Amusement park systems

Abstract

To reduce a burden on employees.SOLUTION: A game parlor system starts at-rest suppression processing for suppressing reception of a new card and permission of payment while a player is at rest with a starting operation by the player, and finishes the at-rest suppression processing with the reception of a recording medium discharged accompanying the at-rest suppression processing. In the case where the recording medium to be discharged accompanying the at-rest suppression processing is a general card, the at-rest suppression processing is started on a condition that a valuable value, which is at least one of the payment balance shown by payment balance information and the magnitude of a game value shown by game value information reaches a reference value, and in the case where the recording medium to be discharged is a membership card, the at-rest suppression processing can be started even if there is no valuable value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In amusement arcades, for example, as in Patent Document 1, when a player wants to take a break for business, if a membership card is accepted, the system will accept the break operation and issue a membership card without the intervention of an employee, and then suppress processing related to gaming until the same membership card is accepted again. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-14521 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this case, for non-member customers, an employee would be required to intervene and put the machine into a rest state by holding up a so-called rest card, and when the player returned, the card would be replaced and the game would resume.However, in order to increase convenience or to reduce the amount of work required by employees, there is a growing need to allow general customers to take a break without the need for an employee, by accepting the rest operation without the need for an employee, just like members, and by using a general card instead of a membership card.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an amusement arcade system that can reduce the burden on employees. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is a gaming machine device that can execute a reception process for receiving a recording medium by inserting the recording medium, which can associate deposit balance information showing the deposit balance for receiving a gaming value and gaming value information (e.g., held ball information) showing the amount of gaming value (e.g., held balls) acquired through a game, a discharge process for discharging the recording medium, and a rest period suppression process for suppressing processing related to the game while the player is resting. and a prize exchange device capable of executing an exchange process for exchanging prizes based on the gaming value information in response to an exchange operation, the prize exchange device including a first prize exchange device that is self-operated and enables the exchange process to be performed by a player without the intervention of an amusement facility employee, and a second prize exchange device that is not self-operated and enables the exchange process to be performed through the operation of an employee. and a suppression starting means (e.g., a gaming machine device 2, etc.) for starting the break suppression process in association with the discharge process in response to a start operation by a player, and a suppression ending means (e.g., a gaming machine device 2, etc.) for ending the break suppression process by accepting a recording medium discharged in association with the break suppression process, wherein the recording media are classified into member recording media (e.g., a member card 51, etc.) issued in advance to players who have registered as members at the gaming facility, and general recording media (e.g., a general card 52, etc.) issued to an unspecified number of players, and when the recording medium to be discharged in association with the break suppression process is the general recording medium, the break suppression process is started on the condition that at least one of the deposit balance indicated by the deposit balance information that can be associated with the general recording medium and the magnitude of the gaming value indicated by the gaming value information has reached a reference value, and when the recording medium to be discharged is the member recording medium, the break suppression process can be started even if the value does not exist. If the prize exchange device that receives the recording medium associated with the rest period suppression process is the first prize exchange device, it suppresses the process of making the received recording medium an object for prize exchange, but if the prize exchange device is the second prize exchange device, it does not perform the suppression. . According to the above-mentioned configuration, the rest period suppression process, which suppresses processing related to games while a player is resting, is started on the condition that at least one of the deposit balance indicated by the deposit balance information that can be associated with the general recording medium and the amount of gaming value indicated by the gaming value information has reached a reference value if the recording medium to be discharged is a general recording medium, and can be started even if there is no value if the recording medium to be discharged is a member recording medium. Ta. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an amusement park system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Perspective view of the prize exchange counter [Figure 3] Functional block diagram of the payment machine [Figure 4] Perspective view of a POS terminal [Figure 5] POS terminal functional block diagram [Figure 6] Diagram showing leftover Viking receipt [Figure 7] Diagram showing the screen of the payment machine for membership card operation processing (part 1) [Figure 8] Diagram showing the payment machine screen for membership card operation processing (part 2) [Figure 9] Diagram showing the screen of the payment machine for membership card operation processing (part 3) [Figure 10] Figure 4 shows the screen of the payment machine for membership card operation processing [Figure 11] Diagram showing the POS terminal screen for membership card operation processing (part 1) [Figure 12] Figure 2 shows the POS terminal screen for membership card operation processing. [Figure 13] Diagram showing the POS terminal screen for membership card operation processing (part 3) [Figure 14] A diagram showing the screen transitions during membership card operation processing [Figure 15] Diagram showing the screen of the payment machine for general card operation processing (part 1) [Figure 16] Diagram showing the screen of the payment machine for general card operation processing (part 2) [Figure 17] Diagram showing the screen of the payment machine for general card operation processing (part 3) [Figure 18] Figure 1 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing. [Figure 19] Figure 1 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing. [Figure 20] Figure 2 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing. [Figure 21] Figure 3 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing [Figure 22] Figure 4 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing [Figure 23] Figure 5 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing [Figure 24] Figure 6 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing [Figure 25] Figure 7 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing [Figure 26] Figure 8 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing [Figure 27] Figure 9 shows the POS terminal screen for general card operation processing [Figure 28] Figure 10: POS terminal screen for general card operation processing [Figure 29] Diagram showing screen transitions during general card operation processing (part 1) [Figure 30] Screen transition diagram for general card operation processing (part 2) [Figure 31] A diagram showing the screen of a gaming machine device during self-rest (part 1) [Figure 32] Figure 2 shows the screen of the gaming machine device during self-rest [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen of a gaming machine device during a semi-self-service break. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of a gaming facility system. A large number of gaming machines 1 are installed in the gaming facility, and a gaming machine device 2 (corresponding to suppression start means, suppression end means, and setting means) and an information display device 3 are installed corresponding to each gaming machine 1. Each of the gaming machines 1, gaming machine devices 2, and information display devices 3 is connected to a relay device 4, two at a time. The relay device 4 is connected to a management device 6 (corresponding to management means and collating means) via a LAN 5. The management device 6 receives game signals transmitted from the gaming machines (gaming machines 1, gaming machine devices 2, etc.) and manages game data for each gaming machine, as well as personal data for each registered member.

[0009] Also installed within the gaming facility are POS terminals, island counters, adjustment machines (none of which are shown), and these POS terminals, island counters, adjustment machines, etc. are also connected to the management device 6 via LAN 5. Although not shown in FIG. 1, in reality, for example, several hundred gaming machines 1 are managed by the management device 6. The management device 6 is installed in, for example, an office within the gaming facility, and is connected to a keyboard 7, a monitor 8, a printer (not shown), etc., which are operated by the gaming facility manager. The management device 6 manages the operating status of the gaming machines 1, gaming device 2, etc. installed within the gaming facility.

[0010] Cards (corresponding to recording media) used by players at gaming parlors include a membership card 51 (corresponding to a membership recording medium) and a general card 52 (corresponding to a general recording medium) (see FIG. 3). The membership card 51 is valid until a preset expiration date (for example, three years) and is issued to a player who has registered as a member in advance. The balls (corresponding to gaming value) corresponding to the membership card 51 are stored for each loan price in a membership account of the management device 6. An IC chip 51a built into the membership card 51 records a member ID that can identify the card, and also records (associates) deposit balance information that can identify the deposit balance deposited in the gaming machine device 2. The balls corresponding to the membership card 51 are associated (associated) with the membership card 51 by reading, from the membership account, the balls information (corresponding to gaming value information) that can identify the balls stored for each loan price in the membership account of the management device 6.

[0011] The general card 52 is a card that is valid only for the day and is issued to an unspecified number of players. A general ID that can identify the card is recorded (associated) in the IC chip 52a built into the general card 52, and deposit balance information that can identify the deposit balance deposited in the gaming machine device 2 and ball holding information (equivalent to gaming value information) that can identify the balls held by the player through play on the day (equivalent to gaming value information) are recorded (associated) for each loan unit price.

[0012] The gaming machine 1 has an operating handle 10, an upper tray 11, and a lower tray 12 that constitute a launching device that launches balls onto the board 9, and the board 9 also has an LCD display unit 13, a regular prize opening 14, a first start opening 15, a second start opening 16, a big prize opening 17, etc.

[0013] The gaming machine 1 performs the following operations. (1) The first starting hole 15 is a winning hole (a so-called center hole winning hole) in which the winning rate does not fluctuate, and the second starting hole 16 is a winning hole (a so-called electric chute) in which the winning rate fluctuates. (2) A lottery for a jackpot is held in response to a winning entry (start winning entry) into the first starting port 15 or the second starting port 16, and the result of the lottery is announced by a pattern change on the LCD display unit 13, and a jackpot is awarded in response to the result of the change.

[0014] (3) If a start win occurs during a pattern change, the pattern changes are cumulatively reserved up to a predetermined reserved upper limit (for example, 4 each), and the reserved pattern changes will start after the pattern change ends. Note that if a start win occurs when the number of reserved pattern changes (reserved number) is at the upper limit, the pattern change will not be reserved.

[0015] (4) The probability of winning the jackpot lottery (jackpot probability) is 1 / 200, and the probability rate, which is the percentage of jackpots that subsequently enter a probability state (probability change) and result in a jackpot (probability change jackpot), is 50% for center hole wins and 70% for the electric chute. When a jackpot occurs, the large prize slot 17 opens for the allocated number of rounds (R). Here, for center hole wins, all Rs are allocated to 4R, while for the electric chute, 50% are allocated to 10R and 50% to 4R. The maximum number of prizes per R is 10, and the maximum opening time is 30 seconds. When either the maximum number of prizes or the maximum opening time is reached, one R ends.

[0016] (5) During the probability variation, the probability of winning increases to 1 / 50, and the time-saving state (time-saving) in which the winning rate to the first starting slot 15 and the second starting slot 16 increases becomes a compound time-saving state (time-saving), which continues until a jackpot occurs. On the other hand, if a normal jackpot that does not become a probability variation occurs, the time-saving state (single time-saving) that does not become a probability variation continues until 100 pattern variations are performed, and if a jackpot does not occur, it returns to the normal state.

[0017] (6) The second starting port 16 opens to a high winning rate when the normal symbol (normal symbol) that changes depending on the winning of the normal symbol winning port 14 becomes a winning symbol. In this case, the normal symbol changes over 30 seconds in the normal state and 3 seconds in the time-saving state. Also, the opening time is 0.3 seconds in the normal state and 5 seconds in the time-saving state. In other words, in the time-saving state, the normal symbol change time is shorter than in the normal state, while the opening time is longer, resulting in a higher winning rate for the second starting port 16.

[0018] In addition to these gaming machines, gaming machines other than those exemplified above, such as so-called ST machines that use a so-called limited-number probability change, gaming machines that can generate so-called ceiling time reductions, or gaming machines that have multiple jackpot probabilities that can be changed by settings, may also be subject to management.

[0019] The gaming machine 1 and the peripheral devices attached to the gaming machine 1 output the following gaming signals as the game progresses, such as when the player shoots a ball or when a ball enters the first starting hole 15 or the second starting hole 16. Out signal = A signal (operation signal) that can identify the consumption value (out) output from the out box that collects consumed balls. Since one pulse is output for every 10 balls consumed (used, inserted, collected), the "number of out signals x 10" is identified as out. Note that it may also be a signal output from the gaming machine 1.

[0020] Safe signal = a signal that can identify the winning value (safe) output from the gaming machine 1. Since one pulse is output for every 10 balls paid out in response to a win, "number of safe signals x 10" is identified as safe. The supply signal output from the supply device can also be used as the safe signal. There are two types of safe signals: an actual safe signal that is output when balls are actually paid out, and a winning safe signal that is output when a payout is reserved in response to a win; it is preferable to use the latter in order to minimize the time lag between winning and output.

[0021] Start signal = A signal that can specify the start processing (pattern change, device operation, unit game) and start (number of start processing) in the LCD display unit 13 (device) that changes (operates) in response to the start winning (S winning) output from the gaming machine 1. Since it is output when the pattern change is confirmed, the start processing is specified according to the signal input. Note that it may be substituted with the S winning signal output at the time of the start winning.

[0022] The jackpot signal is a signal capable of identifying the jackpot period output from the gaming machine 1. Since it is a status signal whose level is output during a jackpot, the time when the jackpot signal is being input is identified as the time when a jackpot is occurring. The special state signal is a signal that can identify a special state (sweet state) output from the gaming machine 1. Since it is a state signal that is output at a high level during a special state (during time reduction (including combined time reduction)) in which the winning rate of the second starting port 16 increases, the special state is identified as being in progress when the special state signal is being input. Note that it may also be a state signal (probability variable signal) that is output at a high level during a probability variable in which the probability of a jackpot increases. Furthermore, the period in which neither a jackpot signal nor a special state signal is input is identified as being in a normal state.

[0023] The gaming machine device 2 has a status indicator light 18 that shows the game status of the gaming machine 1 and the status of the gaming device 2, a bill insertion slot 19 through which bills are inserted, a camera unit 20 that has a built-in camera that photographs the upper body including the face of the player (only the protective cover is shown in Figure 1), a touch panel type LCD display unit 21 that accepts operation inputs from the player and displays game data such as the number of pattern changes (start) and jackpot probability as the game progresses, a payout button 22 that is operated to pay out balls, a payout nozzle 23 through which the paid out balls pass, a card insertion slot 24 through which a membership card 51 or a general card 52 is inserted, and a removable counting tray 25 located below the lower tray 12 of the gaming machine 1.

[0024] The gaming machine device 2 performs the following operations. (1) When currency is accepted (currency acceptance process), the amount of the deposit is displayed on both the gaming machine 1 and the gaming device 2, and one unit of loaned balls (value of the loaned balls) (e.g., 500 yen) is paid out from the gaming machine 1 (value grant process, grant process), and the amount of the deposit is displayed as the remaining balance excluding the value of the loaned balls according to the value grant process. Currency can be accepted in an amount corresponding to multiple value grant processes (e.g., up to 10,000 yen).

[0025] (2) When the loan button on the gaming machine 1 is pressed (loan operation, grant operation) while there is a balance, one unit of loan balls is paid out from the gaming machine 1, and the payment amount is deducted from the deposit balance. It also has a so-called counting function for each machine, which counts the balls acquired by the player and can also pay back balls using the counted balls as payment, and the number of balls excluding the payment amount can be determined as the balls held.

[0026] (3) When the return button on the gaming machine 1 is pressed (the issuance operation is accepted) while there is a remaining balance of the deposit or balls in hand, a general card 52 is issued that can identify the remaining balance of the deposit or balls in hand. For the sake of simplicity, partial issuance of a card for a portion of the remaining balance of the deposit or balls in hand is not permitted, but it may be possible.

[0027] (4) Serial communication with the relay device 4 (receiving sales signals) makes it possible to identify the currency acceptance process, the payment process, the remaining deposit balance, the number of balls lent, the deposit amount, the number of balls lent, the sales amount in exchange for the lent balls, the counted balls, the balls in hand, the payout balls, and the acceptance and issuance process of the general card 52. However, these can also be identified by pulse signals (for example, one pulse for every 1,000 yen deposited, one pulse for every 100 yen in sales, etc.).

[0028] Next, we will explain the self-exchange system. The self-exchange system was introduced to reduce the burden on employees, and allows players to settle their deposit balances and exchange prizes themselves without the need for an employee.

[0029] A prize exchange counter 26, as shown in Fig. 2, is installed in one corner of the gaming facility. The prize exchange counter 26 accepts a membership card 51 or a general card 52 and performs a settlement process of paying out currency based on deposit balance information, an exchange process of exchanging prizes based on saved ball information and held ball information, and a prize payout process of paying out prizes that have been exchanged in the exchange process to players. The counter 26 is equipped with a settlement machine 27 (corresponding to a recording medium receiving means, a PIN information receiving means, an issuance suppression means, a first permission means, a second permission means, a third permission means, a fourth permission means, and a notification means), a POS terminal 28 (corresponding to a prize exchange device), a prize payout device 29, and a leftover ball prize corner 30. In this embodiment, the POS terminal 28 and the prize payout device 29 are housed in a single housing 31 and are configured as an integrated unit, and the leftover ball prize corner 30 is disposed on the housing 31. The POS terminal 28, the settlement machine 27, and the prize payout device 29 are connected to the management device 6 via the LAN 5. The settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28 are directly connected, and the POS terminal 28 and the prize payout device 29 are directly connected.

[0030] The settlement machine 27 has a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 32, a card insertion slot 33, a bill return slot 34, a coin return slot 35, etc. As shown in Fig. 3, the settlement machine 27 is electrically configured to include a control unit 36 ​​formed by a microcomputer having a CPU 36a, a ROM 36b, a RAM 36c, and an I / O 36d, a liquid crystal display unit 32 connected to the control unit 36, a touch panel 37 arranged on the liquid crystal display unit 32, a banknote dispensing unit 38 that dispenses banknotes to the bill return slot 34, a coin dispensing unit 39 that dispenses coins to the coin return slot 35, an alarm lamp unit 40 that notifies the status or abnormality of the settlement machine 27, a card R / W 41 that reads various information from a membership card 51 or a general card 52 inserted into the card insertion slot 33, a stock unit 42 that collects the general card 52 located at the card R / W 41, an I / F unit 43 that transmits and receives various signals and information to and from the management device 6 and the POS terminal 28, etc. The bill return slot 34 is provided with a sensor that detects the removal of bills, and the card insertion slot 33 is provided with a sensor that detects the removal of various cards. In this case, the membership card 51 or general card 52 is inserted into the card insertion slot 33 and taken into the settlement machine 27, whereupon various information is read. The state of being taken into the settlement machine 27 means that the membership card 51 or general card 52 has been removed from the player's hand.

[0031] When the settlement machine 27 accepts the membership card 51 by inserting the membership card 51 into the card insertion slot 33, it requests the player to enter a PIN number, and, provided that the comparison result of the entered PIN number is correct, it reads the deposit balance information recorded on the inserted membership card 51, displays the deposit balance specified by the read deposit balance information on the liquid crystal display unit 32, and also obtains and stores the saved ball information corresponding to the inserted membership card 51 from the membership account of the management device 6.

[0032] The settlement machine 27 then ejects the accepted membership card 51 from the card insertion slot 33, and executes a settlement process to dispense currency corresponding to the deposited balance from the banknote return slot 34 or the coin return slot 35, on the condition that the membership card 51 has been removed from the card insertion slot 33. If the number of stored balls specified by the stored ball information stored in association with the inserted membership card 51 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the settlement machine 27 executes a transmission process to send the stored ball information to the POS terminal 28, on the condition that the dispensed banknotes have been removed from the banknote return slot 34. When handling the deposited balance recorded in association with the membership card 51, the settlement machine 27 processes it after comparing it with the deposited balance pre-stored in association with the membership card 51 by the management device 6.

[0033] When the settlement machine 27 accepts the general card 52 by inserting the general card 52 into the card insertion slot 33, it reads the deposit balance information and held ball information recorded in association with the inserted general card 52, and displays the deposit balance specified by the read deposit balance information on the liquid crystal display unit 32. The settlement machine 27 executes a settlement process to dispense currency corresponding to the deposit balance from the banknote return slot 34 and the coin return slot 35.

[0034] Thereafter, if the number of held balls specified by the read held ball information is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the settlement machine 27 executes a transmission process to transmit the stored ball information to the POS terminal 28, on the condition that the dispensed banknotes have been removed from the banknote return port 34. When the settlement machine 27 handles the deposit balance and held balls recorded in association with the general card 52, it checks them against the deposit balance and held balls pre-stored by the management device 6 in association with the general card 52 before processing.

[0035] In this embodiment, a sensor for detecting the removal of banknotes is provided in the banknote return slot 34, and the operation proceeds to the next operation on the condition that the removal of banknotes is detected. However, a sensor for detecting the removal of coins may be provided in the coin return slot 35, and the operation proceeds to the next operation on the condition that the removal of banknotes and coins is detected. Furthermore, if it is relatively difficult to detect the removal of coins compared to the removal of banknotes, the operation may proceed to the next operation on the condition that a predetermined period of time has passed since the coins were dispensed.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, the POS terminal 28 is composed of a main body 44 and a touch panel type liquid crystal display 47 that can communicate with the main body 44. The liquid crystal display 47 displays the information necessary for prize exchange and performs a predetermined exchange process in response to touch operations by the player.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, the POS terminal 28 is electrically configured to include a control unit 46, which is a microcomputer having a CPU 46a, a ROM 46b, a RAM 46c, and an I / O 46d; a liquid crystal display unit 45 connected to the control unit 46; a touch panel 47 disposed on the liquid crystal display unit 45; an IC reader 48 for reading information from a membership card 51; and an I / F unit 49 for transmitting and receiving various signals and information between the management device 6, the settlement machine 27, and the prize dispensing device 29. In this case, various information is read from the membership card 51 by touching the IC reader 48 without the card being captured by the POS terminal 28. The state where the card is not captured by the POS terminal 28 means that the membership card 51 or the general card 52 is not removed from the player's hand. Data communication between the membership card 51 and the IC reader 48 is performed using short-range wireless communication, such as FeliCa (registered trademark).

[0038] When the POS terminal 28 receives the stored ball information and held ball information from the settlement machine 27, it identifies the type and number of special prizes based on the number of stored balls and held balls specified by the stored ball information and held ball information, and sends a payout instruction that can identify the type and number of special prizes to the prize payout device 29, instructing the payout of the special prizes. The prize payout device 29 stores multiple types of special prizes in a prize stock section (not shown) of the housing 31, and when it receives a payout instruction from the POS terminal 28, it automatically pays out the type and number of special prizes corresponding to the received payout instruction, and executes a prize payout process to pay out the prize that was the subject of the exchange process to the player. The special prizes are resin cards with built-in IC chips, and come in three denominations: 5,000 yen, 1,000 yen, and 200 yen. Here, the prize payout device 29 is provided with a sensor that detects whether the paid-out prize has been taken out, and when it detects that the prize has been taken out, it is capable of outputting a signal indicating this to the POS terminal 28 or the settlement machine 27. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example has been given in which the settlement machine 27 sends the stored ball information and held ball information to the POS terminal 28, but a configuration may also be adopted in which the settlement machine 27 sends a POS terminal operation transition signal (described later) indicating that the POS terminal 28 will transition to an exchange operation, and the POS terminal 28 acquires the stored ball information and held ball information from the management device 6 by receiving this signal; it is not necessarily the case that the settlement machine 27 acquires the stored ball information and held ball information.

[0039] Furthermore, as will be described in detail later, when a player selects the leftover ball buffet as a method for handling leftover balls in the self-exchange general card operation process, the prize payout device 29 issues a leftover ball buffet receipt (hereinafter referred to as the receipt) 50 shown in Figure 6. The number of available points (the number of points corresponding to the leftover balls, 38 points as an example in Figure 6) is printed on the receipt 50. When the receipt 50 is issued, the player can acquire leftover ball prizes in a buffet style from the leftover ball prize corner 30 according to the number of points printed on the receipt 50.

[0040] Next, we will explain the operation process when a player settles their deposited balance or exchanges for prizes using the self-exchange method. As shown in Figures 7(a) and 15(a), when the settlement machine 27 displays the standby screen 101, 301 on the liquid crystal display unit 32, it can accept both the membership card 51 and the general card 52, displays the message 101a, 301a saying "Please insert your card" to prompt the player to insert the membership card 51 or the general card 52, and waits for the insertion of the membership card 51 or the general card 52.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 18(a), when the standby screen 201, 401 is displayed on the LCD display 47, the POS terminal 28 displays a message 201a, 401a saying "Please insert your card into the settlement machine" to prompt the insertion of the membership card 51 or general card 52 into the settlement machine 27, and waits for the insertion of the membership card 51 or general card 52 into the settlement machine 27. In other words, in this state, the settlement machine 27 can accept both the membership card 51 and the general card 52, and subsequent processing differs depending on the type of accepted card. From this state, when a player approaches the settlement machine 27 to perform settlement operations and inserts the membership card 51 into the settlement machine 27, the membership card operation processing is performed, and when the general card 52 is inserted into the settlement machine 27, the general card operation processing is performed. The membership card operation processing and the general card operation processing are described below in order.

[0042] (1) Membership card operation processing The membership card operation process will be described with reference to FIGS. When the settlement machine 27 detects the reception of the membership card 51 by inserting the membership card 51 into the card insertion slot 33, it displays a PIN entry screen 102 on the liquid crystal display 32 as shown in Figure 7(b), displays a message 102a saying "Please enter the PIN number used at the time of membership registration" to prompt the player to enter the PIN, and displays a numeric keypad 102b of "0" to "9" and a "clear" button 102c and a "cancel" button 102d. When the settlement machine 27 detects the entry of the PIN by the player pressing the numeric keypad 102b, it transmits the entered PIN to the management device 6, where the entered PIN is compared with the PIN number used at the time of membership registration. The comparison result is then received from the management device 6.

[0043] When the settlement machine 27 detects that the PIN matches the PIN used at the time of member registration, it reads the remaining balance recorded on the accepted membership card 51 and, as shown in FIG. 8(a), displays a card removal screen 103 on the liquid crystal display 32, showing the read remaining balance (1,100 yen in the example of FIG. 8(a)) 103a, the settlement amount (1,100 yen in the example of FIG. 8(a)) 103b, and a message 103c saying "Remove the card to receive the settlement amount," to prompt the player to remove the membership card 51, and then ejects the accepted membership card 51 from the card insertion slot 33. In other words, in this state, the player can remove the membership card 51 from the card insertion slot 33.

[0044] When the player removes the membership card 51 from the card insertion slot 33 and the settlement machine 27 detects that the membership card 51 has been removed, it begins settling the read balance and, as shown in Figure 8(b), displays a settlement in progress screen 104 on the LCD display unit 32, displays a message 104a saying "Please be careful not to forget to take your settlement money" to warn the player not to forget to take their settlement money, and displays a message 104b saying "Confirming" to inform the player that the settlement money is being confirmed.

[0045] When settling the remaining deposit amount, the settlement machine 27 displays a settlement completion screen 105 on the LCD display unit 32 as shown in Figure 9(a), and displays the remaining deposit amount, settlement amount, and payout amount (1,100 yen in the example of Figure 9(a)) 105a, a message 105a saying ``Please be careful not to forget to take the settlement amount'' to warn the user not to forget to take the settlement amount, and a message 105c saying ``Thank you'', and then dispenses banknotes equivalent to the remaining deposit amount from the banknote dispensing unit 38 to the banknote return port 34 and dispenses coins from the coin dispensing unit 39 to the coin return port 35.

[0046] When the settlement machine 27 detects that the banknotes dispensed from the banknote return slot 34 have been removed, if stored balls are recorded in the management device 6 in association with the membership card 51 currently being accepted, it transmits stored ball information indicating the stored balls to the POS terminal 28, and as shown in FIG. 9(b), it displays a POS operation screen 106 on the liquid crystal display unit 32 and displays a message 106a saying "Please continue with the exchange operation at the POS terminal" to prompt the player to perform the exchange operation at the POS terminal 28. The settlement machine 27 also transmits a POS terminal operation transition signal to the settlement machine 27, which indicates a transition to the exchange operation at the POS terminal 28. At this time, the player moves from in front of the settlement machine 27 to in front of the POS terminal 28 and performs the exchange operation at the POS terminal 28.

[0047] When the POS terminal 28 detects receipt of a POS terminal operation transition signal from the settlement machine 27 while displaying the standby screen 201, the POS terminal 28 displays a type selection screen 202 on the liquid crystal display unit 47 as shown in FIG. 11(b), on the condition that saved ball information has been received from the settlement machine 27, and displays a message 202a saying "Please select an account" to prompt the user to select an exchange type, and displays "Type selection" buttons 202b to 202e, a "Previous" button 202f, a "Next" button 202g, a "Call attendant" button 202h, and a "Cancel exchange" button 202i. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying, "Please perform the operation at this self-service POS terminal." The "Previous" button 202f and the "Next" button 202g are buttons operated to switch to another exchange type when there are five or more exchange types that cannot all be displayed on the screen.

[0048] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed one of the "Select type" buttons 202b-202e, it displays a prize selection screen 203 on the liquid crystal display 47 as shown in Figure 12(a), displays a message 203a saying "Please specify the number of prizes and press the 'OK' button" to prompt the player to select the number of prizes, and displays a breakdown of the selected type (total number, number to be exchanged, account balance) 203b, "-" buttons 203c-203e and "+" buttons 203f-203h for specifying the number of prizes for each prize, a "Set maximum number" button 203i, a "OK" button 203j, a "Call staff" button 203k, and a "Cancel exchange" button 203l. If the "Set maximum number" button 203i is pressed at this time, a special prize with the maximum value that can be exchanged using all the target saved balls is selected. FIG. 12(a) illustrates an example in which the "Select type" button 202b is pressed on the type selection screen 202 in FIG. 11(b).

[0049] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "Set Maximum Number" button 203i and the "Confirm" button 203j, it displays an exchange confirmation screen 204 on the liquid crystal display 47, as shown in Figure 12(b), displays a message 204a saying "Please touch your membership card" to prompt the player to touch the membership card 51, and displays a usage statement 204b, a "Call staff" button 204c, and a "Cancel exchange" button 204d. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying "Please touch your membership card to the IC reader."

[0050] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has touched the membership card 51 to the IC reader 48, it transmits a payout instruction to the prize payout device 29 that can specify the type and number of special prizes based on the saved ball information, causes the prize payout device 29 to pay out the specified type and number of special prizes, and displays an exchange processing in progress screen 205 on the LCD display 47 and a message 205a saying "exchange processing in progress" as shown in FIG. 13(a) to notify that the exchange processing is in progress. In addition, the POS terminal 28 transmits an exchange processing start signal to the adjustment machine 27, indicating the start of the exchange processing. Note that the remaining balls that have not been exchanged for special prizes in the exchange processing are stored in the management device 6 as saved balls.

[0051] When the settlement machine 27 detects receipt of an exchange process start signal from the POS terminal 28, it displays an exchange process in progress screen 107 as shown in Fig. 10(a) and displays a message 107a saying "exchange process in progress" to notify that the exchange process is being performed by the POS terminal 28. After this, when the settlement machine 27 detects that the prize paid out from the prize payout device 29 has been removed, it returns to the standby screen 101 described above.

[0052] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the prize dispensed from the prize dispensing device 29 has been removed, it displays an exchange completion screen 206 on the liquid crystal display 47 as shown in Fig. 13(b), and displays a message 206a saying "Thank you for using our service" and a breakdown of the exchange process (pre-transaction, deposit, withdrawal, balance) 206b, and returns to the above-mentioned standby screen 201 after a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed since the start of displaying the exchange completion screen 206. The POS terminal 28 may also display the result of the exchange process itself, such as the settlement amount and the exchanged prize.

[0053] 14 shows the screen transitions of the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28 in the operation processing of the membership card 51 described above. In this way, the player can settle the deposit balance associated with the membership card 51 at the settlement machine 27 and exchange saved balls for special prizes at the POS terminal 28. Note that if the player presses the "Cancel Exchange" button on any screen, such as the "Cancel Exchange" button 202i on the type selection screen 202, subsequent processing will not be performed.

[0054] (2) General card operation processing The general card operation process will be described with reference to FIGS. When the settlement machine 27 detects the acceptance of the general card 52 by inserting the general card 52 into the card insertion slot 33, it reads the balance recorded on the accepted general card 52 and, as shown in FIG. 15(b), displays a settlement in progress screen 302 on the LCD display unit 32, displaying the read balance (1,100 yen in the example of FIG. 15(b)) 302a and the settlement amount (1,100 yen in the example of FIG. 15(b)) 302b, a message 302c saying "Please be careful not to forget to take the settlement amount" to warn the user not to forget to take the settlement amount, and a message 302d saying "Confirming" to inform the user that the settlement amount is being confirmed. In the membership card operation process described above, the accepted membership card 51 was immediately ejected from the card insertion slot 33 immediately after the balance and settlement amount were displayed. However, in the general card operation process, the accepted general card 52 is not ejected from the card insertion slot 33 at this stage but remains inserted. That is, at this stage, the player cannot remove the general card 52 from the card insertion slot 33.

[0055] When settling the remaining deposit amount, the settlement machine 27 displays a settlement completion screen 303 on the LCD display unit 32 as shown in Figure 16(a), and displays the remaining deposit amount, the settlement amount, the payout amount (1,100 yen in the example of Figure 16(a)), a message 303b saying ``Please be careful not to forget to take the settlement amount'' to warn the user not to forget to take the settlement amount, a message 303c saying ``Thank you,'' and dispenses banknotes equivalent to the remaining deposit amount from the banknote dispensing unit 38 to the banknote return port 34, and dispenses coins from the coin dispensing unit 39 to the coin return port 35.

[0056] When the settlement machine 27 detects that the banknotes dispensed from the banknote return slot 34 have been removed, if held balls are recorded on the general card 52 currently being accepted, it transmits held ball information indicating the held balls to the POS terminal 28, and as shown in FIG. 16(b), displays a POS operation screen 304 on the liquid crystal display unit 32, and displays a message 304a saying "Please continue with the exchange operation at the POS terminal" to prompt the player to perform the exchange operation at the POS terminal 28. The settlement machine 27 also transmits a POS terminal operation transition signal to the settlement machine 27, which indicates a transition to the exchange operation at the POS terminal 28. At this time, the player moves from in front of the settlement machine 27 to in front of the POS terminal 28 and performs the exchange operation at the POS terminal 28.

[0057] When the POS terminal 28 detects receipt of a POS terminal operation transition signal from the settlement machine 27 while displaying the standby screen 401, the POS terminal 28 displays a type selection screen 402 on the LCD display 47, as shown in FIG. 18(b), on the condition that it has received ball information from the settlement machine 27. The type selection screen 402 prompts the user to select an exchange type by displaying a message 402a saying "Please select a type." The POS terminal 28 also displays "Type selection" buttons 402b-402e, "Previous" button 402f, "Next" button 402g, "Call attendant" button 402h, and "Cancel exchange" button 402i. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying, "Please perform the operation at this self-service POS terminal." Unlike the membership card operation process, if only one type of card is associated with the general card 52, the type selection screen 402 is not displayed and the process proceeds from the standby screen 401 to a prize exchange screen 403, which will be described later.

[0058] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed one of the "Select Exchange Type" buttons 402b-402e, it displays the prize exchange screen 403 on the LCD display 47 as shown in FIG. 19(a). It also displays a message 403a stating, "Please confirm the details and press the 'Confirm' button at the bottom right," prompting the player to confirm the number of prizes. It also displays a breakdown of the selected type (total number, exchange number, remaining) 403b, the number of prizes for each type 403c, a "Confirm" button 403d, a "Call Staff" button 403e, and a "Cancel Exchange" button 403f. In this case, all prizes exchangeable for the type selected using the "Select Exchange Type" buttons 402b-402e are selected. FIG. 19(a) illustrates the case where the "Select Type" button 402b is pressed on the type selection screen 402 of FIG. 18(b).

[0059] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "Confirm" button 403d, it displays a surplus ball selection processing screen 404 on the liquid crystal display 47 as shown in Figure 19(b), and displays a message 404a saying "Please select how to handle the surplus balls" to prompt the player to select how to handle the surplus balls (which have the same meaning as surplus balls and are equivalent to remaining game value), and displays a "surplus ball buffet" button 404b, a "save balls in member card" button 404c, a "return to regular card" button 404d, a "call attendant" button 404e, a "cancel exchange" button 404f, and a "back" button 404g. In other words, the player can select how to handle the surplus balls: surplus ball buffet, saving balls in the member card, or returning them to the regular card. In this embodiment, the method for handling the remaining balls can be selected, but the method for handling the remaining balls can also be determined in advance without being selectable, in which case the remaining ball selection processing screen 404 is not displayed but is omitted, and the player proceeds from the prize exchange screen 403 to the screen corresponding to the one predetermined method.

[0060] First, we will explain what happens when a player presses the "Side Ball Viking" button 404b. When the POS terminal 28 detects that a player has pressed the "Side Ball Viking" button 404b, it displays the Side Ball Viking confirmation screen 405 on the liquid crystal display 47 as shown in Figure 20(a), displays a message 405a saying "Please check the contents and press the 'Confirm' button at the bottom right" to prompt confirmation of the contents, and displays a breakdown of the Viking prizes 405b, a "Call Staff" button 405c, a "Cancel Exchange" button 405d, and a "Confirm" button 405e.

[0061] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "Confirm" button 405e, if the general card 52 currently being accepted has other types of balls recorded on it, it pops up a POP confirmation screen 406 on the leftover ball buffet confirmation screen 405, as shown in FIG. 20(b), displays a message 406a stating "Multiple balls remaining" to prompt the player to confirm the other types of balls, and displays a "Confirm" button 406b. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also sends a receipt issuance instruction to the prize payout device 29. Upon receiving the receipt issuance instruction from the POS terminal 28, the prize payout device 29 issues the receipt 50 described above. If the general card 52 currently being accepted does not have other types of balls recorded on it, the POP confirmation screen 406 is not displayed and is omitted. While this embodiment illustrates the issuance of the receipt 50 from the prize payout device 29, the receipt 50 may, of course, be issued from the POS terminal 28 or the settlement machine 27.

[0062] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "Confirm" button 406b, it displays an exchange confirmation screen 407 on the liquid crystal display 47 as shown in Fig. 21(a), displays a message 407a saying "If you are happy with the contents, please press the 'Confirm' button at the bottom right," prompting the player to confirm the contents, and displays a usage statement 407b, a "Call staff" button 407c, a "Cancel exchange" button 407d, and a "Confirm" button 407e. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying "If you are happy with the contents, please press the Confirm button."

[0063] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "Confirm" button 407e, it displays a card return screen 408 on the liquid crystal display unit 47 as shown in FIG. 21(b), and displays a message 408a saying "Please collect your card at the adjustment machine" to urge the player to collect the card. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying "The adjustment machine will return your card. Please take your card from the adjustment machine." In addition, the POS terminal 28 transmits to the adjustment machine 27 a payment machine operation transition signal which indicates a transition to the card removal operation at the adjustment machine 27.

[0064] Furthermore, if the general card 52 currently being accepted does not have any other types of balls recorded on it, the POS terminal 28 will have settled both the remaining deposit balance and the balls in hand, and there will be no need to return the general card 52 currently being accepted, so the card return screen 408 will not be displayed, and the settlement machine 27 will initialize both the remaining deposit balance and the balls in hand recorded on the general card 52 currently being accepted to "0" before collecting them in the stock section 42.

[0065] 17(a), when the settlement machine 27 detects receipt of the settlement machine operation transition signal from the POS terminal 28, it displays a card return screen 305 on the liquid crystal display unit 32, displays a message 305a saying "Remove the card to start the exchange process" to notify the start of the exchange process, displays a message 305b saying "Your card will be returned" to notify the return of the card, and ejects the accepted general card 52 from the card insertion slot 33. That is, in this state, the player can remove the general card 52 from the card insertion slot 33.

[0066] When the player removes the general card 52 from the card insertion slot 33 and the settlement machine 27 detects that the general card 52 has been removed, it transmits a removal completion signal indicating that the general card 52 has been removed to the POS terminal 28.

[0067] When the POS terminal 28 detects receipt of the extraction completion signal from the settlement machine 27, it transmits to the prize payout device 29 a payout instruction capable of specifying the type and number of special prizes based on the held ball information, causes the prize payout device 29 to pay out the specified type and number of special prizes, and displays an exchange processing in progress screen 409 on the liquid crystal display unit 47 as shown in Figure 22(a), and displays a message 409a saying "exchange processing in progress" to notify that the exchange processing is in progress in conjunction with the prize payout processing. In addition, the POS terminal 28 transmits to the settlement machine 27 a prize payout processing start signal indicating the start of the prize payout processing.

[0068] When the settlement machine 27 detects receipt of a prize payout process start signal from the POS terminal 28, as shown in Fig. 17(b), it displays an exchange processing screen 306 on the liquid crystal display unit 32, and displays a message 306a saying "exchange processing in progress" to notify that the exchange processing is being performed by the POS terminal 28. After this, when the settlement machine 27 detects that the prize paid out from the prize payout device 29 has been removed, it returns to the standby screen 301 described above.

[0069] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the prize dispensed from the prize dispensing device 29 has been removed, as shown in FIG. 22(b), it displays an exchange completion screen 410 on the liquid crystal display unit 47, displays a message 410a saying "Thank you for your patronage," and returns to the standby screen 401 described above after a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds) has elapsed since the start of displaying the exchange completion screen 410. In this case, the POS terminal 28 may also display the results of the exchange process itself, such as the settlement amount and the exchanged prize. Note that, similarly to the case where the general card 52 is collected, the prize is dispensed upon detection of pressing the "Confirm" button 405e. Alternatively, the POS terminal 28 may detect the removal of the receipt 50 and dispense the prize upon that detection.

[0070] Next, we will explain what happens when a player presses the "Save balls in member card" button 404c. When the POS terminal 28 detects that a player has pressed the "Save balls in member card" button 404c, if the general card 52 currently being accepted has other types of held balls recorded on it, it pops up a POP confirmation screen 411 on the remaining ball selection processing screen 404, as shown in Figure 23(a), displays a message 411a saying "Multiple held balls remain," prompts the player to confirm the other types of held balls, and displays a "Confirm" button 411b. Note that if the general card 52 currently being accepted does not have other types of held balls recorded on it, the POP confirmation screen 411 is not displayed and is omitted.

[0071] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "Confirm" button 411b, it displays an exchange confirmation screen 412 on the LCD display 47 as shown in FIG. 23(b), displays a message 412a saying "Please touch your membership card" to prompt the player to touch the membership card 51, and displays a usage statement 412b, a "Call attendant" button 412c, and a "Cancel exchange" button 412d. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying "Please touch your membership card to the IC reader." FIG. 23(b) illustrates the case where the "Select type" button 402c is pressed on the type selection screen 402 of FIG. 18(b).

[0072] When the POS terminal 28 detects that a player has touched the membership card 51 to the IC reader 48, it transmits information capable of identifying the touched membership card 51 and the remaining balls to the management device 6, and the management device 6 stores the remaining balls as saved balls in the membership account of the membership card 51 (associating game value information equivalent to the remaining game value with the member recording medium). When the POS terminal 28 confirms that the remaining balls have been stored as saved balls in the management device 6, it displays a card return screen 413 on the LCD display 47 as shown in FIG. 24(a), and displays a message 413a saying "Please collect your card at the adjustment machine" to prompt the player to collect the card. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying "Your card will be returned from the adjustment machine. Please take your card from the adjustment machine." The POS terminal 28 also transmits a payment machine operation transition signal to the adjustment machine 27, indicating a transition to a card removal operation at the adjustment machine 27.

[0073] When the adjustment machine 27 detects receipt of an adjustment machine operation transition signal from the POS terminal 28, as described above, it displays the card return screen 305 on the LCD display unit 32 as shown in FIG. 17(a) and ejects the accepted general card 52 from the card insertion slot 33. When the adjustment machine 27 detects that the player has removed the general card 52 from the card insertion slot 33 and the general card 52 has been removed, it transmits a removal completion signal to the POS terminal 28 indicating that the removal of the general card 52 has been completed. Note that, although the present embodiment illustrates a case in which remaining balls of the selected type are stored and held balls of other types are returned to the general card 52, held balls of other types may also be stored in the membership card 51 and the general card 52 may be collected in the same manner as described above. Furthermore, if there are no held balls of other types, the general card 52 is collected as described above.

[0074] When the POS terminal 28 detects receipt of the extraction completion signal from the settlement machine 27, it transmits to the prize payout device 29 a payout instruction capable of specifying the type and number of special prizes based on the held ball information, causes the prize payout device 29 to pay out the specified type and number of special prizes, and displays an exchange processing in progress screen 414 on the liquid crystal display 47 as shown in Figure 24(b), and displays a message 414a saying "exchange processing in progress" to notify that the exchange processing is in progress in conjunction with the prize payout processing. In addition, the POS terminal 28 transmits a prize payout processing start signal to the settlement machine 27.

[0075] When the settlement machine 27 detects receipt of a prize payout process start signal from the POS terminal 28, as shown in Fig. 17(b), it displays an exchange processing screen 306 on the liquid crystal display unit 32, and displays a message 306a saying "exchange processing in progress" to notify that the exchange processing is being performed by the POS terminal 28. After this, when the settlement machine 27 detects that the prize paid out from the prize payout device 29 has been removed, it returns to the standby screen 301 described above.

[0076] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the prize dispensed from the prize dispensing device 29 has been removed, as shown in FIG. 25(a), it displays an exchange completion screen 415 on the liquid crystal display unit 47, displays a message 415a saying "Thank you for your patronage," displays a breakdown of the exchange process (pre-transaction, deposit, withdrawal, balance) 415b, and returns to the above-mentioned standby screen 401 after a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds) has elapsed since the start of displaying the exchange completion screen 415. In this case, the POS terminal 28 may also display the results of the exchange process itself, such as the settlement amount and the exchanged prize. Note that, like when the general card 52 is collected, a prize is dispensed in response to detection of the membership card 51.

[0077] Next, we will explain what happens when a player presses the "return to normal card" button 404d. When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "return to normal card" button 404d, if the general card 52 currently being accepted has other types of held balls recorded on it, it pops up a POP confirmation screen 416 on the remaining ball selection processing screen 404, as shown in Figure 26(a), displays a message 416a saying "Multiple held balls remain," prompts the player to confirm the other types of held balls, and displays a "Confirm" button 416b. Note that if the general card 52 currently being accepted does not have other types of held balls recorded on it, the POP confirmation screen 416 is not displayed and is omitted.

[0078] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "Confirm" button 416b, it displays an exchange confirmation screen 417 on the liquid crystal display 47 as shown in FIG. 26(b), and displays a message 417a saying "If you are happy with the contents, please press the 'Confirm' button at the bottom right" to prompt the player to confirm the contents, and also displays a usage statement 417b, a "Call Attendant" button 417c, a "Cancel Exchange" button 417d, and a "Confirm" button 417e. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying "If you are happy with the contents, please press the Confirm button." FIG. 26(b) illustrates an example in which the "Select Type" button 402d is pressed on the type selection screen 402 of FIG. 18(b).

[0079] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the player has pressed the "Confirm" button 417e, it transmits information capable of identifying the remaining balls to the settlement machine 27, and causes the settlement machine 27 to record the remaining balls as held balls on the general card 52 currently being accepted, while displaying a card return screen 418 on the liquid crystal display unit 47 as shown in FIG. 27(a), and displaying a message 418a saying "Please collect your card at the settlement machine" to urge the player to collect the card. At this time, the POS terminal 28 also outputs a voice message saying "The card will be returned from the settlement machine. Please take your card from the settlement machine." In addition, the POS terminal 28 transmits to the settlement machine 27 a settlement machine operation transition signal indicating a transition to a card removal operation at the settlement machine 27.

[0080] When the adjustment machine 27 detects receipt of the adjustment machine operation transition signal from the POS terminal 28, as described above, it displays the card return screen 305 on the liquid crystal display unit 32 as shown in Figure 17(a) and ejects the accepted general card 52 from the card insertion slot 33. When the adjustment machine 27 detects that the player has removed the general card 52 from the card insertion slot 33 and the general card 52 has been removed, it transmits a removal completion signal indicating that the removal of the general card 52 has been completed to the POS terminal 28.

[0081] When the POS terminal 28 detects receipt of the extraction completion signal from the settlement machine 27, it transmits to the prize payout device 29 a payout instruction capable of specifying the type and number of special prizes based on the held ball information, causes the prize payout device 29 to pay out the specified type and number of special prizes, and displays an exchange processing in progress screen 419 on the liquid crystal display 47 as shown in Figure 27(b), and displays a message 419a saying "exchange processing in progress" to notify that the exchange processing is in progress in conjunction with the prize payout processing. In addition, the POS terminal 28 transmits a prize payout processing start signal to the settlement machine 27.

[0082] When the settlement machine 27 detects receipt of a prize payout process start signal from the POS terminal 28, as shown in Fig. 17(b), it displays an exchange processing screen 306 on the liquid crystal display unit 32, and displays a message 306a saying "exchange processing in progress" to notify that the exchange processing is being performed by the POS terminal 28. After this, when the settlement machine 27 detects that the prize paid out from the prize payout device 29 has been removed, it returns to the standby screen 301 described above.

[0083] When the POS terminal 28 detects that the prize dispensed from the prize dispensing device 29 has been removed, as shown in Fig. 28(a), it displays an exchange completion screen 420 on the liquid crystal display unit 47, displays a message 420a saying "Thank you for using our service," displays a breakdown of the exchange process (number of balls held again, prepaid amount, balls held in other accounts) 420b, and returns to the above-mentioned standby screen 401 after a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed since the start of displaying the exchange completion screen 420. In this case, the POS terminal 28 may also display the result of the exchange process itself, such as the settlement amount and the exchanged prize.

[0084] 29 and 30 show the screen transitions of the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28 in the operation processing of the general card 52 described above. In this way, the player can settle the deposit balance associated with the general card 52 at the settlement machine 27 or exchange the balls he or she has for special prizes at the POS terminal 28. In this case too, if the player presses the "Cancel Exchange" button on any screen, such as the "Cancel Exchange" button 402i on the type selection screen 402, the subsequent processing will not be performed.

[0085] In the settlement machine 27, if the accepted membership card 51 or general card 52 does not have a recorded deposit balance, a message such as "No deposit balance" may be displayed. Furthermore, if a certain period of time has passed since the accepted membership card 51 or general card 52 was ejected from the card insertion slot 33 and the card was not removed, an error notification may be issued to make the player aware that the card has been left behind. Also, if a certain period of time has passed since the accepted membership card 51 or general card 52 was ejected from the card insertion slot 33 and the coin was not removed after the banknotes equivalent to the deposited balance have been dispensed from the banknote dispensing unit 38 to the banknote return slot 34, or since the coins have been dispensed from the coin dispensing unit 39 to the coin return slot 35, an error notification may be issued to make the player aware that the coins have been left behind.

[0086] In this embodiment, the member card 51 is ejected from the settlement machine 27 before the deposit balance is paid out, while the general card 52 is ejected from the settlement machine 27 before the prize is paid out. This is because the member card 51 records the deposit balance but not the saved balls, while the general card 52 records both the deposit balance and the balls in hand, and so the general card 52 must be imported to update the information. In this case, the deposit balance, saved balls, and balls in hand are all managed by the management device 6, and the saved balls are processed based on information from the management device 6, while the deposit balance and balls in hand are processed after comparing the information recorded on the card with the information from the management device 6. The saved balls may be recorded directly on the member card 51, or the deposit balance and balls in hand may be managed and associated by the management device 6 without being recorded on the member card 51 or the general card 52. That is, the operational processing of the membership card 51 described in Figures 7 to 14 may be applied to the general card 52, and the operational processing of the general card 52 described in Figures 15 to 30 may be applied to the membership card 51.

[0087] Next, the PIN and the safety lock function will be explained. The gaming machine device 2 is provided with a safety lock (issuance lock) function in case the player leaves his / her seat for business. When the safety lock state is entered, the issuance process of issuing the accepted member card 51 or general card 52 is inhibited (corresponding to an issuance inhibiting process) by adding the condition that the player inputs valid PIN, but replay processes are still permitted. The safety lock state is released when the player re-enters the PIN.

[0088] There are two types of PIN information, either of which can be selected. One is the device ID (e.g., IDM) of the mobile device, such as a smartphone, using near-field communication such as FeliCa. The security lock state is entered by presenting the mobile device each time the security lock is initiated. The IDM is a unique, non-rewritable ID number recorded on the IC chip of the FeliCa card when it is manufactured. The other is a PIN. The security lock PIN can be registered as a different PIN from the PIN used for member registration, but it can also be registered as the same PIN. In this case, the PIN can be entered each time the security lock is initiated, but once it has been registered at least once, the security lock can be initiated without entering a PIN, so it is not necessarily required to enter it every time. If the security lock PIN is the same as the PIN used for member registration, this fact is notified when the security lock is initiated or during the issuance process in the security lock state.

[0089] In the aforementioned membership card operation process, when the membership card 51 is accepted by the settlement machine 27, a PIN must be entered as described in FIG. 7(b). Similarly, when accepting the membership card 51 at a conventional POS terminal, a PIN must also be entered. In this case, for a security-locked membership card 51, the player first enters the PIN (corresponding to the first PIN) corresponding to the security lock. When the player enters the PIN, the entered PIN is compared with the PIN (corresponding to the second PIN) entered at the time of membership registration. If the two PINs match, the player can use the membership card 51 to settle the remaining balance or exchange for a prize. In other words, if the first PIN and the second PIN match, settlement processing and prize exchange processing are permitted, provided that a single PIN is accepted, without accepting PINs for the first and second PINs. On the other hand, if the two PINs do not match, the player can enter the PIN entered at the time of membership registration to settle the remaining balance or exchange for a prize using the membership card 51. In other words, if the first PIN and the second PIN do not match, the settlement process and prize exchange process are permitted on the condition that both the first PIN and the second PIN are accepted. Since only a PIN is registered when registering as a member, if the safety lock is performed on a mobile device, the card can be used by presenting the mobile device and then entering the PIN used when registering as a member.

[0090] Although not directly related to the safety lock, when the settlement machine 27 is operated alone, processing is performed without the need to input a PIN, whereas in this embodiment, since the settlement machine 27 is connected to the POS terminal 28, input of a PIN is required at the settlement machine 27. This is because the PIN must be verified when using stored balls; that is, the PIN input at the settlement machine 27 is sent to the POS terminal 28, and the PIN is processed in the same way as when the POS terminal 28 is operated alone. Note that if the connection with the management device 6 goes offline, authentication of the PIN is impossible, and processing itself is therefore disabled and suppressed.

[0091] When accepting a PIN, the PIN corresponding to the safety lock is accepted first, followed by the PIN used during member registration (the first PIN and second PIN are accepted in a pre-specified acceptance order). This increases security by preventing authentication even if the PIN used during member registration is accepted first if it differs from the PIN corresponding to the safety lock. However, the same level of security can be maintained even if the input order is reversed. On the other hand, for convenience's sake, a configuration is possible in which PINs are accepted without specifying which PIN they are, and if the PIN corresponds to one of the PINs, the other PIN is accepted (the acceptance order of the first PIN and second PIN is accepted without pre-specifying, and if the accepted PIN corresponds to one of the PINs, the other PIN is allowed to be accepted). Note that it is not necessary to notify that the acceptance order has been specified.

[0092] In the case of self-operation using the POS terminal 28, when the member card 51 is accepted, the deposit balance is settled on the condition that the PIN is entered regardless of whether or not the exchange process is carried out (the settlement process is permitted on the condition that the PIN is entered), as an example has been given.However, if the deposit balance is settled without the exchange process, for example, by entering on the PIN input screen 102 that the exchange process is not desired, or if there are no saved balls and only a balance, the deposit balance may be settled without entering the PIN as in the past (the settlement process is permitted without the condition that the PIN is entered).

[0093] Next, the break function will be explained. In addition to the safety lock function, the gaming machine device 2 is also provided with a break function (same meaning as the away function) in case the player leaves his / her seat for business. The break function is a function that, when a break operation (same meaning as the away operation) is performed to eject a card (corresponding to the ejection process), does not allow the acceptance of a new card, deposit, or granting process until the card is accepted (executes a break suppression process that suppresses gaming-related processes during the player's break), and displays a message to that effect. The process of ejecting a card is executed by either a player operation by a player or an employee operation by an employee (corresponding to the employee ejection process), and a break executed by a player operation is a self-break (corresponding to the second start setting), and a break executed by an employee operation is a semi-self-break (corresponding to the first start setting).

[0094] If the card accepted by the gaming machine device 2 is a membership card 51, the self-break start operation shown in Figures 31 and 32 allows the user to use the break function without the intervention of an employee, even if the user has no credit balance or balls saved. However, a preset upper limit (e.g., one break for a meal) is set, and breaks exceeding the upper limit are prohibited within a specified period (e.g., one day). On the other hand, if the gaming machine device 2 does not accept a membership card 51, the gaming facility may preselect between self-break and semi-self-break, and either option is permitted if it is able to issue a general card 52 that meets issuance conditions, such as the user's credit balance or balls reaching a certain threshold. The selection between self-break and semi-self-break may be made by group, such as type, model, or gaming island, or by gaming machine. Other settings are similar. The issuance conditions for allowing self-break and semi-self-break may be different from those for issuing a regular general card 52, for example, by setting different thresholds.

[0095] As shown in Figures 31 and 32, in the self-break mode, when the gaming machine device 2 detects that the player has touched a standby screen 501 displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21, it displays a menu screen 502 on the liquid crystal display unit 21 and displays a "Meal Break" button 502a, a "Cigarette Break" button 502b, a "Share Balls" button 502c, a "Use Other Account" button 502d, a "Safety Lock Release" button 502e, a "Withdraw Deposit Balance" button 502f, a "Quick Lend" button 502g, a "Detailed Information" button 502h, a "Next" button 502i, and a "Finish" button 502j.

[0096] When the gaming machine device 2 detects that the player has pressed the "meal break" button 502a (break operation), it displays the break start screen 503 on the liquid crystal display unit 21, displays a message 503a saying "Break will start. Your card will be returned. Are you sure?", prompts the player to confirm that the break should start, and displays an "OK" button 503b and a "Cancel" button 503c.

[0097] When the gaming machine device 2 detects that the player has pressed the "OK" button 503b, it ejects the accepted membership card 51 or general card 52 from the card insertion slot 24, displays the card removal screen 504 on the liquid crystal display unit 21, and displays a message 504a saying "Please remove your card" to prompt the player to remove the card. In other words, in this state, the player can remove the membership card 51 or general card 52 from the card insertion slot 24.

[0098] The gaming machine 2 can detect the removal of the membership card 51 or the general card 52. Upon detecting this, the gaming machine 2 displays the break screen 505 on the liquid crystal display 21 and displays a message 505a saying, "Please insert the card you used during the break," prompting the user to insert the card removed at the end of the break. At this time, the gaming machine 2 begins restricting the acceptance of new cards and deposits (starting the break suppression process). A predetermined upper limit (e.g., 30 minutes) is set for the break time. The gaming machine 2 displays the remaining time until the upper limit is reached, and after the upper limit is exceeded, displays the excess time. When the gaming machine 2 detects the acceptance of the same membership card 51 or general card 52 by inserting the same membership card 51 or general card 52 (the removed card) into the card insertion slot 24, the gaming machine 2 returns to the standby screen and ends the restriction on deposits (ending the break suppression process). In this way, with self-rest, the player can start the rest state by his own operation, and can end (cancel) the rest state by his own operation by inserting the member card 51 or general card 52 issued at the start of the break. Note that, although an example has been given in which the menu screen 502 is displayed when the player touches it while the standby screen 501 is displayed, a button equivalent to the above-mentioned "meal break" button 502a may also be provided on the standby screen 501.

[0099] On the other hand, in the semi-self-service break mode, as shown in Figure 33, when the gaming machine device 2 detects that the player has touched the standby screen 501 displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21, it displays the menu screen 506 on the liquid crystal display unit 21, but does not display the "meal break" button 502a. In this case, the player calls an employee and performs a break operation by the employee, such as operating a remote control.

[0100] When an employee operates the remote control, the remote control signal transmitted from the employee remote control 53 is received by the remote control receiver 54 of the gaming machine 2 and the remote control receiver 55 of the information display device 3, causing the gaming machine 2 to display the break start screen 503 described in FIG. 31 on the LCD display 21 and begin restricting the acceptance of new cards, deposits, etc. (starting the break suppression process). The employee operation is not limited to the employee operating the employee remote control 53. For example, the employee may enter a secret code known only to the employee into the gaming machine 2. As with a self-service break, any operation involving employee operation may be employed, such as allowing a player to operate the break but requiring employee approval before the break can begin. When the gaming machine 2 detects the acceptance of the same general card 52 by inserting the same general card 52 (the removed card) into the card slot 24, the gaming machine 2 returns to the standby screen and ends the restriction on deposits, etc. (ending the break suppression process). In this way, in a semi-self-service break, the player can start the break state by calling an employee and having the employee perform the employee operation. In other words, the break state cannot be started without employee operation, but by inserting the general card 52 issued at the start of the break, the break state can be ended (cancelled) without employee operation.

[0101] In the example above, the break is a relatively long break intended for a meal break, but it may also correspond to a relatively short break such as a smoking break or toilet break. In this case, both may be started on the condition that an employee operation is involved, but the relatively long break may be started on the condition that an employee operation is involved (the first break suppression process is started on the condition that an employee ejection process is involved when the player's break starts), while the relatively short break may be started by a player's operation without an employee operation (the second break suppression process is not started on the condition that an employee ejection process is involved when the player's break starts).

[0102] The settlement machine 27 can be set in advance as to whether or not to operate as a self-service machine (connect to the POS terminal 28), and if set to operate as a self-service machine, it will stop operating and inhibit the settlement function if it cannot confirm connection with the POS terminal 28. Also, while the settlement function is inhibited, it will display a message indicating that it is waiting for connection.

[0103] When the settlement machine 27 is operated independently without being connected to the POS terminal 28, it is possible to carry out deposit processing such as issuing a general card 52 by depositing money, or accepting deposits to the member card 51 or general card 52 and adding to the deposit balance, but when it is operated in connection with the POS terminal 28, the above-mentioned deposit processing is inhibited rather than made possible.

[0104] In the case of connected operation, settlement is performed without specifying the deposit balance to be settled, in consideration of the operational burden on the player, in both the membership card operation process and the general card operation process. This is the same when operating independently, but in the case of connected operation, the deposit process is suppressed. In the case of standalone operation, if the accepted membership card 51 or general card 52 has a deposit balance, settlement processing is performed, and if there is no deposit balance, deposit processing is performed, so there is little need to specify which one. However, in the case of connected operation, there are players who wish to exchange for prizes even if the accepted membership card 51 or general card 52 has no deposit balance, so it becomes necessary to specify either the deposit process or the prize exchange, and without performing this operation, it is not possible to proceed with the prize exchange, which would make the operation more complicated, and the deposit process is suppressed.

[0105] The card acceptance conditions for self-operation can be set. For example, only either the membership card 51 or the general card 52 can be accepted, or the acceptance condition can be that the card is not associated with multiple types of stored balls or owned balls. If the latter is set, when a membership card 51 associated with multiple types of stored balls or a general card 52 associated with multiple types of owned balls is accepted, the accepted membership card 51 or general card 52 is discharged without settlement processing. In other words, if a condition related to either settlement of the deposited balance or prize exchange is set as an acceptance condition but is not met, processing is suppressed, including the other processing. Such a condition may be applied only to the general card 52.

[0106] Even in self-operated systems, separate terminals such as employee-operated POS terminals and payment machines are provided, and cards that do not meet the acceptance conditions are rejected from the self-operated terminals, so they are processed using the employee-operated POS terminals or payment machines and terminals.

[0107] When operating by yourself, it is possible to make it a condition for acceptance that either the deposit balance or the saved or held balls are empty (either "0" or a specified number or less), but if such a condition for acceptance is not set and a member card 51 or general card 52 with no deposit balance is accepted, the settlement of the deposit balance can be canceled and the exchange process can be carried out, and if a member card 51 with no saved balls or a general card 52 with no held balls is accepted, the deposit balance can be settled and the process can be completed without carrying out the exchange process.

[0108] In the case of self-operated operation, a member card 51 or general card 52 that has been put into a rest state is not accepted by the self-operated POS terminal 28 but is ejected, and a notification is issued that the card is in a rest state. On the other hand, if a member card 51 or general card 52 that has been put into a rest state is accepted by a POS terminal operated by an employee, the rest state is cancelled and the card is accepted and eligible for exchange for a prize. In this case, a member card 51 or general card 52 that has been put into a rest state may also be accepted by an employee-operated settlement machine after the rest state is cancelled and the card is eligible for settlement of the remaining deposit.

[0109] When operating by yourself, it is possible to accept member cards 51 with multiple types of stored balls recorded on them and general cards 52 with multiple types of held balls recorded on them, but the exchange process itself is carried out one type at a time, and after the exchange process for the first type is completed, the member card 51 or general card 52 is re-inserted into the card insertion port 33 of the settlement machine 27 to carry out the exchange process for the next type.

[0110] The exchange operation is permitted on the condition that the removal of dispensed banknotes is detected by the settlement machine 27, but since it is difficult to detect the removal of coins when coins are dispensed, the next process such as the exchange operation may be permitted on the condition that a predetermined period has passed since the dispense. Also, the above may be used differently depending on whether the dispensed currency is banknotes or coins, or a sensor that detects the removal of coins may be provided in the coin return slot 35.

[0111] In the general card operation processing, an example has been given in which the recovery conditions are met and the general card 52 is recovered when both the deposit balance and the balls in hand have been fully settled, but the recovery conditions may also be met and the general card 52 may be recovered when, for example, the deposit balance or the balls in hand have not reached a standard value (for example, 30 balls in hand).

[0112] In the general card operation process, since there are players who do not want to receive the extra ball prizes, a "Discard remaining balls" button may be provided on the remaining ball selection processing screen 404, and the general card 52 may be collected by operating this button as the collection condition is met. In this case, the remaining balls are counted as items to be collected.

[0113] In the POS terminal 28, information is read from the membership card 51 when the membership card 51 is touched to the IC reader 48 without being taken in, but the POS terminal 28 may be provided with a card insertion slot, and information may be read from the membership card 51 when the membership card 51 is inserted into the card insertion slot and taken in, similar to the settlement machine 27. Alternatively, the settlement machine 27 may be provided with an IC reader, and similar to the POS terminal 28, information may be read from the membership card 51 or general card 52 when the membership card 51 or general card 52 is not touched to the IC reader and taken in.

[0114] According to the present embodiment described above, the following advantageous effects can be obtained. In the gaming facility system, the break suppression process, which suppresses the acceptance of new cards and deposits during a player's break, is initiated in response to an employee discharge process requiring employee operation, and ends by accepting the member card 51 or general card 52 dispensed in response to the employee discharge process without employee operation. Therefore, at the start of the break, the member card 51 or general card 52 is dispensed by employee operation, and at the end of the break, the player can play by having the member card 51 or general card 52 accepted by the player, and by omitting confirmation at the end of the break, the burden on the employee can be reduced. Also, it is possible to prevent fraudulent use, such as a single player taking multiple breaks or using the break process to secure a gaming machine 1 even when not taking a break.

[0115] When starting a break, a semi-self-service break that requires an employee operation and a self-service break that does not require an employee operation can be set, so that appropriate break processing can be provided according to the needs of the game parlor.

[0116] When a break is started by an employee, the condition is that at least one of the remaining balance on the card and the stored balls or the balls in hand reaches a standard value, so that operation can be performed using a card such as a so-called general card 52, to which the remaining balance and the balls in hand are associated, as a key, and even if the general card 52 is taken away, it can be compensated for by the associated remaining balance and the balls in hand.

[0117] Since the member card 51 or the general card 52 in the resting state is prevented from being subject to settlement processing or exchange processing, the risk of erroneously collecting the member card 51 or the general card 52 in the resting state is reduced, and it is possible to prevent the game machine 1 from being left in the resting state.

[0118] A number of break processes with different break times are provided, and the break start operation is a semi-self-service break that requires employee operation in one break process, while the other is a self-service break that does not require employee operation.This means that break processes with relatively long break times, such as meal breaks, which could cause great damage if used multiple times by a single player, can be used via an employee, while relatively short break processes, such as breaks for toileting or smoking, which do not cause much damage, can be used without the assistance of an employee, making it possible to reduce damage caused by fraudulent use while maintaining convenience for players.

[0119] The settlement machine 27 executes the settlement process on the condition that the membership card 51 presented by the player is accepted, and the membership card 51 that is the subject of the settlement process is accepted by being taken in and then ejected before the exchange operation is performed at the POS terminal 28, and then the prize payout device 29 executes the prize payout process on the condition that the membership card 51 is re-presented by the player in accordance with the exchange operation, thereby reducing the risk that the player will forget to take the membership card 51 that needs to be returned after settling the remaining deposit or exchanging the prize in the self-exchange method.

[0120] After the member's card 51 is ejected from the adjustment machine 27, the adjustment process is executed on the condition that it is detected that the ejected member's card 51 has been taken out from the adjustment machine 27, so that the removal of the member's card 51 can be impressed as a dividing line between the settlement of the deposit balance and the exchange for a prize, and the risk that the player will forget to take the member's card 51 can be more appropriately reduced.

[0121] The exchange operation is permitted on the condition that at least one of the following conditions is met: it is detected that the dispensed banknotes have been taken out from the settlement machine 27; or it is detected that a predetermined period of time has passed since the coins were dispensed. Therefore, the exchange operation is permitted after waiting until the banknotes are taken out, and the player can perform the exchange operation after putting the dispensed banknotes into his / her wallet, for example, allowing the player to operate with ease, thereby reducing the risk of placing an unnecessary burden on the player.

[0122] The settlement machine 27 accepts the membership card 51 for settling the remaining balance, and the POS terminal 28 allows the exchange operation without accepting the membership card 51, but the re-presentation of the membership card 51 in response to the exchange operation is performed at the POS terminal 28, so if it is necessary to move between the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28, it is possible to refrain from presenting the membership card 51 during the exchange operation. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the need to move while also reducing the risk of a prize being exchanged by an unauthorized person who does not possess the membership card 51.

[0123] The saved balls are not recorded on the member card 51 but are associated and managed by the management device 6, and the member card 51 is accepted to settle the remaining deposit amount by taking in the member card 51, while the re-presentation of the member card 51 in response to an exchange operation is done without taking in the member card 51, which reduces the risk of players forgetting to bring their member card 51. Furthermore, even if the player is asked to re-present their member card 51 in consideration of fraudsters, the member card 51 is not taken in, which reduces the risk of the player forgetting to bring their member card 51.

[0124] The exchange operation is permitted on the condition that at least one of the following conditions is met: it is detected that the dispensed banknotes have been removed from the settlement machine 27; and it is detected that a predetermined period of time has passed since the coins were dispensed. When a preset recovery condition is met in response to the execution of the exchange process, the accepted general card 52 is recovered by the settlement machine 27, so the exchange operation is permitted after waiting until the banknotes are removed. Therefore, for example, the player can place the dispensed banknotes in his / her wallet and then perform the exchange operation, allowing the player to operate at their leisure, and it is not necessary for the player to take out the general card 52 that no longer needs to be returned because the recovery condition has been met, thereby reducing the risk of placing an unnecessary burden on the player.

[0125] When the recovery condition is established in accordance with the exchange process, the general card 52 is recovered and a prize in accordance with the exchange process is paid out from a prize payout device 29, so that the recovery condition needs to be established in order to pay out the prize, and the player can be made to perform an exchange operation in which the recovery condition is established even in self-operation.

[0126] When the recovery conditions are not met in accordance with the exchange process, the general card 52 is ejected from the adjustment machine 27, and a prize according to the exchange process is paid out from the prize payout device 29 on the condition that it is detected that the general card 52 has been taken out from the adjustment machine 27. Therefore, when the recovery conditions are not met and it is necessary to return the general card 52, it becomes necessary to take out the general card 52, and even if a player is distracted by the prize exchange, it is possible to reduce the risk of forgetting to take the returned general card 52.

[0127] The general card 52 is accepted by the settlement machine 27 to settle the remaining deposit balance and exchange for prizes, and if any remaining balls are to be saved on the member card 51, the general card 52 is collected by presenting the member card 51 to the POS terminal 28, reducing the need for the player performing the exchange operation to return to the settlement machine 27 to present the member card 51, and by identifying the member card 51 to which the balls will be saved before collecting the general card 52, a highly reliable ball saving process is possible.

[0128] It is possible to set whether or not to connect the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28, and when the setting is such that the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28 are not connected, a deposit process for accepting currency is possible, but when the setting is such that they are connected, the deposit process is suppressed, so that when the machine is operated independently without being connected to the POS terminal 28, it is possible to perform a process such as settlement if there is a deposit balance, or deposit if there is not. On the other hand, when the machine is operated connected to the POS terminal 28, some players wish to exchange for prizes even if they have no deposit balance, and it becomes necessary to specify whether to deposit or exchange for prizes, and if this operation is not performed, it becomes impossible to proceed with the prize exchange, which could make the operation complicated, but by suppressing the deposit process, it becomes possible to exchange for prizes as is if there is no deposit balance, thereby reducing such concerns.

[0129] When the member card 51 is accepted, if the PIN number for the safety lock corresponding to the member card 51 and the PIN number entered at the time of member registration do not match, both numbers must be accepted, but if they match, settlement processing or exchange processing is permitted on the condition that either one of the PIN information is accepted, so that appropriate measures can be taken even if the PIN number entered at the time of member registration and the PIN number for the safety lock are different.

[0130] When a member card 51 is received in which the personal identification number for the safety lock does not match the personal identification number at the time of member registration, the personal identification number for the safety lock and the personal identification number at the time of member registration are accepted in a predetermined acceptance order, so that it becomes necessary to take the acceptance order into consideration, and security can be improved.

[0131] When a member card 51 is received in which the PIN for the safety lock does not match the PIN at the time of member registration, the PIN for the safety lock and the PIN at the time of member registration are accepted without specifying the acceptance order in advance, and if the accepted PIN corresponds to one of the PINs, the other PIN is allowed to be accepted, so that the player can input the PIN without worrying about the acceptance order, and convenience can be improved while maintaining the security provided by multiple PINs.

[0132] When issuance of the member card 51 is restricted, a notification is given that identifies the result of matching the personal identification number for the safety lock with the personal identification number at the time of member registration, so that the player can reconfirm that a different personal identification number was registered when the safety lock was activated.

[0133] When the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28 are connected, the member card 51 accepted by the settlement machine 27 is allowed to be used to perform an exchange operation at the POS terminal 28, and the settlement process is allowed on the condition that a PIN number is entered regardless of whether an exchange process is involved. On the other hand, when the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28 are not connected, the settlement process is allowed without entering a PIN number, which makes it possible to simplify the system configuration while maintaining high security.

[0134] When the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28 are connected, an exchange operation is permitted at the POS terminal 28 using the membership card 51 accepted by the settlement machine 27, and when the remaining deposit balance is settled without an exchange process, the settlement process is permitted without the condition of inputting a PIN, while when an exchange process is involved, the settlement process is permitted on the condition of inputting a PIN, thereby reducing the need to input a PIN and increasing convenience for players.

[0135] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows. Furthermore, the configurations illustrated in the examples, including modified examples, may be combined in any manner, or may not be adopted as appropriate.

[0136] The settlement machine 27 is designed to always execute the settlement process when there is a deposit balance, but it may also be configured so that, depending on the player's selection, the settlement process is not executed and only the prize exchange is carried out by sending the ball information held to the POS terminal 28. In this case, since the ball information recorded on the general card 52 needs to be updated in accordance with the exchange process, the ball information held at the end of the exchange process is received from the POS terminal 28, and the ball information on the general card 52 is rewritten and returned.

[0137] The configuration is not limited to one in which the membership card 51 and the general card 52 are taken in and accepted by the settlement machine 27, but may also be one in which the membership card 51 and the general card 52 are taken in and accepted by the POS terminal 28. Alternatively, the membership card 51 and the general card 52 may be accepted by both the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28, allowing the player to select the card for which the membership card 51 or the general card 52 is accepted. Alternatively, dedicated equipment for accepting the membership card 51 or the general card 52 may be provided separately from the settlement machine 27 and the POS terminal 28. As in the past, a separate prize exchange counter operated by an employee may be provided.

[0138] Although the POS terminal 28 and the prize dispensing device 29 are shown as being stored or placed in a single housing 31 to form an integrated structure, a settlement machine 27 may also be added, and the settlement machine 27, the POS terminal 28, and the prize dispensing device 29 may also be stored or placed in a single housing to form an integrated structure. The leftover prizes are served buffet style so that players can freely take home any prizes they like, but they can also be handed out by staff to players according to their wishes, and they can be provided in any way. There are only two types of prizes: special prizes and leftover prizes, but prizes other than leftover prizes may also be prepared.

[0139] The type of special prize is not limited to that of the present embodiment, and may be of any shape or value. Similarly, the type of extra prize may be of any shape or value. The odd prizes may also be configured to be automatically paid out in the same way as the special prizes. The rental price of gaming media can be set at the gaming facility's discretion within the range set by the rules. Although the configuration in which cash such as banknotes and coins is accepted as monetary value has been exemplified, monetary value other than cash, such as electronic money, may also be accepted.

[0140] Each setting value may be set by an administrator through operation input, may be set in advance by the manufacturer of the management device 6, or may be set by downloading setting information from an external server. In this case, the setting value is also input through operation input on the server. Of course, game information showing past exchange status may also be set as a reference value. Although the example given above shows suppression through prohibition, it is not necessary to necessarily prohibit it; for example, it can be suppressed by obtaining approval from an employee through self-operation or by performing a special operation.

[0141] All of the game information exemplified above may be determined directly by the input signal or indirectly by using an arithmetic expression. Also, although pulse signals are exemplified as game signals, signals may also be input via serial communication or the like.

[0142] The numerical values, number of digits, items, etc. are examples, and any numerical values ​​may be used. Furthermore, the identification output may be in any output form, such as adding symbols other than those shown in the examples, and at least printing and display output are envisioned.

[0143] Either "above" or "exceed" can be used, and expressions such as "reached" correspond to either "reached or exceeded." The same is true for "below" and "less than," and expressions such as "did not reach" correspond to both.

[0144] The target gaming machines may include pachinko machines other than the exemplified pachinko machines, such as so-called sealed-in type machines that manage gaming media only by data, and slot machines. Note that, in consideration of gaming machines that do not pay out gaming media, such as so-called sealed-in type machines, gaming media will be expressed as gaming value as necessary.

[0145] Some of the processing performed by the management device 6 may be performed by the settlement machine 27, the POS terminal 28, or the like, and any other configuration may be used. Furthermore, the configurations illustrated as examples may be combined in any way, including modified examples, and configurations that do not employ any of the configurations may be provided as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0146] In the drawing, 2 is an amusement machine device (suppression start means, suppression end means, setting means), 6 is a management device (management means, matching means), 27 is a settlement machine (recording medium acceptance means, PIN information acceptance means, issuance suppression means, first acceptance means, second acceptance means, third acceptance means, fourth acceptance means, notification means), 28 is a POS terminal (prize exchange device), 29 is a prize payout device, 51 is a membership card (membership recording medium), and 52 is a general card (general recording medium).

Claims

1. a gaming machine device capable of performing a reception process for receiving a recording medium by inserting the recording medium to which deposit balance information indicating the deposit balance for receiving gaming value and gaming value information indicating the amount of gaming value acquired through gaming can be associated, a discharge process for discharging the recording medium, and a rest period suppression process for suppressing gaming-related processes while the player is resting, and a prize exchange device capable of performing an exchange process for exchanging prizes based on the gaming value information in response to an exchange operation, the prize exchange device including a first prize exchange device that is self-operated and allows the exchange process to be performed by a player without the intervention of an amusement facility employee, and a second prize exchange device that is not self-operated and allows the exchange process to be performed through the operation of an employee, a suppression start means for starting the rest period suppression process together with the discharge process in response to a start operation by a player; a suppression terminating means for terminating the rest period suppression process by receiving the recording medium discharged in connection with the rest period suppression process, The recording media are divided into member recording media issued in advance to players who have registered as members at the gaming facility, and general recording media issued to an unspecified number of players, When the recording medium to be discharged in accordance with the rest period suppression process is the general recording medium, the rest period suppression process is initiated on the condition that at least one of the deposit balance indicated by the deposit balance information that can be associated with the general recording medium and the amount of game value indicated by the game value information has reached a reference value, and when the recording medium to be discharged is the member recording medium, the rest period suppression process can be initiated even if the value does not exist. A system for an amusement park in which, if a prize exchange device receives a recording medium associated with the fact that the rest period suppression process is in progress, the prize exchange device suppresses processing of the received recording medium as a prize exchange target if the prize exchange device is the first prize exchange device, but does not perform such suppression if the prize exchange device is the second prize exchange device.

2. A gaming facility system provided with a gaming machine device capable of performing a reception process for receiving a recording medium by inserting the recording medium to which deposit balance information indicating the deposit balance for receiving gaming value and gaming value information indicating the amount of gaming value acquired through gaming can be associated, a discharge process for discharging the recording medium, and a rest period suppression process for suppressing gaming-related processing during a player's rest, a first suppression initiation means for initiating the rest period suppression process together with the discharge process in response to a start operation by an employee of the gaming facility; a second suppression initiation means for initiating the rest period suppression process together with the discharge process in response to a start operation by a player; a suppression terminating means for terminating the rest period suppression process by receiving the recording medium discharged in connection with the rest period suppression process, The recording media are divided into member recording media issued in advance to players who have registered as members at the gaming facility, and general recording media issued to an unspecified number of players, The rest period suppression process is initiated on the condition that, if the recording medium to be discharged as a result of the rest period suppression process is a general recording medium, the first suppression start means starts the process on the condition that the valuable value, which is at least one of the deposit balance indicated by the deposit balance information that can be associated with the general recording medium and the amount of gaming value indicated by the gaming value information, has reached a reference value, and if the recording medium to be discharged is a member recording medium, the second suppression start means starts the process even if the valuable value does not exist.

3. A gaming facility system provided with a gaming machine device capable of performing a reception process for receiving a recording medium by inserting the recording medium to which deposit balance information indicating the deposit balance for receiving gaming value and gaming value information indicating the amount of gaming value acquired through gaming can be associated, a discharge process for discharging the recording medium, and a rest period suppression process for suppressing gaming-related processing during a player's rest, a suppression start means for starting the rest period suppression process together with the discharge process in response to a start operation by a player; a suppression terminating means for terminating the rest period suppression process by receiving the recording medium discharged in connection with the rest period suppression process, The recording media are divided into member recording media issued in advance to players who have registered as members at the gaming facility, and general recording media issued to an unspecified number of players, When the recording medium to be discharged in accordance with the rest period suppression process is the general recording medium, the rest period suppression process can be started when a rest period is satisfied, which indicates that at least one of the deposit balance indicated by the deposit balance information that can be associated with the general recording medium and the value of the game value indicated by the game value information has reached a reference value. On the other hand, when the recording medium to be discharged is the member recording medium, the rest period suppression process can be started even if the value does not exist. The discharge process includes a break discharge process that is a discharge process associated with the break suppression process, and a normal discharge process that is different from the break discharge process, The normal discharge process is provided with normal issuing conditions for the general recording medium, The break issuing condition is different from the normal issuing condition.

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