Gaming machine

Abstract

We provide gaming machines that offer diverse gameplay options using bonuses. [Solution] In a gaming machine, when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" and RBB are both won, if multiple stop buttons are operated in a manner that stops the left reel first, a small win with a payout of 1 coin is awarded, and if multiple stop buttons are operated in a manner that stops the middle reel or the right reel first, a small win with a payout of 1 coin is awarded with a predetermined probability, and if no small win with a payout of 1 coin is awarded, RBB can be awarded.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a gaming machine (a reel-type gaming machine, a slot machine) provided with a plurality of reels having symbols arranged on the outer peripheral surface has been known. This type of gaming machine assigns a certain gaming value to gaming media such as medals and pachinko balls, and performs a game for obtaining such gaming media. Further, in this type of gaming machine, upon a rotation start operation by a player, an internal lottery is performed and the rotation of a plurality of reels is started, and upon a stop operation by the player, control is performed to stop the plurality of reels in a manner corresponding to the result of the internal lottery. Then, the result of the game is determined by the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line in the state where the plurality of reels have stopped, and payouts of medals and the like are made according to the result of the game.

[0003] In the above-described gaming machine, the winning or losing of a bonus, which is a role that triggers the transition to a bonus game, is determined, and in a bonus game that transitions when the bonus wins, a technique is disclosed in which the winning probability of a minor winning combination in which gaming media are paid out at the time of winning is increased compared to the normal game, thereby allowing the player to obtain gaming media (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In recent years, there has been a demand for a variety of gameplay options using bonuses in gaming machines. These options include not only bonus games that are triggered when a bonus is won, but also games played in a bonus-established state where the bonus has been won and remains active. This aims to enhance players' interest in the game and improve the marketability of the gaming machine.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a gaming machine that can realize diverse gameplay using bonuses. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This invention relates to a plurality of reels, Multiple stop buttons, It comprises an internal lottery means for conducting an internal lottery, The aforementioned plurality of reels include a first reel, a second reel, a third reel, In the aforementioned internal lottery, the success or failure of multiple types of winning scenarios is determined. The aforementioned multiple types of winning patterns include a first winning pattern (for example, winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8A", winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B", paragraphs

[0179] ,

[0180] , Figure 11) and a second winning pattern (for example, winning area "Bonus Transition Role", paragraph

[0183] , Figure 11), The aforementioned first winning pattern is associated with the simultaneous winning of a minor role with a first payout and a minor role with a lower payout than the aforementioned first payout. The aforementioned second winning pattern is associated with the simultaneous winning of multiple types of second-payout minor roles. The aforementioned first winning pattern includes a first type of first winning pattern and a second type of first winning pattern. For each of the first type of first winning pattern and the second type of first winning pattern, a correct operation pattern is set as the operation pattern of the plurality of stop buttons. The operation mode for stopping the first reel for the first time is not set as the correct operation mode in either the first type of first winning mode or the second type of first winning mode. The first winning mode of the first type is set such that the operation mode in which the second reel is stopped first is set as the correct operation mode. The second type of first winning mode is set such that the operation mode in which the third reel is stopped first is set to the correct operation mode. In the case where the first winning pattern is selected in the aforementioned internal lottery, When the multiple stop buttons are operated in the correct operation mode described above, the first payout prize becomes available. If the multiple stop buttons are operated in a manner different from the correct operation manner described above, a minor prize with a lower payout than the first payout becomes possible. In cases where the second winning pattern and the bonus are both won, When the multiple stop buttons are operated in a manner that causes the first reel to stop, the second payout prize is awarded. The feature is that when the plurality of stop buttons are operated in a manner that first stops the second reel or the third reel, the second payout prize is awarded with a predetermined probability, and if the second payout prize is not awarded, a bonus becomes available. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can realize diverse gameplay using bonuses. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating the functional block of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows the winning areas in the internal lottery of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the winning combinations included in each winning area. [Figure 4] This figure illustrates the arrangement of symbols on the reels in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5]A diagram showing the RBB, winning symbol combinations of minor roles 1 to 15, and payouts of minor roles 1 to 15 in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] A diagram showing the winning symbol combinations of minor roles 16 to 29 and payouts of minor roles 16 to 29 in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the winning symbol combinations of minor roles 30 to 45 and payouts of minor roles 30 to 45 in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the winning symbol combinations of minor roles 46 to 59 and payouts of minor roles 46 to 59 in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] (A) is a state transition diagram of the gaming state in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a transition diagram related to the normal section and the advantageous section controlled by the AT control means and the production state during the advantageous section. [Figure 10] A diagram showing the gaming results for each batting order in the non-RT state in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] A diagram showing the gaming results for each batting order in the RBB internal state in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] A diagram showing the minor roles that win for each batting order and the winning probabilities of each minor role when winning in the winning area including minor roles in the RBB state in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] A table summarizing the minor roles that win based on winning in each gaming state in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] A flowchart showing the process related to the update of the AT high-probability counter executed by the AT control means in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] A table summarizing a part of the errors that occur in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] A front view showing the internal configuration of the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] A front view showing the configuration of the main control board unit of the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] (A) is a diagram showing a state in which the display device shows a normal screen and the setting change switch is in the OFF state in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the setting change switch is switched to the ON state from the state shown in (A) and the setting confirmation screen is displayed on the display device. [Figure 19] (A) is a diagram showing the state in which a setting confirmation screen is displayed on the display device in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a diagram showing the state in which a dispensing device connection error occurs from the state shown in (A), and a dispensing device connection error notification screen is displayed on the display device. [Figure 20] (A) is a diagram showing a state in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention where the setting change switch is in the OFF state and a dispensing device connection error has occurred, and a dispensing device connection error notification screen is displayed on the display device; (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the setting change switch has been switched from the state shown in (A) to the ON state; and (C) is a diagram showing a state in which the dispensing device connection error has been resolved from the state shown in (B). [Figure 21] This diagram illustrates the timing of operations that enable the red 7 symbol "red 7" and the white 7 symbol "white 7" to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the winning area "bonus transition role" is selected in the internal lottery during the internal state of the RBB of the present invention, and the stop button is operated to stop during the batting order 3 and 4. [Figure 22] This diagram illustrates the timing of operations that enable the red 7 symbol "Red 7" and the white 7 symbol "White 7" to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected in the internal lottery during the internal state of the RBB of the present invention and the stop button is operated in turn 5. [Figure 23] This diagram illustrates the timing of operations that enable the red 7 symbol "Red 7" and the white 7 symbol "White 7" to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected in the internal lottery during the internal state of the RBB of the present invention, and the stop button is operated in turn 6. [Figure 24](A) is a diagram showing a combination of symbols that can be stopped on the active lines of the left reel and the middle reel in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the red 7 symbol "red 7" is stopped on the active lines of the left reel and the middle reel, (B) is a diagram showing a combination of symbols that can be stopped on the active lines of the left reel and the middle reel when the white 7 symbol "white 7" is stopped on the active lines of the left reel and the middle reel, (C) is a combination of symbols that can be stopped on the active lines of the left reel and the right reel when the red 7 symbol "red 7" is stopped on the active lines of the left reel and the right reel The diagrams show the possible combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active lines when the white 7 symbol "white 7" is stopped on the active lines of the left reel and the right reel. The diagrams show the possible combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active lines when the red 7 symbol "red 7" is stopped on the active lines of the middle reel and the right reel. The diagrams show the possible combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active lines when the white 7 symbol "white 7" is stopped on the active lines of the middle reel and the right reel. [Figure 25] This figure illustrates the following in an embodiment of the present invention: the number of lottery values ​​associated with the winning areas "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5"; the expected value of electronic medals acquired in one game, calculated from the probability of winning a small role and the number of electronic medals dispensed when the stop button is operated in the 1st and 2nd batting order when winning in the "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5" areas; and the average number of electronic medals dispensed when the stop button is operated in the 1st and 2nd batting order when winning in the "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5" areas. [Figure 26] This flowchart shows the process for setting the upper limit of the number of payouts in a modified version of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The embodiments described below are not intended to unduly limit the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, not all configurations described in these embodiments are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[0011] 1. Overview of the configuration of the gaming machine Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a slot machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The slot machine 1 of this embodiment is a so-called reel-type gaming machine, and is a so-called medalless gaming machine that records the gaming value that can be used by the player by an electromagnetic method based on a lending signal output from a dedicated unit SU (see Figure 2), which is provided outside the slot machine 1 and has a configuration that lends and settles electronic tokens that constitute the gaming value by an electromagnetic method. The slot machine 1 stores information on the number of recorded electronic tokens as the number of gaming tokens and is configured to transmit the stored number of gaming tokens to the dedicated unit SU. The dedicated unit SU settles the electronic tokens by recording the number of gaming tokens received from the slot machine 1 on a recording medium such as an IC card and dispensing it.

[0012] The slot machine 1 of this embodiment has a box-shaped casing BX, which consists of an upper front door UD and a lower front door DD, both of which are openable and closable doors. Inside this casing is a reel unit RU consisting of multiple reels, from the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. The casing of the slot machine 1 of this embodiment also houses a control board that controls the operation of the slot machine 1, which is equipped with a CPU, ROM (an example of an information storage medium), RAM, etc.

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

[0014] The front upper door UD and the front lower door DD are provided to be individually openable and closable. The front upper door UD is equipped with a display device 410, which serves as a display means for displaying various videos and images to assist or enhance the gameplay. The display device 410 has a display area 410a for displaying images, and a specific area 410b facing the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is made of a transparent liquid crystal display, allowing the rotation and stopping states of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 to be observed through the display device 410. When the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped, three symbols (upper, middle, and lower) that are arranged consecutively on the outer surface of each of the multiple types of symbols arranged at regular intervals on the outer surface of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 can be observed from the front of the slot machine 1 through the display device 410.

[0015] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, each reel is provided with an upper, middle, and lower display position for observing the symbols through the display device 410, and an active line L1 is set for the combination of display positions on each reel. In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the number of electronic tokens required for one game, the so-called specified number (specified number), is set to 3 tokens (first specified number) or 2 tokens (second specified number), and when the specified number of electronic tokens is inserted, the active line L1, which consists of the upper position of the left reel R1, the middle position of the middle reel R2, and the lower position of the right reel R3, is activated.

[0016] The game result is determined by the combination of symbols that stop and are displayed on the active line L1. If the combination of symbols on the active line L1 corresponds to a predetermined winning combination, that combination is considered to have been won, and control corresponding to the winning combination is executed.

[0017] The front lower door DD is equipped with various operating means. These operating means include a max bet button MB, which is an insertion operation means for setting the electronic medals stored in the slot machine 1 to the insertion state; a start lever SL, which is a game start operation means for allowing the player to perform an operation that triggers the start of the game by rotating the left reel R1 to the right reel R3; stop buttons B1 to B3, which are stop operation means for allowing the player to perform an operation that triggers the stop of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, which are rotated by stepping motors; a counting button KB, which is a counting operation means for transmitting the number of game medals stored in the slot machine 1 to a dedicated unit SU; a settlement button AB for performing a settlement operation that releases the insertion state and returns the electronic medals set to the insertion state to the medal counter 311 (see Figure 2); and a performance button EB used for performance effects.

[0018] The performance button EB is a performance operation means that causes the player to perform an operation that triggers the display of the menu screen on the display device 410 when no electronic tokens are inserted and no game is being played with the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 stopped. The performance button EB has multiple selection buttons for selecting an item from the items displayed on the menu screen, and a confirmation button for confirming the selected item. The items displayed on the menu screen include an item that displays a volume adjustment screen for adjusting the volume of sound output from the slot machine 1, and an item that displays a settings information screen that issues setting information about the performance environment of the slot machine 1 via a QR code (registered trademark).

[0019] Furthermore, the front lower door DD is equipped with a main control display device 10D controlled by the CPU of the main control board 10 (see Figure 2). The main control display device 10D consists of a 7-segment display and other components, and displays various game information such as information on the winning combination in the current game, and information (notification display) indicating how to press stop buttons B1, B2, and B3, which are related to the payout of electronic tokens. The notification display shown on the main control display device 10D corresponds to the winning combination command, which is a control signal created based on the winning combination information in the current game when a specified number of electronic tokens are inserted and the start lever SL is operated.

[0020] Furthermore, the front lower door DD is equipped with a game token count display device MD controlled by the token count control CPU 31 (see Figure 2). The game token count display device MD consists of a 7-segment display and functions as a conceptual container by displaying the number of game tokens stored in the slot machine 1.

[0021] Furthermore, the front lower door DD is equipped with multiple sound devices 420 for sound-based effects. The sound devices 420 output various sounds to assist or enhance the gameplay.

[0022] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the slot machine 1 of this embodiment. The slot machine 1 of this embodiment has a main control board 10, a sub-control board 20, and a medal count control board 30 as control boards. The main control board 10 has a main control CPU 11 (game control means) that controls the progress of the game by controlling the game played using game value. The sub-control board 20 has a sub-control CPU 21 that controls the effects related to the game. The medal count control board 30 has a medal count control CPU 31 that manages electronic medals and is configured to communicate with a dedicated unit SU to perform control related to the number of game medals.

[0023] The main control CPU 11 functions as a setting change means 100, an input acceptance means 105, a random number generation means 110, an internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a prize determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a game state transition control means 160, an assist time control means (AT control means) 170, and a complete control means 180. Each means constituting the main control CPU 11 reads and executes the respective control program pre-stored in the main memory means 190 when executing each control process.

[0024] The setting change means 100 performs control (setting change control) to change the setting value stored in the setting value storage means 191 of the main memory means 190. The setting change means 100 operates when a setting key is inserted into the setting key cylinder KC provided on the main control board 10 and the setting key is turned, causing the setting change switch SS provided inside the setting key cylinder KC to turn ON. When the setting change switch SS is ON and the power is turned on, the setting change means 100 transitions to a setting change permission state, which allows setting changes. On the other hand, the setting change means 100 is configured not to transition to the setting change permission state if the setting change switch SS is ON while the power is on.

[0025] The setting change means 100, in the setting change permission state, receives an input signal output when the setting change button BS provided on the power supply is operated, and cyclically changes the setting value in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → ... → setting 6 → setting 1 → ..., and confirms the setting value based on the reception of a start signal output when the start lever SL is operated. In the slot machine 1, the probability of winning in some of the winning areas among the winning areas that can be won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is changed according to the setting value confirmed in the setting value storage means 191. In other words, the setting change means 100 of this embodiment is configured to change the setting value, which is a value that can change the probability of winning a role in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120. To put it another way, the setting value is configured as a value that can change the probability of winning in the internal lottery, as a degree of advantage in the game.

[0026] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when setting change control is performed by the setting change means 100, the control related to the game state performed by the game state transition control means 160 and the control related to the advantageous section performed by the AT control means 170 are initialized, the game state is set to the non-replay time (hereinafter, replay time is also referred to as "RT") state described later, and the control related to the instruction function that the AT control means 170 was performing before the setting change is also initialized and the non-advantageous section is set. On the other hand, in the slot machine 1, if the power supply to the main control CPU 11 is cut off (power out), and the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is not performed until the power supply is restored, the control related to the game state performed by the game state transition control means 160 and the control related to the advantageous section performed by the AT control means 170 are restarted from the state before the power outage, and the control related to the instruction function that the AT control means 170 was performing before the power outage is also maintained at the state before the power outage.

[0027] The input receiving means 105, during the input receiving period for accepting the insertion of electronic tokens, receives an input signal output when the max bet button MB is operated (bet operation) while the number of game tokens stored in the token counter 311 (described later) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number. Based on this, it sets the electronic tokens stored in the token counter 311 to the insertion state, up to a predetermined number set for each game state, and activates the game start operation on the start lever SL based on the fact that the electronic tokens corresponding to the predetermined number have been set to the insertion state.

[0028] In this embodiment of the slot machine 1, the initial press of the start lever SL, which is activated based on the insertion of a predetermined number of electronic tokens, is accepted as the player's operation to start playing, triggering the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and also triggering the internal lottery means 120, which will be described later, to perform an internal lottery. Details of the predetermined numbers set for each game state will be described later.

[0029] Furthermore, the input receiving means 105, during the period between when the electronic tokens are set to the input state and when the start lever SL is started, receives an input signal output when the settlement button AB is operated, thereby releasing the input state and adding the same number of electronic tokens that were set to the input state to the number of game tokens stored in the token counter 311, thereby settling the electronic tokens that were set to the input state.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0038] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, the rotating reel corresponding to the pressed stop button is stopped within a predetermined period of 190 ms (milliseconds, msec) from the time the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed. In the following description, pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 will also be referred to as the operation. Furthermore, the slot machine 1 may be configured to output a stop signal not only when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed, but also, for example, when the operation of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 and then releasing the pressed stop buttons B1 to B3 is performed.

[0039] In this case, if the spinning reels are to be stopped within 190ms from the time the stop button is pressed, the stopping position of each spinning reel is configured such that, based on the diameter and rotation speed of each reel, it is possible for the reels to rotate a maximum of 4 frames from the time the stop button is pressed until they stop. Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, the range in which symbols can be drawn onto the active line L1 (draw-in range) is a total of 5 frames from the frame displayed on the active line L1 at the time the stop button is pressed until it rotates 4 frames.

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

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

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

[0043] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, each process is executed based on the result of the prize determination means 140 in the prize determination process. As for each process executed based on the result of the prize determination, for example, if a small prize is won, the payout control means 150 is instructed to determine the number of game tokens to be dispensed as electronic tokens; if a replay is won, the payout control means 150 is instructed to execute a process that will allow the next game to be played without consuming electronic tokens; and if a prize that triggers a transition to a game state such as a bonus is won, the game state transition control means 160 is instructed to transition to a game state.

[0044] The payout control means 150 performs payout processing related to the payout of electronic tokens according to the game result. Specifically, when a minor win occurs, it determines the number of electronic tokens to be paid out in the game based on the predetermined payout for each win, and virtually controls the payout by adding the number of game tokens corresponding to the determined payout number to the token counter 311.

[0045] Furthermore, the payout control means 150, when it is determined by the winning determination means 140 that a combination of symbols indicating the winning of one of the multiple types of replay symbols described later has stopped and is displayed on the active line L1, performs a replay process (re-play process) to set the machine to a ready state that allows the next game to be played without requiring the insertion of electronic tokens. In other words, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a replay is won, an automatic insertion process is performed in which a predetermined number of electronic tokens are automatically inserted without using the electronic tokens held by the player, and the machine waits for the start operation of the next start lever SL with the same active line L1 as the previous game set.

[0046] In slot machine 1, the system is configured so that even if the settlement buttons A and B are operated during the period from when a replay is awarded until the start of the next game, that is, during the period when a predetermined number of electronic tokens are automatically inserted due to the replay process and the game has not yet started, the same number of game tokens as the predetermined number will not be added to the token counter 311.

[0047] The game state transition control means 160 performs the process of transitioning game states between multiple game states, and the process of activating and terminating bonuses. Here, the transition conditions for each game state may be defined as one condition or multiple conditions. If multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state based on the fulfillment of any one of the multiple predetermined conditions, or on the fulfillment of all of the multiple predetermined conditions.

[0048] The AT control means 170 is an instruction function control means (auxiliary game control means) that performs control related to the transition between an advantageous section (advantageous period), which is a section (period) in which control related to instruction functions, including auxiliary games that display notifications assisting in winning specific roles on the main control display device 10D, can be executed, and an unadvantageous section (unadvantageous period, normal section), which is a section (period) in which control related to instruction functions (control related to auxiliary games) based on the results of internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 cannot be executed, using data stored in the AT control data storage means 196, thereby performing control related to the unadvantageous section, the advantageous section, and instruction functions.

[0049] The AT control data storage means 196 stores data used in various controls related to multiple types of performance states, including the normal state and the AT state, which are executed within the advantageous period (various flags, counters, etc., which are set to the ON state or OFF state in a predetermined control process).

[0050] The AT control means 170 sets the performance state to the AT state (assist time state) under predetermined conditions during the advantageous section, and provides operation notification to assist in winning specific roles by displaying information (an example of operation instruction information) corresponding to the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 that enable the winning of specific roles on the main control display device 10D, which consists of a 7-segment display. Furthermore, in the slot machine 1, when operation notification by the AT control means 170 is executed, the performance control means 200, described later, executes a navigation performance that displays an indicator corresponding to the correct sequence of hits on the display device 410. In this way, in the slot machine 1, in the AT state, the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 are notified through operation notification and navigation performance assistance, thereby executing an advantageous auxiliary game (AT game, notification game) for the player.

[0051] The AT control means 170, when a predetermined termination condition for ending the advantageous period, as will be described in more detail later, is met, executes a predetermined termination process that ends the advantageous period and starts the non-advantageous period from the next game, and a predetermined initialization process that initializes information related to the advantageous period, such as various flags and numerical values ​​set within the advantageous period.

[0052] The AT control means 170 performs an update process (advantageous section difference in tokens update process) that cumulatively records the difference (difference in tokens, number of tokens acquired) obtained by subtracting the number of electronic tokens dispensed from the game in which the advantageous section started by the number of electronic tokens inserted into the advantageous section counter 196a. When the AT control means 170 is in an advantageous section, it performs an advantageous section difference in tokens update process that cumulatively updates the value stored in the advantageous section counter 196a to a value equivalent to the difference in electronic tokens, regardless of the game state.

[0053] Furthermore, in the process of updating the difference in the number of tokens in the advantageous section, the AT control means 170 subtracts the stored value of the advantageous section counter 196a when the number of electronic tokens dispensed in the game is less than a specified number, and if the stored value of the advantageous section counter 196a becomes less than "0", the AT control means 170 also sets the result of the subtraction to the advantageous section counter 196a. In other words, the AT control means 170 is configured to be able to set a negative value to the advantageous section counter 196a.

[0054] The AT control means 170 determines that a specific termination condition has been met as a predetermined termination condition for ending the advantageous period when more than 2400 electronic medals are acquired during the advantageous period, that is, when the stored value of the advantageous period counter 196a exceeds the value "2400", and executes a predetermined termination process to end the advantageous period and start the non-advantageous period from the next game. For example, in slot machine 1, if the stored value of the advantageous period counter 196a was a negative value of "-900" before transitioning to a performance state in which electronic medals can be acquired, a total of 3301 electronic medals can be acquired: 900 medals until the stored value of the advantageous period counter 196a becomes "0", and 2401 medals until the stored value of the advantageous period counter 196a becomes "2401" or more.

[0055] The AT control means 170 initializes all information used in various control processes during the advantageous period, such as each flag set to the ON state during the advantageous period and values ​​set during the advantageous period, during a predetermined initialization process. The AT control means 170 can also terminate the advantageous period if a predetermined termination condition (normal termination condition) other than the specific termination condition is met, and executes the predetermined initialization process and predetermined termination process when the normal termination condition is met. Details of the normal termination conditions set by the AT control means 170 in this embodiment will be described later.

[0056] The complete control means 180 controls the slot machine 1 to activate a complete function, which stops the game when the cumulative number of electronic tokens acquired since the slot machine 1 was powered on reaches a predetermined value (for example, 19,000 tokens). The complete control means 180 performs an update process (complete acquired number update process) in which the difference (difference in tokens, acquired number) obtained by subtracting the number of electronic tokens dispensed in each game from the number of electronic tokens inserted after the slot machine 1 is powered on is cumulatively recorded in the token acquired counter 197a of the complete storage means 197. However, the complete control means 180 does not update the stored value of the token acquired counter 197a when a replay is awarded.

[0057] In the complete medal acquisition update process, which updates the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a, the complete control means 180 subtracts the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a when the number of electronic medals dispensed in the game is less than a predetermined number, and if the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a becomes less than "0", the complete control means 180 sets the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a to "0". As a result, the complete control means 180 can fix the value of the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a to "0" when it reaches its lowest point, eliminating the need to change the threshold value for judgment according to the specific numerical value at the lowest point in the control process using the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a, thereby reducing the load on the control process using the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a.

[0058] The complete control means 180 determines that the conditions for activating the complete function have been met when the number of game tokens acquired from the lowest point of the number of electronic tokens paid out after the slot machine 1 is powered on reaches 19,000 tokens, that is, when the stored value of the token acquisition counter 197a reaches the value "19,000".

[0059] The complete control means 180 activates the complete function when none of the following are activated: the regular bonus (RB) as a first-class special feature, the regular big bonus (RBB) as a continuous feature activation device related to the first-class special feature, and the challenge big bonus (CBB) as a continuous feature activation device related to the second-class special feature. Based on the fulfillment of the conditions for activating the complete function, the complete function is activated in the game in which the conditions are met, after the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped and the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped.

[0060] On the other hand, if RB, RBB, or CBB is active, the complete control means 180 activates the complete function after the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped and the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped in a game where the active RB, RBB, or CBB has finished.

[0061] The complete control means 180 sets the complete function activation flag stored in the complete flag storage means 197b of the complete storage means 197 to the ON state when activating the complete function. When the complete function activation flag is set to the ON state, the slot machine 1 enters a stop state, and no further play can be performed until the complete function activation flag is set to the OFF state. The complete function activation flag, which is set to the ON state, is reset to the OFF state when the front upper door UD of the slot machine 1 is opened and the setting change button BS located inside is operated to initialize it. Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 is configured so that when the complete function is activated, the complete function cannot be deactivated by the player's operation.

[0062] The sub-control CPU 21 functions as a performance control means 200. Each means constituting the sub-control CPU 21 reads and executes the control program pre-stored in the sub-storage means 210 when executing each control process.

[0063] The performance control means 200 controls game-related effects based on performance data stored in the performance control data storage means 211 of the sub-storage means 210, such as image and video effects using the display device 410 and sound effects using the sound device 420. Specifically, when a player operates various components of the slot machine 1, such as the max bet button MB, start lever SL, stop buttons B1 to B3, and counting button KB, or when a game event occurs, such as a change in the game state, the performance control means 200 controls the execution of effects that enhance the game, assist the game, or notify the player that an operation has been performed, by lighting or flashing lamps and LEDs, outputting sound from the sound device 420, etc. Furthermore, the performance control means 200 causes each component of the performance device 400 to execute effects based on each performance state.

[0064] The performance control means 200 superimposes images drawn on multiple layers onto a frame buffer 213 provided in the sub-storage means 210 to create a single image, and displays the superimposed image on the display area 410a of the display device 410. When drawing images to the frame buffer 213, the performance control means 200 draws the images to the frame buffer 213 in order from the images drawn on the lower layers, so that images drawn on higher layers are displayed on the display area 410a with priority over images drawn on lower layers.

[0065] The medal count control CPU 31 functions as a medal count control means 300. Each means constituting the medal count control CPU 31 reads and executes the control program pre-stored in the medal count storage means 310 when executing each control process.

[0066] The medal count control means 300 primarily updates (adds or subtracts) the number of game medals stored (held) in the medal count counter 311 in response to commands received from the main control board 10, notifications received from the dedicated unit SU, or operations on the counting button KB which has a built-in counting switch 126. The medal count control means 300 also displays the updated number of game medals on the game medal count display device MD.

[0067] Specifically, the medal count control means 300, when the counting button KB is operated while the game is playable, transmits a value corresponding to the number of game medals stored in the medal count counter 311 to the dedicated unit SU via the dispensing device connection terminal board 40, and subtracts the number of medals corresponding to the transmitted value from the medal count counter 311. Here, "while the game is playable" means that the game machine and the dedicated unit SU are electrically connected, power is supplied to both the game machine and the dedicated unit SU, neither the game machine nor the dedicated unit SU is undergoing maintenance, and no error has occurred that would prevent the game from being played. Furthermore, the slot machine 1 is controlled so that the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is not subtracted by operation of the counting button KB when it is not connected to the dedicated unit SU, thereby preventing a situation in which the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is subtracted but no signal is transmitted to the dedicated unit SU.

[0068] If the counting button KB is pressed for less than 500ms, the medal count control means 300 transmits a value of "1" equivalent to one medal to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and subtracts the stored value of the medal count counter 311 by the value of "1". If the counting button KB is pressed for 500ms or more, the medal count control means 300 transmits a value of "50" equivalent to 50 medals to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40 at the counting timing after 500ms have elapsed, and subtracts the stored value of the medal count counter 311 by the value of "50". Thereafter, every 300ms that elapse while the counting button KB is pressed, a value of "50" equivalent to 50 medals is transmitted to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is subtracted by the value of "50". Furthermore, when 500ms or more have elapsed since the counting button KB was pressed, if the stored value of the medal counter 311 is less than "50", the medal count control means 300 transmits a value corresponding to the stored value of the medal counter 311 to the dedicated unit SU via the dispensing device connection terminal board 40, and subtracts the stored value of the medal counter 311 by the value corresponding to that stored value, thereby setting the stored value of the medal counter 311 to "0".

[0069] The medal count control means 300 determines that a medal overflow has occurred when the stored value of the medal count counter 311 exceeds the value "16369", which is set as the limit of 16368 medals to be stored in the slot machine 1. Based on the determination that a medal overflow has occurred, the slot machine 1 issues a medal overflow error, and when the counting button KB is operated and the stored number of medals in the medal count counter 311 is counted, the stored value of the medal count counter 311 becomes "16368" or less, the medal overflow error is cleared.

[0070] When the coin count control means 300 is powered on while the coin count clear button CL, which is located inside the gaming machine, is pressed, it initializes the coin count counter 311 and clears (initializes) the coin count, setting the stored value of the coin count counter 311 to "0". As a result, the slot machine 1 can initialize the information on the number of coins that remained in the coin count counter 311 before the power was turned off when the power is turned on.

[0071] 2. Configuration of the gaming machine in this embodiment Next, with reference to Figures 3 to 25, the details of each component of the slot machine 1 in this embodiment will be described.

[0072] <Stop button> In this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has LEDs inside the stop buttons B1 to B3 that can light up in a first color (red), a second color (blue), and a third color (purple). In this embodiment, the lighting patterns of the LEDs inside the stop buttons B1 to B3 are controlled by the sub-control CPU 21.

[0073] Slot machine 1 illuminates the LEDs located inside the activated stop buttons B1 to B3 in blue when the stop operation is enabled, and illuminates the LEDs located inside the disabled stop buttons B1 to B3 in red.

[0074] Specifically, in slot machine 1, the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 light up red from the time the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped until they begin to rotate steadily. Once the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 begin to rotate steadily, the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 light up blue.

[0075] In addition, in slot machine 1, when any of the stop buttons B1 to B3, whose internal LEDs are lit blue, are pressed, all of the internal LEDs of stop buttons B1 to B3 light up red at the moment the button is pressed. When the pressed stop button is released, the internal LED of a different stop button lights up blue again. Also, in slot machine 1, the LED located inside the pressed stop button changes from blue to red and then remains lit red.

[0076] Specifically, in slot machine 1, for example, if the first stop operation is performed on stop button B1 while the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are rotating steadily, the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 change from blue to red when stop button B1 is pressed, and when stop button B1 is released, the LEDs inside stop buttons B2 and B3 change from red to blue, but the LED inside stop button B1 remains lit red.

[0077] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, if the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while an error occurs, and the error is cleared while the setting change switch SS remains in the ON state, the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 will light up purple. Details regarding when the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 light up purple will be described later.

[0078] <Control related to the specified number via input acceptance means> In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, during the insertion acceptance period in which the insertion acceptance means 105 accepts the insertion of electronic tokens, when the max bet button MB is operated (bet operation) while the number of game tokens stored in the token counter 311 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the same number of input signals as the predetermined number set for each game state are output. Each time an input signal is received, the insertion acceptance means 105 adds a value of "1" corresponding to one electronic token to the insertion count storage means 198 (see Figure 2) of the main storage means 190, and continues to add values ​​to the insertion count storage means 198 up to the predetermined number set for each game state.

[0079] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the number of specified coins is set to 3 (first specified number) for the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, and the number of specified coins is set to 2 (second specified number) for the RBB state.

[0080] In other words, when the game state is not RT state or RBB internal state, the coin insertion receiving means 105 stores the value "3" in the coin insertion count storage means 198 based on the fact that the input signal is received three times when the Max Bet button MB is operated with three or more game tokens stored in the medal count counter 311. Also, when the game state is RBB state, the coin insertion receiving means 105 stores the value "2" in the coin insertion count storage means 198 based on the fact that the input signal is received twice when the Max Bet button MB is operated with two or more game tokens stored in the medal count counter 311.

[0081] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> Figure 3 shows the winning areas that are subject to internal lottery in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, and the winning numbers and winning combinations associated with each winning area. In addition, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment has an RBB as a bonus, which is a continuous activation device for a special first-class bonus.

[0082] As shown in Figure 3, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the winning areas that are subject to internal lottery are: winning area "Bonus Small Win 1", winning area "Bonus Small Win 2", winning area "Bat Order Bell A1" to winning area "Bat Order Bell A8", winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell B1" to winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell B8", winning area "RBB & Common Bell", winning area "RBB & Missed Win", winning area "Bonus Transition Win", winning area "RBB & 3-Coin Win 1" to winning area "RBB & 3-Coin Win 5", winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Win 1", winning area "1-Coin Win 2", winning area "Replay 1", and winning area "RBB & Replay 2", and the winning numbers 1 to 30 are associated with each of these areas. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with the result of the internal lottery that is a loss.

[0083] Here, "batting order" refers to the sequence in which operations are performed on stop buttons B1 through B3. Furthermore, in the following description, the timing at which stop buttons B1 through B3 are operated will also be referred to as "operation timing."

[0084] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the order in which the three stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated consists of six types of stop orders, from stop order 1 to stop order 6. Stop order 1 is a stop order called "sequential pressing," in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B1 → stop button B2 → stop button B3. Stop order 2 is a stop order called "scissors pressing," in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B1 → stop button B3 → stop button B2. Stop order 3 is a stop order in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B2 → stop button B1 → stop button B3. Stop order 4 is a stop order in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B2 → stop button B3 → stop button B1. Stop order 5 is a stop order in which the stopping operations are performed in the order of stop button B3 → stop button B1 → stop button B2. Furthermore, batting order 6 is a so-called reverse batting order, where the stopping operation is performed in the order of stop button B3 → stop button B2 → stop button B1.

[0085] The internal lottery means 120 determines whether each winning area is correct or incorrect in the random number determination process, starting from the winning area associated with winning number 30 and moving towards the losing area associated with winning number 0.

[0086] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, there are small wins 1 to 59 that can be won when selected in the internal lottery, and there are replays 1 and 2 that can be won in the internal lottery. Each small win and each replay is associated with each winning area in the combinations shown in Figure 3. Also, as shown in Figure 3, in the slot machine 1, the winning areas that include bonuses and small wins are set as winning area "RBB&Beat Order Bell B1" to winning area "RBB&Beat Order Bell B8", winning area "RBB&Common Bell", winning area "RBB&Missed Win", winning area "RBB&3-Coin Win 1" to winning area "RBB&3-Coin Win 5", and winning area "RBB&1-Coin Win 1", and the winning area that includes bonuses and replays is set as winning area "RBB&Replay 2".

[0087] In slot machine 1, the winning area "1-coin payout 2" has a lower winning probability than the winning areas that include the following small wins: winning area "batting order bell A1" to winning area "batting order bell A8", winning area "RBB & batting order bell B1" to winning area "RBB & batting order bell B8", winning area "RBB & common bell", winning area "RBB & missed payout", winning area "bonus transition payout", winning area "RBB & 3-coin payout 1" to winning area "RBB & 3-coin payout 5", and winning area "RBB & 1-coin payout 1".

[0088] In this embodiment of the slot machine 1, the carry-over flag is associated with the RBB, while the minor role and replay are associated with the non-carry-over flag. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, if the internal lottery hits a winning area including the RBB, the state in which the RBB lottery flag is established is carried over until the RBB is won. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 also performs an internal lottery to determine whether the minor role and replay are won, even in a game where the RBB lottery flag's established state has been carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, in a game where the RBB lottery flag's established state has been carried over, if a minor role or replay is won, the lottery flags corresponding to two or more roles, consisting of the already won RBB lottery flag and the minor role or replay lottery flag won in the internal lottery, are set to the established state.

[0089] <Internal Lottery Table> In this embodiment, the slot machine 1 stores in the internal lottery table storage means 192 an internal lottery table used in the internal lottery conducted by the internal lottery means 120, which includes an internal lottery table used in the non-RT state (general mode) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table A), an internal lottery table used in the RBB internal mode (internal mode) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table B), and an internal lottery table used in the RBB state (operating) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table C). In each of the internal lottery tables A to C, a lottery value is associated with each winning area that is the target of the lottery.

[0090] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, internal lottery table A and internal lottery table B each correspond to one of the following winning areas: "Bat Order Bell A1" to "Bat Order Bell A8", "RBB & Bat Order Bell B1" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell B8", "RBB & Common Bell", "RBB & Missed Role", "Bonus Transition Role", "RBB & 3-Coin Role 1" to "RBB & 3-Coin Role 5", "RBB & 1-Coin Role 1", "1-Coin Role 2", "Replay 1", and "RBB & Replay 2". The internal lottery is configured to result in winning either a small role, a replay, or a bonus.

[0091] Internal lottery table A and internal lottery table B have the same probability of winning in each winning area. Specifically, for example, the probability of winning in the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 8A" in internal lottery table A is the same as the probability of winning in the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 8A" in internal lottery table B.

[0092] Internal lottery table C has 65,536 lottery values, each associated with either the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" or the winning area "Bonus Small Win 2," and is configured to result in winning a small win in the internal lottery. Furthermore, in the internal lottery using internal lottery table C, the probability of winning each of the small wins 1 through 59 is higher than in the internal lottery using internal lottery table A and internal lottery table B.

[0093] Given this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that it will not result in a loss (failure) in any of the internal lotteries during the non-RT state, the RBB internal state, or the RBB state.

[0094] <Random number generation process> In this embodiment, the internal lottery means 120, in the random number determination process, sequentially subtracts the random number obtained from the random number generation means 110 by the number of lottery values ​​associated with each winning area in the internal lottery table obtained from the internal lottery table storage means 192. If the result of the subtraction is a negative value, it is determined that the player has won in the winning area corresponding to the number of lottery values ​​that was subtracted. Furthermore, if the result of the subtraction is a positive value after subtracting by all the number of lottery values ​​stored in the internal lottery table, it is determined that the player has not won any role and is therefore unsuccessful.

[0095] <Bonus Winning Determination Process> As described above, in the internal lottery table B of this embodiment, when the RBB is in the internal state, the lottery values ​​are set for the winning areas "RBB&Bat Order Bell B1" to "RBB&Bat Order Bell B8", "RBB&Common Bell", "RBB&Missed Role", "RBB&3-Coin Role 1" to "RBB&3-Coin Role 5", "RBB&1-Coin Role 1", and "RBB&Replay 2". In the internal lottery when the game state is in the internal state of RBB, there is a possibility that RBB may be won again when RBB has already been set to be established. Therefore, the internal lottery means 120 is configured to execute a bonus win determination process that determines whether the winning area whose win or loss is determined by the random number determination process is a winning area that includes a bonus, in order to prevent the newly won RBB from being set to be established.

[0096] In the bonus winning determination process, the internal lottery means 120, when it determines in the random number determination process that a winning area including a bonus is subject to determination of win or loss, executes a process to skip the process of setting the bonus to the active state if the winning area including a bonus is a win and the game state is in the RBB internal state. In this way, the slot machine 1 prevents a new RBB from being set to the active state when an RBB is already set to the active state.

[0097] <Arrangement of patterns> Figure 4 shows the symbols arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, 20 symbols are arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in this embodiment. In addition, 10 types of symbols are arranged on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3: red 7A symbol "red 7A", red 7B symbol "red 7B", white 7 symbol "white 7", bell symbol "BL", replay symbol "RP", cherry A symbol "CHA", cherry B symbol "CHB", watermelon symbol "WM", blank A symbol "BKA", and blank B symbol "BKB".

[0098] In this embodiment, the red 7A pattern "Red 7A" and the red 7B pattern "Red 7B" are composed of different types of patterns, but they share common characteristics and are composed of patterns with substantially similar design features, as they are each composed of designs based on the red number "7". In the following description, the red 7A pattern "Red 7A" and the red 7B pattern "Red 7B" will be collectively referred to as the red 7 pattern "Red 7".

[0099] <Reel control means> In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, regardless of the game state, the priority order for the winning combinations to be stopped on the active line L1 in the reel stop control is set to "Replay > Small Win > Bonus". In other words, when a bonus and a small win or a bonus and a replay are both won, the reel control means 130 executes a stop control that prioritizes the small win or replay over the bonus.

[0100] Furthermore, as described above, the reel control means 130 is configured to rotate up to 4 frames from the time the stop button is pressed until the reel stops. Therefore, it is configured to stop and display on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 for symbols arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less among the symbols arranged on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0101] Specifically, the reel control means 130 is configured to stop the replay symbol "RP", bell symbol "BL", and watermelon symbol "WM" on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, as long as they can be stopped on the active line L1.

[0102] Furthermore, the reel control means 130 is configured to stop any symbols that are not identical, as long as they are arranged at intervals of four frames or less. For example, if any of the following can be stopped on the active line L1: the white 7 symbol "White 7" arranged at stop number 3 on the left reel R1, the blank A symbol "BKA" arranged at stop number 8, the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" arranged at stop number 13, or the blank B symbol "BKB" arranged at stop number 18, then the reel control means 130 is configured to stop any of the white 7 symbol "White 7", the blank A symbol "BKA", the red 7A symbol "Red 7A", or the blank B symbol "BKB", regardless of the timing of operation of the stop button B1.

[0103] <Details of minor roles> Figures 5 to 8 show the combinations of winning symbols for RBB and small wins 1 to 59 that slot machine 1 has, as well as the payouts for small wins 1 to 59.

[0104] As shown in Figure 5, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the winning symbol combinations for RBB are set to be "Red 7A-Red 7A (Red 7B)-Red 7A" and "White 7-White 7-White 7". Therefore, in the slot machine 1, when an RBB is won, a line of either a Red 7 symbol ("Red 7") or a White 7 symbol ("White 7") is displayed on the active line L1.

[0105] As shown in Figures 5 to 8, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the payouts for each small win are set for both when three tokens, which are the first predetermined number, are inserted and the game is started (3-token bet), and when two tokens, which are the first predetermined number, are inserted and the game is started (2-token bet).

[0106] Among the minor roles 1 to 59 shown in Figures 5 to 8, for example, minor role 19 in which the winning symbol combination consists of "BL-BL-BL", and in which the symbols of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that constitute the winning symbol combination are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less on each reel, are configured to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 when reel stop control is performed to enable stopping and display on the active line L1.

[0107] On the other hand, among the minor roles 1 to 59, for example, minor role 1, in which the winning symbol combination consists of "BKA (BKB)-BKB-Red 7A (White 7, BKA, BKB)", and the timing for operating stop button B1 to stop the blank A symbol "BKA" or the blank B symbol "BKB" on the left reel R1 on the active line L1 is limited, and the timing for operating stop button B2 to stop the blank B symbol "BKB" on the middle reel R2 on the active line L1 is also limited, is configured such that if the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are arranged at intervals wider than 4 frames on at least one reel, it will not be possible to win if the stop button is operated at a timing different from the timing at which the symbols can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0108] As shown in Figure 6, the payout for minor roles 18 to 20 is set to 9 coins when a 3-coin bet is played, which is more than the first specified number. Also, as shown in Figures 6 and 8, the payout for minor roles 23, 48, and 49 is set to 3 coins when a 3-coin bet is played, which is the same as the first specified number. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 to 8, the payout for minor roles 1 to 17, 21, 22, 24 to 47, and 50 to 59 is set to 1 coin, which is the same payout when a 3-coin bet is played and when a 2-coin bet is played, and is less than the second specified number.

[0109] <Game state transition control means> Figure 9(A) is a state transition diagram showing the game states that can be transitioned from each game state in the control related to the transition of game states performed by the game state transition control means 160 of this embodiment.

[0110] As shown in Figure 9(A), the non-RT state is the initial state among several types of game states (initial game state, normal game state), and is a non-bonus state in which no bonus is activated or established. In the non-RT state, the game state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to perform an internal lottery using internal lottery table A, in which the probability of winning a replay is set to 8978 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3). In slot machine 1, when the game state is the non-RT state, the game can be started by setting a first predetermined number (3) of electronic tokens to the insertion state.

[0111] The RBB internal state is a game state that is entered when, in the non-RT state, the internal lottery selects one of the following winning areas: "RBB & Batting Order Bell B1" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell B8", "RBB & Common Bell", "RBB & Missed Role", "RBB & 3-Coin Role 1" to "RBB & 3-Coin Role 5", "RBB & 1-Coin Role 1", or "RBB & Replay 2", and RBB is set to the active state. In the RBB internal state, the game state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using internal lottery table B, in which the probability of winning a replay is set to 8978 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3). In slot machine 1, when the game state is the RBB internal state, the game can be started when the first specified number (3 coins) of electronic tokens are set to the insertion state.

[0112] The RBB state is a gaming state that is transitioned by the winning of the RBB and the activation of the RBB. In the RBB state, when the number of electronically converted medals paid out exceeds a predetermined number (for example, 12), the game state transition control means 160 determines that the end condition of the RBB is satisfied, terminates the operation of the RBB, and transitions the game state to the non-RT state. In the RBB state, the game state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table C. In the slot machine 1, when the game state is the RBB state, the game can be started by setting the second specified number (2) of electronically converted medals to the inserted state. Details of the gameplay in the RBB state will be described later.

[0113] <AT control means> FIG. 9(B) is a state transition diagram showing details of the non-favorable section and the favorable section controlled by the AT control means 170 of the present embodiment, and the effect state controlled during the favorable section.

[0114] As described above, the non-favorable section is a period during which control regarding the instruction function based on the result of the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is not executed. The AT control means 170 executes a favorable section lottery, which is a lottery for determining whether to end the non-favorable section and start the favorable section based on the winning area won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 in the game during the non-favorable section.

[0115] In the favorable section lottery, the AT control means 170 first acquires a favorable section transition lottery table, which is a data table in which "start of the favorable section" and "loss (non-winning)" are associated with each of a plurality of random numbers, from the AT control data storage means 196. Then, the AT control means 170 acquires a random number from the random number generation means 110, compares the acquired random number with the favorable section transition lottery table, and determines whether to start the favorable section based on the comparison result.

[0116] The AT control means 170 performs a favorable section lottery so that the probability obtained by multiplying the probability of winning a winning area in the internal lottery and the probability of winning "start of favorable section" in the favorable section lottery is 1 / 17500 or more.

[0117] The AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to perform a favorable section lottery when the winning area "Batting Order Bell A1" to "Batting Order Bell A8", the winning area "Bonus Transition Role", or the winning area "1-Coin Role 2" is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, and when the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell B1" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell B8", the winning area "RBB & Common Bell", the winning area "RBB & Missed Role", the winning area "RBB & 3-Coin Role 1" to "RBB & 3-Coin Role 5", the winning area "RBB & 1-Coin Role 1", or the winning area "RBB & Replay 2" is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, and does not perform a favorable section lottery when any other winning area is won. Furthermore, the AT control means 170 performs a favorable section lottery with an extremely high probability of about 1 / 1 in which it wins "Start of Favourite Section".

[0118] In the advantageous period, the AT control means 170 has states (performance states) related to the instruction function, namely a first start state, a second start state, a normal state, a CZ state, and an AT state. In the normal state and the CZ state, it is configured not to perform assistance for winning small roles 19 and 20 when winning in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell A1" to "Batting Order Bell A8" and "RBB & Batting Order Bell B1" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell B8". In the AT state, it is configured to perform assistance for winning small roles 19 and 20 when winning in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell A1" to "Batting Order Bell A8" and "RBB & Batting Order Bell B1" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell B8". Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the proportion of time spent in the advantageous period during the overall gameplay can be 70% or more.

[0119] The AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to have a processing related to an instruction function that is executed by referring to the AT high probability counter 196b (see Figure 2) of the AT control data storage means 196 in each performance state during the advantageous period. The AT high probability counter 196b is initially set to the value "0". The AT control means 170 is configured to execute processing that is more advantageous to the player in the processing related to the instruction function that is executed by referring to the AT high probability counter 196b when the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is the value "1" than when the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is the initial value of "0". Details of the AT high probability counter 196b and the processing related to the instruction function that refers to the AT high probability counter 196b will be described later.

[0120] The first starting state is a performance state that is set when the game state is not in an RT state and is in a normal section, and the player transitions from the normal section to an advantageous section through an advantageous section lottery based on winning an area that is set as the target of the advantageous section lottery and includes RBB, such as winning area "RBB&Beat Order Bell B1" to winning area "RBB&Beat Order Bell B8", winning area "RBB&Common Bell", winning area "RBB&Missed Role", winning area "RBB&3-Coin Role 1" to winning area "RBB&3-Coin Role 5", winning area "RBB&1-Coin Role 1", and winning area "RBB&Replay 2", which are winning areas. In the first starting state, when one game is played, the AT control means 170 terminates the first starting state and transitions the performance state to the normal state.

[0121] The second starting state is a performance state that is set when the game state is a non-RT state or RBB internal state and is in a normal section, and the player transitions from the normal section to the advantageous section through an advantageous section lottery based on winning in an internal lottery in one of the winning areas that are set as targets for the advantageous section lottery and do not include RBB, namely winning area "Batting Order Bell A1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell A8", winning area "Bonus Transition Role", or winning area "1-Coin Role 2".

[0122] In the second start state, the AT control means 170 refers to the game state at the time the second start state is initiated. If the game state at the time the second start state is initiated is a non-RT state, the AT control means 170 terminates the second start state after one game is played and transitions the performance state to the normal state. Also, if the game state at the time the second start state is initiated is an RBB internal state, the AT control means 170 decides to execute the CZ state after the second start state ends, terminates the second start state after one game is played, and transitions the performance state to the CZ state.

[0123] With this configuration, in slot machine 1, during gameplay in the normal section (first game), if the game transitions from the normal section to the advantageous section, the performance state is set to either the first start state or the second start state by a control process that sets the performance state by the AT control means 170 during the first game. Next, in slot machine 1, during gameplay following the first game (second game), the game is played with the performance state set to either the first start state or the second start state. If the performance state is the first start state, the game transitions to the normal state; if the performance state is the second start state, the performance state transitions to either the normal state or the CZ state depending on the gameplay state in the second game.

[0124] The normal state is the performance state that corresponds to the normal state among several types of performance states (normal performance state), which is set when the performance state has not transitioned to any other performance state. When the performance state transitions to the normal state, the AT control means 170 performs an increment update to the normal game counter (not shown), which counts the number of games played in the normal state, by adding a value of "1" corresponding to one game each time a game is played. When the value of the normal game counter reaches the value of "700", the AT control means 170 determines that the conditions for transitioning to the CZ state (CZ transition conditions) have been met, and transitions the performance state from the normal state to the CZ state.

[0125] The AT control means 170 is configured to perform a CZ lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the CZ state in a game where the internal lottery in the normal state has resulted in a winning area that does not include RBB. If the CZ lottery results in "transition to CZ state", the AT control means 170 transitions the performance state from the normal state to the CZ state.

[0126] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 performs a normal AT lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state when it wins the winning area "1-coin win 2" in the internal lottery. If it wins "transition to AT state", it determines that the conditions for transitioning to the AT state (AT transition conditions) have been met, and transitions from the normal state to the AT state.

[0127] The CZ state is configured such that, as a control related to the instruction function, when a control is executed to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state, it is possible to transition to the AT state with a higher probability than the normal state, making it a more advantageous state for the player than the normal state. The AT control means 170 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined number of games (for example, 10 games) in the CZ game counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 196 at the start of the CZ state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played by subtracting the stored value of the CZ game counter by a value of "1" which corresponds to 1 game.

[0128] The AT control means 170 is configured to perform a CZ-in AT lottery in each game played in the CZ state to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state. If the CZ-in AT lottery results in "transition to AT state", the AT control means 170 transitions the performance state from the CZ state to the AT state after 10 games have been played from the start of the CZ state.

[0129] The AT control means 170, in the gameplay from the end of the CZ until the "transition to AT state" is won in the AT lottery during the CZ, executes a lottery during the CZ to determine whether or not to add (add) the number of times one set of AT state is executed for the AT state to which the transition is made from the CZ state.

[0130] On the other hand, if 10 games are played in the CZ state without winning the "transition to AT state" lottery during the CZ, the AT control means 170 terminates the CZ state and transitions the performance state back to the normal state.

[0131] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute lotteries related to instruction functions executed in the CZ state (AT lottery during CZ, lottery for increasing the number of sets during CZ) regardless of the results of the internal lottery. Furthermore, the AT control means 170 is configured such that when the winning area "1-coin win 2" is won in the lottery related to instruction functions executed in the CZ state, the probability of "not winning (miss)" is lower than when other winning areas are won, resulting in a more favorable outcome for the player (in the case of the AT lottery during CZ, the probability of "transitioning to AT state" is higher).

[0132] The AT state is a more advantageous state for the player than the normal state because when the winning area "Batting Order Bell A1" to "Batting Order Bell A8" and the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell B1" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell B8" are won, the game assists in winning small roles 19 and 20. The AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to perform winning assistance (correct batting order notification) that notifies the correct batting order that makes it possible to win small roles 19 and 20 when the internal lottery in the AT state wins the winning area "Batting Order Bell A1" to "Batting Order Bell A8" and the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell B1" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell B8".

[0133] The AT control means 170 sets an initial value (50 games) corresponding to a predetermined number of games in the AT game counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 196 at the start of the AT state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played by subtracting the stored value of the AT game counter by a value of "1" which corresponds to one game.

[0134] In this embodiment, the AT control means 170 executes a bonus transition lottery to determine whether the conditions for transitioning to the bonus transition state are met when the winning area "bonus transition role" is won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120. If the bonus transition lottery by the AT control means 170 determines "transition to bonus transition state", the performance control means 200 performs a performance (bonus symbol entry assistance performance) that suggests stopping stop buttons B1 to B3 in order 3 to 6, and stopping red 7 symbols "red 7" or white 7 symbols "white 7" in a line on the active line L1.

[0135] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, as will be described in more detail later, when the winning area "bonus transition role" is won in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 3 to turn 6, the slot machine 1 is configured to stop and display the RBB winning symbol combinations "red 7A-red 7A (red 7B)-red 7A" and "white 7-white 7-white 7" on the active line L1. For this reason, the slot machine 1 is configured to win an RBB and transition to the RBB state when the winning area "bonus transition role" is won and the game is played according to the bonus symbol winning assistance performance executed by the performance control means 200.

[0136] The AT control means 170 is configured to perform an add-on lottery each time a game is played, determining whether or not to add a value determined by lottery to the stored value of the AT game counter, thereby determining whether or not to add (add) the duration of the AT state, and if the value determined by the add-on lottery is 1 or greater, it performs an add-on process to add the determined value to the AT game counter. The AT control means 170 is configured to perform the add-on lottery in such a way that the probability of winning a larger value is higher when the RBB state is entered by the combination of winning symbols "Red 7A-Red 7A (Red 7B)-Red 7A" than when the RBB state is entered by the combination of winning symbols "White 7-White 7-White 7".

[0137] Furthermore, the bonus lottery in this embodiment is configured such that when the winning area "Bonus Medium Small Win 1" is selected in the internal lottery, the probability of winning a larger value is higher than when the winning area "Bonus Medium Small Win 2" is selected.

[0138] In this embodiment, when the performance state is AT state and the game state is RBB state, the performance control means 200 executes a 7 symbol stop suggestion performance instructing the player to stop stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1 and turn 2, and to stop both the red 7 symbol "red 7" and the white 7 symbol "white 7" on the active line L1, if the winning area "Bonus Medium Small Role 1" is won in the internal lottery. In the 7 symbol stop suggestion performance, if the red 7 symbol "red 7" is displayed on the two stopped reels when the second stop operation is executed, the performance control means 200 executes a performance instructing the player to aim for the white 7 symbol "white 7" when executing the third stop operation. Furthermore, in the 7 symbol stop indication effect, if, at the time the second stop operation is performed, the red 7 symbol "red 7" is displayed on one of the two stopped reels and the white 7 symbol "white 7" is displayed on the other reel, the performance control means 200 performs an effect that indicates that when performing the third stop operation, the player can aim for either the red 7 symbol "red 7" or the white 7 symbol "white 7".

[0139] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the performance state is AT state and the game state is RBB state, when the winning area "Bonus Medium Small Role 1" is won in the internal lottery, the 7 symbol stop suggestion performance is executed, and when the red 7 symbol "Red 7" and the white 7 symbol "White 7" are displayed stopped on the active line L1, the game is designed to have a gameplay that is more likely to add more games than when the 7 symbol stop suggestion performance is not executed. The gameplay, which associates the benefits given to the player with the symbols displayed stopped in a specific area 410b of the display device 410, can enhance the player's interest in the game.

[0140] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 is configured to interrupt the decrement update of the AT game counter when the performance state is in the AT state and the game state is in the non-RT state or RBB state.

[0141] As will be described in more detail later, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that, in the case of a non-RT state and in the case of an RBB state, the payout of electronic medals exceeding a predetermined number is not made. The slot machine 1 is configured so that, when the performance state is the AT state and the game state is the non-RT state or the RBB state, the decrement update of the AT game counter is interrupted, so that the AT state ends without any electronic medals being acquired in the AT state, and the advantageous section ends based on the end of the AT state, so that the game state is in the RBB state and an unfavorable section begins, and after transitioning from the RBB state to the non-RT state, it transitions from the unfavorable section to the advantageous section based on the result of the internal lottery in the non-RT state, and the performance state transitions to the normal state via the first start state or the second start state.

[0142] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment prevents a reduction in the period during which the AT state continues from the RBB state through the non-RT state to the RBB internal state when the performance state is in the AT state and transitions to the RBB state. This prevents the feeling of loss experienced by players when it becomes temporarily difficult to acquire electronic medals despite being in the AT state, and also prevents the feeling of loss experienced by players when transitioning from a non-advantageous period that started based on the end of the advantageous period to an advantageous period, but instead transitioning to the normal state without transitioning to the CZ state.

[0143] The AT control means 170 determines that the AT state termination condition (AT termination condition) has been met when the stored value of the AT game counter becomes "0" due to a decrement update performed each time a game is played in the AT state, terminates the AT state, and also determines that the normal termination condition among the termination conditions of the advantageous section has been met, and performs a predetermined initialization process which initializes information related to the advantageous section, and a predetermined termination process which terminates the advantageous section and starts the non-advantageous section from the next game.

[0144] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 also determines that the AT termination condition has been met if the stored value of the advantageous section counter 196a exceeds the value "2400" while in the AT state, terminates the AT state, and determines that a specific termination condition among the termination conditions of the advantageous section has been met, and executes a predetermined initialization process which initializes information related to the advantageous section, and a predetermined termination process which terminates the advantageous section and starts the non-advantageous section from the next game.

[0145] <Details of control using the first and second start states> As described above, the reel control means 130 of this embodiment is configured to stop and display the winning symbol combinations of minor roles or replays on the active line L1, prioritizing them over bonuses. Furthermore, the reel control means 130 is configured to allow the winning of an RBB if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated at an operation timing where it is not possible to win a minor role that has been won by internal lottery, and the winning area "bonus transition role" is selected and the operation is performed in the order of batting 3 to 6. However, if the winning area includes other minor roles, the reel control means 130 is configured to stop and display a symbol combination on the active line L1 that is different from the winning symbol combinations of any of the roles, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0146] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the control related to the instruction function that refers to the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, which will be described later, is executed in such a configuration that, when no prize-winning assistance is performed, it is more advantageous for the player to stop stop buttons B1 to B3 in the 1st and 2nd batting order than to stop stop buttons B1 to B3 in the 3rd to 6th batting order.

[0147] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the game state is in the RBB internal state, it is recommended to play by stopping stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1 and turn 2, when either a small win or a replay is won in the internal lottery and RBB is not awarded. As a result, the possibility of an RBB winning symbol combination being displayed on the active line L1 is extremely low, and the RBB internal state can be maintained.

[0148] Furthermore, as described above, although the slot machine 1 of this embodiment has a gameplay feature that allows the game state to transition to the RBB state in the AT state, the AT state does not end when the performance state is the AT state and the game state is the RBB state or a non-RT state. Therefore, the advantageous period does not end when the game state is controlled to be the RBB state or a non-RT state.

[0149] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, once the game state is set to the RBB internal state, unless the player intentionally aims to win an RBB, the game will continue to be played in the RBB internal state. Furthermore, even if the game transitions from the RBB internal state to the RBB state during the advantageous period, the game is controlled to remain in the RBB internal state when the advantageous period ends. Therefore, when the advantageous period ends and the non-advantageous period begins based on the fulfillment of the normal termination conditions or specific termination conditions during the advantageous period, the game state will be in the RBB internal state and controlled to be in the non-advantageous period.

[0150] Therefore, in slot machine 1, if the game state transitions from the advantageous section to the non-advantageous section while the game state is in the RBB internal middle state, and then the advantageous section lottery results in a "transition to the advantageous section" and the game transitions to the advantageous section, the performance state is set to the second start state. Since the game state at the start of the second start state is in the RBB internal middle state, the performance state is configured to transition to the CZ state after one game is played in the second start state.

[0151] In the slot machine 1 having such gameplay, as described above, when the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is executed, the control related to the game state and the control related to the advantageous period are initialized, so that the game state is set to a non-RT state and the period is set to a non-advantageous period.

[0152] Therefore, in slot machine 1, if the system is configured to always set the performance state to the CZ state when transitioning from a non-advantageous period to an advantageous period, there is a risk that the system will be reset to a non-advantageous period due to initialization when the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is executed, which could result in an extremely high probability of transitioning to the CZ state immediately after the setting change control.

[0153] In this configuration, in slot machine 1, when the CZ state is started based on the transition to the advantageous section immediately after the setting change control is executed, the performance control means 200 executes the performance in the normal state (normal performance), which prevents the player from visually recognizing that the current performance state is the CZ state. However, this requires data and programs specifically for the normal performance in the CZ state immediately after the setting change, which increases the program capacity related to the performance.

[0154] Furthermore, in slot machine 1 with this configuration, although the CZ state immediately after a setting change can be made invisible through normal animations, the CZ state is executed by the AT control means 170, which creates a loophole that makes it easier to transition to the AT state immediately after a setting change and easier to acquire electronic medals.

[0155] On the other hand, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when transitioning from a non-advantageous period to an advantageous period, the AT control means 170 refers to the winning area selected by the internal lottery and has a configuration that determines whether to set the performance state to be set at the start of the advantageous period to a first start state or a second start state.

[0156] The AT control means 170 sets the performance state at the start of the advantageous section to the first start state when it starts an advantageous section based on the fact that it has won one of the winning areas including a bonus in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, namely winning area "RBB&Beat Order Bell B1" to winning area "RBB&Beat Order Bell B8", winning area "RBB&Common Bell", winning area "RBB&Missed Role", winning area "RBB&3-Coin Role 1" to winning area "RBB&3-Coin Role 5", winning area "RBB&1-Coin Role 1", or winning area "RBB&Replay 2". As described above, the first start state is a performance state that transitions to the normal state after one game is played.

[0157] Therefore, in slot machine 1, even if the game state at the start of the advantageous section is in the RBB internal state, if the setting change control is executed and the game state in the normal section transitions from a non-RT state to the advantageous section, the performance state can be set to the normal state via the first start state.

[0158] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 sets the performance state at the start of the advantageous section to the second start state when it starts an advantageous section based on winning in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell A1" to "Batting Order Bell A8", the winning area "Bonus Transition Role", and the winning area "Single Coin Role 2", which are winning areas that can be won even in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state. The AT control means 170 is configured to refer to the game state when playing in the second start state and to determine the performance state to transition to after one game has been played in the second start state.

[0159] Specifically, the AT control means 170 determines that if the game state during gameplay in the second starting state is a non-RT state, the transition state after one game in the second starting state will be the normal state, and if the game state during gameplay in the second starting state is an RBB internal state, the transition state after one game in the second starting state will be the CZ state.

[0160] In this embodiment, the game state during gameplay in the second starting state becomes a non-RT state only when the advantageous period is started based on winning in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, specifically when winning in the winning area "Batting Order Bell A1" to "Batting Order Bell A8", the winning area "Bonus Transition Role", or the winning area "Single Coin Role 2".

[0161] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured not to perform a favorable section lottery when a winning area is won in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state, which is a game state set when RBB is carried over to the established state, which is the winning area "RBB&Bat Order Bell B1" to "RBB&Bat Order Bell B8", winning area "RBB&Common Bell", winning area "RBB&Missed Role", winning area "RBB&3-Coin Role 1" to "RBB&3-Coin Role 5", winning area "RBB&1-Coin Role 1", or winning area "RBB&Replay 2".

[0162] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the game state during gameplay in the second starting state becomes the RBB internal state only when the advantageous section is started based on the winning area "Bat Order Bell A1" to "Bat Order Bell A8", the winning area "Bonus Transition Role", or the winning area "Single Coin Role 2" being selected in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state.

[0163] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that, when setting change control is performed by the setting change means 100, the game state is set to a non-RT state and set to a normal section, but when transitioning from the normal section to the advantageous section immediately after setting change control, it is set to a normal state based on the start of the advantageous section, and when transitioning from the normal section to the advantageous section when the game state is in the RBB internal state, it is set to a CZ state based on the start of the advantageous section, thereby realizing gameplay that improves product appeal while having an advantageous section.

[0164] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can prevent the development of a strategy that makes the immediate period after the setting change control is initiated excessively advantageous, and when the transition to the advantageous period immediately after the setting change control is executed, data and programs for executing different effects from the set effect state become unnecessary, thus preventing an increase in the program capacity related to the effects.

[0165] <Complete control means> As described above, the complete control means 180 activates the complete function when the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a reaches the value "19000". In other words, the complete control means 180 is configured to control whether or not the complete function is activated by referring to a stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a that is different from the medal count counter 311 controlled by the medal count control means 300.

[0166] The performance control means 200 executes a pre-completion notification performance to inform the player that the completion function will be activated by acquiring the remaining 1,000 electronic medals when the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a reaches the value "18,000," that is, when the number of game medals acquired from the lowest point of the number of electronic medals paid out since the slot machine 1 was powered on reaches 18,000.

[0167] In the pre-completion notification sequence, the performance control means 200 outputs a pre-completion notification sound from the sound device 420, which serves as a sound indicating that the completion function will be activated when 1000 more electronic medals are acquired. The performance control means 200 also displays a pre-completion notification image on the display device 410, which serves as a display indicating that the completion function will be activated when 1000 more electronic medals are acquired.

[0168] The performance control means 200 terminates the display of the pre-completion notification image when it displays the pre-completion notification image, when the completion function is activated, or when the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a falls below a predetermined termination value (for example, the value "17970"). In other words, when the completion function is activated, the performance control means 200 terminates the display of the pre-completion notification image and displays a completion notification image (complete notification display) to indicate that the completion function has been activated. If the number of electronic medals that need to be acquired before the completion function is activated becomes more than 30 medals from 1000 medals remaining, the performance control means 200 terminates the display of the pre-completion notification image and displays an image corresponding to the progress of the game.

[0169] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can terminate the display of the pre-completion notification image if, after displaying the pre-completion notification image, the player is unable to acquire electronic tokens and more than 30 electronic tokens are consumed, in accordance with the decreased likelihood of the completion function activating. This prevents the pre-completion notification image from being displayed for an extended period without the completion function activating, thus preventing a decrease in the player's interest in the presentation.

[0170] <Performance control means> When the number of medals stored in the medal counter 311 exceeds 15,000, the performance control means 200 executes a counting prompting performance to encourage the player to count the medals, as a medal count warning has been issued and no electronic medals are being lent out. In the counting prompting performance, the performance control means 200 displays a counting prompting image on the display device 410 as a display to encourage the player to count the electronic medals by operating the counting button KB, as a warning has been issued for the number of medals to be held.

[0171] Furthermore, when the number of medals stored in the medal counter 311 exceeds 16,369, the performance control means 200 executes an overflow notification performance to notify that a medal overflow error, described later, has occurred due to a medal overflow. In the overflow notification performance, the performance control means 200 outputs a medal overflow notification sound from the sound device 420 as a sound to notify that a medal overflow has occurred. The performance control means 200 also displays a medal overflow notification image on the display device 410 as a display to notify that a medal overflow has occurred.

[0172] When the counting button KB is operated and electronic medals are counted, the performance control means 200 outputs a counting sound from the sound device 420 to indicate that counting is taking place each time a signal related to the number of game medals is transmitted from the medal count control means 300 to the dedicated unit SU. In other words, if the counting button KB is pressed continuously for 500ms or more and more than 50 electronic medals are counted, the performance control means 200 outputs a counting sound 500ms after the counting button KB is pressed, and thereafter outputs a counting sound each time 300ms have passed and electronic medals are counted.

[0173] Furthermore, the performance control means 200 of this embodiment is configured to display a setting confirmation screen 412 (see Figure 18) on the display device 410 when the setting key is inserted into the setting key cylinder KC and turned while the power to the slot machine 1 is turned on, thereby turning on the setting change switch SS. This screen allows the setting value stored in the setting value storage means 191 as a preset setting for the slot machine 1 to be displayed (confirmed). Details of the setting confirmation screen 412 will be described later.

[0174] 3. Gameplay in each game state Next, the gameplay characteristics of the slot machine 1 of this embodiment in each game state will be described.

[0175] <Game results in each game state> Figure 10 shows the game results for each operation method of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win is selected in the internal lottery during a non-RT state, Figure 11 shows the game results for each operation method of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win is selected in the internal lottery during an RBB internal state, and Figure 12 shows the game results for each operation method of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win is selected in the internal lottery during an RBB state.

[0176] As shown in Figure 10, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A" is selected during a non-RT state, regardless of the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is possible at the probability (winning probability) shown in Figure 10.

[0177] Slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to "Batting Order Bell 8A" is selected in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, executes a reel stop control that prioritizes stopping symbols that result in a large number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1, regardless of the order in which stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated. As a result, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell A1" to "Batting Order Bell A8" is selected during the non-RT state, the small wins 19 and 20, which are set to pay 9 coins in a 3-coin bet game, will not be awarded.

[0178] In slot machine 1, in the number priority control, if there is no difference in the number of symbol combinations that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, reel stop control using a stop control table is executed to determine the symbols to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0179] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 11, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Beat Order Bell 1A" to "Beat Order Bell 8A" is selected during the RBB internal state, the stop order (correct batting order) of stop buttons B1 to B3 is set so that small wins 19 and 20, which are set to pay 9 coins in a 3-coin bet game, can be won with a probability of 1 / 1. Also, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "RBB & Beat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Beat Order Bell 8B" is selected during the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, the stop order (correct batting order) of stop buttons B1 to B3 is set so that small wins 19 and 20, which are set to pay 9 coins in a 3-coin bet game, can be won with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0180] In slot machine 1, when a player wins in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the correct batting order, the reel stop control is performed using a coin-priority control that prioritizes stopping and displaying the symbols that make up the winning combination of small wins, which have a large number of electronic medals paid out based on the predetermined payout for the small wins. In this way, the symbols that make up the winning combinations of small wins 19 and 20 are prioritized to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, prioritizing them over small wins with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game.

[0181] In other words, in slot machine 1, if the internal lottery in the non-RT state results in winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A", and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the correct batting order, then small wins 19 and 20 will not be awarded, and small wins with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game will be awarded. Even if the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A" is selected, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the correct batting order set for each of the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A", there is a possibility that small wins 19 and 20 will not be awarded depending on the game state in the game in which the internal lottery was conducted.

[0182] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "RBB & Missed Role" is hit, if the timing of operating stop button B3 is such that the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" or the white 7 symbol "White 7" can be stopped on the active line L1, the small role 23, which is set to pay 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game, is awarded. If the timing of operating stop button B3 is such that the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" or the white 7 symbol "White 7" cannot be stopped on the active line L1, a combination of symbols different from the winning combinations of either role is stopped on the active line L1, resulting in a missed role (non-winning role). This configuration functions as a role that guarantees skill in the gaming machine.

[0183] As shown in Figure 10, in slot machine 1, if the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, a small win set to pay out 1 coin is awarded with a probability of 1 / 1, regardless of how stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 11, in slot machine 1, if the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in order 3 to 6, either a small win set to pay out 1 coin or an RBB is awarded.

[0184] Here, "Red 7s aligned" as shown in Figure 11 means that the symbols composed of the red 7 symbols "Red 7A-Red 7A(Red 7B)-Red 7A" among the winning symbol combinations of RBB are stopped and displayed on the active line L1, and "White 7s aligned" means that the symbols composed of the white 7 symbols "White 7-White 7-White 7" among the winning symbol combinations of RBB are stopped and displayed on the active line L1. Details of the stop control when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is won in the internal lottery during the internal state of RBB will be described later.

[0185] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, in slot machine 1, when a player wins in the winning area "RBB&3-coin win 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin win 4", if stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, there is a 1 / 4 probability of winning a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game. If stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, there is a 1 / 1 probability of winning a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game. If stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 3 to 6, there is a 1 / 1 probability of winning a small win with a payout of 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game.

[0186] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" is won, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, there is a 1 / 1 probability of winning a small prize with a payout of 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game; if stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, there is a 1 / 1 probability of winning a small prize with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game; and if stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 3 to 6, there is a 1 / 1 probability of winning a small prize with a payout of 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game. Details regarding winning areas "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 5" will be described later.

[0187] As shown in Figure 12, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" is hit in RBB state, depending on the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, small wins 1 to 9, small win 18, small win 23, small win 48, and small win 49, which have a payout of 1 coin in a 2-coin bet game, can be won. As shown in Figures 5 to 8, since small wins 1 to 59 have a payout of 1 coin when a 2-coin bet game is played, when the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" is hit in RBB state, the number of electronic tokens paid out is the same regardless of which small win is hit, and there is no difference in priority in the token priority control. Therefore, the reel stop control using the stop control table is executed, and the symbols to be displayed stopped on the active line L1 are determined.

[0188] With this configuration, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" is won in RBB state, if the operation pattern of stop buttons B1 to B3 is turn order 1 or turn order 2, small wins 1 to 9 can be won, in which the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination include either the red 7 symbol "Red 7" or the white 7 symbol "White 7" on at least one reel. Also, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" is won in RBB state, if the operation pattern of stop buttons B1 to B3 is turn order 3, small win 48 will be won regardless of the timing of the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, and if the operation pattern of stop buttons B1 to B3 is turn order 4, small win 49 will be won regardless of the timing of the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3. In slot machine 1, if the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" is won in RBB state, and the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 are batting order 5 and batting order 6, if the timing of operating stop button B3 is such that the red 7A symbol "red 7A" or the white 7 symbol "white 7" can be stopped and displayed, then small win 23 is awarded. If the timing of operating stop button B3 is such that the red 7A symbol "red 7A" or the white 7 symbol "white 7" cannot be stopped and displayed, then small win 18 is awarded.

[0189] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bonus Small Win 2" is won in RBB state, the number of electronic tokens paid out is the same regardless of which small win is achieved. Since there is no difference in priority in the token priority control, reel stop control using the stop control table is executed, and depending on the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, small wins 18 to 20, which are set to pay 1 token in a 2-coin bet game, can be achieved.

[0190] <Payout of medals in each game state> As shown in Figure 10, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A" is selected in the internal lottery during the non-RT state, the small wins 19 and 20, which are set to pay out more than the first specified number, will not be awarded. For this reason, the payout rate in the non-RT state is configured to be less than 50% regardless of how stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated.

[0191] The payout rate is the ratio of the total number of medals paid out during a predetermined number of games (e.g., 17,500 games) to the total number of medals inserted during that predetermined number of games, assuming that the effects of temporary probability biases are sufficiently ignored.

[0192] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B" is selected during the RBB internal state, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated during batting order 1 or batting order 2, the small wins 19 and 20, which are set to pay more than the first specified number, will not be awarded. However, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated during batting order 3 to batting order 6, the small wins 19 and 20 will be awarded. Therefore, the payout rate during the RBB internal state is configured to be less than 50% when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated during batting order 1 or batting order 2, and to exceed 50% when they are operated during any of batting orders 3 to 6.

[0193] As shown in Figure 12, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" is selected in the RBB state, the small win corresponding to the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 from small wins 1 to 9, small wins 18, small wins 23, small wins 48, and small wins 49 will be awarded. When the winning area "Bonus Small Win 2" is selected, the small win corresponding to the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 from small wins 18 to 20 will be awarded.

[0194] As shown in Figures 5 to 8, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a game is played with a 2-coin bet, the payouts for minor wins 1 to 59 are set to be 1 coin each.

[0195] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the machine transitions to an RBB state with a predetermined number of 2 coins, and a winning area including a small win is hit, a payout of 1 coin is executed regardless of which small win is hit. Furthermore, as described above, in the internal lottery in the RBB state where the internal lottery table C is used, the machine is configured to hit either the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" or the winning area "Bonus Small Win 2".

[0196] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when in the RBB state, two tokens are inserted and one token is dispensed, so the payout rate in the RBB state can be reduced to 50%, and the token acquisition performance when the RBB is not active can be designed, thereby dramatically improving the design freedom of the slot machine 1.

[0197] Furthermore, as mentioned above, slot machine 1 is configured such that, in the non-RT state, the payout rate is less than 50% regardless of the order in which stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated. The payout rate in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state is lower than the payout rate in the RBB state (50%).

[0198] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment does not have a lower payout rate in the RBB state than in the non-RT state where the RBB is not activated, and the performance of the RBB state does not deteriorate excessively, thus ensuring sufficient performance of the gaming machine.

[0199] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that for all minor roles from minor role 1 to minor role 59, the payout when a two-coin bet is made is set to one coin. Therefore, in the RBB state where the prescribed number is set to two coins, there is no need to perform a process to set an upper limit on the number of payouts (upper limit setting process) in order to pay out one coin when a minor role is won. Thus, the amount of data required for the program that would otherwise be needed to perform the upper limit setting process for the number of payouts can be reduced.

[0200] <Winning combinations available in each game state> Next, using Figure 13, we have a table summarizing the small wins that are awarded based on winning in each game state of the slot machine 1 of this embodiment: non-RT state, RBB internal state, and RBB state.

[0201] As shown in Figure 13, the small wins 18 to 20, for which the payout is set to 9 coins when a 3-coin bet is played and 1 coin when a 2-coin bet is played, are configured to be awarded based on whether they are won in the non-RT state, the RBB internal state, or the RBB state.

[0202] Furthermore, the small wins 23, 48, and 49, which are set to pay out 3 coins when a 3-coin bet is played and 1 coin when a 2-coin bet is played, are configured to be awarded based on whether they are won in the non-RT state, the RBB internal state, or the RBB state.

[0203] Furthermore, regarding the small wins 1-17, 21, 22, 24-47, and 50-59, which are set to pay out 1 coin each for both 3-coin bets and 2-coin bets, small wins 1-9 are configured to be awarded based on winning in the non-RT state, the RBB internal state, and the RBB state. Also, small wins 10-17, 21, 22, 24-47, and 50-59 do not award if won in the RBB state, but are awarded based on winning in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state.

[0204] As mentioned above, in slot machine 1, when the second set number of tokens (2 tokens) is inserted and the game starts, the payout for small wins 1 to 59 is set to 1 token.

[0205] In other words, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that when each of the small wins 18 to 20, 23, 48, and 49 is won in the RBB state, which is set to start with two tokens inserted, the payout is different from when the game is started with three tokens inserted. Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that when the game is won in the RBB state, it is awarded based on the fact that it has been won.

[0206] With this configuration, in the RBB state, where the specified number is set to a second specified number, different from the first specified number in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, the number of electronic medals paid out when small wins 18-20, 23, 48, and 49 are won is less than the number of electronic medals paid out when they are won in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state. However, because the machine is awarded based on the fact that any of small wins 18-20, 23, 48, and 49 are won in the RBB state, it is possible to prevent the performance of small wins 18-20, 23, 48, and 49 from being excessively degraded and to sufficiently guarantee the performance of the gaming machine.

[0207] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, in slot machine 1, the payout when 3 tokens are inserted and the game is started is set to 1 token, and the payout when 2 tokens are inserted and the game is started is also set to 1 token. In the RBB state where 2 tokens are inserted and the game is started, the payout for the same number of small wins is the same whether a win occurs or when 3 tokens are inserted and the game is started. Of the small wins 1 to 17, 21, 22, 24 to 47, and 50 to 59, the small wins 10 to 17, 21, 22, 24 to 47, and 50 to 59 are configured to be awarded based on a win in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, but in the RBB state, if a win occurs, the machine is configured not to award a prize regardless of how stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated.

[0208] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that, in the RBB state, where the number of electronic medals paid out does not change when a prize is won in the RBB state, and when a prize is won in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, the number of electronic medals paid out does not change when a prize is won in the RBB state, and when a prize is won in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state. By configuring the machine so that the number of electronic medals paid out does not change when a prize is won in the RBB state, the number of electronic medals paid out does not change when a prize is won in the RBB state, and when a prize is won in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state. This eliminates the need to pre-store in the reel control data storage means 194 stop control data related to reel stop control that enables the winning of the number of electronic medals 10 to 17, the number of electronic medals 21, the number of electronic medals 22, the number of electronic medals 24 to 47, and the number of electronic medals 50 to 59. This reduces the data capacity related to stop control data in the RBB state.

[0209] Here, as a gaming machine that suppresses the payout rate in the bonus state and allows medals to be won by executing AT game in a game state different from the bonus state (for example, a non-bonus state where the bonus is not activated, such as a bonus-established state), conventionally, there are multiple types of first specific small wins in which multiple types of first specific small wins, which are set to pay out more than the number of game value inputs required to start the game, do not overlap with each other but overlap with second specific small wins different from the first specific small wins, and a third type of first specific small wins in which multiple types of first specific small wins overlap and are won, and the internal lottery means is in the normal game state, bonus state It is known that a machine is configured such that, in the standing state, an internal lottery is conducted so that there are multiple types of first winning patterns, and in the bonus state, an internal lottery is conducted so that there is a third winning pattern, and the probability of winning the third winning pattern in the internal lottery in the bonus state is lower than the probability of winning any of the multiple types of first winning patterns in the internal lottery in the normal game state and the bonus state, and the probability of winning each of the small roles in the internal lottery in the bonus state is higher than or equal to the probability of winning each of the small roles in the internal lottery in the normal game state and the bonus state.

[0210] In a gaming machine configured as described above, while compressing the probability of winning the first specific minor winning combination in the bonus state to the reciprocal of the number of types of the first specific minor winning combination (for example, 1 / 4 in a configuration having four types of the first specific minor winning combination), ensuring that the performance in the bonus state is sufficient performance required for the gaming machine, and in the non-bonus state, by executing winning assistance for the first specific minor winning combination, the winning probability of the first specific minor winning combination is increased compared to the case where winning assistance is not executed, and it is possible to obtain medals in AT games. However, it is necessary to have a plurality of types of the first specific minor winning combination.

[0211] In a gaming machine, regarding minor winning combinations that can obtain medals by winning, although it is common to stop and display a specific symbol (for example, a symbol with a bell motif) in a visible form for the player, when each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is configured to be visible in three frames in a specific area where the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 can be made visible, since the patterns of displaying a specific symbol in a row are limited to five patterns, when the number of types of the first specific minor winning combination exceeds five types, it becomes necessary to display it in the specific area in a display mode different from the display mode of displaying in a row.

[0212] In addition, in a gaming machine, regarding the method of determining the priority of stop position candidates when a plurality of types of minor winning combinations are won in an internal lottery, there are a method of determining the priority according to the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the effective line L1 (number priority control), and a method of determining the priority according to the number of medals paid out based on the payout predetermined for the minor winning combination (number of medals priority control).

[0213] Therefore, in a gaming machine, when setting the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 that enable the first specific minor winning combination to win and the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 that disable the first specific minor winning combination and enable the second specific minor winning combination to win, in order to enable the second specific minor winning combination to win, it is necessary to enable the second specific minor winning combination by number priority control.

[0214] Because of these limitations, in gaming machines, the more you try to increase the number of types of the first specific small win and compress the payout rate in the bonus state, the more types of the second specific small win also need to be increased. Furthermore, the arrangement of symbols required to make the second specific small win possible also needs to be increased. As a result, compressing the payout rate in the bonus state increases the amount of data related to the small wins, and the difficulty of design tends to increase.

[0215] In contrast, in the RBB state, where the number of tokens is set to a second number (2 tokens) different from the first number (3 tokens), the payout for all small wins when the second number of tokens is inserted and the game starts is set to a payout of less than the second number, resulting in a payout rate of 50%, the slot machine 1 is configured to have three types of small wins, small wins 18 to 20, where the payout for when the first number of tokens is inserted and the game starts is set to a payout greater than the first number. This ensures that the performance of the RBB state is sufficient to meet the requirements of a gaming machine, while also significantly reducing the payout rate in the RBB state.

[0216] Therefore, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can reduce the payout rate in the RBB state and prevent an increase in the data capacity related to small wins when designing the medal acquisition performance when the RBB is not activated. This reduces the data capacity related to small wins and improves the design freedom related to the arrangement of symbols. Furthermore, by reducing the data capacity related to small wins, data capacity can be allocated to various data used in other control processes executed by the main control CPU 11, thereby improving the design freedom of the gaming machine.

[0217] When the game starts with the first specified number of game values being input for small roles 18 to 20, small role 23, small role 48, and small role 49, and when the game starts with the second specified number of game values being input, the number of game values paid out based on winning in these cases is different for the small roles that make up the second group and the small roles included in the predetermined group. Small roles 1 to 17, small role 21, small role 22, small roles 24 to 47, and small roles 50 to 59 are composed of small roles included in the first group where the same payout is set when the game starts with the first specified number of game values being input and when the game starts with the second specified number of game values, which is less than the first specified number, being input.

[0218] <AT High - Probability Counter - Based Control> Next, the details of the AT high - probability counter 196b controlled by the AT control means 170 of the present embodiment and the control related to the instruction function executed using the AT high - probability counter 196b will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the control related to the update of the stored value of the AT high - probability counter 196b executed by the AT control means 170 of the present embodiment.

[0219] As shown in FIG. 14, the AT control means 170 executes control related to the instruction function by referring to the stored value of the AT high - probability counter 196b (S11). In this process, the AT control means 170 executes control related to the instruction function by referring to the stored value of the AT high - probability counter 196b according to the current presentation state.

[0220] The AT control means 170 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to execute, for example, the CZ - during - AT lottery executed in each game in the CZ state as control related to the instruction function by referring to the stored value of the AT high - probability counter 196b when the presentation state is the CZ state. The AT control means 170 is configured not to execute the CZ - during - AT lottery when referring to the AT high - probability counter 196b and the stored value of the AT high - probability counter 196b is the initial value "0".

[0221] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 is configured to execute a lottery for increasing the number of sets during the CZ, for example, when the performance state is the CZ state, as a control related to the instruction function that refers to the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b. The AT control means 170 is configured such that, in the lottery for increasing the number of sets during the CZ, it refers to the AT high probability counter 196b, and the probability of "not winning (losing)" is lower when the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is the value "1" than when the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is the initial value "0", and the probability of a favorable result for the player is higher.

[0222] Next, the AT control means 170 determines whether all of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped (S12). In this process, the AT control means 170 determines whether all of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, which started rotating when the start lever SL was started, have stopped due to the stop operation of the stop buttons B1 to B3. If it determines that at least one of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is still rotating (NO), the process in step S12 is repeated until all of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped.

[0223] In step S12, if it is determined that all of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped (YES), the AT control means 170 determines whether or not the stop button B1 was pressed as the first stop during this game (S13). In this process, the AT control means 170 determines whether the stop button pressed as the first stop was stop button B1, stop button B2, or stop button B3.

[0224] In step S13, if it is determined that the stop button B1 was not pressed for the first stop operation in this game (NO), the AT control means 170 determines whether or not the player won in the internal lottery for this game in the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 8A", or the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B" (S14). In this process, the AT control means 170 determines whether or not the player won in the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 8A", or the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B".

[0225] In step S14, if it is determined that the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to "Batting Order Bell 8A" and the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B" were won in this game (YES), the AT control means 170 determines whether or not it performed the correct batting order notification in this game (S15). In this process, the AT control means 170 determines whether or not it performed the prize-winning assistance for the correct batting order notification in this game, thereby determining whether or not the stop button B2 or stop button B3 was pressed as a first stop operation when the player performed the game in accordance with the prize-winning assistance in a state where the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to "Batting Order Bell 8A" and the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B" were won in the internal lottery.

[0226] In step S13, if it is determined that the stop button B1 has been pressed for the first stop operation (YES), in step S14, if it is determined that the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to "Batting Order Bell 8A", the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B" has not been won in this game (NO), or in step S15, if it is determined that the correct batting order notification prize assistance is being performed in this game (YES), the AT control means 170 executes control related to the instruction function that references the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b (S16). In this process, depending on the current performance state, the AT control means 170 executes control related to the instruction function that references the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b. For example, if the performance state is the normal state, it executes control to increment update the stored value of the normal game counter by adding a value "1" equivalent to the execution of one game.

[0227] After executing the process in step S16, the AT control means 170 initializes the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b (S17). Then, the AT control means 170 adds the value "1" to the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b (S18) and terminates the process related to updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b. By executing these processes, the AT control means 170 initializes the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b to the value "0" and then adds the value "1" to terminate the process related to updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, thereby making the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b the value "1" when the next game starts and the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is referenced.

[0228] On the other hand, if, in the process of step S15, it is determined that the prize-winning assistance for the correct hit order notification has not been performed in this game (NO), the AT control means 170 initializes the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b (S19) and terminates the process related to updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b.

[0229] Thus, in this embodiment, the AT control means 170 does not perform prize-winning assistance, and in a game in which the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8A" or winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B" is won, if stop button B2 or stop button B3 is pressed for the first stop operation, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S19 without executing steps S16 to S18, and the process ends with the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b set to "0". This makes it possible to set the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b to "0" when the next game starts and the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is referenced.

[0230] As described above, in this embodiment, when the game state is in the RBB internal state and the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A" or "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B" is won, if stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in bat order 1 or bat order 2, the small wins 19 and 20, which are set to pay out more than the first specified number, will not be awarded, and if stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in bat order 3 to bat order 6, the small wins 19 and 20 will be awarded. Thus, the payout rate when the game is played by stopping stop buttons B1 to B3 in bat order 1 or bat order 2 is less than 50%, and the payout rate when the game is played by operating stop buttons B1 to B3 in bat order 3 to bat order 6 is more than 50%.

[0231] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, when the game state is not in RT state, if the winning area is selected from "RBB&Beat Order Bell 1A" to "RBB&Beat Order Bell 8A" and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the correct hit order set from hit order 3 to hit order 6, then small wins 19 and 20 can be awarded. Additionally, if the winning area is selected from "RBB&3-Coin Win 1" to "RBB&3-Coin Win 4" and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in hit order 3 to hit order 6, then small wins with a payout of 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game can be awarded. Thus, the payout rate when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in hit order 3 to hit order 6 is higher than when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in hit order 1 or hit order 2.

[0232] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the AT control means 170 does not perform prize-winning assistance and the instruction function that does not perform correct hit order notification is not activated, the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired when the game is played by stopping stop buttons B1 to B3 in hit order 1 and hit order 2 is lower than the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired when the game is played by operating stop buttons B1 to B3 in hit order 3 to 6.

[0233] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the machine is in a normal state or a CZ state where no prize-winning assistance is performed, the configuration is such that it is more likely to win electronic tokens in the game when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 3 to turn 6 than when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 to turn 2.

[0234] In this embodiment, the AT control means 170, in the process of updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, which is executed after the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 shown in Figure 14, performs the following actions: when prize assistance is performed, or when prize assistance is not performed, but when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 and batting order 2 when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to winning area "batting order bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & batting order bell 1B" to winning area "RBB & batting order bell 8B" is won, The system is configured to update the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b to "1" and terminate processing. If the internal lottery results in a win in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 3 to 6 without any prize-winning assistance being performed, the system is configured to initialize the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b to "0" and terminate processing.

[0235] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 is configured to perform various controls, such as enabling the transition of the performance state to an AT state that is advantageous to the player, when it is an instruction function that refers to the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, in such a way that it is more advantageous to the player when the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is "1" than when the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is "0".

[0236] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 is configured not to perform the control related to the instruction function that refers to the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, which is performed in the process of updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, if the game is won in the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 8A", or the winning area "RBB & batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "RBB & batting order bell 8B", and if the stop button B2 or stop button B3 is pressed as the first stop operation.

[0237] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can execute control related to an instruction function that is more advantageous to the player when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and turn 2 when no prize-winning assistance is performed, by referring to the AT high probability counter 196b. This prevents the player from attempting to win small prize 1, which is set to pay more than the first specified number, by stopping stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 3 to turn 6, as this is relatively disadvantageous to the player.

[0238] Furthermore, in the process of updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, the AT control means 170 of this embodiment updates the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b to the value "1" and terminates the process of updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, in addition to the cases when prize assistance is performed and when a winning area not included in the winning role group 1 is won, and also when, although prize assistance is not performed, stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 and batting order 2 when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to winning area "batting order bell 8A" and the winning area "RBB & batting order bell 1B" to winning area "RBB & batting order bell 8B".

[0239] On the other hand, in the process of updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, the AT control means 170 does not perform prize assistance, and in a game in which the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8A" or winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B" is won, if stop button B2 or stop button B3 is pressed as the first stop operation, the AT control means 170 updates the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b to the value "0" and terminates the process of updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, thereby controlling the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b to the value "0" when the next game starts.

[0240] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 is configured to perform control related to the instruction function that refers to the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b, in such a way that when the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is "1", the control is more advantageous to the player than when the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is "0".

[0241] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in the game following the first game (second game) in which stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the order of batting 3 to 6 while no prize assistance is being performed, the second game starts with the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b updated to the value "0" by the process related to updating the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b. Therefore, even if control related to the instruction function that refers to the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is executed in the second game, the stored value of the AT high probability counter 196b is updated to the value "1". This prevents the development of a strategy where players attempt to win small wins (small win 1), which are set to pay more than the first specified number, by stopping stop buttons B1 to B3 in the 3rd to 6th batting order when no prize-winning assistance is performed. This is because the control related to the instruction function becomes relatively less favorable than when it is performed when the AT high probability counter 196b is executed in a state where no prize-winning assistance is performed, resulting in a situation where the control related to the instruction function is less favorable for two games.

[0242] In this embodiment, stop button B1 constitutes a specific stop button, left reel R1 constitutes a specific reel, batting order 1 and batting order 2, which perform the first stop operation on stop button B1, constitute an operation mode in which the specific stop button is operated first, and batting orders 3 to 6, which perform the first stop operation on stop buttons B2 and B3, which are stop buttons different from stop button B1, constitute an operation mode in which a stop button different from the specific stop button in this embodiment is operated first.

[0243] 4. Relationship between errors occurring in gaming machines and setting changes Next, we will explain in detail the case in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment where the occurrence of an error and the display of the setting confirmation screen 412 overlap.

[0244] <Errors that occur in gaming machines> Figure 15 is a table summarizing some of the errors that can occur in slot machine 1. Figure 15 includes five types of errors: backup error, medal overflow error, dispensing device connection error, stop error, medal count warning, and door open error, as well as a medal count warning. However, other errors may occur in slot machine 1 besides those shown in Figure 15, but details of those errors are omitted.

[0245] A backup error occurs when the RWM backup of the main control board 10 fails. When a backup error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E0" on the main control display device 10D. The main control CPU 11 compares the checksum of the data backed up before the power was turned off with the checksum calculated when the power was turned on, and determines that a backup error has occurred if the values ​​are different. When a backup error occurs, the slot machine 1 cannot proceed with the game, and this is resolved by opening the front upper door UD of the slot machine 1 and operating the setting change button BS located inside to initialize it.

[0246] A medal overflow error occurs when the number of game medals stored in the medal counter 311 exceeds 16,369. When a medal overflow error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E1" on the main control display device 10D. When a medal overflow error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to continue playing. The counting button KB is operated to count the electronic medals, and the error is cleared when the number of game medals stored in the medal counter 311 becomes 16,368 or less.

[0247] A loan device connection error occurs when the dedicated unit SU is not connected to the loan device connection terminal board 40. When a loan device connection error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E2" on the main control display device 10D. When a loan device connection error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to proceed with the game, and this is resolved when the dedicated unit SU is connected to the loan device connection terminal board 40.

[0248] The stop-play error occurs when the number of electronic tokens acquired since power-on exceeds 19,000, and the complete function is activated by the complete control means 180. When a stop-play error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E3" on the main control display device 10D. When a stop-play error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to continue playing. The error is cleared by opening the front upper door UD of the slot machine 1 and operating the setting change button BS located inside to initialize it.

[0249] A token count warning is issued when the number of game tokens stored in the token counter 311 exceeds 15,000. When a token count warning is issued, the slot machine 1 can continue playing, but upon receiving a lending signal from the dedicated unit SU, it sends a signal indicating that a token count warning has been issued, preventing the lending of electronic tokens and preventing the stored value in the token counter 311 from being added. The token count warning is released in the slot machine 1 when the counting button KB is operated to count the electronic tokens and the number of game tokens stored in the token counter 311 falls below 14,999, or when the number of game tokens stored in the token counter 311 falls below 14,999 due to the execution of the game setting which includes electronic tokens. Note that the token count warning is merely a warning that prevents the lending of electronic tokens but allows the game to continue, and it is not necessary to open the front upper door UD or the front lower door DD to release it. Therefore, the main control CPU 11 does not display an error code on the main control display device 10D.

[0250] The door open error occurs when either the front upper door UD or the front lower door DD is open. When a door open error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E4" on the main control display device 10D. When a door open error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to continue playing, and the error is resolved when the open door (either the front upper door UD or the front lower door DD) is closed. In the following description, the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD are collectively referred to as the front doors.

[0251] In slot machine 1, the presence or absence of a medal count warning and a medal overflow error are determined by referring to the stored value of the medal count counter 311. If the stored value of the medal count counter 311 exceeds "15000", a medal count warning is issued and the dispensing of electronic medals by the dedicated unit SU is stopped. If the stored value of the medal count counter 311 exceeds "16369", a medal overflow error occurs and the game cannot proceed until the electronic medals are counted. In addition, in slot machine 1, the presence or absence of a stop error is determined by referring to the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a, and the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is not referred to when determining whether or not a stop error occurs.

[0252] Given this configuration, if a stop error occurs in slot machine 1 while the stored value of the medal counter 311 is less than "15000", the machine is configured to not only count electronic medals but also to dispense electronic medals.

[0253] Furthermore, if the conditions for a stop error and the conditions for a medal overflow error occur at the same time, specifically, in a game where a small win 1 occurs, if the stored value of the medal counter 311 becomes "16369" or more, and the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a becomes "19000" or more, the performance control means 200 will display a medal overflow notification image that notifies the occurrence of a medal overflow error, prioritizing it over a complete notification image that notifies the occurrence of a stop error due to the activation of the complete function.

[0254] As mentioned above, the stop error occurs based on the activation of the complete function, and the gaming establishment is configured to stop the operation of a gaming machine that has an stop error occurring on the day the error occurred. On the other hand, the medal overflow error is an error that is cleared when the stored value of the medal counter 311 becomes "16368" or less after the counting button KB is operated and the electronic medals are counted.

[0255] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment prioritizes notifying the player of a medal overflow error, which can be quickly resolved by the player's operation of the counting button KB, over a stop error, which cannot be resolved by the player and remains unresolved until the end of business hours at the arcade. This prevents a state in which multiple errors occur simultaneously from continuing for a long period of time, and suppresses an excessive increase in the processing load of the main control CPU 11 due to the occurrence of multiple errors.

[0256] Furthermore, if a stop error occurs and another error occurs, specifically if the dedicated unit SU becomes disconnected from the loan device connection terminal board 40 while a stop error is occurring, the performance control means 200 will display a loan device connection error notification image, which takes precedence over the complete notification image, to notify the occurrence of the loan device connection error. As described above, the loan device connection error is an error that is resolved when the dedicated unit SU is connected to the loan device connection terminal board 40.

[0257] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment prioritizes notifying the player of a loan device connection error, which can be quickly resolved by the staff of the amusement arcade, over a player of a stop error, which cannot be resolved by the player and remains unresolved until the end of the amusement arcade's business hours. This prevents a state in which multiple errors occur simultaneously from continuing for a long period of time, and suppresses an excessive increase in the processing load of the main control CPU 11 due to the occurrence of multiple errors.

[0258] <Configuration of the main control board> FIG. 16 is a front view showing the front door of the slot machine 1 in an open state. As shown in FIG. 16, in the slot machine 1, a main control board unit 10U is provided on the upper side inside the housing BX facing the front upper door UD, and a power supply unit PU and a medal control board unit 30U are provided on the lower side facing the front lower door DD. In the present embodiment, the sub-control board unit including the sub-control board 20 is provided on the back side of the front upper door UD.

[0259] In the slot machine 1, when the front lower door DD is opened and the power button provided on the power supply unit PU is operated to the ON state, the power is turned on. Also, in the slot machine 1, by opening the front upper door UD, a setting key can be inserted into the setting key cylinder KC provided on the main control board unit 10U.

[0260] FIG. 17 is a front view showing the main control board unit 10U. In the examples shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the description of the cover member covering the setting key cylinder KC and the setting change switch SS is omitted, but in the slot machine 1, the setting key cylinder KC and the setting change button BS are covered by the cover member, so that the setting key cannot be inserted into the setting key cylinder KC or the setting change switch SS cannot be operated unless the front upper door UD is opened and the cover member is opened.

[0261] As shown in FIG. 17, the main control board unit 10U has a part of the main control board 10 including the main control CPU 11 covered by a transparent case lid 12 and is fixed by screws 12a and 12b. The setting key cylinder KC and the setting change button BS are covered by a cover member (not shown) provided to be openable and closable and are configured to be operable without opening the case lid 12.

[0262] When the setting key cylinder KC is in the state where the keyhole shown in FIG. 17 extends in the vertical direction, the setting change switch SS provided inside is in the OFF state, and when the setting key is inserted and rotated clockwise by about 90 degrees, the setting change switch SS becomes in the ON state.

[0263] The setting change switch SS is configured to be able to switch between the ON state and the OFF state by inserting and operating the setting key into the setting key cylinder KC. In other words, the setting change switch SS can be switched between the ON state and the OFF state by inserting and operating the setting key into the setting key cylinder KC even when the power of the slot machine 1 is not turned on.

[0264] Also, the main control CPU 11 is configured to be able to execute control related to the output of signals to other control units such as the sub-control CPU 21 and the hall computer and control related to setting changes when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state, but is configured not to execute processing such as referring to various flag data set in the main storage means 19 until the setting change switch SS becomes in the OFF state.

[0265] Therefore, for example, when an error occurs while the setting change switch SS is in the ON state, the main control CPU 11 can set the flag data indicating the occurrence of the error to the ON state, but does not execute the display on the main control display device 10D that refers to the ON state and OFF state information of the flag data to display an error code or the like. When the error has not been resolved when the setting change switch SS becomes in the OFF state, the error code corresponding to the occurring error is displayed on the main control display device 10D.

[0266] <Setting change confirmation screen> Next, we will explain the details of the setting confirmation screen 412 displayed on the display device 410. Note that the screens displayed on the display device 410 as illustrated in Figures 18 to 20 are all screens that are displayed when the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD are closed and no door opening error has occurred. If at least one of the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD is open, a door opening error notification screen that notifies the door opening error will be displayed on the display device 410.

[0267] Figure 18(A) illustrates the state in which the normal screen 411 is displayed on the display device 410, and Figure 18(B) illustrates the setting confirmation screen 412 that is displayed on the display device 410 when the setting key is inserted into and rotated in the setting key cylinder KC from the state shown in Figure 18(A), thereby turning the setting change switch SS to the ON state.

[0268] In the state shown in Figure 18(A), the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 of slot machine 1 are stopped, and the electronic tokens are not inserted, so the game is not progressing. Also, in the state shown in Figure 18(A), no errors have occurred in slot machine 1, the game is playable, and the normal screen 411, which is one of the screens displayed when the presentation state is normal, is shown.

[0269] In slot machine 1, when the power is turned on as shown in Figure 18(A), and the game can proceed, and no errors have occurred, when the setting key is inserted into and rotated in the setting key cylinder KC, thereby turning the setting change switch SS ON, the display device 410 will display a setting confirmation screen 412 as an indication of the setting status of slot machine 1, as shown in Figure 18(B).

[0270] On the settings confirmation screen 412, "Checking settings" is displayed at the top of the display area 410a, and multiple boxes are displayed, including a settings value confirmation box 412a where the settings value is displayed on the display device 410 once the display is confirmed, and a time setting box 412b where the time setting screen for setting the time controlled by the sub-control CPU 21 is displayed once the display is confirmed. On the slot machine 1, by operating the performance button EB, it is possible to select and confirm each box that indicates that the pre-set settings state of the slot machine 1 displayed on the settings confirmation screen 412 can be displayed, and the settings state of the slot machine 1 corresponding to the selected and confirmed box is displayed. In other words, on the slot machine 1, various settings, including the settings value currently set on the slot machine 1 and the time setting controlled by the sub-control CPU 21, constitute the settings state.

[0271] In slot machine 1, when the front upper door UD is opened while the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed, the display of the setting confirmation screen 412 is interrupted and a door open error screen is displayed to indicate that the front door is open. Then, in slot machine 1, when the setting key is turned and the setting change switch SS is switched to the OFF position, the display of the setting confirmation screen 412 ends and the front upper door UD is closed, and the normal screen 411 is displayed on the display device 410.

[0272] Figure 19(A) illustrates a state in which the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed on the display device 410, and Figure 19(B) illustrates a state in which the loan device connection error notification screen 413, which notifies that a loan device connection error has occurred, is displayed from the state shown in Figure 19(A). As shown in Figures 19(A) and (B), in the slot machine 1, if the dedicated unit SU becomes unconnected to the loan device connection terminal board 40 while the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed, the loan device connection error notification screen 413, which notifies that a loan device connection error has occurred, is displayed in priority over the setting confirmation screen 412.

[0273] As described above, in slot machine 1, when the settings confirmation screen 412 is displayed, the setting change switch SS is switched to the OFF state, allowing the game to be resumed. However, if a dispensing device connection error occurs, the game cannot be resumed until the dispensing device connection error is resolved. Therefore, in slot machine 1, when the dedicated unit SU is not connected to the dispensing device connection terminal board 40 while the settings confirmation screen 412 is displayed, the dispensing device connection error notification screen 413 is displayed to prompt the user to resolve the dispensing device connection error.

[0274] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19(B), in slot machine 1, if a loan device connection error occurs while the setting change switch SS is set to ON, the error code "E2" indicating the occurrence of a loan device connection error is not displayed on the main control display device 10D. As described above, although the main control CPU 11 sets the flag data indicating the occurrence of a loan device connection error to the ON state when the loan device connection error occurs, it does not perform the process of referring to the state of the flag data when the setting change switch SS is ON, and therefore does not display the error code "E2" on the main control display device 10D. In addition, the main control CPU 11 is configured to perform the process of outputting a signal from the main control board 10 to other control units even when the setting change switch SS is ON. The sub-control CPU 21 is configured to perform various effects-related controls even when the setting change switch SS is ON.

[0275] With this configuration, even when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state and the error code "E2" is not displayed on the main control display device 10D by the main control CPU 11, the sub-control CPU 21 can execute control to display the loan device connection error notification screen 413 on the display device 410 based on the input of a signal indicating the occurrence of a loan device connection error output from the main control CPU 11.

[0276] As a result, when the setting change switch SS is ON and the main control CPU 11 does not refer to flag data, and an error occurs, the slot machine 1 can display a notification of the error on the display device 410 via the sub-control CPU 21, which receives a signal related to the occurrence of the error from the main control CPU 11, without requiring a program to notify the main control display device 10D of the error, thus preventing an increase in the data capacity of the main memory means 190.

[0277] Figure 20(A) illustrates a state in which a loan device connection error has occurred, Figure 20(B) illustrates a state in which the setting change switch SS has been switched to the ON state from the state shown in Figure 20(A), and Figure 20(C) illustrates a state in which the loan device connection error that occurred from the state shown in Figure 20(B) has been resolved.

[0278] As shown in Figure 20(A), in slot machine 1, a lending device connection error occurs and the setting change switch SS is in the OFF state, so the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E2" on the main control display device 10D.

[0279] As shown in Figure 20(B), in slot machine 1, if a lending device connection error occurs, the front upper door UD is opened, the setting key is inserted into and turned in the setting key cylinder KC, and the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state, the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed on the display device 410, and the lending device connection error notification screen 413 continues to be displayed.

[0280] In other words, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when the setting change switch SS is turned ON while the loan device connection error notification screen 413, which notifies the occurrence of a loan device connection error, is displayed on the display device 410, the loan device connection error notification screen 413 is continuously displayed on the display device 410. Therefore, the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed when a loan device connection error occurs.

[0281] With this configuration, even if an operation unintended by the game machine designer is performed, such as switching the setting change switch SS to the ON state to check the setting value while an error is occurring, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is controlled so that the setting value cannot be checked. Control that enables checking the setting value using the setting confirmation screen 412 is limited to when the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while the error has been cleared. This prevents the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412 from being executed while an error is occurring, and prevents a decrease in the stability of the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412.

[0282] As shown in Figure 20(C), in slot machine 1, if the setting change switch SS is turned ON after a lending device connection error occurs, and the lending device connection error is resolved while the setting change switch SS remains ON, the normal screen 411 is displayed on the display device 410. In addition, in slot machine 1, an indication image 411a is displayed in the upper right position of the display area 410a, indicating that the setting change switch SS is ON but the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed, with the words "Settings cannot be confirmed" indicating that the setting change switch SS is ON. At the same time, the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 light up in purple, a color that does not light up when normal gameplay is being performed.

[0283] In other words, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 displays a loan device connection error notification screen 413 on the display device 410 to notify the occurrence of a loan device connection error, and when the loan device connection error is cleared while the setting change switch SS is in the ON state, the display device 410 displays the normal screen 411 instead of the setting confirmation screen 412. Therefore, if the setting change switch SS is turned ON while a loan device connection error is occurring, the setting confirmation screen 412 will not be displayed even if the loan device connection error is cleared.

[0284] With such a configuration, when an operation unintended by the game machine designer, such as switching the setting change switch SS to the ON state to check the set value during the occurrence of an error, is executed, the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment is controlled so that even if the occurring error is cleared, the set value cannot be checked, and the control that enables the check of the set value using the setting confirmation screen 412 is limited to the case where the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while the error has been cleared. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412 from being executed during the occurrence of an error, and to prevent the stability of the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412 from decreasing.

[0285] Further, when the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state during the occurrence of an error and the error is cleared while the setting change switch SS remains in the ON state, the slot machine 1 suggests that the setting change switch SS is in the ON state by the suggestion image 411a and the light emission mode of the LEDs inside the stop buttons B1 to B3, so that it can be suggested that the setting change switch SS has been accidentally turned on during the occurrence of an error, and it can suggest the factor that the game cannot proceed or the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed even though the error has been cleared, and can be quickly restored.

[0286] The OFF state of the setting change switch SS constitutes the first state in the present embodiment, and the ON state of the setting change switch SS constitutes the second state in the present embodiment. Further, the lending device connection error constitutes a predetermined event that causes a game stop where the game cannot proceed in the present embodiment. Further, among the images displayed on the display device 410, the setting confirmation screen 412 constitutes a first display that suggests the set state of the slot machine 1 preset in the present embodiment, the lending device connection error notification screen 413 constitutes a second display in the present embodiment, and the normal screen 411 constitutes a third display in the present embodiment.

[0287] <Summary of the relationship between errors occurring in the game machine and setting changes> As described above, in this embodiment, when the slot machine 1 is powered on and no game is being played, if the setting change switch SS is turned ON, the display device 410 displays the setting confirmation screen 412. When the display device 410 is displaying the loan device connection error notification screen 413, which notifies the occurrence of a loan device connection error, and the setting change switch SS is turned ON, the display device 410 continues to display the loan device connection error notification screen 413.

[0288] With this configuration, even if an operation unintended by the game machine designer is performed, such as switching the setting change switch SS to the ON state to check the setting value while an error is occurring, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is controlled so that the setting value cannot be checked. Control that enables checking the setting value using the setting confirmation screen 412 is limited to when the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while the error has been cleared. This prevents the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412 from being executed while an error is occurring, and prevents a decrease in the stability of the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412.

[0289] 5. Details of reel stop control related to RBB winnings Next, using Figures 5 to 8, 11, and 21 to 24, we will explain in detail the reel stop control that is executed when an RBB (Reel Bonus) is won in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment.

[0290] As shown in Figure 11, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the RBB is maintained in the RBB internal state, the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during the 3rd to 6th turn of the spin, the RBB can be awarded.

[0291] As described above, the reel control means 130 of this embodiment has a priority order for the roles to be stopped on the active line L1 in the order of "replay > minor role > bonus" in reel stop control, and is configured to execute stop control that prioritizes the winning of minor roles over bonuses. Furthermore, the reel control means 130 is configured to stop and display on the active line L1 any symbols that are within a total of 5 frames of pull-in range, from the frame displayed on the active line L1 at the time the stop button is pressed until it rotates 4 frames.

[0292] The reel control means 130 of this embodiment is configured to stop and display on the active line L1, with priority given to the candidate stop position that has the potential to win both a bonus and a small win, when the stop button is operated and there are candidate stop positions within the pull-in range that have the potential to win both a bonus and a small win, and candidate stop positions that have the potential to win only a small win, and the payouts for these candidate stop positions are the same.

[0293] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the winning symbol combinations for RBB consist of "Red 7A-Red 7A (Red 7B)-Red 7A" and "White 7-White 7-White 7". In addition, among the minor roles that are won in the winning area "Bonus Transition Role", minor roles 3 to 15 are configured such that at least one of the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination, either the symbol on the middle reel R2 or the symbol on the right reel R3, includes at least one of the Red 7A symbol "Red 7A", the Red 7B symbol "Red 7B", or the White 7 symbol "White 7". On the other hand, among the winning combinations that result in multiple wins in the winning area "Bonus Transition Role", combinations 16, 17, 24, and 25 do not include the red 7A symbol "Red 7A", the red 7B symbol "Red 7B", or the white 7 symbol "White 7" in the symbols that make up the winning combinations, specifically in the symbol on the middle reel R2 and the symbol on the right reel R3.

[0294] Based on the above, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the winning area "bonus transition role" is won in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 3 to turn 6, if the red 7A symbol "red 7A", red 7B symbol "red 7B", or white 7 symbol "white 7" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the first stop operation and the second stop operation are performed, the red 7A symbol "red 7A", red 7B symbol "red 7B", or white 7 symbol "white 7" is configured to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0295] In this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that, when the internal lottery during the RBB internal state results in a win in the winning area "Bonus Transition Role", and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and turn 2, the reel stop control is performed by prioritizing the number of symbols. This configuration ensures that symbols constituting the winning symbol combinations of small roles 16, 17, 24, and 25 are stopped and displayed on the active line L1, prioritizing small roles 1 to 15. As a result, the red 7A symbol "Red 7A", red 7B symbol "Red 7B", or white 7 symbol "White 7" are not stopped and displayed on the active line L1 in the middle reel R2 and the right reel R3, and the RBB is not awarded.

[0296] Here, the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" and the white 7 symbol "White 7" are arranged on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 such that their respective pull-in ranges do not overlap. Furthermore, on the left reel R1 and the right reel R3, the blank A symbol "BKA" and the blank B symbol "BKB" are arranged in positions where their pull-in ranges do not overlap with each other, and also do not overlap with the pull-in ranges of either the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" or the white 7 symbol "White 7". Furthermore, in the middle reel R2, the blank B symbol "BKB" is positioned so that its pull-in range does not overlap with the pull-in range of the red 7A symbol "red 7A" or the pull-in range of the white 7 symbol "white 7".

[0297] <Stopping phrases for each batting order when winning the "Bonus Transition Role" in the winning area> Figure 21 illustrates the timing of operations that enable the red 7 symbol "Red 7" and the white 7 symbol "White 7" to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state, and the stop button is operated during the 3rd and 4th turns of the game.

[0298] As shown in Figure 21, in this embodiment, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the red 7A symbol "red 7A" on the active line L1 when the timing of operation of the stop button B2 coincides with the timing when the replay symbol "RP" (stop number 16) to the red 7A symbol "red 7A" (stop number 12) are rotating and displayed on the active line L1. Furthermore, the reel control means 130 is configured to prioritize stopping the red 7B symbol "Red 7B" over the white 7 symbol "White 7" when both the red 7B symbol "Red 7B" and the white 7 symbol "White 7" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1. Therefore, when the stop button B2 is operated at the same time that the watermelon symbol "WM" (stop number 8) to the red 7B symbol "Red 7B" (stop number 4) are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, the red 7B symbol "Red 7B" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1. When the stop button B2 is operated at the same time that the watermelon symbol "WM" (stop number 3) and the white 7 symbol "White 7" (stop number 2) are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, the white 7 symbol "White 7" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0299] If the first stop operation on the stop button B2 causes the red 7A symbol "red 7A" or the red 7B symbol "red 7B" to stop and display on the active line L1, and the second and third stop operations are performed at a timing that allows the red 7A symbol "red 7A" to stop and display on the active line L1, the reel control means 130 will stop and display the RBB winning symbol combination "red 7A-red 7A(red 7B)-red 7A" on the active line L1. Also, if the first stop operation on the stop button B2 causes the white 7 symbol "white 7" to stop and display on the active line L1, and the second and third stop operations are performed at a timing that allows the white 7 symbol "white 7" to stop and display on the active line L1, the reel control means 130 will stop and display the RBB winning symbol combination "white 7-white 7-white 7" on the active line L1.

[0300] Figure 22 illustrates the timing of operations that enable the red 7 symbol "Red 7" and the white 7 symbol "White 7" to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state and the stop button is operated in turn 5.

[0301] As shown in Figure 22, in this embodiment, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" on the active line L1 when the timing of operation of the stop button B3 coincides with the timing when the watermelon symbol "WM" (stop number 18) to the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" (stop number 14) are rotating and displayed on the active line L1. In addition, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the white 7 symbol "White 7" on the active line L1 when the timing of operation of the stop button B3 coincides with the timing when the watermelon symbol "WM" (stop number 8) to the white 7 symbol "White 7" (stop number 4) are rotating and displayed on the active line L1.

[0302] The reel control means 130 stops and displays the red 7A symbol "red 7A" on the active line L1 when the first stop operation is performed on the stop button B3, and when the second stop operation is performed on the stop button B1 at a timing when the red 7A symbol "red 7A" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, the red 7A symbol "red 7A" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1 of the left reel R1. In addition, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the white 7 symbol "white 7" on the active line L1 when the first stop operation is performed on the stop button B3, and when the second stop operation is performed on the stop button B1 at a timing when the white 7 symbol "white 7" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, the white 7 symbol "white 7" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1 of the left reel R1.

[0303] The reel control means 130 stops the red 7A symbol "red 7A" on the active line L1 of the left reel R1 and the right reel R3, and when the third stop operation to the stop button B2 is performed at a timing that allows the red 7A symbol "red 7A" to be stopped on the active line L1, the reel control means 130 stops the red 7A symbol "red 7A" on the active line L1 of the middle reel R2. In addition, the reel control means 130 stops the red 7A symbol "red 7A" on the active line L1 of the left reel R1 and the right reel R3, and when the third stop operation to the stop button B2 is performed at a timing when the replay symbol "RP" (stop number 6) to the red 7B symbol "red 7B" (stop number 4) are rotating on the active line L1, the reel control means 130 stops the red 7B symbol "red 7B" on the active line L1 of the middle reel R2.

[0304] As described above, the reel control means 130 is configured to perform stop control that prioritizes the winning of small roles over bonuses. Therefore, when the internal lottery in the RBB internal state wins the winning area "bonus transition role" and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 5, if stop button B2 is stopped at the timing when the watermelon symbol "WM" at stop number 8, which is included in the pull-in range of the red 7B symbol "red 7B", and the blank B symbol "BKB" at stop number 7 are rotating and displayed on the active line L1, the system is configured to stop and display the blank B symbol "BKB" that constitutes the winning symbol combination "red 7A-BKB-red 7A" for small role 2 on the active line L1.

[0305] The reel control means 130 stops the white 7 symbol "white 7" on the active line L1 of the left reel R1 and the right reel R3, and when the third stop operation to the stop button B2 is performed at a timing that allows the white 7 symbol "white 7" to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 of the middle reel R2, it stops and displays the white 7 symbol "white 7" on the active line L1 of the middle reel R2.

[0306] Figure 23 illustrates the timing of the operation that enables the red 7 symbol "Red 7" and the white 7 symbol "White 7" to be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state and the stop button is operated in turn 6.

[0307] As shown in Figure 23, in this embodiment, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" on the active line L1 when the timing of operation of the stop button B3 coincides with the timing when the watermelon symbol "WM" (stop number 18) to the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" (stop number 14) are rotating and displayed on the active line L1. In addition, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the white 7 symbol "White 7" on the active line L1 when the timing of operation of the stop button B3 coincides with the timing when the watermelon symbol "WM" (stop number 8) to the white 7 symbol "White 7" (stop number 4) are rotating and displayed on the active line L1.

[0308] If the first stop operation on the stop button B3 causes the red 7A symbol "red 7A" to stop and display on the active line L1, and the second and third stop operations are performed at a timing that allows the red 7A symbol "red 7A" and the red 7B symbol "red 7B" to stop and display on the active line L1, the reel control means 130 will stop and display the RBB winning symbol combination "red 7A-red 7A(red 7B)-red 7A" on the active line L1. In addition, if the first stop operation on the stop button B3 causes the white 7 symbol "white 7" to stop and display on the active line L1, and the second and third stop operations are performed at a timing that allows the white 7 symbol "white 7" to stop and display on the active line L1, the reel control means 130 will stop and display the RBB winning symbol combination "white 7-white 7-white 7" on the active line L1.

[0309] Figure 24(A) shows the combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active line L1 when the red 7 symbol "Red 7" is stopped on the active line L1 of the left reel R1 and the middle reel R2; Figure 24(B) shows the combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active line L1 when the white 7 symbol "White 7" is stopped on the active line L1 of the left reel R1 and the middle reel R2; and Figure 24(C) shows the combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active line L1 when the red 7A symbol "Red 7A" is stopped on the active line L1 of the left reel R1 and the right reel R3. Figure 24(D) shows the combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active line L1 when the white 7 symbol "white 7" is stopped on the active line L1 of the left reel R1 and the right reel R3. Figure 24(E) shows the combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active line L1 when the red 7 symbol "red 7" is stopped on the active line L1 of the middle reel R2 and the right reel R3. Figure 24(F) shows the combinations of symbols that can be stopped on the active line L1 when the white 7 symbol "white 7" is stopped on the active line L1 of the middle reel R2 and the right reel R3.

[0310] In the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, when winning the winning area "bonus transition role" in the RBB internal middle state and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in batting order 3, the states shown in FIGS. 24(A) and (B) are obtained. When the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in batting order 5, the states shown in FIGS. 24(C) and (D) are obtained. When the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in batting order 4 and batting order 6, the states shown in FIGS. 24(E) and (F) are obtained.

[0311] As shown in FIGS. 24(A) to 24(F), in the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, when winning the winning area "bonus transition role" in the RBB internal middle state, the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in batting order 3 to batting order 6, and the red 7 symbol "red 7" or the white 7 symbol "white 7" is stopped and displayed on both of the two reels out of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, the RBB is a winning area. Even when the RBB does not win, the small role set for one payout wins.

[0312] <Details of reel stop control related to winning of RBB> Thus, the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the RBB can be won when winning the winning area "bonus transition role" in the RBB internal middle state and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in batting order 3 to batting order 6.

[0313] As described above, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, for each of the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A" and "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", one of batting orders 3 to 6 is set as the correct batting order that makes it possible to win the small prize 19 and small prize 20, which are set to pay out 9 coins in a 3-coin bet game. Specifically, in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1A", "Batting Order Bell 5A", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B", and "RBB & Batting Order Bell 5B", batting order 3 is set as the correct batting order among the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 that stop the middle reel R2 first. In the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 2A", "Batting Order Bell 6A", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 2B", and "RBB & Batting Order Bell 6B", batting order 4 is set as the correct batting order among the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 that stop the middle reel R2 first. In the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 3A", "Batting Order Bell 7A", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 3B", and "RBB & Batting Order Bell 7B", batting order 5 is set as the correct batting order among the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 that stop the right reel R3 first. In the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 4A", "Batting Order Bell 8A", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 4B", and "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B", batting order 6 is set as the correct batting order among the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3 that stop the right reel R3 first.

[0314] Furthermore, in slot machine 1, if the player wins in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", and the correct bat order notification has not been executed, and the player stops stop buttons B1 to B3 in bat order 3 to bat order 6, the control related to the instruction function that refers to the AT high probability counter 196b (see Figure 2) will not be executed in that game. In addition, in the next game after that game, the control related to the instruction function that refers to the AT high probability counter 196b will be relatively disadvantageous to the player compared to when the next game starts after the game in which the player stops stop buttons B1 to B3 in bat order 1 and bat order 2. Therefore, if prize assistance is not executed, it is recommended to stop stop buttons B1 to B3 in bat order 1 and bat order 2.

[0315] In this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that when the winning area "bonus transition role" is won during the RBB internal state, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the order 1 and order 2, the RBB is not awarded, and a small role with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is awarded with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0316] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can reduce the frequency of transitioning to the RBB state by preventing RBB from being awarded when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the recommended operation patterns for stop buttons B1 to B3, namely batting order 1 and batting order 2. This prevents the value obtained by dividing the sum of the number of electronic tokens paid out in the RBB state and the number of electronic tokens paid out due to the correct batting order notification in AT gameplay by the total number of payouts (the so-called instruction-inclusive prize ratio) from increasing excessively.

[0317] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the slot machine 1 wins the "bonus transition role" in the RBB internal state and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the recommended operation patterns for the player, namely in turn 1 and in turn 2, a small role with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is awarded. This prevents an excessive decrease in the expected value of winning the game when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and in turn 2.

[0318] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that if the player stops the stop buttons B1 to B3 in a different order of batting sequence (3 to 6) than the recommended order, and the winning area "bonus transition role" is hit during the RBB internal state, an RBB can be awarded. Therefore, as the game progresses, the machine can perform bonus symbol entry support effects and other actions to encourage the player to aim for an RBB, realizing diverse gameplay using the RBB state and improving the player's enjoyment of the game.

[0319] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the red 7B symbol "red 7B" is arranged within the pull-in range of the white 7 symbol "white 7" on the middle reel R2. Also, as shown in Figure 5, in the slot machine 1, the winning symbol combinations for RBB are set to be "red 7A-red 7A(red 7B)-red 7A" and "white 7-white 7-white 7", and when the red 7A symbol "red 7A" stops on the active line L1 between the left reel R1 and the right reel R3, the symbols on the middle reel R2 are set to be the red 7A symbol "red 7A" and the red 7B symbol "red 7B".

[0320] With this configuration, as shown in Figures 21 to 23, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can change the probability of winning an RBB in each of the following situations: when the winning area "bonus transition role" is won in the internal RBB state and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 3 to turn 6, the probability of winning an RBB can be changed in turn 3 and turn 4 where the middle reel R2 stops first, turn 6 where the middle reel R2 stops second, and turn 5 where the middle reel R2 stops last. This improves the versatility of gameplay, allowing players to win an RBB and transition to a special bonus state, thereby increasing the player's enjoyment of the game.

[0321] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 can award an RBB when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is hit during the RBB internal state. Therefore, in order to guarantee an RBB award, there is no need to provide a winning area where an RBB is awarded but small roles and replays are not awarded.

[0322] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can reduce the data capacity required to provide a winning area in which only RBB is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state. Furthermore, when the machine is configured to win a small role or a replay in the internal lottery during the RBB internal state, it is no longer necessary to allocate the number of lottery values ​​allocated to the winning area in the non-RT state where only RBB is won to replays, thus preventing an increase in the data capacity related to the internal lottery during the RBB internal state.

[0323] The left reel R1 constitutes the first reel in this embodiment, the middle reel R2 constitutes the second reel in this embodiment, and the right reel R3 constitutes the third reel in this embodiment. Furthermore, the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1A", "Batting Order Bell 2A", "Batting Order Bell 5A", "Batting Order Bell 6A", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 2B", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 5B", and "RBB & Batting Order Bell 6B" constitute the first type of first winning pattern in which the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, which first stop the middle reel R2, is set to the correct batting order (correct operation pattern), and the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 3A", "Batting Order Bell 4A", "Batting Order Bell 7A", "Batting Order Bell 8A", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 3B", "RBB & Batting Order Bell 4B", and "RBB & Batting Order Bell In the winning area "7B" and the winning area "RBB&Bat Order Bell 8B", the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3 to stop the right reel R3 first is set to the correct bat order (correct operation), which constitutes a second type of first winning pattern. Among the small wins associated with overlapping wins in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A", and the winning area "RBB&Bat Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "RBB&Bat Order Bell 8A", small wins 19 and 20, which are set to pay 9 coins in a 3-coin bet game, constitute the first payout small wins in this embodiment, and small wins 24 to 41, 50 to 57, and 59, which are set to pay 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game, constitute small wins with a lower payout than the first payout in this embodiment.

[0324] Furthermore, the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" constitutes the second winning mode in this embodiment, and the minor roles associated with overlapping wins in the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" are minor roles 1 to 17, 24, and 25, which have a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game, constitute the minor roles of the second payout in this embodiment. When the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" and RBB are overlapping wins, the probability of winning a minor role with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 3 to turn 5 is approximately 1 / 1.04, and the probability of winning a minor role with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 6 is approximately 1 / 1.05, which constitutes the predetermined probabilities in this embodiment.

[0325] 6. Details of the winning areas "RBB & 3-coin combination 1" to "RBB & 3-coin combination 5" Next, we will explain the details of the case where you win in the winning area "RBB&3-coin combination 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin combination 5", and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated during turn 1 and turn 2.

[0326] <Average number of electronic tokens dispensed in turn 1 and turn 2 when winning in the winning area "RBB&3-coin combination 1" to "RBB&3-coin combination 5"> Figure 25 is a diagram illustrating the number of lottery values ​​associated with the winning areas "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5", the expected value of electronic medals acquired in one game calculated from the probability of winning a small role and the number of electronic medals dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and turn 2 when winning areas "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5", and the average number of electronic medals dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and turn 2 when winning areas "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5".

[0327] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 4" is won, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, there is a 1 / 4 probability of winning a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game. Therefore, the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired is 0.25, which corresponds to 0.25 coins. Also, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "RBB&3-coin win 5" is won, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, there is a 1 / 1 probability of winning a small win with a payout of 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game. Therefore, the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired is 3, which corresponds to 3 coins.

[0328] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25, the winning areas "RBB&3-coin combination 1" to "RBB&3-coin combination 4" are each associated with the value "2000" as the lottery value. In addition, the winning area "RBB&3-coin combination 5" is associated with the value "3000" as the lottery value.

[0329] Given this configuration, in slot machine 1, when a win occurs in one of the winning areas "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5", and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, there is an 8000 / 11000 chance of winning 0.25 electronic medals and a 3000 / 11000 chance of winning 3 electronic medals. Therefore, the average number of electronic medals paid out when a win occurs in one of the winning areas "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5", and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, is 1 medal.

[0330] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, in slot machine 1, when the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 5" is won, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is awarded with a probability of 1 / 1. As a result, the expected value of electronic medal acquisition is "1", which corresponds to 1 medal, and the average number of electronic medals paid out when the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 5" is won, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2 is 1 medal.

[0331] <Summary of winning areas "RBB & 3-coin combination 1" to "RBB & 3-coin combination 5"> Thus, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a player wins in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 4", the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired when the game is played in the order 1 in which stop button B1 is the first stop operation and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped is a value of "0.25", and the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the order 2 in which stop button B1 is the first stop operation is a value of "1", which is higher than the value of "0.25".

[0332] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" is won, the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired when the game is played in a sequence where stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in a sequence where stop button B1 is the first stop, is value "3", and the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in a sequence where stop button B1 is the first stop, is value "1", which is lower than value "3".

[0333] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in both cases where the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 4" is won, and where the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" is won, the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired when the game is played in a sequence where stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the order 2 in which stop button B1 is first stopped is a value of "1", which is within the range of value "0.25" to value "3".

[0334] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, if the winning area "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 4" is selected, the player may miss out on a small win that is set to pay 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game. However, if the winning area "RBB&3-coin win 5" is selected, the player will receive a small win that is set to pay 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game. Therefore, when the player performs a game in turn 1 where the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped, the number of electronic tokens dispensed will vary according to the result of the internal lottery, thereby increasing the player's enjoyment of the game.

[0335] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2, whether the winning area is "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 4" or "RBB&3-coin win 5", a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is awarded. Therefore, when playing a game in turn 2 where the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped, electronic medals can be dispensed stably regardless of the result of the internal lottery, and gameplay tailored to the player's preferences can be achieved.

[0336] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a player wins in any of the winning areas "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 5", the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2 are both equal to 1. Since there is no difference in the average number of electronic tokens dispensed regardless of whether stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 or turn 2, it is possible to prevent one of the turn 1 or turn 2 from becoming more advantageous and thus preventing the creation of a strategy that allows for exploitation.

[0337] In this embodiment, the left reel R1 constitutes the specific reel, and the stop button B1 constitutes the specific stop button. Furthermore, among the operation patterns of stop buttons B1 to B3, the first operation pattern constitutes the first operation pattern in this embodiment, and the second operation pattern constitutes the second operation pattern in this embodiment. Furthermore, the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 4" constitutes the first specific winning pattern in this embodiment, and the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" constitutes the second specific winning pattern in this embodiment. The value "1", which is the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when a game is played in which the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the second operation pattern, is the same as in this embodiment. The expected value of acquired electronic medals is calculated within a predetermined range, from "0.25," which is the expected value of acquired electronic medals when the player wins in the selection area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 4" and stops stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1, to "3," which is the expected value of acquired electronic medals when the player wins in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" and stops stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1.

[0338] 7. Summary of this embodiment As described above, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that if the player hits the winning area "bonus transition role" in the RBB internal state by stopping stop buttons B1 to B3 in the 3rd to 6th batting order, an RBB can be awarded. Therefore, depending on the progress of the game, the machine can perform bonus symbol awarding support effects and other actions to encourage the player to aim for an RBB, thereby realizing diverse gameplay using the RBB state and improving the player's enjoyment of the game.

[0339] 8. Variations In this embodiment, the predetermined event in the slot machine 1 consists of a lending device connection error, but is not limited to this. The predetermined event may consist of, for example, a medal overflow error, and any event that has a release condition other than initialization by changing settings is acceptable.

[0340] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to detect a loan device connection error, which is a predetermined event, as one of the abnormal events that occur in the slot machine 1. However, the configuration is not limited to this. In the case of a loan device connection error, the dedicated unit SU, which is an external device connected to the slot machine 1, is not connected, and there are no errors in any of the components of the slot machine 1. Therefore, the state of the slot machine 1 is a normal state in which it can detect that the dedicated unit SU is not connected, and the slot machine 1 may be configured to detect the loan device connection error as one of the normal events in the slot machine 1.

[0341] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to display a door open error notification screen on the display device 410 when the front upper door UD is open, the setting key is inserted into and rotated in the setting key cylinder KC, thereby turning the setting change switch SS ON, and the power is turned on and the game is in progress, and no errors have occurred. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and for example, the display device 410 may be configured to display a setting confirmation screen 412 when the setting key is inserted into and rotated in the setting key cylinder KC, thereby turning the setting change switch SS ON, regardless of whether the front upper door UD is open or closed.

[0342] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that, after a loan device connection error occurs, the setting change switch SS is turned ON, and when the loan device connection error is resolved while the setting change switch SS remains ON, the normal screen 411 is displayed on the display device 410 as a third display, but the invention is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may also be configured to display an error switching notification image on the display device 410 as a third display, indicating that the setting change switch SS was switched to the ON state while the error occurred.

[0343] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed, the slot machine 1 is configured to allow various settings to be performed, such as time setting, in addition to confirming the setting value. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and for example, it may be configured so that the setting value is displayed without the operation of the performance button EB, and various settings other than confirming the setting value cannot be performed.

[0344] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to allow confirmation of the setting value when the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 only needs to be configured to indicate the preset setting state of the gaming machine on the setting confirmation screen 412, for example, by displaying information that indicates that preset time settings and volume settings can be displayed, and the setting value itself is not displayed on the display device 410. Alternatively, the slot machine 1 may be provided with a second display means, for example, which is located on the main control board 10 so that it cannot be seen unless the front upper door UD is opened, and is controlled by the main control CPU 11 to display the setting value, and the setting confirmation screen 412 as the first display may be configured to indicate that the current setting value can be displayed as the preset setting state of the gaming machine on the second display means by displaying only the words "Checking settings".

[0345] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to continue displaying the loan device connection error notification screen 413 that was displayed before the setting change switch SS was switched to the ON state when the setting change switch SS is turned ON after a loan device connection error occurs, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may also be configured to display an image that notifies, for example, that a loan device connection error has occurred and that the setting change switch SS is turned ON when the setting change switch SS is turned ON after a loan device connection error occurs.

[0346] In this configuration, the slot machine 1 may be configured to display an image on the loan device connection error notification screen 413 that overlays text indicating that the setting change switch SS is in the ON state (for example, the text "The setting change switch is ON") as an image to notify that a loan device connection error has occurred and that the setting change switch SS is in the ON state.

[0347] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is equipped with a display device 410 as a display means, but is not limited to this, and may also be equipped with a main control display device 10D as a display means. In this configuration, the slot machine 1 is equipped with a second display means that is provided on the main control board 10 so as not to be visible unless the front upper door UD is opened, and is controlled by the main control CPU 11 so as to be able to display a set value. When the power is turned on and the game can proceed, and no predetermined event has occurred, the setting key is inserted into and rotated in the setting key cylinder KC, causing the setting change switch SS to be turned ON, and the main control display device 10D, which is the first display means, displays as a first display an indication that the current setting value can be displayed as the setting state of the game machine that has been set in advance in the second display means. When the setting change switch SS is turned ON after the occurrence of a predetermined event, the code indicating the occurrence of the predetermined event that was displayed on the main control display device 10D due to the occurrence of the predetermined event may be continued to be displayed as a second display.

[0348] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the setting change switch SS has an ON state which constitutes a first state and an OFF state which constitutes a second state, but is not limited to this, and may be configured such that the OFF state constitutes the first state and the ON state constitutes the second state. In this configuration, the slot machine 1 is configured such that the setting value can be changed when the setting change switch SS is in the OFF state and the power is turned on, and the setting value cannot be changed when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state and the power is turned on. When the setting change switch SS is in the ON state, the game can be played, and when the setting change switch SS is in the OFF state, although control related to the output of signals to other control units such as the sub-control CPU 21 and the hall computer, and control related to setting changes can be executed, processing that refers to various flag data set in the main memory means 190 is not executed until the setting change switch SS is in the ON state.

[0349] In other words, slot machine 1 is configured such that when the setting change switch is in the first state and the power is turned on, the setting value related to the degree of advantage in the game can be changed, and when the setting change switch is in the second state and the power is turned on, the setting value cannot be changed. The first state consists of either an ON or OFF state, and the second state consists of the other ON or OFF state that is different from the one that constitutes the first state.

[0350] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has two symbol combinations set as winning symbol combinations for RBB: "Red 7A-Red 7A (Red 7B)-Red 7A" and "White 7-White 7-White 7", but it is not limited to these. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured so that only "Red 7A-Red 7A (Red 7B)-Red 7A" is set as the winning symbol combination for RBB.

[0351] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured with "Red 7A - Red 7A (Red 7B) - Red 7A" as the winning symbol combination for RBB, and the two symbols "Red 7A" and "Red 7B" arranged on the middle reel R2 constitute the winning symbol combination for RBB, but it is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured so that only "Red 7A - Red 7A - Red 7A" is set as the winning symbol combination for RBB, and a pull-in range of 5 out of 20 frames is set for each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0352] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" and RBB are both won, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 3 to turn 5, a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is awarded with a probability of approximately 1 / 1.04, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 6, a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is awarded with a probability of approximately 1 / 1.05, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may also be configured such that when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" and RBB are both won, a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is awarded with the same predetermined probability regardless of which turn button B1 to B3 is stopped in turn 3 to turn 6.

[0353] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to award small wins 19 and 20, which are set to pay 9 coins in a 3-coin bet game, as the first payout small wins when the player wins in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B" and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the correct batting order, but it is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 is configured to award small wins with a payout greater than the first specified number (3 coins) as the first payout small wins.

[0354] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that if the player wins in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the correct batting order, the player wins small wins 19 and 20, which have a payout of 9 coins in a 3-coin bet game, as the first payout small wins. However, the machine is not limited to this configuration. Slot machine 1 may be configured such that, for example, if the player wins in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A", or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", and if the player stops stop buttons B1 to B3 in batting order 1 or batting order 2, which are different from the correct batting order, the player wins a prize that is lower than prize 19 and prize 20, but is set to pay out 2 coins, which is more than 1 coin.

[0355] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when the winning area "bonus transition role" is hit, a second-paying role that is set to pay 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game can be won, but it is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured such that, for example, a second-paying role that is set to pay 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game can be won.

[0356] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to award small wins 1 to 9 in the RBB state, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 does not necessarily need to be configured to award small wins for which the payout in a 3-coin bet game and the payout in a 2-coin bet game do not change in the RBB state. As long as the slot machine 1 is configured to award small wins for which the payout in a 3-coin bet game and the payout in a 2-coin bet game are different, any other small win may be configured to award.

[0357] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the slot machine 1 wins in the winning areas "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A" and "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", and the correct bat order notification has not been executed, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in bat order 3 to bat order 6, the control related to the instruction function that refers to the AT high probability counter 196b (see Figure 2) is not executed in that game, and in the next game after that game, the control related to the instruction function that refers to the AT high probability counter 196b is relatively disadvantageous to the player compared to when the game after the game in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 were stopped in bat order 1 and bat order 2 is started. However, the machine is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may also be configured so that the control that refers to the AT high probability counter 196b is not executed.

[0358] In this configuration, slot machine 1 is designed so that, when no prize-winning assistance is performed, there is no difference in the expected value of winning the game regardless of which of the batting orders (1 to 6) the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed. This prevents the machine from becoming exploitable depending on the order in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed.

[0359] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a left reel R1 as the first reel, a middle reel R2 as the second reel, and a right reel R3 as the third reel, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 only needs to have predetermined which reel corresponds to which of the first to third reels and the left reel R1 to right reel R3. For example, it may have a right reel R3 as the first reel, a left reel R1 as the second reel, and a middle reel R2 as the third reel, and is not limited to this embodiment.

[0360] In this configuration, slot machine 1 is configured such that, for the correct batting order that allows the player to win the small prizes 19 and 20, which are set to pay 9 coins in a 3-coin bet game, when the player wins in the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to "Batting Order Bell 8A" or "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B", the operation of stopping the first reel first is not set as the correct batting order in either the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to "Batting Order Bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & Batting Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Batting Order Bell 8B".

[0361] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has the left reel R1 as the designated reel, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 only needs to have a predetermined designation for which reel among the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is the designated reel. For example, it may also have the middle reel R2 as the designated reel, and is not limited to this embodiment.

[0362] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to award an RBB when the winning area "Bonus Transition Role" is selected and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during the 3rd to 6th batting order, but it is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may also be configured to award an RBB when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during the 1st and 2nd batting orders.

[0363] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when a player wins in the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to the winning area "Bat Order Bell 8A" or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in bat order 1 or bat order 2, a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game is awarded, but the machine is not limited to this configuration. Slot machine 1 is configured such that if the winning area "Bat Order Bell 1A" to "Bat Order Bell 8A", or the winning area "RBB & Bat Order Bell 1B" to "RBB & Bat Order Bell 8B", and stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped during bat order 1 and bat order 2, a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game can be awarded. However, if at least one of the operation timings of stop buttons B1 to B3 is a timing when a small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game cannot be awarded, there is a possibility that the small win with a payout of 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game will not be awarded and will be missed (not awarded).

[0364] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured not to include the winning area in which only RBB is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state as the target of the lottery. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and may be configured to include the winning area in which only RBB is won in the internal lottery during the non-RT state as the target of the lottery.

[0365] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that, in both cases where the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 4" is won, and when the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" is won, the expected value of electronic medals to be acquired when the game is played in a sequence 2 in which stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped, is a value of "1", which is within the range of "0.25" to "3", but is not limited to this. Slot machine 1 only needs to have values ​​within the range of "0.25" to "3" for the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when winning in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 4", when winning in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5", and when playing in the second spinning order in which stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped, with stop button B1 being the first stop. For example, the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when winning in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 4" and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the second spinning order may be set to "0.5", and the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when winning in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the second spinning order may be set to "1.5".

[0366] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 may be configured such that all values ​​within the range from "0.25," which is the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when the player wins in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 4" and stops stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1, to "3," which is the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when the player wins in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" and stops stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 1, are set as the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when the player wins in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 4" and when the player wins in the winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5," and stops stop buttons B1 to B3 in turn 2, where stop button B1 is the first stop. However, the configuration is not limited to this. Slot machine 1, for example, within a predetermined range, the value "0.5" is among the values ​​within the range of "0.25", which is the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when the game is played in a winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to a winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 4" and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the first spin, and "3", which is the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when the game is played in a winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 5" and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the first spin. The configuration may be such that a value within the range of ~2.5 is set as the expected value of electronic medal acquisition when a game is played in which stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in the first stop operation order 2 when stop button B1 is first stopped, in both the case when the selection area "RBB&3-coin win 1" to the winning area "RBB&3-coin win 4" and the case when the winning area "RBB&3-coin win 5" is won, and it is sufficient that a range of values ​​that can be set in advance is determined for the predetermined range, and this is not limited to this embodiment.

[0367] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when a win occurs in any of the winning areas "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5", the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2 are both equal to 1 token, but the machine is not limited to this configuration. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured such that when a win occurs in any of the winning areas "RBB&3-coin win 1" to "RBB&3-coin win 5", the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 is 1.1 tokens, and the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2 is 1 token. Furthermore, slot machine 1 may be configured such that, for example, when a winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to "RBB&3-coin payout 5" is won, the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 is 0.95, and the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2 is 1.2.

[0368] In other words, slot machine 1 may be configured such that, when a player wins in any of the winning areas "RBB & 3-coin payout 1" to "RBB & 3-coin payout 5", there is a difference between the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1 and the average number of electronic tokens dispensed when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2.

[0369] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has multiple winning areas, from winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 1" to winning area "RBB&3-coin payout 4", as a first specific winning pattern, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured such that, for example, the value "8000" is associated as the number of draws, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, there is a 1 / 4 probability of winning a small payout set to 1 coin in a 3-coin bet game, with one winning area being designated as the first specific winning pattern.

[0370] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that the payout for all minor roles from minor role 1 to minor role 59 is set to 1 coin when a two-coin bet is played, resulting in a payout of 1 electronic medal when a two-coin bet is played, but it is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured such that, for example, when a two-coin bet is played, a process is executed to set the upper limit of the payout to 1 coin, so that regardless of the number of coins paid out for the winning minor role, a payout of 1 coin is executed.

[0371] The following describes in detail a configuration in which a process to set an upper limit on the number of payouts (upper limit setting process) is executed, allowing a two-coin bet game to be played and resulting in one electronic medal being paid out regardless of which winning combination is achieved. Slot machine 1 with this configuration is set to set an upper limit on the number of electronic medals that can be paid out when a two-coin bet game is played, and when a winning combination with a payout exceeding this upper limit is achieved, the number of payouts is set to this upper limit and the medals are paid out. Specifically, slot machine 1 is set to set the upper limit on the number of electronic medals that can be paid out as one when a two-coin bet game is played.

[0372] Figure 26 is a flowchart showing the upper limit setting process for the modified slot machine 1, which sets an upper limit on the number of payouts. The process shown in Figure 26 is executed in the payout process by the payout control means 150, which is performed when a small win occurs, after the payout value set for the small win has been stored in the payout number storage means 199 (see Figure 2) of the main storage means 190.

[0373] As shown in Figure 26, the payout control means 150 first obtains the payout amount stored in the payout amount storage means 199 (S1). In this process, the payout control means 150 obtains the stored value of the payout amount storage means 199, which stores the payout values ​​set for the winning combinations in the current game.

[0374] Next, the payout control means 150 confirms the number of electronic tokens that have been set to be inserted for the current game (S2). In this process, the payout control means 150 can determine whether the current game is a 2-coin bet game or a 3-coin bet game by checking the value stored in the number of tokens inserted storage means 198.

[0375] Next, the payout control means 150 determines whether the number of electronic tokens set to be inserted in the current game was 2 (S3). In this process, the payout control means 150 determines whether the stored value of the number of tokens inserted stored in the insert count storage means 198 (see Figure 2), which was confirmed in step S2, was the value "2". By executing the process in step S3, the payout control means 150 can determine whether the current game was played in an RBB state with a second predetermined number (2 tokens) set.

[0376] In step S3, if it is determined that the number of electronic tokens set to be inserted for this game is 2 (YES), the payout control means 150 determines whether the number of tokens to be paid out for this game is 2 or more (S4). In this process, the payout control means 150 determines whether the number of tokens to be paid out stored in the payout number storage means 199 obtained in step S1 is 2 or more.

[0377] In step S4, if it is determined that the number of payouts for this game is 2 or more (YES), the payout control means 150 sets the number of payouts to 1 (S5). In this process, the payout control means 150 sets the number of payouts for this game to 1 by changing the value of 2 or more stored in the payout number storage means 199 to the value "1".

[0378] This process in step S5 constitutes a process that sets the upper limit of the number of electronic tokens that can be dispensed to a specific number (1 token) less than the second specified number (3 tokens) when the game starts with a second specified number (2 tokens) inserted.

[0379] After executing the process in step S5, if in the process of step S3 it is determined that the number of electronic tokens set to be inserted for this game is 3 (NO), or if in the process of step S4 it is determined that the number of tokens to be paid out for this game is 1 (NO), the payout control means 150 executes the process of paying out tokens (S6) and terminates the payout process. In this process, the payout control means 150 determines the value stored in the payout number storage means 199 as the number of tokens to be paid out for the game, and adds the number of electronic tokens corresponding to the determined payout number to the token counter 311.

[0380] Thus, when a game with a 3-coin bet is played, the payout control means 150 is configured to skip the processing of steps S4 and S5 from step S3 and proceed to step S6. The payout control means 150 determines the value stored in the payout number storage means 199, which stores the value set as the payout for the winning combination in the game, as the number of medals to be paid out in the game, and adds the number of electronic medals corresponding to the determined payout number to the medal counter 311.

[0381] In this configuration, slot machine 1 is set up so that in non-RT state and RBB internal state, the same number of electronic tokens as the payout set for the winning combination are paid out, and when a winning combination with a payout of more than one token is won, the payout of that token is executed.

[0382] On the other hand, the payout control means 150 is configured to proceed to step S6 after executing the process in step S5 if a game with a 2-coin bet is played and a small win with a payout of 2 or more coins is awarded in the game with a 2-coin bet. Regardless of the value set as the payout for the small win awarded in the game, the value stored in the payout number storage means 199, which is set to the value "1", is determined as the number of coins to be paid out in the game, and the number of electronic coins (1 coin) corresponding to the determined payout is added to the coin counter 311.

[0383] Given this configuration, in slot machine 1, when a small win with the same payout as when a 3-coin bet is played, and which is set to pay more than 1 coin, is won in the RBB state when a 2-coin bet is played, a payout of 1 coin is made, which is less than the set payout and less than the prescribed number (2 coins) in the RBB state.

[0384] In other words, in slot machine 1, when the game transitions to an RBB state where the specified number is set to 2 coins, and a winning area including a small win is hit, a payout of 1 coin is executed regardless of which small win is hit. To put it another way, in slot machine 1, when the specified number is set to the second specified number (2 coins) in an RBB state, if a small win with a payout higher than the second specified number is hit, a payout of less than the second specified number is executed.

[0385] With this configuration, slot machine 1 transitions to an RBB state where the specified number of coins is set to 2. When a winning area including a small win is hit, the payout limit setting process is executed, so that 1 coin is paid out regardless of which small win is hit. This allows the payout rate in the RBB state to be reduced to 50%, and the medal acquisition performance when the RBB is not active can be designed, dramatically increasing the design flexibility of slot machine 1.

[0386] Furthermore, as mentioned above, slot machine 1 is configured such that, in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, the payout rate when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in a random order is less than 50%, and the payout rate in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state is lower than the payout rate in the RBB state (50%).

[0387] With this configuration, the payout rate in the RBB state of slot machine 1 is lower than in the non-RT state where RBB is not active and in the RBB internal state, and the performance of the RBB state does not deteriorate excessively, thus ensuring sufficient performance of the gaming machine.

[0388] Furthermore, by configuring slot machine 1 to perform an upper limit setting process, it is possible to set the payout for a 2-coin bet to 1 coin when a 2-coin bet is played, without having to set the payout for a 2-coin bet separately for each small win when a 3-coin bet is played. This reduces the amount of data required to set the payout for a 2-coin bet for each small win.

[0389] Furthermore, in such a configuration, slot machine 1 is required to be configured such that the payout for small wins differs depending on whether the win occurs in the RBB state (where two tokens are inserted and the game starts) or in the RBB state (where three tokens are inserted and the game starts), and that the win occurs when the game is in the RBB state.

[0390] As a result, in the RBB state, where the specified number is set to a second specified number, which is different from the specified number set to the first specified number for the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, the performance of the small wins that result in fewer electronic tokens being paid out when they are won in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state are prevented from being excessively reduced by awarding them based on the fact that they were won in the RBB state, thereby ensuring sufficient performance of the gaming machine.

[0391] In this configuration, the small wins included in the second group and the predetermined group consist of small wins where the number of game values ​​paid out based on winning differs depending on whether the game is started with a first predetermined number of game values ​​or with a second predetermined number of game values, while the small wins included in the first group consist of small wins where the number of game values ​​paid out based on winning is the same depending on whether the game is started with a first predetermined number of game values ​​or with a second predetermined number of game values ​​(which is less than the first predetermined number)

[0392] Furthermore, when configured to perform an upper limit setting process, slot machine 1 may be configured to set the upper limit of the number of payouts set in the upper limit setting process to the same number as the second specified number (2 coins), which is 2 coins. In other words, slot machine 1 may be configured to perform a payout of the second specified number or less when a small win with a payout higher than the second specified number occurs in an RBB state where the specified number is set to the second specified number (2 coins).

[0393] In a configuration where the upper limit setting process sets the payout limit to 2 coins, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when the winning area "Bonus Medium Small Win 2" is won, a small win set to pay out 1 coin is awarded regardless of the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, and when the winning area "Bonus Medium Small Win 1" is won, small win 19 is awarded when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 1, and small win 20 is awarded when stop buttons B1 to B3 are stopped in turn 2. In this configuration, when the winning area "Bonus Medium Small Win 1" is won, one of small wins 18 to 20, 23, 48, or 49 is awarded depending on the operation of stop buttons B1 to B3, and 2 electronic medals are paid out.

[0394] Furthermore, in this configuration, the slot machine 1 is configured such that the probability of winning in the winning area "Bonus Small Win 2," where one coin is awarded regardless of how the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated, is higher than the probability of winning in the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1." This allows the payout rate in the RBB state to be reduced to less than 100%, and the medal acquisition performance when the RBB is not active can be designed, thereby dramatically increasing the design flexibility of the slot machine 1.

[0395] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the payout for all minor roles 1 to 59 is 1 coin when a 2-coin bet is played, but it is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured so that the payout for minor role 19 is 2 coins when a 2-coin bet is played.

[0396] In this configuration, it is preferable that slot machine 1 is configured such that when the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in turn 3 to 6, a small win (for example, small win 1 to small win 9, etc.) that is set to pay out 1 coin when a 2-coin bet is executed is awarded. Furthermore, in this configuration, slot machine 1 is configured such that in the internal lottery during the RBB state, the probability of winning the winning area "Bonus Small Win 1" is higher than the probability of winning the winning area "Bonus Small Win 2". This allows the payout rate in the RBB state to be reduced to less than 100%, and the medal acquisition performance when the RBB is not active can be designed, thereby dramatically improving the design freedom of slot machine 1.

[0397] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a setting value that can change the probability of winning in the internal lottery as a measure of the degree of advantage in the game, but it is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured such that the probability of winning a role in the internal lottery does not change regardless of whether it is set to setting 1 to setting 6, and the degree of advantage in the game can be changed by the setting value by making it possible to change the probability of winning in the various lotteries by the AT control means 170 (various lotteries related to instruction functions such as CZ lottery, normal AT lottery, CZ AT lottery, etc., and lotteries related to instruction functions such as bonus lottery, etc.) according to the setting value.

[0398] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to have a medal count control means 300 of a medal count control CPU 31 as a management control means that manages electronic medals and can communicate with a dedicated unit SU, and a main control CPU 11 as a game control means that controls games played using electronic medals, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured without a medal count control board 30, and the various functions mounted on the medal count control board 30 may be realized by various functions mounted on the main control board 10, so that the main control CPU 11 functions as a management control means that manages electronic medals and can communicate with a dedicated unit SU.

[0399] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured not to notify whether or not it is in a favorable period, but it is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to notify whether or not it is in a favorable period when, for example, the expected value of acquiring electronic medals becomes 1 or more due to the assistance of winning small roles.

[0400] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has multiple reels, from the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and multiple stop buttons, from stop buttons B1 to stop buttons B3, corresponding to the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. However, it is not limited to this, and may also have, for example, a fourth reel and a stop button corresponding to the fourth reel.

[0401] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a max bet button MB for inserting a predetermined number of electronic tokens, but it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be configured to have a single bet button for inserting one electronic token in addition to the max bet button MB.

[0402] In this configuration, slot machine 1 may be configured to start playing regardless of whether the number of electronic tokens inserted is set to a first predetermined number or a second predetermined number, for a predetermined number of tokens in the non-RT state or RBB internal state. In this configuration, slot machine 1 may be configured to set the first predetermined number of electronic tokens inserted when the max bet button MB is operated, and to set the second predetermined number of electronic tokens inserted when the single bet button is operated twice, when the game state is the non-RT state or RBB internal state.

[0403] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured as a so-called medalless gaming machine that records game value by an electromagnetic method, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to accept medals, which serve as a physical medium for game value, and to be configured to dispense the medals using a hopper unit when paying out. In this configuration, the slot machine 1 is configured to credit up to 50 medals for each inserted medal. Also in this configuration, the AT control means 170 terminates the advantageous period when 4000 games have been played since the start of the advantageous period.

[0404] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to set initial values ​​for the stored values ​​of each counter and storage means, and to perform decrement updates that subtract 1 each time a game is played, or increment updates that add 1 each time a game is played. However, the method for updating each counter and storage means may be configured to perform multiplication, division, etc., and is not particularly limited. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0405] 1. Slot machine (amusement machine) 120 Internal drawing method B1 Stop button B2 Stop button B3 Stop button R1 Left reel (1st reel) R2 Middle reel (2nd reel) R3 Right reel (3rd reel)

Claims

[Claim 1] Multiple reels, Multiple stop buttons, It comprises an internal lottery means for conducting an internal lottery, The aforementioned plurality of reels include a first reel, a second reel, and a third reel. In the aforementioned internal lottery, the success or failure of multiple types of winning scenarios is determined. The aforementioned multiple types of winning patterns include a first winning pattern and a second winning pattern. The first winning pattern is associated with the simultaneous winning of a minor role with a first payout and a minor role with a lower payout than the first payout. The second winning pattern is associated with the simultaneous winning of multiple types of second-payout minor roles. The aforementioned first winning pattern includes a first type of first winning pattern and a second type of first winning pattern. For each of the first type of first winning pattern and the second type of first winning pattern, a correct operation pattern is set as the operation pattern of the plurality of stop buttons. The operation mode for stopping the first reel for the first time is not set as the correct operation mode in either the first type of first winning mode or the second type of first winning mode. The first type of first winning pattern is set such that the operation pattern for stopping the second reel first is set to the correct operation pattern. The second type of first winning mode is set such that the operation mode in which the third reel is stopped first is set to the correct operation mode. In the case where the first winning pattern is selected in the aforementioned internal lottery, When the multiple stop buttons are operated in the correct operation mode described above, the first payout prize becomes available. If the multiple stop buttons are operated in a manner different from the correct operation manner described above, a minor prize with a lower payout than the first payout becomes possible. In cases where the second winning pattern and the bonus are both won, When the multiple stop buttons are operated in a manner that causes the first reel to stop, the second payout prize is awarded. When the multiple stop buttons are operated in a manner that first stops the second reel or the third reel, the second payout prize is awarded with a predetermined probability, and if the second payout prize is not awarded, a bonus becomes available. A gaming machine characterized by the following features.

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