managed by the management device 3. When the recording medium processing unit 11b accepts a recording medium owned by a player, it uses the identification information of the recording medium to inquire of the management device 3 about the number of counted game media corresponding to the identification information and at the time of the most recent counting of playable game media. The information management unit 31b of the management device 3 then collates the identification information based on the identification information included in the inquiry, identifies the most recent number of counted game media corresponding to the identification information, and responds to the inquiry. Upon receiving this response from the management device 3, the recording medium processing unit 11b notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13b of the identified most recent number of counted game media.

[0065] Upon receiving notification of the specified number of counted game media, the specific payout operation control unit 13b determines whether the received number of counted game media is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit. Specifically, if the number of counted game media received from the recording medium processing unit 11b is equal to or exceeds the specific upper limit, the specific payout operation control unit 13b determines that a specific condition has been met and enables the execution of a specific payout operation according to this determination result. Note that in the gaming device 1b, a specific upper limit is preset, for example, as a gaming value (gaming points) equivalent to 500 game balls. This specific upper limit is not limited to a gaming value equivalent to 500 game balls and can be set arbitrarily. Similarly to the specific payout operation control unit 13, the most recent number of counted game media is used as the specific amount.

[0066] Figure 8 is a sequence diagram for explaining the flow of the specific payout processing when the specific condition is that "the most recent counted number of gaming media corresponding to the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11b, 11b' is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number." First, suppose that a player counts the playable game media equivalent to 501 balls managed by the gaming machine 2 using the counting game media management unit 14b of the gaming device 1b in order to end play on the gaming machine 2. Then, the recording medium processing unit 11b of the gaming device 1b associates information regarding the counted number of game media with identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11b, and then notifies the management device 3 of the information regarding the counted number of game media (for example, information regarding the game value equivalent to 501 balls, which is the most recent count) and the identification information. Here, if the player operates an operation button such as a card return button to end play, the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11b is returned.

[0067] If the player subsequently attempts to resume play on a gaming machine 2' other than the gaming machine 2' and causes another gaming device 1b' connected to the gaming machine 2' to accept the recording medium returned from the gaming device 1b, the recording medium processing unit 11b' of the gaming device 1b' uses the identification information of the accepted recording medium to inquire about the most recent number of counted game media recorded and managed by the management device 3. The information management unit 31b of the management device 3 then identifies the most recent number of counted game media corresponding to the identification information accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11b', and notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13b' of the gaming device 1b' of the most recent counted number of game media. Upon receiving this response from the management device 3, the recording medium processing unit 11b' notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13b' of the gaming device 1b' of the most recent counted number of game media.

[0068] Next, the specific payout operation control unit 13b' of the gaming device 1b' that has received the specified most recent counted number of game media determines whether the counted number of game media (the most recent counted number) is equal to or greater than the specific upper limit number of 500 balls or a game value that exceeds the equivalent of 500 balls. If the most recent counted number is equal to or greater than the equivalent of 500 balls or a game value that exceeds the equivalent of 500 balls, it determines that a specific condition has been met, and allows the player to perform a specific payout operation depending on the result of this determination. Thereafter, the specific payout operation performed by the player is accepted. Note that FIG. 8 shows a case where the specific condition has been met. When a player executes a specific payout operation, the specific payout operation control unit 13b', which has accepted the specific payout operation, causes the payout means 12' of the gaming device 1b' to execute a specific payout process. At this time, since the most recent number of counted gaming media is equivalent to 501 balls, the specific amount becomes a gaming value equivalent to 501 balls. Therefore, under the control of the specific payout operation control unit 13b', the payout means 12' of the gaming device 1b' executes a payout process twice to award a gaming value equivalent to 200 balls, and then executes a payout process to award a gaming value equivalent to 101 balls, as the specific payout process. In this way, the specific payout process is executed in the gaming device 1b', which is separate from the gaming device 1b.

[0069] In the above example, the number of counted game media, which is the number of playable game media counted by the counted game media management unit 14b of the gaming device 1b, is associated with the identification information of the recording medium by the recording medium processing unit 11b and recorded and managed in the management device 3. However, the number of counted game media may also be directly recorded on the recording medium by the recording medium processing unit 11b and managed. In that case, the most recent number of counted game media recorded on the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit 11b' of the gaming device 1b' is notified from the recording medium processing unit 11b' to the specific payout operation control unit 13b' as the most recent number of counted game media corresponding to the identification information of the recording medium, and the specific payout operation control unit 13b', upon receiving the notification of this most recent number of counted game media, determines whether a specific condition is met using the counted number of game media.

[0070] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a gaming device 1c according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Since the gaming device 1c has the same functions as the gaming device 1, the following description will focus on the configuration of the gaming device 1c that differs from the gaming device 1. Furthermore, since the gaming machines 2 and the management device 3 also have the same functions as those described in the description of the gaming device 1, the following description will focus on the differences from those described in the description of the gaming device 1.

[0071] FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the gaming device 1c, the gaming machine 2, and the management device 3. As shown in FIG. The gaming device 1c is equipped with an available gaming media management unit 16 that manages the "number of available gaming media." The available gaming media management unit 16 combines at least two of the following: the counted number of gaming media, which is the number of playable gaming media counted by the counting gaming media management unit 14c; the number of possessed gaming media, which are gaming media that can be used only on the day, among the gaming media managed by the management device 3 of the gaming parlor PP where the gaming device 1c is installed (hereinafter, the "number of possessed gaming media" will also be referred to as the "number of possessed gaming media"); and the number of saved gaming media, which are gaming media that have been deposited in the gaming parlor PP among the gaming media managed by the management device 3 of the gaming parlor PP where the gaming device 1c is installed (hereinafter, the "number of saved gaming media" will also be referred to as the "number of saved gaming media"), calculates a total value by adding them up, and manages the total value as the "number of available gaming media." Specifically, the available gaming media management unit 16, for example, combines the number of counted gaming media and the number of owned gaming media, calculates a total value by adding them together, and manages this total value as the "number of available gaming media." Therefore, in the gaming device 1c, when a player accepts a recording medium to start playing, the recording medium processing unit 11c notifies the usable gaming media management unit 16 of the identification information of the recording medium, and when the counting gaming media management unit 14c counts the playable gaming media, the number of counted gaming media is notified to the usable gaming media management unit 16.

[0072] The available game medium management unit 16 uses the identification information of the recording medium notified by the recording medium processing unit 11c to inquire of the management device 3 about the number of game media held by the management device 3 before the start of a game, for game media held by the management device 3. The information management unit 31c of the management device 3 then collates the identification information based on the identification information included in the inquiry and identifies the remaining number of game media held that corresponds to the identification information. The information management unit 31c then responds to the inquiry by notifying the available game medium management unit 16 of the identified remaining number of game media held as the number of game media held. Upon receiving this notification from the management device 3, the available game medium management unit 16 records the number of game media held by the player for game media held by the player before the start of a game. On the other hand, when the usable game media management unit 16 is notified of the number of counted game media from the counted game media management unit 14c, it records the number of counted game media. The available game media management unit 16 then calculates a total value by adding the number of owned game media before the start of the game, which was notified and recorded by the information management unit 31c, and the number of counted game media, which was notified and recorded by the counting game media management unit 14c, and manages this total value as the "number of available game media." Each time the available game media management unit 16 is notified of a new number of owned game media, when the player withdraws owned game media, or when a new counted number of game media is notified, the available game media management unit 16 updates, records, and manages the number of available game media by adding or subtracting from the number of owned game media or adding the newly notified number of counted game media. Each time the available game media management unit 16 updates the number of available game media, it notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13c of the latest number of available game media.

[0073] Furthermore, the specific condition of the specific payout operation control unit 13c of the gaming device 1c is different from that of the specific payout operation control unit 13 of the gaming device 1. Specifically, the specific condition is that the number of available gaming media managed by the available gaming media management unit 16 is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit. Upon receiving the number of available gaming media notified by the available gaming media management unit 16, the specific payout operation control unit 13c determines whether the received number of available gaming media is equal to or exceeds the predetermined specific upper limit. If the number of available gaming media received from the available gaming media management unit 16 is equal to or exceeds the specific upper limit, the specific payout operation control unit 13c determines that the specific condition is met and enables the execution of a specific payout operation according to this determination result. In the gaming device 1c, the specific upper limit is preset to, for example, a gaming value (game points) equivalent to 1,000 gaming balls. The specific upper limit number is not limited to the gaming value equivalent to 1,000 gaming balls, but can be set arbitrarily.

[0074] The specific payout operation control unit 13c also has a specific amount designation function that allows the player to designate the amount of game value (game points) desired by the player as the specific amount. Therefore, when enabling the execution of a specific payout operation, the specific payout operation control unit 13c displays an input screen on an operation display screen such as a touch panel display provided on the gaming device 1c, where the player can designate any amount of game value (game points) as the specific amount, and accepts the designation of the specific amount desired by the player in response to an input operation on this input screen. Note that this specific amount can be designated as any amount. Furthermore, the specific payout operation control unit 13c calculates how many payout processes are required by the payout means 2c until the amount of game value specified by the player (specific amount) is awarded, and if it is necessary to transfer game value equivalent to a fractional amount of game balls less than the payout limit amount, it specifies and adjusts the number of game values ​​to be awarded to the gaming machine 2 in the payout process executed last of the specific payout processes by the payout means 2c. Therefore, when a specific payout operation is executed by the player, the specific payout operation control unit 13c specifies the calculated number of payout processes and the number of game values ​​to be awarded to the gaming machine 2 in the payout process executed last, and executes a payout operation to have the payout means 2c execute these payout processes as specific payout processes. Then, the specific payout process is executed by the payout means 12.

[0075] Figure 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining the flow of the specific payout process when the specific condition is that "the number of available gaming media managed by the available gaming media management unit 16 is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number." In the specific payout operation control unit 13c of the gaming machine 1c, a gaming value equivalent to 1000 gaming balls is set in advance as a specific upper limit number. First, when a player causes the recording medium processing unit 11c to accept a recording medium to start a game, the identification information of the recording medium is notified to the usable game medium management unit 16, and the usable game medium management unit 16 uses the identification information to inquire of the management device 3 about the number of game media held before the start of the game. Based on the identification information of the recording medium included in the inquiry from the usable game medium management unit 16, the information management unit 31c of the management device 3 identifies the remaining number of held game media corresponding to the identification information, and notifies the usable game medium management unit 16 of the identified remaining number of held game media as information related to the number of held game media (for example, information indicating that the number of held game media is a game value equivalent to 501 balls), thereby responding to the inquiry. Upon receiving this notification from the management device 3, the usable game medium management unit 16 records the notified number of held game media.

[0076] At this time, the available game media management unit 16, which has received information regarding the number of possessed game media, calculates a total value by adding the number of possessed game media and the number of counted game media. At this point, game play has not yet started, and the counting game media management unit 14c has not yet counted the playable game media, so the number of available game media is equivalent to only the number of possessed game media, or 501 balls. The available game media management unit 16 then notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13c of the calculated number of available game media. The specific payout operation control unit 13c then determines whether a specific condition has been met. Specifically, it determines whether the notified number of available game media is equal to or greater than the specific upper limit of 1,000 balls, or whether the game value exceeds 1,000 balls. At this point, the notified number of available game media is equivalent to 501 balls, which is less than 1,000 balls, so the specific payout operation control unit 13c determines that the specific condition has not been met. Therefore, at this time, the player is not able to perform a specific payout operation.

[0077] Next, when the player performs a payout operation to start playing, the payout means 12 executes a payout process, and, for example, game value equivalent to 200 balls, which is the payout limit, is withdrawn from the on-hand game media and provided to the gaming machine 2. Now that the player has withdrawn the on-hand game media, the available game media management unit 16 subtracts the number equivalent to the withdrawn game value (the number of on-hand game media withdrawn) from the number of available game media to update the number of available game media. Specifically, the number of available game media becomes equivalent to 301 balls, which is the payout limit of 200 balls subtracted from the equivalent of 501 balls. At this time, the available game media management unit 16 has updated the number of available game media, and the specific payout operation control unit 13c is notified of the latest number of available game media. The specific payout operation control unit 13c then determines whether a specific condition has been met. At this point, the number of available gaming media is equivalent to 301 balls, so just as when the number of available gaming media is equivalent to 501 balls, it is determined that the specific condition is not met, and the player is not able to perform the specific payout operation.

[0078] Meanwhile, suppose that a player wins a jackpot by passing a gaming ball through the winning area (winning port), earning a predetermined number of game values, and the number of playable game media managed by the gaming machine 2 becomes equivalent to 800 balls. Thereafter, for example, suppose that the player temporarily leaves his / her seat, causing the counting game media management unit 14c to count 700 balls out of the 800 balls worth of playable game media managed by the gaming machine 2. The number of counted game media managed by the counting game media management unit 14c is then updated to 700 balls, and this number of counted game media is notified from the counting game media management unit 14c to the usable game media management unit 16. Furthermore, upon receiving notification of the number of counted game media from the counting game media management unit 14c, the usable game media management unit 16 records the number of counted game media and updates the number of usable game media in accordance with the notification of the number of counted game media. Then, the number of counted game media equivalent to 700 balls is added to the number of available game media equivalent to 301 balls managed by the available game medium management unit 16, and the number of available game media is updated to the number of available game media equivalent to 1001 balls. Then, the available game medium management unit 16 notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13c of the latest updated number of available game media.

[0079] Next, the specific payout operation control unit 13c, which has received the notification of the number of available gaming media, determines whether a specific condition has been met. Specifically, it determines whether the notified number of available gaming media is equal to or greater than the specific upper limit of 1,000 balls, or whether the gaming value exceeds 1,000 balls. Here, since the notified number of available gaming media is equivalent to 1,001 balls, which exceeds 1,000 balls, the specific payout operation control unit 13c determines that a specific condition has been met, and allows the player to perform a specific payout operation according to this determination result. Thereafter, the specific payout operation performed by the player is accepted. At this time, the specific payout operation control unit 13c displays an input screen on an operation display screen, such as a touch panel display, provided on the gaming device 1c, allowing the player to specify any amount of game value (game points) as the specific amount, and accepts the player's desired specific amount in response to an input operation on the input screen. FIG. 10 shows a case in which a game value equivalent to 1,000 balls is specified as the specific amount. When the player subsequently executes a specific payout operation, the specific payout operation control unit 13c, having accepted the specific payout operation, causes the payout means 12 to execute a specific payout process. In this case, since the player has specified a game value equivalent to 1,000 balls as the specific amount, the payout means 12, under the control of the specific payout operation control unit 13c, executes a payout process five times to award game value equivalent to 200 balls as the specific payout process. In this manner, the specific payout process in the gaming device 1c is executed.

[0080] In the above-described example, the usable game media management unit 16 combines the number of counted game media and the number of possessed game media and manages the total value as the "number of usable game media," but the "number of usable game media" calculated, recorded, and managed by the usable game media management unit 16 can be set arbitrarily. Specifically, for example, the number of counted game media and the number of saved game media may be combined and their total value may be managed as the "number of usable game media," the number of possessed game media and the number of saved game media may be combined and their total value may be managed as the "number of usable game media," or the number of counted game media, the number of possessed game media, and the number of saved game media may all be combined and their total value may be managed as the "number of usable game media." Furthermore, the "number of available game media" calculated, recorded and managed by the available game media management unit 16 is not limited to the total value of a combination of at least two of the counted number of game media, the number of owned game media and the number of saved game media; for example, any one of the counted number of game media, the number of owned game media and the number of saved game media may be managed as the "number of available game media" as is. Furthermore, when the number of stored game media is required when calculating, recording, and managing the "number of available game media," the available game media management unit 16 is configured to inquire of the information management unit 31c of the management device 3 about the number of stored game media for the stored game media managed by the management device 3 before the start of play, just as when inquiring about the number of owned game media. Also, the information management unit 31c is configured to specify the remaining number of stored game media before the start of play in response to the inquiry from the available game media management unit 16, just as when specifying the number of owned game media, and notify the available game media management unit 16 of this remaining number as information regarding the number of stored game media. This makes it possible for the available game media management unit 16 to calculate, record, and manage the "number of available game media" when using the number of stored game media.

[0081] In the above example, the specific payout operation control unit 13c determines the specific condition based on the number of available game media calculated by the available game media management unit 16 of the gaming device 1c, but an available game media management means having the same function as the available game media management unit 16 may be provided as an internal function of the recording medium processing unit 11c of the gaming device 1c, and this available game media management means may calculate, record, and manage the number of available game media, and notify the specific payout operation control unit 13c, etc. In this case, when the playable game media are counted by the counting game media management unit 14c, the counted number of game media is notified to the available game media management means of the recording medium processing unit 11c. In the above example, the specific payout operation control unit 13c allows the player to specify any amount of game value as the specific amount, but a selection button that allows the player to select and specify the amount of game value desired from multiple predetermined amounts of game value on an operation display screen such as a touch panel display may be displayed, and the specific amount desired by the player may be accepted by operating this selection button. In this case, the specific amount displayed as the selection button may be, for example, game value equivalent to 500 balls or game value equivalent to 1000 balls, and any predetermined amount may be displayed so that it can be selected.

[0082] Fifth Embodiment Next, a gaming device 1d according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Since the gaming device 1d has the same functions as the gaming device 1, the following description will focus on the configuration of the gaming device 1d that differs from the gaming device 1. Furthermore, since the gaming machines 2 and the management device 3 also have the same functions as those described in the description of the gaming device 1, the following description will focus on the differences from those described in the description of the gaming device 1.

[0083] FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the gaming device 1d, the gaming machine 2, and the management device 3. As shown in FIG. The specific payout operation control unit 13d and the counted game media management unit 14d of the gaming device 1d have a specific amount addition function. When a specific condition is met, the specific payout operation control unit 13d determines that the specific condition is met and makes the specific payout operation executable according to the determination result. On the other hand, when the player presses an operation button such as a counting button after the specific condition is met to execute a counting process to count a small amount of playable game media, for example, playable game media less than the payout limit amount, the counted game media management unit 14d of the gaming device 1d adds the newly counted number of playable game media (the small number of counted game media) to the most recent number of counted game media, thereby setting it as the new most recent number of counted game media. Furthermore, when the counting game media management unit 14d executes a counting process for counting a small amount of playable game media multiple times after a specific condition is met, it adds all of the numbers of playable game media counted by the counting process executed multiple times (counted game media numbers) to the most recent counted game media number, and uses this as the new most recent counted game media number. In other words, when the counting game media management unit 14d executes a counting process for counting a small amount of playable game media after counting a large number of playable game media that is equal to or exceeds a specific upper limit number and a specific condition is met, it regards this small counted number as the most recent counted game media number and newly notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13d. In this case, the specific payout operation control unit 13d recognizes the number of counted game media, including the small amount of counted game media, as the new most recent number of counted game media, and can set this new most recent number of counted game media, including the small amount of counted game media, as the specific amount. By configuring in this way, the small amount of counted game media counted after the specific condition is met can also be included in the number of counted game media to be awarded by the specific payout process.

[0084] Fig. 12 is a sequence diagram for explaining the flow of a specific payout process when a counting process for counting a small amount of playable game media is executed after a specific condition is met. Specifically, Fig. 12 shows a case where a large amount of playable game media equal to or greater than a specific upper limit number is counted by the player, and a specific condition is met, such as "the most recent number of counted game media managed by the counting game media management unit 14d is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number," and the specific payout operation control unit 13d makes it possible to execute a specific payout operation, and then a counting process for counting a small amount of playable game media is executed.

[0085] In the gaming device 1d, a specific upper limit of gaming value (gaming points) equivalent to 1000 gaming balls is set in advance, similar to the gaming device 1. Also, it is assumed that a player acquires gaming media through playing games, and the gaming machine 2 manages gaming value (playable gaming media) equivalent to 1081 gaming balls. Here, suppose a player temporarily leaves behind 81 balls worth of game value (playable game media) and the counting game media management unit 14d counts 1,000 balls worth of playable game media. Since the most recent counted game media (the most recent counted number of playable game media) managed by the counting game media management unit 14d is equivalent to 1,000 balls, the same as the specific upper limit, the specific payout operation control unit 13d determines that a specific condition has been met and, in accordance with this determination result, allows the player to perform a specific payout operation. The specific payout operation executed by the player is then accepted. The specific amount of the specific payout process executed based on the specific payout operation at this time is equivalent to 1,000 balls, the most recent counted game media. Next, if the player presses an operation button such as a counting button and the counting game media management unit 14d executes a counting process to count a small amount of playable game media (equivalent to 80 balls) less than the payout limit, the counting game media management unit 14d adds the number of counted game media counted for these 80 balls to the most recent number of counted game media and notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13d of this as the new most recent number of counted game media.The specific payout operation control unit 13d then sets the new most recent number of counted game media (equivalent to 1080 balls) notified by the counting game media management unit 14d as the specific amount for the specific payout process executed based on the specific payout operation.

[0086] Furthermore, if the player presses an operation button such as a counting button and the counting game media management unit 14d executes a counting process to count a small number of playable game media (equivalent to one ball) that is less than the payout limit amount, the counting game media management unit 14d adds the number of counted game media counted for this one playable game media to the most recent number of counted game media and notifies the specific payout operation control unit 13d of this as the new most recent number of counted game media.The specific payout operation control unit 13d then sets the new most recent number of counted game media (equivalent to 1081 balls) notified by the counting game media management unit 14d as the specific amount for the specific payout process executed based on the specific payout operation. Subsequently, when the player returns to his / her seat after a temporary absence and causes the gaming device 1d to accept a recording medium again to resume play, and then executes a specific payout operation, the specific payout operation control unit 13d, which has accepted the specific payout operation, causes the payout means 12 to execute a specific payout process. At this time, the new most recent number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit 14d is equivalent to 1,081 balls, so the specific amount becomes a game value equivalent to 1,081 balls. Then, under the control of the specific payout operation control unit 13d, the payout means 12 executes a payout process five times to award a game value equivalent to 200 balls as the specific payout process, and then executes a payout process to award a game value equivalent to 81 balls. In this manner, the specific payout process is executed.

[0087] <Modification> Next, a modified example of the gaming device 1 according to the present invention will be described. In the gaming device 1, the specific condition is shown as "the most recent number of counted game media managed by the counting game media management unit 14 is equal to or exceeds a predetermined specific upper limit number." This is because when the most recent number of counted game media managed by the counting game media management unit 14 is equal to or exceeds a specific upper limit number, the player has counted a large number of playable game media and owns a large number of owned game media, and there is a high possibility that the player will want to use the large number of owned game media in play with a simple operation when resuming play.

[0088] On the other hand, if a player owns a large number of on-hand gaming media or saved gaming media and wants to be able to use those on-hand gaming media or saved gaming media with a simple operation when resuming play, this need not be limited to counting a large number of playable gaming media. Therefore, the specific condition determined based on past performance may be, for example, "the number of jackpots since the start of play reaches a predetermined number." In this case, the specific payout operation control unit 13 counts the number of jackpots based on game information indicating the progress of the game notified by the gaming machine 2, and determines that the specific condition has been met when the number of jackpots reaches the predetermined number. This is because, even if a large number of playable gaming media are not counted together, if the number of playable gaming media is large, repeated counting of playable gaming media less than the specified upper limit may indicate that the player owns a large number of on-hand gaming media.

[0089] Furthermore, for example, if the gaming machine 2 is a smart pachislot machine, and the number of times the reel symbols have changed since the start of play has been considerable, it is assumed that the player will want to continue playing. Therefore, a player who owns a large amount of game media or saved game media is likely to want to be able to use these for gameplay with a simple operation when resuming play. In such a case, the specific condition may be, for example, "the number of times the reel symbols have changed since the start of play has exceeded a predetermined number." In this case, the specific payout operation control unit 13 counts the number of times the reel symbols have changed based on game information indicating the progress of the game notified by the gaming machine 2, and determines that the specific condition has been met when the number of times the symbols have changed reaches the predetermined number. As described above, the specific conditions are arbitrary as long as they are determined based on past performance, and for example, in addition to the above, if gaming machine 2 is a pachinko machine, the specific conditions can be set by incorporating elements such as the number of gaming balls fired contained in the gaming information notified from the pachinko machine, the playing time of the player on gaming machine 2, the amount of playable gaming media, possessed gaming media, and stored gaming media consumed, the number of times the player visits the store, and the frequency of the player's visits.

[0090] Furthermore, for example, the specific condition may be based on the past settings (performance) of the gaming machine 2 connected to the gaming device 1. For example, if the gaming machine 2 is a model with a low jackpot probability, the gaming machine 2 has a low number of jackpots in its past performance, and is therefore a model that is likely to consume a large amount of gaming media before hitting a jackpot. Therefore, the specific condition may be set incorporating elements such as the settings and specifications of the gaming machine 2.

[0091] In the gaming device 1, when a specific condition is met, the specific payout operation control unit 13 enables the player to perform the specific payout operation by, for example, displaying an operation button such as a lump payout button for accepting the specific payout operation on an operation display screen such as a touch panel display of the gaming device 1. Then, when the player presses an operation button such as the lump payout button (specific payout operation), the specific payout operation control unit 13 accepts the specific payout operation. In this case, when the gaming device 1 receives a specific payout operation, the specific payout operation control unit 13 immediately causes the payout means 2c to execute a predetermined number of payout processes as a specific payout process. However, if the specific amount is enormous, the player may not want all of it available in the gaming machine 2. Therefore, if the specific amount is enormous, a confirmation button for confirming the execution of the specific payout process may be displayed on the operation display screen when the player presses an operation button such as a lump-sum payout button according to the number of specific amounts, and the specific payout process may be executed only after the player confirms by pressing the confirmation button. Note that a huge specific amount is, for example, a gaming value equivalent to more than 50,000 balls and can be set arbitrarily.

[0092] Furthermore, the gaming device 1 is configured as a card unit compatible with gaming machines 2, including pachinko machines and the like that are not smart gaming machines, but the gaming device 1 may also be configured as a card unit dedicated to smart gaming machines that is connected to pachinko machines and pachislot machines that are smart gaming machines, and each function of the gaming device 1 may be configured to be a function exclusive to the card unit dedicated to smart gaming machines. Furthermore, when the gaming device 1 is configured as a card unit dedicated to a smart gaming machine as described above, the specific payout operation control unit 13 may be configured to acquire the upper limit number of playable gaming media that can be managed by the gaming machine 2 from the gaming machine 2 or the management device 3 when causing the payout means 12 to execute the specific payout process, and cause the payout means 12 to execute the specific payout process within a range that does not exceed this upper limit number. In this case, for example, the specific payout operation control unit 13 is configured to have a transfer amount calculation adjustment function that acquires, as game information from the gaming machine 2, the number of playable gaming media that the gaming machine 2 manages at that time and the upper limit number of playable gaming media that the gaming machine 2 can manage, and calculates the amount of gaming value (gaming points) that can be transferred to the gaming machine 2 (transferable amount) from the number of playable gaming media and the upper limit number. Then, the specific payout operation control unit 13 adjusts the specific amount in accordance with the calculated transferable amount, and causes the payout means 12 to execute the payout process as the specific payout process a predetermined number of times until the adjusted specific amount of game value is awarded.

[0093] Specifically, for example, if the number of playable game media managed by gaming machine 2, which is a pachinko machine of a smart gaming machine, is equivalent to 50,000 balls, and the upper limit number of playable game media that can be managed by gaming machine 2 is equivalent to 99,999 balls, the specific payout operation control unit 13 calculates that the transferable amount is equivalent to 49,999 balls by subtracting the number of playable game media managed by gaming machine 2 from the upper limit. If the specific amount in the specific payout process exceeds the transferable amount, the specific payout operation control unit 13 adjusts the specific amount to match the calculated transferable amount (equivalent to 49,999 balls), and causes payout means 12 to execute a predetermined number of payout processes as specific payout processes until the adjusted specific amount of game value (game value equivalent to 49,999 balls) is awarded.

[0094] 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1, 1a to 1d Gaming device 1b' Gaming device 2,2' gaming machine 3 Management device 4 HUB 10 Control unit (game device) 10' Control unit (game device) 11 Recording medium processing section 11a Recording medium processing section 11b Recording medium processing section 11b' recording medium processing unit 11c Recording medium processing section 12 Payment Methods 12' Payment method 13 Specific dispensing operation control unit 13a Specific dispensing operation control section 13b Specific dispensing operation control section 13b' specific dispensing operation control section 13c Specific dispensing operation control section 13d Specific dispensing operation control section 14. Counting and Gaming Media Management Department 14b Counting and Gaming Media Management Department 14b' Counting game media management unit 14c Counting and Gaming Media Management Department 14d Counting and Gaming Media Management Department 15 Gaming device communication unit 15' Gaming device communication unit 16 Usable Game Media Management Department 20 Control unit (game machine) 20' Control unit (game machine) 21 Gaming Machine Communication Department 21' Gaming Machine Communication Department 30 Control unit (management device) 31 Information Management Department 31b Information Management Department 31c Information Management Department 32 Management device communication department

Claims

1. A gaming device attached to a gaming machine that uses gaming media to play games, a payout means for executing a payout process that makes the gaming media available in the gaming machine in an amount equal to or less than a predetermined payout limit based on a predetermined payout operation; a specific payout operation control unit that enables a specific payout operation to cause the payout means to repeatedly execute the payout process to make a specific amount of the gaming media that exceeds the payout limit available for use in the gaming machine when a specific condition based on past performance is met, By executing the specific payout operation once, the specific amount of the gaming media becomes available for use in the gaming machine. A gaming device characterized by:

2. a counted game media management unit that counts playable game media that are the game media that can be used in the gaming machine and manages the counted number of playable game media as a counted number of game media; The specific payout operation control unit sets the specific condition that the most recent number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number.

2. The gaming device according to claim 1.

3. a counted game media management unit that counts the playable game media that are the game media that can be used in the gaming machine and manages the counted number of the playable game media as a counted number of game media; a recording medium processing unit that handles a recording medium to which identification information that can identify the owner of the playable game medium transferred to the gaming device is attached, The specific payout operation control unit sets the specific condition that the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit is the same as the identification information of the recording medium whose number of counted game media has been updated immediately before the acceptance and which has been returned by the recording medium processing unit.

2. The gaming device according to claim 1.

4. The specific payout operation control unit does not enable the specific payout operation even if the specific condition is established when the number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit immediately before the return of the recording medium by the recording medium processing unit is equal to or less than the payout limit amount.

4. The gaming device according to claim 3.

5. a counted game media management unit that counts the playable game media that are the game media that can be used in the gaming machine and manages the counted number of the playable game media as a counted number of game media; a recording medium processing unit that handles a recording medium to which identification information that can identify the owner of the playable game medium transferred to the gaming device is attached, The specific payout operation control unit sets the specific condition that the most recent number of counted game media corresponding to the identification information of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number.

2. The gaming device according to claim 1.

6. a counted game media management unit that counts the playable game media that are the game media that can be used in the gaming machine and manages the counted number of the playable game media as a counted number of game media; a usable game media management unit that manages, as the number of usable game media, either the number of counted game media managed by the counted game media management unit, the number of retained game media that are the game media that are usable only on the day and are managed by the game establishment where the gaming device is installed, or the number of saved game media that are the game media that are deposited at the game establishment so that they can be withdrawn and used later, or a total value obtained by combining and adding up at least two or more of the number of counted game media, the number of retained game media, and the number of saved game media; The specific payout operation control unit sets the specific condition that the number of available game media managed by the available game media management unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific upper limit number.

2. The gaming device according to claim 1.

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