Value Management System

Abstract

To provide a valuable management system capable of appropriately collecting a charge fee for charging. [Solution] In the valuable management system 1D, the valuable that can be used by each player is managed in a wallet account by the function of the valuable management means 101, and the charge fee that the charge execution means 103 deducts when charging the IC card 4 from the wallet account based on a charge execution request is set to a predetermined amount by the charge fee setting means 118D based on whether a predetermined judgment condition is met (the judgment condition is whether the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means 103 is within a specific elapsed period, which is the period that has elapsed from a predetermined starting date to a predetermined expiration date), so that an appropriate charge fee can be collected.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valuable management system for managing valuables that can be used by players. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, prepaid value (value that can be converted into gaming media that can be used in gaming machines, and is the remaining amount of value associated with the recording medium, that is, the IC card; hereinafter, "prepaid value" will also be referred to as "prepaid value") can only be associated with a recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as "charging") by cash payment, and there is a demand to make it possible to charge an IC card using cashless payment. However, in order to realize this demand, in a value management system that allows charging using electronic money, which is electronic value that is deposited and managed on the system by cashless payment, that is, using cashless payment, it is considered that the operating company of the system will collect a reasonable fee (system usage fee) in accordance with the provision of the system from players or gaming parlors.

[0003] Patent document 1 describes a gaming management system that manages the remaining balance of prepaid value charged to an IC card by payment type, such as cash or cashless payment, and automatically calculates the settlement fee for each combination of payment method and settlement method at the time of settlement, thereby collecting an appropriate settlement fee from the player. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7466279 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the gaming management system described in Patent Document 1 calculates and collects a settlement fee when settling the prepaid value associated with an IC card. Therefore, if a player uses up all the prepaid value loaded on the IC card, settlement is no longer necessary and the settlement fee cannot be collected. If the collected fee is considered to be a usage fee for a system that enables cashless payments, etc., it is unfair for some players to not pay the fee despite using the same system. Furthermore, since the collected fee also serves as operating funds for the system that enables cashless payments, etc., it is important to ensure stable fee income, but the gaming management system described in Patent Document 1 does not take this into consideration.

[0006] One possible method for widely collecting fees from players is to charge a fee when they charge their IC card. However, if a uniform fee is charged to players when charging their IC card (hereinafter referred to as "charging fee"), players who do not want to pay the charging fee may tend to avoid using cashless payment systems, which could hinder the spread of cashless payment systems. Furthermore, since it is difficult to track how much money has been spent when using a cashless payment system, unlike with cash, players may become so absorbed in their gaming that they repeatedly charge their IC card, resulting in high charging amounts, which could lead to excessive use due to addiction. As such, charging a uniform charging fee would not strike an appropriate balance between promoting the use of cashless payment systems and discouraging excessive use.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a valuable management system that can appropriately collect a charge fee for a charge operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the valuable management system of the present invention is a valuable management system for managing valuables that can be used by a player, and includes: valuable management means for managing the valuables; cashless adding means for making a deposit request to a settlement center that executes cashless settlement based on a deposit execution request from a player, and adding the valuable deposited from the settlement center by the execution of the cashless settlement to the valuable management means; charge execution means for subtracting the value of the charge request amount and a predetermined charge fee from the valuable managed by the valuable management means based on a charge execution request that requests charging to associate the valuable with a recording medium, and associating the value of the charge request amount from the subtracted value with the recording medium by a gaming device; and settlement execution means for requesting settlement of the remaining amount of the valuable associated with the recording medium. a settlement addition means for adding the valuable equivalent to the remaining amount to the valuable management means based on a charge request to settle the remaining amount; a valuable addition / subtraction information management means for acquiring and managing for each player valuable addition / subtraction information including at least one type of information among information regarding the addition of the valuable to the valuable management means by the cashless addition means, information regarding the addition of the valuable to the valuable management means by the settlement addition means, and information regarding the subtraction of the valuable from the valuable management means by the charge execution means; and a charge fee setting means for setting the charge fee based on predetermined judgment conditions, wherein the charge fee setting means is capable of determining whether the predetermined judgment conditions are met based on whether the timing of charge execution by the charge execution means is within a specific elapsed period, which is the period that has elapsed since a predetermined starting date to a predetermined expiration date.

[0009] In addition, in the above configuration, when the charge fee setting means determines that the specified judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means is within the pre-reference date elapsed period, which is the elapsed period from the starting date to a specified reference date within the specific elapsed period, it sets the charge fee to a first specified amount, and when the charge execution means determines that the specified judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means is within the post-reference date elapsed period, which is the elapsed period from the reference date to the expiration date within the specific elapsed period, it sets the charge fee to a period-elapsed reduced charge fee that is reduced from the first specified amount depending on the length of the period that has elapsed from the reference date, and when the charge execution means determines that the specified judgment condition is not met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means is beyond the expiration date, it sets the charge fee to a second specified amount that is reduced from the period-elapsed reduced charge fee.

[0010] In addition, in the above configuration, when the charge fee setting means determines that the specified judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means is within the pre-reference date elapsed period, which is the elapsed period from the starting date to a specified reference date within the specific elapsed period, it sets the charge fee to a second specified amount, and when the charge execution means determines that the specified judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means is within the post-reference date elapsed period, which is the elapsed period from the reference date to the expiration date within the specific elapsed period, it sets the charge fee to an increased charge fee for the period that is increased more than the second specified amount depending on the length of the period that has elapsed since the reference date, and when the charge execution means determines that the specified judgment condition is not met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means is beyond the expiration date, it sets the charge fee to a first specified amount that is increased more than the increased charge fee for the period that is increased more than the increased charge fee for the period that is increased more than the

[0011] In addition, in the above configuration, the charge fee setting means may set the charge fee to a first charge fee if it determines that the specified judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means is within the specific elapsed period, and may set the charge fee to a second charge fee different from the first charge fee if it determines that the specified judgment condition is not met.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the charge fee includes an amount borne by the gaming establishment and / or an amount borne by the player who requested the charge execution, and the charge fee setting means sets the charge fee by subtracting the amount borne by the gaming establishment from a predetermined basic fee or adding the amount borne by the player to the basic fee, and may be provided with a charge fee breakdown management means for managing the breakdown of the charge fee set by the charge fee setting means.

[0013] In addition, in the above configuration, the charge execution means may notify the player who made the charge execution request of the value of the charge requested amount based on the charge execution request and the charge fee set by the charge fee setting means, and execute the charge based on the player's approval of payment of the charge fee associated with the charge execution.

[0014] In addition, in the above configuration, the charge fee setting means may be provided with a tax-inclusive setting function that treats the amount set as the charge fee as tax-inclusive, including consumption tax, and a tax-exclusive setting function that treats the amount as tax-exclusive, excluding consumption tax, and may be able to select either the tax-inclusive setting function or the tax-exclusive setting function at will. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the valuable value management system of the present invention, the charge fee that the charge execution means deducts when a charge is executed based on a charge execution request is set by the charge fee setting means based on specified judgment conditions, so that an appropriate charge fee can be collected based on whether the specified judgment conditions are met. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of a valuable management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a valuable management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a method for managing a valuable in a valuable management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a flow chart showing the flow of a deposit process in which a valuable is deposited based on the execution of a cashless payment in a valuable management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a basic flow of a charging process in a valuable management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing a basic flow of a settlement process in a valuable management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 10 is a flow chart showing the process of acquiring recording medium usage information related to the payout operation performed by a gaming device in the valuable value management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flow chart showing the process of acquiring recording medium usage information related to the counting operation performed by a gaming device in a valuable value management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is an account history explanatory diagram showing an example of account history when a charge fee setting means sets a charge fee based on a predetermined determination condition in the valuable management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a charging process in the valuable management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a charging process in a valuable management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of settlement processing in the valuable value management system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a charging process in a valuable management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] Fig. 14(A) is an explanatory diagram of a first example of fee setting in the valuable management system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14(B) is an explanatory diagram of a second example of fee setting in the valuable management system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a charging process in a valuable management system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Next, an embodiment of a value management system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the system configuration of the valuable asset management systems 1A to 1D according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, and in each embodiment, a charge fee (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "fee") to be deducted when a charge is executed based on a charge request operation by a player is set based on predetermined judgment conditions.

[0019] First Embodiment First, a description will be given of the valuable asset management system 1A according to the first embodiment. In the valuable asset management system 1A, the charging fee is set to a predetermined amount based on the establishment of at least one of a plurality of determination conditions, thereby making it possible to set an appropriate charging fee taking into account the established determination condition.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of gaming machines 2 are installed in a gaming parlor, allowing games to be played using gaming media. The gaming machines 2 are, for example, "pachinko gaming machines" (hereinafter, "pachinko gaming machines" will be referred to as "pachinko machines") that use gaming balls as gaming media, or "reel gaming machines" (hereinafter, "reel gaming machines" will be referred to as "pachislot machines") that use gaming medals as gaming media. In pachinko machines, the player plays by shooting gaming balls into the gaming board, and a predetermined number of gaming balls can be won by passing the gaming balls through multiple winning areas (winning holes) provided on the gaming board. In pachislot machines, the player plays by inserting gaming medals and spinning the reels, and a predetermined number of gaming medals can be won based on the stopping status of the symbols on the reels.

[0021] Gaming machine 2 includes so-called "smart gaming machines" that use intangible electronic game points as gaming media, such as pachinko and pachislot machines. "Smart gaming machines" pachinko machines circulate game balls inside the machine, allowing players to play using game points (electronic data) without touching the game balls. "Smart gaming machines" pachislot machines allow players to play using game points (electronic data) without using any game medals. In "smart gaming machines," a predetermined number of game points can be earned based on the passage of game balls into the winning zone or the stopping status of symbols on the reels. As described above, the gaming media used in gaming machine 2 include intangible game points (electronic data) in addition to physical game balls and medals.

[0022] In addition to the gaming machines 2 described above, the gaming parlor is also equipped with card units (hereinafter, "card units" will also be simply referred to as "units") 3 that are installed in association with each gaming machine 2 and manage the lending of gaming media, card issuing machines 5 that can accept valuables such as banknotes and electronic money and issue IC cards 4, which are recording media associated with prepaid value, settlement machines 6 that can accept IC cards 4 associated with prepaid value and settle the remaining balance of the prepaid value, a HUB 7 that is a concentrator for connecting various devices to each other, a relay device 8 that can communicate with each unit 3, the card issuing machines 5 and the settlement machines 6 via this HUB 7, and a management device 9 that comprehensively manages each gaming machine 2 and each unit 3 via the HUB 7.

[0023] Also, outside the gaming facility, there is provided a cashless center 20 that can communicate with relay device 8 and mobile terminals 10 such as smartphones carried by players and that manages all cashless payment processing, and a prepaid settlement center 30 that can communicate with management device 9 and that manages all prepaid value associated with IC card 4 by unit 3 and card issuing machine 5. Since both unit 3 and card issuing machine 5 are equivalent to "gaming devices," in the following explanation, either or both of unit 3 and card issuing machine 5 may be referred to simply as "gaming devices."

[0024] The unit 3 accepts an IC card 4 or bills inserted by a player and manages the lending of game media used in games on the gaming machine 2. Specifically, the unit 3 accepts, for example, an IC card 4 issued to a player by a gaming parlor and dispenses game media in exchange for debiting the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. When a player inserts bills, the unit 3 charges the IC card 4 in the unit 3 with prepaid value equivalent to the inserted bill, and dispenses game media in exchange for debiting the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. When a game ends with a remaining balance in the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, the unit 3 ejects the IC card 4. Note that dispensing game media means lending game balls or game medals, which are game media, to a player and making the game balls or game medals usable in the gaming machine 2. This payout of gaming media also includes "granting gaming points," which, if gaming machine 2 is a "smart gaming machine," grants gaming points, which are intangible gaming media, to gaming machine 2, making the gaming points usable on gaming machine 2.

[0025] The unit 3 can also use electronic money, which is electronic value, to pay out game balls or medals or award game points. In this case, for example, when a charge execution request is made by operating the unit 3 to debit electronic money from a wallet account (described in detail later) for each player managed by the management function unit 100A (described later) and to associate the prepaid value with the IC card 4, the unit 3 associates prepaid value equivalent to the debited electronic money with the IC card 4 in exchange for the electronic money being debited in the management function unit 100A based on the charge execution request. This allows the player to borrow gaming media from the unit 3 and play games using the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. In addition, electronic money equivalent to a charge fee for the charge (for example, a fee charged when associating the prepaid value equivalent to the electronic money debited from the wallet account with the IC card 4) is deducted from the player's wallet account. It should be noted that "charging" includes associating prepaid value equivalent to the payment amount by cash payment using the card issuing machine 5 or the like with the IC card 4, in addition to associating prepaid value equivalent to the electronic money withdrawn from the wallet account with the IC card 4. When charging by cash payment, the valuable management system 1A may be configured so that no charging fee is charged.

[0026] Like the unit 3, the card issuing machine 5 can accept bills inserted by a player, or can eject an IC card 4 associated with prepaid value equivalent to the inserted bills or the electronic money deducted from the wallet account in exchange for electronic money being deducted from the wallet account of each player managed by the management function unit 100A. This allows the player to insert the IC card 4 ejected from the card issuing machine 5 into the unit 3 and use the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 to borrow gaming media from the unit 3 and proceed with the game.

[0027] The settlement machine 6 can accept an IC card 4 associated with prepaid value and settle the remaining balance of the prepaid value. A player can settle the remaining balance of the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 by inserting the IC card 4 ejected from the unit 3 into the settlement machine 6. Settlement of the remaining balance of the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 can be done in two ways: cash settlement, in which the remaining amount of the prepaid value is paid out in cash, and electronic money settlement, in which the remaining amount of the prepaid value is added to the wallet account of the player managed by the valuable value management means 101 (FIG. 2), which will be described later (hereinafter, "electronic money settlement" will also be referred to as "wallet return settlement"). Note that the settlement machine 6, like the unit 3 and the card issuing machine 5, corresponds to a "gaming device," and therefore, in the following description, it may be simply referred to as a "gaming device."

[0028] The HUB7 is a line concentrator used to interconnect various devices. The HUB7 is connected to multiple LAN cables and relays and forwards communications from each device connected by these LAN cables. Various commonly used network hubs can be used for the HUB7.

[0029] The management device 9 comprehensively manages each gaming machine 2 and each unit 3. Specifically, for example, it manages information about prepaid value notified from the unit 3 and member information including personal information of players who have registered as members at the gaming facility. In addition, the information about prepaid value notified from the unit 3 is also transmitted to the prepaid settlement center 30 via the management device 9, and is managed as sales of prepaid value at the prepaid settlement center 30. The member information may also include linking information that links a card ID, which is identification information of the IC card 4 held by the player, with an app ID, which is identification information of an application installed on the mobile terminal 10 held by the player. In this case, the management device 9 can identify the member information by identifying either the card ID or the app ID of the IC card 4. In addition, when the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 is used to borrow gaming media (gaming balls, gaming medals or gaming points) in the unit 3 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 on which the player is playing, information regarding the prepaid value is transmitted to the prepaid settlement center 30 and managed as sales.

[0030] Furthermore, in the valuable management system 1A, the relay device 8 and the cashless center 20 cooperate with each other to function as a management function unit 100A. The management function unit 100A manages information related to cashless payments performed using the player's mobile terminal 10, and manages information linking card IDs and application IDs managed by the management device 9. Specifically, for example, the relay device 8 relays communications between the unit 3 and card issuing machine 5 and the cashless center 20 within the gaming facility, and mainly performs processing related to linking card IDs and application IDs and cashless payments using the mobile terminal 10. Meanwhile, the cashless center 20 is a device such as a server operated outside the gaming facility, and communicates with a general-purpose payment center 40 that performs cashless payments using the mobile terminal 10, as well as the relay devices 8 and mobile terminals 10 of each gaming facility, and mainly manages information related to cashless payments.

[0031] The management function unit 100A is also capable of recording and managing electronic money deposited from a general-purpose payment center 40 (described later) through cashless payment using a mobile terminal 10 (described later). In the management function unit 100A, the electronic money deposited from the general-purpose payment center 40 is recorded and managed in a valuable management means 101. The valuable management means 101 is a so-called database provided in the system as a management area (valuable management area) for recording and managing electronic money. Note that an external management database (not shown) may be used to manage more information (for example, recording medium usage information related to the use of an IC card 4 in an amusement device). In the management function unit 100A, as shown in FIG. 3, the valuable management means 101 associates the electronic money deposited from the general-purpose payment center 40 through cashless payment with various information related to the electronic money and records it as a record (described in detail later). In the following explanation, the "management function unit" that manages the electronic money that can be used by each player may be referred to as a "wallet," and in the figures, the memory area that subdivides the management area within the valuable value management means 101 for each player may be referred to as a "wallet account."

[0032] The mobile terminal 10 is a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal carried by a player. The mobile terminal 10 is capable of communicating with the management function unit 100A (specifically, the cashless center 20) and the general-purpose payment center 40, and is capable of performing various types of cashless payments by, for example, reading code information from optically readable codes such as two-dimensional codes and barcodes using a camera provided in the mobile terminal 10, using various information such as credit card information registered in an IC chip, inputting authentication information from a touch panel display capable of displaying and inputting various information, or using an authentication device capable of authentication using biometric information registered in an IC chip.

[0033] Cashless payments performed using the mobile terminal 10 include all types of cashless payments that can be used with a mobile terminal 10, such as a standard smartphone. For example, different types of cashless payments include card payments, which allow payment using information about a credit card or debit card registered on the mobile terminal 10; code payments, which allow payment by reading a code using the mobile terminal 10 or a code displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 10; and contactless payments, which allow payment by holding an IC chip built into the mobile terminal 10 over a payment terminal. Different types of cashless payments also include deferred payment, which allows payment by paying a lump sum over a certain period of time at a later date, as with a credit card; immediate payment, which allows payment by immediately debiting the payment amount from an account, as with a debit card; and prepayment, which allows payment using electronic money deposited in advance. The above-mentioned payment means and methods, as well as combinations thereof, all qualify as "types of cashless payments."

[0034] The prepaid settlement center 30 is a server or management device installed in a business that manages the prepaid value used in games as sales at the gaming facility from a third-party perspective, based on information about the prepaid value transmitted from the management device 9. The prepaid settlement center 30 receives information about the prepaid value from the management device 9 installed in each gaming facility, and manages the sales of each gaming facility in an integrated manner.

[0035] The general-purpose payment center 40 is a server or management device provided at a business such as a credit card company, bank, code payment company, or electronic money provider that executes cashless payment using the mobile terminal 10 and makes payments according to the payment details. Specifically, the general-purpose payment center 40 uses authentication such as a PIN number or biometric information registered on the mobile terminal 10 to make general payments according to the payment details, and can also transfer electronic money equivalent to a specified amount to a specified account, as in depositing money using cashless payment.

[0036] The function of managing electronic money by the value management means 101 will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the state of electronic money (records) managed by the value management means 101 in chronological order, and shows an example of a case in which a single player adds (deposits) electronic money by cashless payment for each cashless payment type, adds (settles) electronic money by wallet refund settlement, converts electronic money to prepaid value (associates it with the IC card 4), and uses the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 for games.

[0037] The various information associated with electronic money and recorded in the record by the valuable value management means 101 includes, for example, a "record No." which is the serial number of the record, an "app ID" which is identification information for each application installed in the mobile terminal 10 when the electronic money is added, an "addition type" which indicates the attributes of the electronic money used when the electronic money is added, an "addition amount" which is the amount of the added electronic money, a "current balance" which indicates the current balance of electronic money obtained by subtracting from the added amount the amount that has been converted into prepaid value for use in games and is associated with the IC card 4, a "charge amount" which indicates the amount equivalent to the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 by performing a charge, a "fee" which indicates the amount of the charge fee collected when performing a charge (or the total amount of the charge fees collected each time a charge is performed multiple times), an "addition date" which indicates the date when the electronic money was added, and an "expiration date" which indicates the end date of the validity period, which is a predetermined period calculated based on the addition date for each added electronic money.

[0038] The valuable management means 101 adds a new record every time electronic money is deposited into the wallet 100A by executing a cashless payment, or electronic money is settled into the wallet 100A by a wallet refund settlement from the IC card 4, and electronic money is added to the valuable management means 101 by the cashless addition means 102A described below. Of the various pieces of information recorded in association with the electronic money described above, at least information on the "record number," "app ID," "addition type," "addition amount," "current balance," "charge amount," "fee," and "addition date" is recorded in the record.

[0039] For example, if a cashless payment method called "TokkyoPay" is available on the mobile terminal 10 as an instant cashless payment method using a debit card or the like, and the cashless payment is executed, 10,400 yen in electronic money is deposited into the wallet 100A from the general-purpose payment center 40 on December 18, 2024. When the electronic money is added to the value management means 101 by the cashless addition means 102, a record with a "record number" of "0001" is added, as shown in FIG. 3(1). Note that a charge fee of 200 yen is set as the default for each charge from the wallet account to the IC card 4. Here, a case is shown in which 10,400 yen in electronic money is deposited in anticipation of two charge fees. In this record "0001," "1234," which is the identification information of the application installed on the mobile terminal 10, is recorded as the "app ID," and "TokkyoPay," which indicates the type of cashless payment that was performed, is recorded in the "addition type" as an attribute of the electronic money. Furthermore, "10,400," which indicates that the amount of electronic money added is 10,400 yen, is recorded in the "addition amount," and "10,400," which indicates that the balance of the electronic money managed as record "0001" at that time is 10,400 yen, is also recorded in the "current balance." Furthermore, "2024 / 12 / 18," which indicates the date the electronic money was deposited (added), is recorded in the "addition date." Then, on December 20, 2024, the charge execution means 103, which received the charge request, deducts 6,000 yen from the 14,000 yen worth of electronic money managed as record “0001.” This 6,000 yen electronic money is converted into prepaid value by unit 3 and associated with IC card 4, and a charge fee of 200 yen is collected. The “current balance” of record “0001” is deducted to 4,200 yen, “6,000” indicating that the prepaid value associated with IC card 4 is 6,000 yen is recorded in “charge amount,” and “200” indicating that the charge fee deducted by this charge execution is 200 yen is recorded in “fee” (see Figure 3(2)).However, even if 3,000 yen is used from the prepaid value of IC card 4 in unit 3, leaving a balance of 3,000 yen, the usage status of the valuable in unit 3 (gaming device) is not subject to management by the valuable management means 101, and therefore is not reflected in record "0001" (see FIG. 3(3)). Note that the usage status of the valuable in unit 3 (gaming device) can be managed separately as recording medium usage information regarding the use of IC card 4, as will be described later.

[0040] Furthermore, the valuable management means 101 also adds a new record each time the electronic money equivalent to the remaining prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 is added to the valuable management means 101 by the settlement and addition means 104 (described later) in response to a settlement of the remaining prepaid value. Similarly to when electronic money is added by the cashless addition means 102, the valuable management means 101 records in the record at least information related to the "record number," "app ID," "addition type," "addition amount," "current balance," "charge amount," "fee," and "addition date." For example, if 3,000 yen of the 6,000 yen prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, converted in exchange for the withdrawal of electronic money in the record "0001," is used for gaming on December 20, 2024, and the remaining 3,000 yen is settled by the player on the same day, a new record "0002" separate from the record "0001" is added, as shown in FIG. 3(4). At this time, since this is a settlement from the same player, "1234", which is the identification information of the application installed on the player's mobile terminal 10, is recorded in the "app ID" of this record "0002". Meanwhile, "Settlement", which indicates that the deposited electronic money is the settlement of prepaid value, is recorded as the attribute of the electronic money in "Addition Type", and "3,000", which indicates that the amount of electronic money added by settlement is 3,000 yen, is recorded in "Addition Amount". Furthermore, "3,000", which indicates that the balance of the electronic money managed as record "0002" at that time is 3,000 yen, is recorded in "Current Balance", and "2024 / 12 / 20", which indicates the date on which the electronic money was added, is recorded in "Addition Date". As a result, as of December 20, 2024, after the remaining prepaid value has been settled, the valuable value management means 101 will be managing record "0001" with a "current balance" of 4,200 yen and record "0002" with a "current balance" of 3,000 yen.

[0041] Furthermore, in the wallet 100A, when electronic money is managed in multiple records in the value management means 101, any amount of electronic money designated by the player can be converted (charged) into prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, within the total amount of the "current balance" of those electronic money records. For example, as of December 20, 2024, after the settlement of the remaining balance described above, the value management means 101 will be managing record "0001" with a "current balance" of 4,200 yen and record "0002" with a "current balance" of 3,000 yen, and therefore any amount can be charged within the total amount of 7,200 yen, which is the total of the "current balance" of record "0001" and record "0002." Specifically, for example, if a player specifies 5,000 yen as the specified amount and charges electronic money to the IC card 4 on December 22, 2024, the wallet 100A will be charged with 4,000 yen of record "0001" and 1,000 yen of the 3,000 yen of record "0002" out of the 7,200 yen of electronic money obtained by combining the "current balance" of records "0001" and "0002," and the 200 yen of record "0001" will be deducted as a charging fee. In this case, when charging using a valuable whose "addition type" indicating that the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card has been returned to the wallet account by settlement is "settlement," if the valuable management system 1A is configured not to collect a charging fee again, no charging fee will be collected when charging 1,000 yen of the 3,000 yen of record "0002."

[0042] In addition, if the current balance of a card with an "addition type" of "settlement" is insufficient to cover the specified amount, and the current balance of a card with an "addition type" of, for example, "Credit Card," which is a cashless payment method with a deferred payment using a credit card, or "TokkyoPay," which is a cashless payment method with an immediate payment using a debit card, a charge fee may be collected. Since the charge is made by combining the balance of the "Credit Card" or "TokkyoPay," which incurs a charge fee, a charge fee corresponding to the "addition type" of "Credit Card" or "TokkyoPay" used is collected. In this case, the charge fee is deducted from the current balance of the "Credit Card" or "TokkyoPay" that used the valuable. For example, if a player specifies a charge amount of 3,000 yen, but the current balance of a valuable whose "addition type" is "settlement" is 1,200 yen, which is not enough to reach 3,000 yen, and if the current balance of a valuable whose "addition type" is "credit card" is 2,000 yen and can be charged in 100 yen increments, then the "settlement" balance and the "credit card" balance can be added together, and 1,200 yen can be consumed from the "settlement" balance and 1,800 yen can be consumed from the "credit card" balance, resulting in a total charge of 3,000 yen; however, a charge fee of 200 yen will be charged for the use of the "credit card" valuable, so 1,800 yen + 200 yen = 2,000 yen will be deducted from the "credit card" balance.

[0043] As mentioned above, when the value of record "0001" whose "Addition Type" is "Settlement" is used to charge IC card 4, the "Current Balance" of record "0001" is subtracted to "0", the "Charge Amount" is updated to "10,000", and the "Fee" is updated to "400". On the other hand, the "Current Balance" of record "0002" is subtracted to "2,000", the "Charge Amount" is updated to "1,000", and the "Fee" is updated to "0" (see Figure 3 (5)). In this way, record "0001", whose "Current Balance" is now "0", can no longer be used for charging, and is therefore treated as an untargeted record that is not referenced when charging is performed. Even if 10,000 yen worth of prepaid value on the IC card 4 is used in the unit 3, leaving a balance of 3,000 yen, this is not managed by the value management means 101, and is therefore not reflected in record "0002" (see Figure 3(6)). In the value management system 1A, electronic money is subtracted in order, starting with the record with the oldest "addition date." Therefore, for example, when electronic money managed in multiple records is used together, the electronic money recorded in the oldest record with the "addition date" date is subtracted. Then, to make up the shortfall until the specified amount is reached, the electronic money recorded in the record with the next most recent "addition date" date is subtracted, and the combined amounts are used. This allows for appropriate management of electronic money with a validity period, as described below. Furthermore, when adding up the current balances of value whose "addition type" is not "settlement," i.e., value with a "credit card" or "TokkyoPay" card, to charge the IC card 4, a priority order may be set for how the charging fee is calculated. For example, when charging the combined current balance of a valuable item that is a "credit card" and the current balance of a valuable item that is "TokkyoPay," rather than charging a charge fee of 200 yen each for a total of 400 yen, it is possible to designate the current balance of one of the records (for example, the younger record based on first-in, first-out) as the priority record, and collect a charge fee of 200 yen only from the current balance of the priority record, and not collect a charge fee from the current balance of the other record that was not selected as the priority record.

[0044] Next, for example, if the electronic money managed in the records "0001" and "0002" is converted in exchange for withdrawal and 1,000 yen of the 5,000 yen prepaid value associated with IC card 4 is used for gaming on December 22, 2024, and the remaining 4,000 yen is settled by the player on the same day, a new record "0003" separate from records "0001" and "0002" is added (see Figure 3 (7)). At this time, "1234" is recorded in the "application ID" of this record "0003", just like records "0001" and "0002", and "settlement" is recorded in the "addition type" as an attribute of the electronic money, indicating that the added electronic money is the settlement of the prepaid value. Furthermore, "4,000" is recorded in "addition amount" indicating that the amount of electronic money added by settlement is 4,000 yen, "4,000" is recorded in "current balance" indicating that the balance of the electronic money managed as record "0003" at that time is 4,000 yen, and "2024 / 12 / 22" is recorded in "addition date" indicating the date on which the electronic money was added.As a result, as of December 22, 2024 after the settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value, the valuable value management means 101 will be managing record "0002" with a "current balance" of "2,000" and record "0003" with a "current balance" of "4,000".

[0045] Furthermore, if a cashless payment using a deferred payment method such as a credit card is subsequently available, and the cashless payment is executed, 12,000 yen worth of electronic money is deposited into the wallet 100A from the general-purpose payment center 40 on December 24, 2024, and the electronic money is added to the valuable value management means 101 by the cashless addition means 102, a new record with a "record number" of "0004" is added (see FIG. 3(8)). In this record "0004," since the deposit is from the same player, "1234," which is the identification information of the application installed on the player's mobile terminal 10, is recorded as the "app ID," and "credit card," which indicates the type of cashless payment executed, is recorded as an attribute of the electronic money in the "addition type." Furthermore, "10,200" is recorded in "Addition Amount" to indicate that the amount of electronic money added is 10,200 yen, and "10,200" is recorded in "Current Balance" to indicate that the balance of the electronic money managed as record "0004" is 10,200 yen. Also, "2024 / 12 / 24", which indicates the date the electronic money was added, is recorded in "Addition Date".

[0046] Furthermore, on December 26, 2024, if the player specifies 10,000 yen as the specified amount and charges IC card 4 from 16,200 yen, which is the sum of the ``current balance'' of the electronic money managed as records ``0002,'' ``0003,'' and ``0004,'' the ``current balance'' of record ``0002'' will be subtracted to ``0'' and the ``charge amount'' will be updated to ``3,000,'' and the ``current balance'' of record ``0003'' will be subtracted to ``0'' and the ``charge amount'' will be updated to ``4,000,'' and further, the ``current balance'' of record ``0004'' will be subtracted to ``6,000'' and the ``charge amount'' will be updated to ``4,000'' (see Figure 3(9)). Since the "Addition Type" of both records "0002" and "0003" is "Settlement", no charge fee is charged and the "Fee" of each of records "0002" and "0003" is updated to "0", while the "Addition Type" of record "0004" is "Credit Card", so a charge fee is charged and the "Fee" of record "0004" is updated to "200". In this way, records "0002" and "0003", whose "Current Balance" has been reduced to "0", are treated as non-target records. Subsequently, the electronic money managed in the records "0002," "0003," and "0004" is debited and converted, and 1,000 yen of the 10,000 yen prepaid value associated with IC card 4 is used for gaming on December 26, 2024, leaving a remaining balance of 9,000 yen. Even if this is not reflected in record "0004" (see Figure 3 (10)). If the remaining balance of 9,000 yen is subsequently settled by the player on the same day, a new record "0005" is added (see Figure 3 (11)). At this time, "1234" is recorded in the "application ID" of this record "0005," as before, and "settlement," indicating that the added electronic money is the settlement of prepaid value, is recorded in the "addition type" as an attribute of the electronic money.Furthermore, "9,000" is recorded in "addition amount" indicating that the amount of electronic money added by settlement is 9,000 yen, "9,000" is recorded in "current balance" indicating that the balance of electronic money managed as record "0005" at that time is 9,000 yen, and "2024 / 12 / 26" is recorded in "addition date" indicating the date on which the electronic money was added.As a result, as of December 26, 2024 after the settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value, the valuable value management means 101 will be managing record "0004" with a "current balance" of "6,000" and record "0005" with a "current balance" of "9,000".

[0047] Here, the expiration date of electronic money managed by the valuable management means 101 is managed based on the validity period of each record. For example, in the valuable management system 1A, the usability determination means 105, which will be described later, determines whether the electronic money can be used by setting a predetermined period from the "addition date" recorded in a record as the validity period of the electronic money in that record. For example, the predetermined period is 180 days, which is less than the six months for electronic money issued by gaming parlors that do not require an issuance security deposit under the Fund Settlement Act. This makes it possible to properly manage the expiration date of electronic money using the valuable management system 1A, and by setting the validity period to 180 days, which is less than six months, it becomes possible to treat electronic money as electronic money that does not require an issuance security deposit.

[0048] In the valuable management means 101, for each record, a date 180 days after the date recorded in the "addition date" is recorded in the "expiration date." The date recorded in this "expiration date" is calculated based on the date recorded in the "addition date," not including the date of the "addition date," by counting from the day after the date recorded in the "addition date." This date indicates the end (last day) of a predetermined period set as the validity period. Then, each time the date is updated, the usability determination means 105 determines whether the electronic money is usable based on the date recorded in the "expiration date." Specifically, for each record, electronic money whose date recorded in the "expiration date" is after the determination date is determined to be electronic money within the validity period and usable electronic money, and electronic money whose date recorded in the "expiration date" is before the determination date (past) is determined to be electronic money outside the validity period and unusable electronic money. In addition, usable electronic money corresponds to "usable value," and in the following explanation, "usable value" is also referred to as "usable electronic money," and electronic money that is outside its validity period is also referred to as "unusable electronic money."

[0049] For example, as shown in FIG. 3(12), let us consider an example in which 10,000 yen worth of electronic money is deposited into wallet 100A from general-purpose payment center 40 on December 24, 2024, and the electronic money is added to value management means 101 by cashless addition means 102. In record "0004," "2025 / 6 / 22," which indicates a date 180 days after December 24, 2024, the date recorded in the "addition date," is recorded in the "expiration date." Then, on June 23, 2025, 180 days after December 24, 2024, the date "2025 / 6 / 22" recorded in the "expiration date" of record "0004" is earlier (past) than June 23, 2025, which is the determination date, and therefore, the usability determination means 105 determines that the electronic money of record "0004" is unusable. On the other hand, the electronic money of record "0005" is determined to be usable by the usability determination means 105 because the date "2025 / 6 / 24" recorded in its "expiration date" is after the determination date of June 23, 2025. As a result, as of June 23, 2025, the valuable management means 101 treats the electronic money of record "0004" as unusable electronic money and the electronic money of record "0005" as usable electronic money. In this way, the valuable management system 1A determines whether electronic money can be used.

[0050] Also, on June 23, 2025, as shown in FIG. 3(12), 10,000 yen worth of electronic money is deposited into wallet 100A from general-purpose payment center 40 through the execution of "TokkyoPay," an instant cashless payment. This electronic money is then added to value management means 101 by cashless addition means 102, and a new record with "Record No." "0006" is added. In this "0006" record, "1234," which is the application identification information, is recorded as the "App ID," and "TokkyoPay," which indicates the type of cashless payment, is recorded in "Addition Type" as an attribute of the electronic money. Furthermore, "10,200" is recorded in "Addition Amount," "10,200" in "Current Balance," and "2024 / 12 / 26," which indicates the date the electronic money was added, is recorded in "Addition Date." In this case, as of June 23, 2025, when 10,200 yen worth of electronic money is added by executing "TokkyoPay," the electronic money of record "0004" is excluded as it is unusable electronic money, and the total "current balance" of the electronic money of record "0005" and the electronic money of record "0006," which are usable electronic money, becomes 19,200 yen usable. The total amount of the "current balance" of this usable electronic money corresponds to the "usable amount."

[0051] Then, on the same day (June 23, 2025), if the player specifies 10,000 yen as the specified amount and charges IC card 4 from 19,200 yen, which is the sum of the ``current balance'' of the electronic money managed as records ``0005'' and ``0006,'' the ``current balance'' of record ``0005'' will be subtracted to ``0'' and the ``charge amount'' will be updated to ``9,000,'' and the ``current balance'' of record ``0006'' will be subtracted to ``9,000'' and the ``charge amount'' will be updated to ``1,000'' (see Figure 3 (13)). Furthermore, since the "addition type" of record "0005" is "settlement," no charge fee is charged and the "fee" of record "0005" is updated to "0," while the "addition type" of record "0006" is "TokkyoPay," a charge fee is charged and the "fee" of record "0006" is updated to "200." In this way, electronic money is managed in the valuable value management means 101.

[0052] In the valuable management system 1A, the valuable management means 101 is configured as a database that manages electronic money as records, but the valuable management means 101 is not limited to a record-format database and may, for example, record electronic money as tabular data such as used in spreadsheet software, or may create a new file for each electronic money deposit and manage the electronic money as a database by compiling multiple created files, or any format may be used as long as it can manage information about electronic money as a database. Furthermore, the electronic money managed by the valuable management means 101 of the valuable management system 1A can be charged to an IC card 4 for use in games, and can also be used to pay for other goods and services.

[0053] As described above, in the valuable management system 1A according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the valuable management means 101 functions to manage each player's usable valuable in a wallet account, and also monitors the status of deposits and withdrawals to and from the wallet account and the usage status of the IC card 4, which serves as a recording medium, over time. The charge fee, which is deducted when a charge is made based on a player's charge request operation, is set to an appropriate amount based on predetermined criteria, thereby achieving an appropriate balance between promoting the use of the valuable management system 1A, which allows cashless payment, and discouraging excessive use. Details will be described later.

[0054] Next, a description will be given of the functional configuration of each of the components such as the gaming machine 2, the unit 3, the management function section 100A, etc. Fig. 2 is a configuration block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the valuable management system 1A.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 2, the gaming machine 2 includes a control unit 2a that controls the progress of the game and a unit communication unit 2b that communicates with the unit 3. Each gaming machine 2 is connected to a corresponding unit 3, and various types of game information that occur or change as the game progresses are output from the gaming machine 2 to the unit 3, and information regarding gaming media loaned from the gaming parlor to be used in games using the gaming machine 2 is output from the unit 3 to the gaming machine 2 as loan information. The control unit 2a is composed of a microcomputer that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs various processes according to a program, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that is a storage device that records electronic data such as programs for operating the CPU and can read the recorded electronic data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is a storage device that can both read and write electronic data.

[0056] The unit 3 includes a control unit 3a that accepts, for example, banknotes and electronic money, converts them into prepaid value, associates the prepaid value converted from banknotes or electronic money with the IC card 4, and controls processes related to the lending of gaming media, a gaming machine communication unit 3b that communicates with the gaming machines 2, a management function unit communication unit 3c that communicates with the management function unit 100A (specifically, the relay device 8), and a management device communication unit 3d that communicates with the management device 9. Furthermore, when the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 by the unit 3 is converted into gaming media, it is notified to the management device 9 and the prepaid settlement center 30 as sales, and is managed by the management device 9 and the prepaid settlement center 30. The unit 3 also has a function of transmitting information about the payout operation and information about the counting operation (hereinafter, the information about the payout operation and the information about the counting operation may be collectively referred to as "recording medium usage information") to the management function unit 100A based on the use of the IC card 4 (a payout operation that subtracts the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 and pays out gaming media to be used in games on the gaming machine, and a counting operation that performs processing to manage the counted gaming media as acquired gaming media). Note that the control unit 3a is configured by a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., similar to the control unit 2a of the gaming machine 2. In addition, information about the electronic money converted into prepaid value and the prepaid value used in games is output as payment information between the unit 3 and the management function unit 100A, for example.

[0057] The card issuing machine 5 includes a control unit 5a that accepts, for example, banknotes and electronic money and controls processes related to converting them into prepaid value and associating the prepaid value with the IC card 4, a management function unit communication unit 5b that communicates with the management function unit 100A (specifically, the relay device 8), and a management device communication unit 5c that communicates with the management device 9. Similar to the control unit 2a of the gaming machine 2, the control unit 5a is configured by a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The card issuing machine 5 outputs payment information related to, for example, banknotes or electronic money inserted into the card issuing machine 5 to the management function unit 100A, and the card issuing machine 5 outputs payment information related to, for example, the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 to the management device 9.

[0058] The gaming device (specifically, each of the unit 3 and the card issuing machine 5) is provided with a touch panel display 11, which is a display means and input means capable of displaying and inputting various information, and physical operation buttons, etc., which serve as input means. Therefore, the gaming device can display various information to the player, and can also input various information based on the player's operation of the touch panel display 11 and operation buttons. The gaming device is also provided with a recording medium processing device such as a card reader / writer capable of reading and writing various information to the IC card 4, and a currency validator that identifies the authenticity and type of inserted banknotes, but these are not shown or described here.

[0059] The settlement machine 6 is capable of accepting an IC card 4 and settling the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. The settlement machine 6 is equipped with, for example, a control unit 6a that controls overall processing related to the acceptance of the IC card 4 and the settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, and a management function unit communication unit 6b that communicates with the management function unit 100A (specifically, the relay device 8). The control unit 6a is configured by a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., similar to the control unit 2a of the gaming machine 2. Furthermore, the settlement machine 6 outputs, for example, settlement information related to the settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value to the management function unit 100A, and the management function unit 100A outputs, for example, information related to whether or not the settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value can be executed to the settlement machine 6. The settlement machine 6 is also equipped with a recording medium processing device (not shown) such as a card reader / writer that can read and write various information to the IC card 4, and a touch panel display that is a display and input means that can display and input various information, but these are not shown or described here.

[0060] The management function unit 100A (relay device 8 and cashless center 20) includes, for example, a control unit 111 that controls the processing of each means provided in the management function unit 100A, such as the valuable management means 101, a center communication unit 112 that communicates with the general-purpose payment center 40, a unit communication unit 113 that communicates with the unit 3, a mobile terminal communication unit 114 that communicates with the mobile terminal 10, a card issuer communication unit 115 that communicates with the card issuer 5, a settlement machine communication unit 116 that communicates with the settlement machine 6, a valuable addition / deletion information management unit 117, a charge fee setting unit 118A, a recording medium usage information acquisition unit 119, a pair management unit 120, a charge fee refund means 121, and a charge fee breakdown management unit 122. The control unit 111 is configured by a microcomputer provided in the relay device 8 and the cashless center 20, and includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The management function unit 100A has the function of appropriately managing the balance of the value that can be used by the player, as well as the function of appropriately setting a charging fee, the details of which will be described later.

[0061] The management device 9 includes a control unit 9a that performs overall management of each gaming machine 2, each unit 3, and the card issuing machine 5, a unit communication unit 9b that communicates with the unit 3, and a card issuing machine communication unit 9c that communicates with the card issuing machine 5. The control unit 9a is configured with a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The management device 9 outputs, for example, setting information for controlling the gaming machines 2 and the unit 3 to the unit 3, and the unit 3 outputs, for example, settlement information regarding the prepaid value used in games on the gaming machines 2 to the management device 9. Furthermore, the management device 9 outputs, for example, setting information for controlling the card issuing machine 5 to the card issuing machine 5, and the card issuing machine 5 outputs, for example, settlement information regarding the prepaid value of the issued IC card 4 to the management device 9.

[0062] The general-purpose payment center 40 comprises a control unit 40a that mainly performs processing related to the execution of cashless payment, an information management unit 40b that manages authentication information required for the execution of cashless payment and cashless payment history, and a management function unit communication unit 40c that communicates with the management function unit 100A. Payment information output between the general-purpose payment center 40 and the management function unit 100A includes, for example, a deposit request requesting the execution of cashless payment and deposit information for electronic money to be deposited in response to the deposit request. The prepaid payment center 30 also has a similar configuration to the general-purpose payment center 40 with regard to the purchase of prepaid value, but a description thereof will be omitted.

[0063] Next, various functions provided in the management function unit 100A of the valuable management system 1A according to the first embodiment for appropriately managing the valuable for each player will be described in detail.

[0064] The management function unit 100A includes a cashless addition means 102 that adds electronic money deposited from the general-purpose settlement center 40 to the value management means 101, a charge execution means 103 that associates the electronic money with the IC card 4 using the unit 3, a settlement addition means 104 that settles electronic money equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, a usability determination means 105 that determines whether the electronic money managed by the value management means 101 can be used, and a settlement execution instruction means 106 that instructs the settlement machine 6 to execute settlement.

[0065] The cashless adding means 102 makes a deposit request to the general-purpose payment center 40, which executes cashless payment, based on operation of the mobile terminal 10 (which may involve operation of the touch panel display 11 or physical operation buttons provided on the unit 3), and adds the electronic money deposited from the general-purpose payment center 40 to the valuable management means 101. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, when a player launches an application installed on the mobile terminal 10 and performs a deposit operation, a deposit execution request including a deposit request amount specified by the player is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 to the cashless adding means 102 of the management function unit 100A. Upon receiving the deposit execution request, the cashless adding means 102 checks whether the specified deposit request amount is equal to or less than a preset depositable amount, and if the deposit request amount is equal to or less than the depositable amount, transmits a deposit request including the specified deposit request amount to the general-purpose payment center 40. Here, if the deposit request amount exceeds the depositable amount, the cashless adding means 102 transmits an error message to the mobile terminal 10.

[0066] The maximum deposit amount can be set arbitrarily by a balance limit setting means (not shown). Specifically, the balance limit setting means accepts a deposit limit set by a player for his / her wallet account or a deposit limit set by the operator of the valuable management system 1A for all or individual wallet accounts of system users, and sets the maximum deposit amount as the maximum deposit amount. The maximum deposit amount may be set by the player for each type of cashless payment, or by the operator of the valuable management system 1A for each type of cashless payment. For example, if the maximum deposit amount for cashless payments using "TokkyoPay" is set at 200,000 yen per month, that maximum deposit amount is set as the maximum deposit amount for that month. In this case, if 180,000 yen has already been deposited using "TokkyoPay" in that month, the remaining 20,000 yen becomes the maximum deposit amount. For example, if the maximum deposit amount for cashless payments using "credit card" is set at 100,000 yen per month, that maximum deposit amount is set as the maximum deposit amount for that month. In this case, if 70,000 yen has already been deposited using a "credit card" in the current month, the remaining 30,000 yen will be the depositable amount. Furthermore, if a deposit limit is not set by the player or the operator, the valuable management system 1A may be configured to set a predetermined deposit limit as the depositable amount. In this case, for example, if the deposit limit per player is set in advance at 990,000 yen / month, the deposit limit for each app ID used to identify the player is set at 990,000 yen / month, and this deposit limit is set as the depositable amount. While the valuable management system 1A has been illustrated as being configured as a cashless addition means 102 that confirms the depositable amount, the cashless addition means 102 may be configured without the function of confirming the depositable amount.

[0067] Next, the general-purpose payment center 40, which has received the deposit request, executes cashless payment using the mobile terminal 10, and the general-purpose payment center 40 deposits electronic money equivalent to the deposit request amount as a deposit response to the management function unit 100A. At this time, the electronic money deposited into the wallet 100A is added to the value management unit 101 by the cashless addition means 102. The value management unit 101 also adds the electronic money added by the cashless addition means 102 as a new record, associates the added amount of electronic money with the addition date, and records this together with other information as various information associated with the electronic money. The cashless addition means 102 also recalculates the depositable amount up to the cashless payment deposit limit (the deposit limit set for the type of cashless payment used for the deposit) to prepare for the next deposit execution request. The cashless addition means 102 also collects a predetermined deposit fee from the player when the cashless payment is executed. Methods for collecting the deposit fee include subtracting it from the balance in the value management means 101, collecting the difference resulting from setting the payment amount by the general-purpose payment center 40 to 1.0 and the conversion rate to electronic money managed by the value management means 101A to less than 1.0, and collecting the fee by adding it to the system usage fee that the general-purpose payment center 40 charges the user. Then, the cashless adding means 102 that added the electronic money notifies the mobile terminal 10 that the electronic money deposit has been completed as a deposit response, and the mobile terminal 10 that receives this notification displays the deposit result on its screen. As a result, the electronic money added to the value management means 101 is recorded and managed as record "0001" as shown in FIG. 3(1).

[0068] The charge execution means 103 can withdraw and subtract electronic money from the valuable value management means 101 based on a "charge execution request" requesting that electronic money managed by the valuable value management means 101 be converted (charged) into prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, and can cause the electronic money to be charged by the gaming device (unit 3 or card issuing machine 5). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when a player operates the touch panel display 11 or operation buttons on the gaming device to perform a "charge request operation," a code information request is sent from the gaming device to the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100A to identify the gaming device operated by the player. This code information request includes, for example, a company ID, which is identification information for each business operator that identifies a business operator that manages the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 as a third party, a gaming facility ID, which is identification information for each gaming facility that identifies the gaming facility where the gaming device operated by the player is installed, and a gaming device ID, which is identification information for each gaming device that identifies the gaming device.

[0069] Upon receiving the code information request, the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100A responds with code information to the gaming device. The code information is information for displaying a code (e.g., a two-dimensional code or a barcode) that can be optically read by a camera provided on the mobile terminal 10 on the touch panel display 11 of the gaming device. Specifically, the code information outputs a code string that includes identification information for each charge, such as a deposit ID generated by the charge execution means 103 each time a code information request is received, an action URL for causing the mobile terminal 10 that reads the code displayed on the gaming device to perform a predetermined action, and information received from the gaming device as the code information request (company ID, gaming parlor ID, gaming device ID, and code generation date and time). The gaming device that receives this code information displays a code that includes at least the deposit ID, action URL, company ID, gaming parlor ID, and gaming device ID.

[0070] Next, when the mobile terminal 10 reads the code displayed on the gaming device, the mobile terminal 10 accesses the management function unit 100A based on the read operation URL and communicates with the charge execution means 103. At this time, information such as a deposit ID and the app ID of an application installed on the mobile terminal 10 is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103 as a pre-charge information request. The charge execution means 103, which has received the pre-charge information request, identifies the company ID, gaming facility ID, code generation date and time, etc. based on the deposit ID included in the pre-charge information request, and confirms the validity of the code. Here, the validity of the code is confirmed by verifying the identified company ID and gaming facility ID, and checking whether a predetermined period of time has passed since the code generation date and time. If the validity of the code cannot be confirmed, the charge execution means 103 sends an error message to the mobile terminal 10, although this is not shown in the figure. On the other hand, if the code is confirmed to be valid, the charge execution means 103 identifies the gaming parlor from the gaming parlor ID and also identifies a default charge fee (a charge fee to be applied when the charge fee setting means 118A, which will be described in detail later, does not determine whether a predetermined determination condition is met; for example, a charge fee set in multiple stages according to the charge amount may be applied, a charge fee related to charge for each parlor may be applied, or a flat charge fee may be applied regardless of the parlor or charge amount). Note that the charge fee may be included as part of the chargeable amount (the total amount of electronic money available in the wallet account of the player), or may be collected from the player separately from the chargeable amount. Furthermore, the charge execution means 103 identifies a storage area of ​​the valuable management means 101 linked to the app ID from the app ID; in other words, a wallet account for each player.

[0071] In the identified valuable management means 101, the usability determination means 105 determines whether the electronic money can be used and identifies the available electronic money. The charge execution means 103 then calculates the total amount of electronic money available for charge, in other words, the total amount of the available electronic money's "current balance," based on the "current balance" of the identified available electronic money. The calculated total amount of the "current balance" is then specified as the available charge amount. The available charge amount, like the total amount of the "current balance" of the available electronic money, corresponds to the "available amount." The charge execution means 103 then transmits the specified available charge amount to the mobile terminal 10 as a pre-charge information response. Based on the received available charge amount, the mobile terminal 10 then displays a charge amount selection screen on which the player can specify a desired amount within the available charge amount (specified amount) as the charge amount. This charge amount selection screen allows the player to select a desired charge amount from multiple options, such as 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, or 10,000 yen, but the player may also be configured to specify any amount as the charge amount. In the present embodiment, the valuable management system 1A subtracts a charge fee from the balance of the player's wallet account, so it is desirable to present the charge amount and charge fee to the player so that the amount to be subtracted, including the charge fee, does not exceed the current balance of the wallet account. When the player specifies the desired charge amount and performs a charge execution operation, a charge execution request is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103. This charge execution request includes at least the company ID, gaming facility ID, gaming device ID, specified charge amount (specified amount), app ID, etc.

[0072] Upon receiving the charge execution request, the charge execution means 103 notifies the mobile terminal 10 of the completion of the charge execution by sending a charge execution response via a communication means such as email or a pop-up function in an application installed on the mobile terminal 10. The charge execution means 103 also identifies the gaming device operated by the player using the company ID, gaming facility ID, and gaming device ID, and deducts and subtracts electronic money equivalent to the specified charge amount and the identified charge fee from the valuable value management means 101. Then, the charge execution means 103 transmits a charge execution instruction to the identified gaming device to convert (charge) the electronic money equivalent to the deducted and subtracted charge amount into prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 by the gaming device. The gaming device that received the charge execution instruction associates the prepaid value equivalent to the electronic money deducted by the charge execution means 103 with the IC card 4 based on the received charge amount. The gaming device then transmits the card ID of the IC card 4 associated with the prepaid value to the management function unit 100A as a charge result, completing the charging of the prepaid value to the IC card 4. At this time, if the gaming device is the unit 3, the player can use the prepaid value to play on the gaming machine 2, and if the gaming device is the card issuing machine 5, the IC card 4 is issued (ejected), and the player can insert the IC card 4 into the unit 3 to play on the gaming machine 2.

[0073] Meanwhile, in the management function unit 100A that has received the charge result, first, the valuable management means 101 updates the "current balance" of the record in which the withdrawn usable electronic money is recorded. Furthermore, based on the card ID of the IC card 4 received as the charge result, the pair management means 120 of the management function unit 100A links the card ID with an application ID, and records and manages the linking information. That is, as the charge execution means 103 associates valuable with the IC card 4, which is a recording medium, the pair management means 120 links and manages account information (for example, an application ID that can uniquely identify the player's account) managed by the valuable management means 101, from which the valuable is to be subtracted, with the card ID of the IC card 4, to which the valuable is to be added. Then, from then on, if the card ID of the IC card 4 used by the player in the unit 3 or ejected from the card issuing machine 5 and held by the player can be identified, it becomes possible to identify the app ID linked to that card ID, and therefore the player's personal information and membership information linked to that app ID can be identified. Therefore, it becomes possible to identify the player who uses or holds the IC card 4 from the card ID, and the recording medium usage information (usage status of the IC card 4) acquired by the recording medium usage information acquisition means 119 can be linked to the individual player (app ID) and continuously monitored. This gaming medium usage information can be used by the charge fee setting means 118A as an example of gaming results, which are information accumulated as a history of the player's actions related to gaming.

[0074] The settlement adding means 104 adds electronic money equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value to the valuable value management means 101 to settle the remaining amount, based on a settlement execution request from a player requesting that a valuable value equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 be added to the valuable value management means 101. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 , when settling the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, the player first ejects the IC card 4 from the gaming device (unit 3 or card issuing machine 5) based on the player's operation of a card return button or the like. Then, the player inserts the IC card 4 ejected from the gaming device into a gaming device (adjustment machine 6) installed in the gaming parlor, and the adjustment machine 6 that accepted the IC card 4 transmits a wallet return confirmation request to the settlement adding means 104 of the management function unit 100A. This wallet return confirmation request includes at least the card ID of the IC card 4 and the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. The settlement / addition means 104, which has received the wallet return possibility confirmation request, checks the linking information between the card ID and the application ID managed by the management function unit 100A. The player and the player's wallet account are then identified from the application ID linked to the card ID. If it is confirmed that the application ID linked when adding electronic money to the valuable management means 101 is valid by identifying the player and the player's wallet account, a wallet return possibility confirmation result indicating that the wallet return settlement is possible is transmitted to the settlement machine 6. In the valuable management system 1A, if a settlement fee is charged in the settlement process for returning the remaining prepaid value of the IC card 4 to the wallet account, it is desirable to transmit the wallet return possibility confirmation result, including the settlement fee, to the settlement machine 6. On the other hand, if it cannot be confirmed that the application ID is valid, a wallet return possibility confirmation result indicating an error is transmitted to the settlement machine 6, although this is not shown in the figure.

[0075] Next, when the settlement machine 6 receives the wallet return availability confirmation result indicating that wallet return settlement is possible, a message indicating that settlement is in progress is displayed on the screen of the settlement machine 6. The settlement machine 6 then transmits a settlement execution request to the settlement addition means 104, requesting settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. This settlement execution request includes at least the settlement machine ID, gaming facility ID, card ID, and settlement amount, which are identification information for each settlement machine 6. Here, the settlement addition means 104 adds electronic money equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value to the wallet account corresponding to the card ID based on the received settlement execution request, and executes wallet return settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value. Then, a new record is added in the valuable value management means 101, and electronic money equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value is recorded and managed in that record. Furthermore, in the "addition type" of the record added at this time, "settlement" is recorded as an attribute of the electronic money, indicating that the electronic money being added is a settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value. In this way, when the settlement addition means 104 executes the wallet return settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, it sends a settlement execution response to the settlement machine 6 and notifies the mobile terminal 10 by communication means such as email that the settlement has been completed. Then, the settlement machine 6 that has received the settlement execution response displays on its screen that the settlement has been completed, and also displays on the screen of the mobile terminal 10 that the settlement has been completed, so that the player can know that the settlement has been completed. Thereafter, the settlement machine 6 collects the IC card 4, for which the settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value has been completed.

[0076] Note that the wallet return settlement by the settlement adding means 104 may also be performed by the unit 3. Specifically, when a player performs an operation (a settlement request operation) to request the settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 inserted in the unit 3, a wallet return possibility confirmation request is sent from the unit 3 into which the IC card 4 is inserted to the settlement adding means 104 of the management function unit 100A. This wallet return possibility confirmation request includes at least the card ID of the IC card 4 and the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. The settlement adding means 104, which has received the wallet return possibility confirmation request, confirms the linking information between the card ID and the application ID managed by the management function unit 100A. Then, the player and the player's wallet account are identified from the application ID linked to the card ID. Here, if it is confirmed that the application ID linked when electronic money was added to the valuable value management means 101 is valid by identifying the player and the player's wallet account, a message indicating that wallet return settlement is possible is sent to unit 3 as a wallet return availability confirmation result. Note that in the valuable value management system 1A, if a settlement fee is to be collected in the settlement process of returning the remaining amount of prepaid value on the IC card 4 to the wallet account, it is desirable to send to unit 3 a wallet return availability confirmation result that includes the settlement fee. On the other hand, if it cannot be confirmed that the application ID is valid, a message indicating an error is sent to unit 3 as a wallet return availability confirmation result.

[0077] Next, when the unit 3 receives the wallet return availability confirmation result indicating that the wallet return settlement is possible, a message indicating that the settlement is in progress is displayed on the screen of the unit 3. After that, the unit 3 transmits a settlement execution request to the settlement addition means 104, requesting settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. This settlement execution request includes at least the gaming machine ID, gaming facility ID, card ID, and settlement amount, which are identification information for each unit 3. Here, the settlement addition means 104 adds electronic money equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value to the wallet account corresponding to the card ID based on the received settlement execution request, and executes wallet return settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value. Then, a new record is added to the valuable value management means 101, and electronic money equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value is recorded and managed in that record. Furthermore, in the "addition type" of the record added at this time, "settlement" is recorded as an attribute of the electronic money, indicating that the electronic money being added is settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value. In this way, when the settlement adding means 104 executes the wallet return settlement for the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, it sends a settlement execution response to the unit 3 and notifies the mobile terminal 10 by communication means such as email that the settlement has been completed. Then, the unit 3 that has received the settlement execution response displays on its screen that the settlement has been completed, and also displays on the screen of the mobile terminal 10 that the settlement has been completed, so that the player can know that the settlement has been completed. Thereafter, the unit 3 collects the IC card 4, for which the settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value has been completed.

[0078] Each time the date is updated, the usability determination means 105 determines whether the electronic money managed by the valuable management means 101 is usable based on the date recorded in the "expiration date" of each record. Specifically, the usability determination means 105 determines that the electronic money is usable within the validity period, for example, a period of 180 days from the date recorded in the "addition date" of each record, and determines that the electronic money is usable outside the validity period. Therefore, as described above, taking June 23, 2025 shown in Figure 3 (13) as an example, the electronic money of record "0004" is determined to be unusable by the usability determination means 105 because June 22, 2025 recorded in the "expiration date" is before (in the past) June 23, 2025. On the other hand, the electronic money of record "0005" is determined to be usable by the usability determination means 105 because the "expiration date" of June 24, 2025 is after June 23, 2025. In this case, the valuable management means 101 treats the electronic money of record "0004" as unusable electronic money and the electronic money of record "0005" as usable electronic money.

[0079] Although the usability determination means 105 is configured to determine whether the electronic money can be used based on the date recorded in the "expiration date" each time the date is updated, it may also be configured to receive a notification from the mobile terminal 10 when the player launches an application installed on the mobile terminal 10, and determine whether the electronic money can be used each time the notification is received. The timing of the usability determination is arbitrary. Furthermore, the determination of whether the electronic money can be used by the usability determination means 105 is not limited to the determination based on the validity period as described above. For example, it may be determined based on whether the number of days elapsed since the date recorded in the "addition date" is within a predetermined number of days. Furthermore, the predetermined validity period is not limited to 180 days, and may be set in calendar months, such as three or five months, or may be set in yearly units, such as one or two years. Furthermore, the management of dates in the usability determining means 105 and the valuable managing means 101 may be realized by using a schedule management function provided in advance in the relay device 8, the cashless center 20, etc., or may be realized by providing an original schedule management function in the valuable managing system 1A. Furthermore, by using these schedule management functions, the date recorded in the "expiration date" may be automatically calculated and recorded based on the date recorded in the "addition date".

[0080] When a type of cashless payment is associated with the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, the settlement execution instruction means 106 determines whether or not settlement can be performed by paying out the remaining amount of the prepaid value in cash, depending on the type of cashless payment, and then instructs the settlement machine 6, which is capable of settling by paying out the remaining amount of the prepaid value in cash, to perform settlement by paying out the remaining amount of the prepaid value in cash, depending on the result of the determination. Specifically, as will be described later, when a type of cashless payment is associated with the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, the settlement execution instruction means 106 determines whether or not settlement can be performed by paying out the remaining amount of the prepaid value in cash, depending on the type of cashless payment. For example, if the type of cashless payment linked to the prepaid value associated with IC card 4 is "TokkyoPay," which is an immediate cashless payment, it is determined that the remaining balance of the prepaid value can be settled by a cash payout, whereas if the type of cashless payment linked to the prepaid value associated with IC card 4 is "credit card," which is a deferred cashless payment, it is determined that the settlement by a cash payout of the prepaid value is not possible. As a result, for example, if electronic money that has been deposited into wallet 100A and managed by valuable value management means 101 is withdrawn by executing a deferred cashless payment, such as a payment using a credit card, and the electronic money is charged (converted into prepaid value associated with IC card 4), it is determined that the settlement by a cash payout of the remaining balance of the prepaid value cannot be made possible, thereby preventing the settlement amount of the credit card from being converted into cash. In addition, even if the type of cashless payment linked to the prepaid value associated with IC card 4 is an instant cashless payment such as "TokkyoPay," the settlement execution instruction means 106 may determine that settlement by cash withdrawal of the prepaid value is not possible, and may only allow settlement by returning the prepaid value to the wallet.

[0081] As described above, the valuable management means 101 of the management function unit 100A can manage the wallet account balance for each player for each type of cashless payment based on the application ID. In addition, the management function unit 100A is equipped with valuable addition / subtraction information management means 117, which can manage the history of addition and subtraction of valuable by the gaming devices (unit 3, card issuing machine 5, and settlement machine 6). That is, the valuable addition / subtraction information management means 117 acquires valuable addition / subtraction information including at least one type of information among information regarding addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the cashless addition means 102, information regarding addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the settlement addition means 104, and information regarding subtraction of valuable from the valuable management means 101 by the charge execution means 103, and manages the information for each player (e.g., for each card ID of the IC card 4). The valuable addition / subtraction information management means 117 acquires the type of cashless payment executed by the general-purpose payment center 40 (the "addition type" in the record described above) as information regarding the addition of valuable to each player's wallet account in the valuable management means 101 by each player's cashless addition means 102, and may also manage information that the type of cashless payment is a specific type (for example, addition type "credit card") for the addition to each player's wallet account in the valuable management means 101. Credit cards are particularly problematic if misused, so it is important to be vigilant against cashless payments using credit cards.

[0082] Furthermore, the management function unit 100A in the valuable management system 1A of this embodiment includes the pair management means 120 and the recording medium usage information acquisition means 119, and thereby can manage information related to a payout operation for paying out game media usable in the gaming machine 2 using the IC card 4 and information related to a counting operation for counting game media in the gaming machine 2 and recording the game media on the IC card 4, by linking them with the application ID. As described above, the pair management means 120 manages the wallet account from which the valuable is subtracted and the IC card 4 to which the valuable is added, by linking them together, as the charge execution means 103 associates the valuable with the IC card 4. The recording medium usage information acquisition means 119 acquires information related to the payout operation or information related to the counting operation (recording medium usage information) based on the performance of a payout operation for subtracting the valuable associated with the IC card 4 managed by the pair management means 120 and paying out game media to be used in a game on the gaming machine 2, or a counting operation for managing the counted game media as acquired game media. The acquired recording medium usage information may be managed by the recording medium usage information acquisition means 119 itself (for example, by recording individual gaming medium usage information in a record) so that the charging fee setting means 118A can refer to it, or it may be left to an external management database (not shown) so that the charging fee setting means 118A can refer to the recording medium usage information.

[0083] Here, the process of acquiring recording medium usage information related to the payout operation performed by the gaming device (unit 3) will be explained based on the flow diagram shown in Figure 7. When a player performs a gaming medium lending request operation in unit 3, a gaming medium payout operation is performed within the range of the value associated with the IC card 4 currently being handled by unit 3. The gaming medium payout operation is performed by a gaming medium addition instruction from unit 3 to the gaming machine 2, and the gaming machine 2 executes the gaming medium payout operation (payout of tangible gaming medium or granting of gaming points, which are intangible gaming media). In addition, unit 3 notifies the management function unit 100A of the paid gaming medium information in conjunction with the gaming medium payout operation. If the notification source of this dispensed game media information is a unit 3 that is handling an IC card 4 with a card ID that is under the management of the pair management means 120, the recording medium usage information acquisition means 119 acquires it as recording medium usage information and adds, for example, a record linked to the card ID (including at least the time the game media were dispensed and the number of game media dispensed). This allows the management function unit 100A to manage information related to the dispensing operation performed using an IC card 4 that can identify the owning player.

[0084] Next, the process of acquiring recording medium usage information related to the counting operation performed by the gaming device (unit 3) will be explained based on the flow diagram shown in Figure 8. When a player performs a gaming media counting request operation in the gaming machine 2, the gaming machine 2 issues a gaming media increment instruction to the unit 3. For example, if the gaming machine 2 manages gaming media as electronic data, the number of gaming media available for the player to play is handled as electronic data, so the remaining number of gaming media can be sent to the unit 3 along with a gaming media increment instruction. If the gaming machine 2 handles physical gaming media, the number of gaming media to be added can be counted by inserting gaming media stored in a ball storage tray or the like of the gaming machine 2 into a counting section provided in the unit 3. Once the number of gaming media to be added is determined in this way, the unit 3 associates the number of gaming media with the IC card 4 being handled. If there are already game media remaining associated with the IC card 4, i.e., if there is a remaining number of game media associated with the IC card 4, the newly counted number of game media is added to this remaining number of game media to update the remaining number of game media. In conjunction with performing the game media counting operation, the unit 3 notifies the management function unit 100A of the counted game media information. If the source of this counted game media information is a unit 3 handling an IC card 4 with a card ID that is subject to management by the pair management means 120, the recording medium usage information acquisition means 119 acquires it as recording medium usage information and adds, for example, a record linked to the card ID (including at least the game media counting time and the number of game media counted). This allows the management function unit 100A to manage information related to counting operations performed using an IC card 4 that can identify the player who owns it. Furthermore, when the gaming device (accounting machine 6) performs the gaming media counting operation, the recording medium usage information can be managed by similarly associating the counted number of gaming media with the IC card 4 being handled by the accounting machine 6 and sending the counted gaming media information to the management function unit 100A.

[0085] The charge fee setting means 118A of the management function unit 100A described above sets, based on predetermined judgment conditions, the charge fee to be collected when the charge execution means 103 charges the IC card 4 with a valuable from the balance of the wallet account. The judgment conditions used by the charge fee setting means 118A may be set arbitrarily depending on the purpose, such as promoting the use of the valuable management system 1A or curbing excessive use of the valuable management system 1A. In this embodiment, the charge fee setting means 118A sets the charge fee to a predetermined amount when at least one of the following conditions is met: "a first determination condition is that the total charge amount, which is the total amount of associated valuables that have been charged within a predetermined determination period, is equal to or exceeds a predetermined charge reference amount;" "a second determination condition is that the total charge fee, which is the total amount of charge fees that have been deducted from charges within a predetermined determination period, is equal to or exceeds a predetermined charge reference amount;" "a third determination condition is that the number of charge attempts, which is the number of times that charge attempts have been made within a predetermined determination period, is equal to or exceeds a predetermined charge reference number;" "a fourth determination condition is that the number of times a specific type of cashless payment has been made by the cashless adding means within a predetermined determination period is equal to or exceeds a predetermined cashless payment reference number;" and "a fifth determination condition is that the gaming performance, which is information accumulated as a history of the player's gaming-related actions within a predetermined determination period, is equal to or exceeds a predetermined reference gaming performance." The "predetermined determination period" in these first to fifth determination conditions may be a period common to all determination conditions, or may be a period that differs for each determination condition. The predetermined period may be set in any unit, such as hours, days, months, or years.

[0086] Note that the default charge fee amount applied when the charge fee setting means 118A does not determine that the predetermined judgment condition is met is different from the predetermined amount applied when the charge fee setting means 118A determines that the predetermined judgment condition is met, but the default charge fee amount may be set lower or higher than the default charge fee amount. For example, when the charge fee setting means 118A determines that the predetermined judgment condition is met and sets a charge fee lower than the default charge fee amount, it becomes easier to charge the IC card 4, so that the player can be given preferential treatment and encouraged to use the valuable management system 1A.

[0087] The first judgment condition is that if charges are made within a specified judgment period (for example, one day from 00:00 to 23:59 on August 1st) and the total charge amount, which is the total amount of associated valuables, is equal to or exceeds a specified charge standard amount (for example, 30,000 yen), it is assumed that this player has made enough charges to reach the standard amount within one day and is contributing to the gaming facility's sales, so it is assumed that this player will be given preferential treatment by setting a charge fee (for example, 0 yen) lower than the default charge fee (for example, 200 yen).

[0088] As a second judgment condition, if the total charge fee, which is the total amount of charge fees deducted when charges are made within a specified judgment period (for example, one day from 00:00 to 23:59 on August 1st), is determined to be equal to or greater than a specified charge fee standard amount (for example, 1,000 yen), it is assumed that this player has paid enough charge fees within one day to reach the charge fee standard amount and is contributing to the sales of the gaming facility, so it is assumed that this player will be given preferential treatment by setting a charge fee (for example, 0 yen) lower than the default charge fee (for example, 200 yen).

[0089] As a third judgment condition, if the number of charges, which is the number of times charges are performed within a specified judgment period (for example, one day from 0:00 to 23:59 on August 1st), is determined to be equal to or greater than a specified standard number of charges (for example, 5 times), it is assumed that this player is performing charges frequently enough to reach the standard number of charges within a day and is contributing to the gaming facility's sales, so it is expected that this player will be given preferential treatment by setting a lower charge fee (for example, 0 yen) than the default charge fee (for example, 200 yen).

[0090] The fourth judgment condition focuses on the frequency of use of specific types of cashless payment, such as credit cards, which are post-payment methods, debit cards, which are immediate payment methods, and prepaid electronic money, which are advance payment methods.The data may be compiled for each gaming facility used by the player, or for affiliated facilities including the gaming facility used by the player, or for all gaming facilities handled by the valuable value management system 1A.

[0091] For example, as a fourth judgment condition, if the number of times a specific type of cashless payment (e.g., immediate payment by TokkyoPay) is executed by the cashless adding means 102 within a predetermined judgment period (e.g., one day from 0:00 to 23:59 on August 1st) is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined cashless payment standard number (e.g., three times), it is assumed that this player has deposited enough money into his wallet account within a day to make cashless payments to reach the cashless payment standard number, and that he is using these deposited amounts to charge his IC card 4 and contributing to the sales of the gaming parlor, so it is assumed that this player will be given preferential treatment by setting a charge fee (e.g., 0 yen) lower than the default charge fee (e.g., 200 yen).

[0092] The fifth judgment condition focuses on the gaming history, which is information accumulated as a history of a player's gaming-related activities. Examples of gaming history that can be used include the number of visits to the gaming establishment, the amount of gaming expenditures using the prepaid value charged to the IC card 4 to borrow gaming media, and the period of time elapsed from the date of becoming a member of the gaming establishment or a member using the valuable value management system 1A to the present (the date and time when the judgment based on this fifth judgment condition is made). The number of visits to the gaming establishment can be determined from historical information on deposits to a wallet account via cashless payment or charging from a wallet account to the IC card 4. The amount of gaming expenditures can be determined from information on the usage history of prepaid value acquired by the recording medium usage information acquisition means 119 of the management function unit 100A. The period of time elapsed from the date of becoming a member of the gaming establishment to the present can be determined based on the membership registration date managed by the management device 9 for each gaming establishment, and the period of time elapsed from the date of becoming a member using the valuable value management system 1A to the present can be determined based on the membership registration date managed by the management function unit 100A.

[0093] For example, as a fifth judgment condition, if a gaming record (e.g., number of visits), which is information accumulated as a history of a player's gaming-related actions within a specified judgment period (e.g., one month from 0:00 on August 1st to 23:59 on August 31st), is determined to be equal to or greater than a specified standard gaming record (e.g., 16 times), it is assumed that this player has used the gaming facility enough to visit the facility 16 times in one month and is contributing to the gaming facility's sales, so it is expected that this player will be given preferential treatment by setting a charge fee (e.g., 0 yen) lower than the default charge fee (e.g., 200 yen). Furthermore, if a gaming record (e.g., gaming amount), which is information accumulated as a history of a player's gaming-related actions within a specified judgment period (e.g., one day from 0:00 to 23:59 on August 1st), is determined to be equal to or greater than a specified standard gaming record (e.g., 30,000 yen), it is assumed that the player has contributed enough to the gaming establishment's sales that their gaming amount reaches 30,000 yen within one day, and therefore it is expected that the player will be given preferential treatment by setting a charging fee (e.g., 0 yen) lower than the default charging fee (e.g., 200 yen). Furthermore, if a player's gaming history (e.g., membership duration), which is information accumulated as a history of the player's gaming-related actions within a specified judgment period (e.g., five years from the date of becoming a member to the present), is determined to be equal to or greater than a specified standard gaming history (e.g., two years), the player is deemed to be a good member who has continued as a member for two years without causing any particular problems, and it is therefore expected that the player will be given preferential treatment by setting a charge fee (e.g., 0 yen) lower than the default charge fee (e.g., 200 yen).

[0094] In the valuable management system 1A in which the above-mentioned first to fifth judgment conditions are set in the charging fee setting means 118A, the charging fee setting means 118A sets the charging fee to a predetermined amount that is reduced from the default charging fee based on the fact that at least one of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met. Furthermore, the charging fee setting means 118A may have a function of "being able to determine whether one or more progress satisfaction conditions are met in the process until each of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met, and being able to set a predetermined elapsed amount reduced charging fee that is reduced in accordance with the progress until the progress satisfaction condition is met, and setting the predetermined amount as the corresponding elapsed amount reduced charging fee based on the progress satisfaction condition being met in the process until each of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met."

[0095] First, in the first determination condition, an arbitrary progress condition and a progress-deducted charge fee may be set in the process until the total charge amount reaches or exceeds a predetermined charge reference amount, so that the charge fee applied to the player is gradually reduced. For example, in the first determination condition, if a progress condition (e.g., a condition that the total charge amount reaches or exceeds 15,000 yen, which is 50% of the charge reference amount) is met in the process until the total charge amount reaches or exceeds a predetermined charge reference amount (30,000 yen), the charge fee setting means 118A sets a predetermined progress-deducted charge fee (e.g., 100 yen, which is 50% less than the default charge fee of 200 yen). As a result, the charge fee applied to the player is gradually reduced from the default charge fee of 200 yen to the progress-deducted charge fee of 100 yen, and then to a charge fee of 0 yen (0 yen, which is 100% less than the default charge fee of 200 yen) when the predetermined determination condition is met. Furthermore, in the second determination condition, an optional progress completion condition and an elapsed charge fee may be set as the total charge fee reaches or exceeds a predetermined charge fee threshold, so that the charge fee applied to the player is gradually reduced. In the third determination condition, an optional progress completion condition and an elapsed charge fee may be set as the number of charge attempts reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold, so that the charge fee applied to the player is gradually reduced. In the fourth determination condition, an optional progress completion condition and an elapsed charge fee may be set as the number of times a specific type of cashless payment is made reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold, so that the charge fee applied to the player is gradually reduced. In the fifth determination condition, an optional progress completion condition and an elapsed charge fee may be set as the gaming performance reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold, so that the charge fee applied to the player is gradually reduced.

[0096] The charging fee setting means 118A described above treats the player favorably by setting a charging fee lower than the default charging fee when at least one of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met. However, conversely, the charging fee setting means 118A may determine whether a predetermined judgment condition is met and set a charging fee higher than the default charging fee. If the charging fee setting means 118A sets a charging fee higher than the default charging fee when at least one of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met, charging to the IC card 4 becomes more difficult, thereby suppressing excessive use of the valuable management system 1A. In this case, the first to fifth judgment conditions may be the same as the first to fifth judgment conditions described above, but the reference values ​​such as the "predetermined judgment period," "recharging reference amount," "recharging fee reference amount," "recharging reference number of times," "cashless payment reference number of times," and "game history" are set to values ​​suitable for suppressing use of the cashless system.

[0097] The first judgment condition is that if charging is performed within a specified judgment period (for example, the two hours from 13:00 to 14:59 on August 1st) and the total amount of charging, which is the total amount of associated valuables, exceeds a specified charging standard amount (for example, 30,000 yen), it is determined that the player has charged such a large amount that the standard amount is reached in a short period of time, and there is suspicion that the player is excessively addicted to gaming.Therefore, it is expected that the player will be encouraged to exercise restraint by setting a charging fee (for example, 400 yen) higher than the default charging fee (for example, 200 yen).

[0098] The second judgment condition is when the total charge fee, which is the total amount of charge fees deducted when charges are made within a specified judgment period (for example, the two hours from 13:00 to 14:59 on August 1st), is equal to or greater than a specified charge fee standard amount (for example, 1,000 yen).This indicates that the player has been charging so frequently that the charge fee standard amount is reached in a short period of time, and there is suspicion that the player is overly addicted to gaming.Therefore, it is expected that the player will be encouraged to exercise restraint by setting a charge fee (for example, 400 yen) higher than the default charge fee (for example, 200 yen).

[0099] As a third judgment condition, if the number of charges, which is the number of times charges are performed within a specified judgment period (for example, the two hours from 13:00 to 14:59 on August 1st), is determined to be equal to or greater than a specified standard number of charges (for example, five times), it is determined that the player is charging so frequently that the standard number of charges is reached in a short period of time, and it is suspected that the player is excessively addicted to gaming.Therefore, it is expected that the player will be encouraged to exercise restraint by setting a higher charge fee (for example, 400 yen) than the default charge fee (for example, 200 yen).

[0100] As a fourth judgment condition, if the number of times a specific type of cashless payment (credit card payment) is executed by the cashless adding means 102 within a predetermined judgment period (for example, the two hours from 1:00 PM to 2:59 PM on August 1) is equal to or exceeds a predetermined cashless payment reference number (for example, three times), it is possible that the player has deposited enough credit card funds into their wallet account in a short period of time to reach the cashless payment reference number, and has used the deposited funds to charge their IC card 4 to continue playing for long periods of time. Since this suggests excessive gaming addiction, it is anticipated that the player will be encouraged to exercise self-restraint by setting a higher charge fee (for example, 400 yen) than the default charge fee (for example, 200 yen). The cashless payment to be judged can be any cashless payment handled by the value management system 1A. However, because credit cards are prone to abuse due to their deferred payment nature, it is preferable to use the number of times cashless payments using credit cards as the fourth judgment condition.

[0101] As a fifth judgment condition, if the gaming record (e.g., number of visits), which is information accumulated as a history of a player's gaming-related actions within a predetermined judgment period (e.g., one month from 0:00 on August 1st to 23:59 on August 31st), is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined standard gaming record (e.g., 20 times), it is determined that the player has visited the gaming facility 20 times in one month, and is suspected of being overly addicted to gaming, so it is expected that the player will be encouraged to exercise self-restraint by setting a higher charging fee (e.g., 400 yen) than the default charging fee (e.g., 200 yen). Furthermore, as a fifth judgment condition, if the gaming history (e.g., gaming amount), which is information accumulated as a history of a player's gaming-related actions within a predetermined judgment period (e.g., one day from 13:00 to 14:59 on August 1st), exceeds a predetermined standard gaming history (e.g., 100,000 yen), it is determined that the player has spent enough on gaming to reach 100,000 yen within one day, and there is suspicion of excessive addiction to gaming.Therefore, it is expected that the player will be encouraged to exercise self-restraint by setting a higher charging fee (e.g., 400 yen) than the default charging fee (e.g., 200 yen).

[0102] In the valuable management system 1A in which the above-mentioned first to fifth judgment conditions are set in the charging fee setting means 118A, the charging fee setting means 118A sets the charging fee to a predetermined amount that is increased from the default charging fee based on the fact that at least one of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met. Furthermore, the charging fee setting means 118A may have a function of "being able to determine whether one or more progress satisfaction conditions are met in the process until each of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met, and being able to set a predetermined elapsed amount increased charging fee that is increased in accordance with the progress until the progress satisfaction condition is met, and setting the predetermined amount as the corresponding elapsed amount increased charging fee based on the progress satisfaction condition being met in the process until each of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met."

[0103] For example, in the first determination condition, if a progress condition (e.g., a condition that the total charge amount is equal to or greater than 15,000 yen, which is 50% of the charge reference amount) is met during the process until the total charge amount reaches or exceeds a predetermined charge reference amount (30,000 yen), the charge fee setting means 118A sets a predetermined progress increase charge fee (e.g., 300 yen, a 50% increase from the default charge fee of 200 yen). As a result, the charge fee applied to the player increases stepwise from the default charge fee of 200 yen to the progress increase charge fee of 300 yen, and then to the charge fee of 400 yen (a 100% increase from the default charge fee of 200 yen) upon the fulfillment of the predetermined determination condition. Also, in the second determination condition, any progress condition and progress charge fee may be set during the process until the total charge fee reaches or exceeds the predetermined charge reference amount, so that the charge fee applied to the player increases stepwise. Furthermore, in the third determination condition, an arbitrary progress completion condition and an elapsed charge fee may be set as the number of charge attempts reaches or exceeds a predetermined reference number of charge attempts, so that the charge fee applied to the player may be increased in stages. Also, in the fourth determination condition, an arbitrary progress completion condition and an elapsed charge fee may be set as the number of times a specific type of cashless payment has been made reaches or exceeds a predetermined reference number of cashless payments, so that the charge fee applied to the player may be increased in stages. Also, in the fifth determination condition, an arbitrary progress completion condition and an elapsed charge fee may be set as the gaming results reach or exceed a predetermined reference gaming results, so that the charge fee applied to the player may be increased in stages.

[0104] Here, the process by which the first judgment condition is met, which corresponds to the fulfillment of a predetermined judgment condition, and the charging fee setting means 118A changes the charging fee will be explained with reference to the wallet account history managed by the valuable value management means 101 shown in Figure 9.

[0105] Here, the charging fee setting means 118A sets the predetermined judgment period to "1 day" and the charging reference amount to "30,000 yen" as the first judgment condition. Also, the default charging fee to be applied when the predetermined judgment condition is not met is set to "200 yen", the charging fee to be set when the predetermined judgment condition is met is set to "0 yen", one progress meeting condition is set to "reach 50% of the charging reference amount (to charge 15,000 yen or more)", and the progress reduction charging fee is set to "50% of the default charging fee (100 yen)".

[0106] For example, if a cashless payment method called "TokkyoPay" is available on mobile terminal 10 as an instant cashless payment using a debit card or the like, and the cashless payment is executed, 12,000 yen in electronic money is deposited into wallet 100A from general-purpose payment center 40 on December 18, 2024, and the electronic money is added to value management means 101 by cashless addition means 102, a record with "Record No." "0001" is added, as shown in FIG. 9(1). In this record "0001," "1234," which is the identification information of the application installed on mobile terminal 10, is recorded as the "App ID," and "TokkyoPay," which indicates the type of cashless payment executed, is recorded in "Addition Type" as an attribute of the electronic money. Also, "10,200" is recorded in "Addition Amount" to indicate that the amount of electronic money added is 10,200 yen, and "10,200" is recorded in "Current Balance" to indicate that the balance of the electronic money managed as record "0001" at that time is 10,200 yen. Furthermore, "2024 / 12 / 18", which indicates the date the electronic money was deposited (added), is recorded in "Addition Date".

[0107] Subsequently, on December 20, 2024, the charge execution means 103, which received the charge request, deducts 10,200 yen from the 10,200 yen worth of electronic money managed as record "0001." Of this, 10,000 yen of the electronic money is converted into prepaid value by unit 3 and associated with IC card 4, and a charge fee of 200 yen for the charge execution is collected. As a result, the "current balance" of record "0001" is subtracted to 0 yen, "10,000" is recorded in "charge amount" indicating that the prepaid value associated with IC card 4 is 10,000 yen, "200" is recorded in "fee" indicating that the charge fee subtracted by this charge execution is 200 yen, and "2024 / 12 / 20" indicating the date on which the electronic money was subtracted is recorded in "subtraction date" (see Figure 9(2)). The "subtraction date" can be used as information for identifying the "expiration date" recorded in each record in Figure 3.

[0108] On the same day, December 20, 2024, for example, if 10,200 yen of electronic money is deposited from the general-purpose payment center 40 into the wallet account of the valuable management means 101 through a cashless payment using a credit card or the like, a new record with a "Record No." of "0002" is added (see Figure 9(3)). In this record "0002," since the deposit is from the same player, "1234," which is the identification information of the application installed on the player's mobile terminal 10, is recorded as the "App ID." Furthermore, "Credit Card," which indicates the type of cashless payment that was executed, is recorded as an attribute of the electronic money in the "Addition Type." Furthermore, "10,200," indicating that the amount of the electronic money added is 10,200 yen, is recorded in the "Addition Amount," and "10,200," indicating that the balance of the electronic money managed as record "0002" is 10,200 yen, is also recorded in the "Current Balance." Additionally, "2024 / 12 / 20", which indicates the date on which the electronic money was added, is recorded in the "Addition Date".

[0109] Furthermore, on the same day, December 20, 2024, if the player specifies 10,000 yen as the specified amount from the 10,200 yen "current balance" of the electronic money managed as record "0002," the charge execution means 103, which received the charge request, will deduct 10,100 yen from the electronic money managed as record "0002," of which 10,000 yen will be converted into prepaid value by unit 3 and associated with IC card 4, and a charge fee of 100 yen will be collected for the charge execution. In other words, as a result of the charge execution based on this charge request, the charge amount to IC card 4 becomes 20,000 yen, and the charge fee setting means 118A determines that the elapsed period establishment condition "reaching 50% of the charge reference amount" has been met, so an elapsed period deducted charge fee of "50% off the default charge fee (100 yen)" is applied. As a result, the "Current Balance" of record "0002" is decremented to "100" and the "Charge Amount" is updated to "10,000." "100" is recorded in "Charge," indicating that the charge fee deducted by this charge execution is 100 yen. "2024 / 12 / 20," indicating the date on which the electronic money was deducted, is recorded in "Deduction Date" (see Figure 9 (4)). Note that before the charge execution based on this charge request, the charge amount was 10,000 yen (approximately 33% of the progress toward the 30,000 yen elapsed amount, which is the elapsed amount fulfillment condition), and the progress fulfillment condition of 50% has not yet been reached. However, since the progress fulfillment rate is 50% with this charge, it is considered that the progress fulfillment rate has already been reached, and the progress fulfillment fee is applied. However, it is also possible to determine the achievement rate based on the amount of charges already executed and apply the progress fulfillment fee according to the achievement rate.

[0110] Also, on the same day, December 20, 2024, when "TokkyoPay," an instant cashless payment, is executed and 10,200 yen of electronic money is deposited into the wallet account of the valuable management means 101 from the general-purpose payment center 40, a new record with a "Record No." of "0003" is added. In this "0003" record, "1234," which is the application identification information, is recorded as the "App ID," and "TokkyoPay," which indicates the type of cashless payment, is recorded in the "Addition Type" as an attribute of the electronic money. Furthermore, "10,200" is recorded in the "Addition Amount," and "10,300," which is the sum of the remaining balance of 100 yen, is recorded in the "Current Balance," and "2024 / 12 / 20," which indicates the date on which the electronic money was added, is recorded in the "Addition Date" (see Figure 9(5)).

[0111] Subsequently, on the same day, December 20, 2024, if the player specifies 10,000 yen as the specified amount from the 10,300 yen "current balance" of the electronic money managed as record "0003," the charge execution means 103, which received the charge request, will deduct 10,000 yen from the electronic money managed as record "0003," and the 10,000 yen electronic money will be converted into prepaid value by unit 3 and associated with IC card 4, and no charge fee will be collected for the charge execution. In other words, as a result of the charge execution based on this charge request, the charge amount to IC card 4 becomes 30,000 yen, which is the specified charge standard amount, and the charge fee setting means 118A determines that the first determination condition is met, so the specified amount, which is "100% off the default charge fee (0 yen)," is applied. As a result, the "Current Balance" of record "0003" is deducted to "300" and the "Charge Amount" is updated to "10,000", "0" is recorded in "Charge" indicating that the charge fee deducted by this charge execution is 0 yen, and "2024 / 12 / 20" is recorded in "Deduction Date" indicating the date the electronic money was deducted (see Figure 9(6)).

[0112] As described above, the charging fee setting means 118A determines that the specified judgment condition is met by first meeting the first judgment condition, and after setting the charging fee to a specified amount, it maintains the charging fee at the specified amount regardless of whether the other judgment conditions are met. After setting the charging fee to a specified amount, the charging fee setting means 118A maintains the charging fee at the specified amount until a specified cancellation condition is met. In other words, when the specified cancellation condition is met, the setting of the specified charging fee is canceled, and a default charging fee is applied. The specified release condition may be set to the timing when the ``specified judgment period'' in the first to fifth judgment conditions has elapsed, or the release condition may be set to the fulfillment of any desired release judgment condition (for example, a first release judgment condition in which the total charge amount after a specified charge fee is set is equal to or greater than a specified release standard amount; a second release judgment condition in which the total charge fee amount after a specified charge fee is set is equal to or greater than a specified release standard amount; a third release judgment condition in which the number of charges after a specified charge fee is set is equal to or greater than a specified release standard number; a fourth release judgment condition in which the number of times a specific type of cashless payment is made after a specified charge fee is set is equal to or greater than a specified release standard number; a fifth release judgment condition in which the gaming results after a specified charge fee is set is equal to or greater than a specified release standard gaming results, etc.).

[0113] Furthermore, the charge fee setting means 118A may be configured to automatically change the determination conditions and the amount of the charge fee to be applied, not just by using preset determination conditions, but also by taking into consideration the player's cashless charge usage history, etc. For example, when the first determination condition is met and the charge fee is set to a predetermined amount, the charge fee setting means 118A may perform a third determination condition update process to change the reference number of charge times in the third determination condition at a predetermined determination condition update timing (e.g., timing when a new determination of the predetermined determination condition is started based on the satisfaction of a predetermined cancellation condition). For example, if the reference charge amount in the first determination condition is 30,000 yen per day and the upper limit of the number of charge times in the third determination condition is 5 times per day, the reference charge amount is reached by three charge times of 10,000 yen each, and the first determination condition is met, the charge fee is set to 0, and the upper limit of the number of charge times in the next third determination condition is updated from 5 to 3 (based on the charge history of three 10,000 yen charge times). When the charging fee setting means 118A performs such a third determination condition update process, the satisfaction criteria for the third determination condition can be relaxed and brought closer to the satisfaction criteria for the first determination condition.

[0114] Conversely, if the third judgment condition is met and the charging fee is set to a predetermined amount, charging fee setting means 118A may perform a first judgment condition update process to change the charging reference amount under the first judgment condition at a predetermined judgment condition update timing. For example, if the charging reference amount under the first judgment condition is 30,000 yen per day and the upper limit of the number of chargings under the third judgment condition is five times per day, the upper limit of the number of chargings will be reached by five chargings at 5,000 yen each, and the third judgment condition will be met. In this case, the charging fee will be set to 0, and the charging reference amount under the next first judgment condition will be updated from 30,000 yen to 25,000 yen (based on the charging history of five 5,000 yen chargings). When charging fee setting means 118A performs this first judgment condition update process, the criteria for meeting the third judgment condition can be relaxed to bring it closer to the criteria for meeting the first judgment condition.

[0115] Next, the basic flow of the charge process in the valuable management system 1A according to the first embodiment will be explained with reference to the flow diagram in Fig. 10. Here, the first judgment condition is met (the total charge amount reaches the daily charge standard amount of 30,000 yen) due to the use of the wallet account of the player who is the subject of judgment, and the charge fee setting means 118A sets the charge fee to a predetermined amount when the predetermined judgment condition is met.

[0116] First, when a player operates the touch panel display 11 or operation buttons on a gaming device to perform a "charge request operation" on the same day that the charge fee setting means 118A determines that a predetermined determination condition is met, a code information request is sent from the gaming device to the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100A in order to identify the gaming device operated by the player. This code information request includes, for example, a company ID, which is identification information for each business operator to identify the business operator that manages the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 as a third party, a gaming facility ID, which is identification information for each gaming facility to identify the gaming facility where the gaming device operated by the player is installed, and a gaming device ID, which is identification information for each gaming device to identify the gaming device.

[0117] Upon receiving the code information request, the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100A responds with code information to the gaming device. The code information is information for displaying a code (e.g., a two-dimensional code or a barcode) that can be optically read by a camera provided on the mobile terminal 10 on the touch panel display 11 of the gaming device. Specifically, the code information outputs a code string that includes identification information for each charge, such as a deposit ID generated by the charge execution means 103 each time a code information request is received, an action URL for causing the mobile terminal 10 that reads the code displayed on the gaming device to perform a predetermined action, and information received from the gaming device as the code information request (company ID, gaming parlor ID, and gaming device ID). The gaming device that receives this code information displays a code that includes at least the deposit ID, action URL, company ID, gaming parlor ID, and gaming device ID.

[0118] Next, when the mobile terminal 10 reads the code displayed on the gaming device, the mobile terminal 10 accesses the management function unit 100A based on the read operation URL and communicates with the charge execution means 103. At this time, a pre-charge information request is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103 along with information such as a deposit ID and the app ID of an application installed on the mobile terminal 10. Upon receiving the pre-charge information request, the charge execution means 103 identifies the company ID, gaming facility ID, code generation date and time, etc. based on the deposit ID included in the pre-charge information request, and confirms the validity of the code. Here, the validity of the code is confirmed by verifying the identified company ID and gaming facility ID and checking whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the code generation date and time. If the validity of the code cannot be confirmed, the charge execution means 103 sends an error message to the mobile terminal 10, although this is not shown in the figure.

[0119] On the other hand, if the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100A confirms the validity of the code, the charge fee setting means 118A determines whether the predetermined judgment conditions are met (whether at least one of the first to fifth judgment conditions is met) and sets the charge fee. Here, since the charge fee setting means 118A has already determined that the predetermined judgment conditions are met, the charge fee is set to a predetermined amount (charge fee 0). Note that if the charge fee setting means 118A does not determine that the predetermined judgment conditions are met, a default charge fee is set as the charge fee for the charge request from the mobile terminal 10. Furthermore, if the progress meeting condition is met, a predetermined elapsed amount reduced charge fee is set, which is reduced in accordance with the progress.

[0120] Next, in the valuable management means 101 identified as the player's wallet account from the application ID, the usability determination means 105 determines whether electronic money can be used and identifies the usable electronic money. The charge execution means 103 then calculates the total amount of electronic money usable for charging, in other words, the total amount of the "current balance" of the usable electronic money, based on the "current balance" of the identified usable electronic money. The calculated total amount of the "current balance" is then identified as the chargeable amount. Note that this determination must take into account the charge fee, and the amount obtained by subtracting the charge fee from the total amount of the current balance is calculated, and this calculated amount is identified as the chargeable amount. However, since the charge fee setting means 118A has set the charge fee to 0 yen in this case, the total amount of the current balance may be identified as the chargeable amount. The charge execution means 103 then transmits the chargeable amount and a charge fee of 0 (e.g., a message indicating that the charge fee is 0 yen) to the corresponding mobile terminal 10 as a pre-charge information response.

[0121] The mobile terminal 10 then displays a charge amount selection screen on which the player can specify a desired charge amount (specified amount) within the charge amount range based on the received chargeable amount. It is desirable for this charge amount selection screen to also display a message indicating that the charge fee is 0 yen. This charge amount selection screen allows the player to select the desired charge amount from multiple options, such as 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, or 10,000 yen, but may also be configured to allow the player to specify any charge amount. If a charge fee is charged, the charge amount including the charge fee (e.g., 1,200 yen, 3,200 yen, 5,200 yen, or 10,200 yen) may be displayed as an option, or the charge amount and the charge fee may be displayed separately (e.g., 1,000 yen + 200 yen, 3,000 yen + 200 yen, 5,000 yen + 200 yen, or 10,000 yen + 200 yen). When the player specifies the desired charge amount and performs a charge execution operation, a charge execution request is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103. This charge execution request includes at least the company ID, the gaming facility ID, the gaming device ID, the designated charge amount (designated amount), the application ID, and the like.

[0122] Upon receiving the charge execution request, the charge execution means 103 notifies the mobile terminal 10 of the completion of acceptance of the charge execution by using a communication means such as email as a charge execution response or a pop-up function in an application installed on the mobile terminal 10. The charge execution means 103 also identifies the gaming device operated by the player using the company ID, gaming facility ID, and gaming device ID, and deducts and subtracts electronic money equivalent to the specified charge amount and the identified charge fee (here, the charge fee is 0 yen) from the valuable value management means 101. Then, the charge execution means 103 transmits a charge execution instruction to the gaming device of the identified gaming facility so that the gaming device can convert (charge) the electronic money equivalent to the deducted and subtracted charge amount into prepaid value associated with the IC card 4.

[0123] In the gaming device that has received the charge execution instruction, the charge execution means 103 associates the prepaid value equivalent to the electronic money debited with the IC card 4 based on the received charge amount (the charge is executed). The gaming device then transmits the card ID of the IC card 4 associated with the prepaid value to the management function unit 100A as a charge result, and the charging of the prepaid value to the IC card 4 is completed, and displays on the touch panel display 11 that the charge has been completed. The touch panel display 11 of the gaming device may also display that the charge fee for the charge executed here is 0 yen. At this time, if the gaming device is the unit 3, the prepaid value can be used to play on the gaming machine 2 as is. If the gaming device is the card issuing machine 5, an IC card 4 is issued (ejected), and the player can insert the IC card 4 into the unit 3 to play on the gaming machine 2.

[0124] Meanwhile, in the management function unit 100A that has received the charge result, first, the valuable management means 101 updates the "current balance" of the record in which the withdrawn usable electronic money is recorded. Furthermore, based on the card ID of the IC card 4 received as the charge result, the pair management means 120 of the management function unit 100A links the card ID with an app ID, and records and manages the linking information. In this way, by linking and managing the account information (e.g., an app ID that can uniquely identify a player's account) managed by the valuable management means 101, from which the valuable is subtracted, with the card ID of the IC card 4, from which the valuable is added, from that point on, if the card ID of the IC card 4 used by the player in the unit 3 or ejected from the card issuing machine 5 and held by the player can be identified, it becomes possible to identify the app ID linked to that card ID, and therefore it becomes possible to identify the player's personal information and membership information linked to that app ID. Therefore, it is possible to identify the player who uses or possesses the IC card 4 from the card ID, and the recording medium usage information (usage status of the IC card 4) acquired by the recording medium usage information acquisition means 119 can be linked to the individual player (app ID) and continuously monitored.

[0125] As described above, in the valuable management system 1A of the first embodiment, the charge fee setting means 118A sets the charge fee to a predetermined amount based on the fulfillment of at least one of the following conditions: a first judgment condition that the total charge amount, which is the total amount of associated valuables resulting from charge executions within a predetermined judgment period, is equal to or greater than a predetermined charge standard amount; a second judgment condition that the total charge fee amount, which is the total amount of charge fees resulting from charge executions within a predetermined judgment period and deducted from the total charge fee, is equal to or greater than a predetermined charge standard amount; a third judgment condition that the number of charge executions, which is the number of times charge executions are performed within a predetermined judgment period, is equal to or greater than a predetermined charge standard number of times; a fourth judgment condition that the number of times a specific type of cashless payment is performed by the cashless adding means within a predetermined judgment period is equal to or greater than a predetermined cashless payment standard number of times; and a fifth judgment condition that the gaming record, which is information accumulated as a history of the player's gaming-related actions within a predetermined judgment period, is equal to or greater than a predetermined standard gaming record.Therefore, rather than collecting a flat charge fee, it is possible to appropriately collect a charge fee for charge execution while achieving an appropriate balance between promoting the use of the cashless payment system and discouraging excessive use.

[0126] Second Embodiment Next, we will explain the valuable asset management system 1B according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, the valuable asset management system 1B has a charge fee setting means 118B of a management function unit 100B, and other configurations and functions are the same as those of the valuable asset management system 1A according to the first embodiment described above, as indicated by the same reference numerals, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0127] The valuable management system 1B according to the second embodiment is a "valuable management system for managing valuables that can be used by a player," and includes a "valuable management means 101 for managing valuables," a "cashless adding means 102 for making a deposit request to a general-purpose settlement center 40 that executes cashless settlement based on a deposit execution request from a player, and adding the valuable deposited from the general-purpose settlement center 40 by executing the cashless settlement to the valuable management means 101," and a "cashless adding means 102 for subtracting the requested value for charge and a predetermined charge fee from the valuable managed by the valuable management means 101 based on a charge execution request that requests charging to associate the valuable with a recording medium 4, and adding the requested value for charge from the subtracted value to the recording medium by the gaming device 3 (or 5). 4”, “a settlement addition means 104 which, based on a settlement execution request requesting settlement of the remaining amount of the valuable associated with the recording medium 4, adds the valuable equivalent to the remaining amount to the valuable management means 101 to settle the remaining amount”, “a valuable addition / subtraction information management means 117 which acquires valuable addition / subtraction information including at least one type of information among information regarding the addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the cashless addition means 102, information regarding the addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the settlement / subtraction means 104, and information regarding the subtraction of valuable from the valuable management means 101 by the charging execution means 103, and manages it for each player”, and “a charging fee setting means 118B which sets a charging fee based on predetermined judgment conditions”.

[0128] The charge fee setting means 118B of the management function unit 100B can determine whether a predetermined determination condition is met based on whether the charge execution timing by the charge execution means 103 is within a predetermined specific period. The specific period can be set arbitrarily, and for example, a period related to an event held by an amusement parlor or the like or a time period during which charging is performed can be set as the specific period.

[0129] As an example of charging fee setting, the charging fee setting means 118B, in which an event-related period spanning multiple days is set as a specific period (for example, several days, weeks, or months from the opening date of a target gaming parlor's grand opening campaign), can determine whether a predetermined determination condition is met based on whether the timing of charging is within the event-related period. When the predetermined determination condition is met (for example, a player who visits the parlor during the campaign period charges the IC card 4 using the valuable value management system 1B), the charging fee is set to a predetermined amount (for example, a charging fee of 0 yen). A campaign held by a gaming parlor is a limited-time promotional activity aimed at encouraging potential customers to visit the parlor, and the opening date or the day of the grand opening of the gaming parlor is often the start date of the campaign. If the determination condition is set as whether the timing of charging is during a campaign period such as the grand opening of the gaming parlor, it is expected that players who visit the parlor during the campaign period will be given preferential treatment by setting a charging fee lower (for example, 0 yen) than the default charging fee (for example, 200 yen). Conversely, if a self-reporting program submitted to an amusement facility or the like to prevent players from becoming addicted to gaming specifies a specific period of time for refraining from visiting the facility, it is expected that players who visit the facility during the refraining period will be encouraged to exercise self-restraint by setting a higher charge fee (e.g., 500 yen) than the default charge fee (e.g., 200 yen).

[0130] As another example of charging fee setting, the charging fee setting means 118B, in which one or more special time periods, or ranges of time in a day, are set as specific periods (e.g., a time period from 8:00 to 18:00), can determine whether a predetermined determination condition is met based on whether the charging execution timing is a special time period. When the predetermined determination condition is met (e.g., a player charges the IC card 4 using the valuable management system 1B during a special time period), the charging fee is set to a predetermined amount (e.g., a charging fee of 0 yen). If the determination condition is set to whether the charging execution timing is a special time period (a specific period corresponding to a fee-free time period similar to that of a bank ATM), a charging fee lower than the default charging fee (e.g., 200 yen) is applied to a player who charges during a special time period, thereby providing preferential treatment to the player. Furthermore, a period corresponding to a time period during which a fee is charged at a bank ATM or the like (e.g., 18:00 to 21:00) is a non-specific period, not a specific period, and a default charging fee (e.g., 200 yen) is applied to a player who charges during this non-specific period. Furthermore, if the specified period is set to a time later than the non-specific period (for example, 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.), a higher charge fee than the default charge fee (for example, 500 yen) will be applied to players who charge during the specified period just before closing time, which is expected to discourage them from making additional charges and encourage them to exercise restraint.

[0131] Next, the basic flow of the charging process in the valuable value management system 1B according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flow diagram in Fig. 11. Here, the gaming parlor visited by the player being judged is set to a campaign period (specific period) from August 1st to September 30th, and if the timing of charging falls within the specific period, the charging fee setting means 118B sets the charging fee to a specific amount (for example, 0 yen) when a predetermined judgment condition is met.

[0132] First, when a player who visits a gaming parlor during the campaign period (August 1st to September 30th) operates the touch panel display 11 or operation buttons on the gaming device to perform a "charge request operation" during the campaign period (August 1st to September 30th), a code information request is sent from the gaming device to the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100B in order to identify the gaming device operated by the player. This code information request includes, for example, a company ID, which is identification information for each business operator to identify the business operator that manages the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 as a third party, a gaming parlor ID, which is identification information for each gaming parlor to identify the gaming device where the gaming device operated by the player is installed, and a gaming device ID, which is identification information for each gaming device to identify the gaming device.

[0133] Upon receiving the code information request, the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100B responds with code information to the gaming device. The code information is information for displaying a code (e.g., a two-dimensional code or a barcode) that can be optically read by a camera provided on the mobile terminal 10 on the touch panel display 11 of the gaming device. Specifically, the code information outputs a code string that includes identification information for each charge, such as a deposit ID generated by the charge execution means 103 each time a code information request is received, an action URL for causing the mobile terminal 10 that reads the code displayed on the gaming device to perform a predetermined action, and information received from the gaming device as the code information request (company ID, gaming parlor ID, and gaming device ID). The gaming device that receives this code information displays a code that includes at least the deposit ID, action URL, company ID, gaming parlor ID, and gaming device ID.

[0134] Next, when the mobile terminal 10 reads the code displayed on the gaming device, the mobile terminal 10 accesses the management function unit 100B based on the read operation URL and communicates with the charge execution means 103. At this time, a pre-charge information request is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103 along with information such as a deposit ID and the app ID of an application installed on the mobile terminal 10. Upon receiving the pre-charge information request, the charge execution means 103 identifies the company ID, gaming facility ID, code generation date and time, etc. based on the deposit ID included in the pre-charge information request, and confirms the validity of the code. Here, the identified company ID and gaming facility ID are verified, and whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the code generation date and time is verified, thereby confirming the validity of the code. If the validity of the code cannot be confirmed, the charge execution means 103 sends an error message to the mobile terminal 10, although this is not shown in the figure.

[0135] On the other hand, if the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100B confirms the validity of the code, the charge fee setting means 118B determines whether a predetermined judgment condition is met (the charge execution timing is within a predetermined specific period) and sets the charge fee. In this case, since the charge fee setting means 118B has already determined that the predetermined judgment condition is met, the charge fee is set to a predetermined amount (charge fee 0). Note that if the charge fee setting means 118B does not determine that the predetermined judgment condition is met, a default charge fee is set as the charge fee for the charge request from the mobile terminal 10. Furthermore, if the elapsed time condition is met, a predetermined lapsed amount reduced charge fee is set, which is reduced in accordance with the lapse of time.

[0136] Next, in the valuable management means 101 identified as the player's wallet account from the application ID, the usability determination means 105 determines whether electronic money can be used and identifies the usable electronic money. The charge execution means 103 then calculates the total amount of electronic money usable for charging, in other words, the total amount of the "current balance" of the usable electronic money, based on the "current balance" of the identified usable electronic money. The calculated total amount of the "current balance" is then identified as the chargeable amount. Note that this determination must take into account the charge fee, and the amount obtained by subtracting the charge fee from the total amount of the current balance is calculated, and this calculated amount is identified as the chargeable amount. However, since the charge fee setting means 118B has set the charge fee to 0 yen in this case, the total amount of the current balance may be identified as the chargeable amount. The charge execution means 103 then transmits the chargeable amount and the charge fee of 0 (e.g., a message indicating that the charge fee is 0 yen) to the corresponding mobile terminal 10 as a pre-charge information response.

[0137] The mobile terminal 10 then displays a charge amount selection screen on which the player can specify a desired charge amount (specified amount) within the charge amount range based on the received chargeable amount. It is desirable for this charge amount selection screen to also display a message indicating that the charge fee is 0 yen. This charge amount selection screen allows the player to select the desired charge amount from multiple options, such as 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, or 10,000 yen, but may also be configured to allow the player to specify any charge amount. If a charge fee is charged, the charge amount including the charge fee (e.g., 1,200 yen, 3,200 yen, 5,200 yen, or 10,200 yen) may be displayed as an option, or the charge amount and the charge fee may be displayed separately (e.g., 1,000 yen + 200 yen, 3,000 yen + 200 yen, 5,000 yen + 200 yen, or 10,000 yen + 200 yen). When the player specifies the desired charge amount and performs a charge execution operation, a charge execution request is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103. This charge execution request includes at least the company ID, the gaming facility ID, the gaming device ID, the designated charge amount (designated amount), the application ID, and the like.

[0138] Upon receiving the charge execution request, the charge execution means 103 notifies the mobile terminal 10 of the completion of acceptance of the charge execution by using a communication means such as email as a charge execution response or a pop-up function in an application installed on the mobile terminal 10. The charge execution means 103 also identifies the gaming device operated by the player using the company ID, gaming facility ID, and gaming device ID, and deducts and subtracts electronic money equivalent to the specified charge amount and the identified charge fee (here, the charge fee is 0 yen) from the valuable value management means 101. Then, the charge execution means 103 transmits a charge execution instruction to the gaming device of the identified gaming facility so that the gaming device can convert (charge) the electronic money equivalent to the deducted and subtracted charge amount into prepaid value associated with the IC card 4.

[0139] In the gaming device that has received the charge execution instruction, the charge execution means 103 associates the prepaid value equivalent to the electronic money debited with the IC card 4 based on the received charge amount (the charge is executed). The gaming device then transmits the card ID of the IC card 4 associated with the prepaid value to the management function unit 100B as a charge result, and the charging of the prepaid value to the IC card 4 is completed, and displays on the touch panel display 11 that the charge has been completed. The touch panel display 11 of the gaming device may also display that the charge fee for the charge executed here is 0 yen. At this time, if the gaming device is the unit 3, the prepaid value can be used to play on the gaming machine 2 as is. If the gaming device is the card issuing machine 5, an IC card 4 is issued (ejected), and the player can insert the IC card 4 into the unit 3 to play on the gaming machine 2.

[0140] Meanwhile, in the management function unit 100B that has received the charge result, first, the valuable management means 101 updates the "current balance" of the record in which the withdrawn usable electronic money is recorded. Furthermore, based on the card ID of the IC card 4 received as the charge result, the pair management means 120 of the management function unit 100B links the card ID with an app ID, and records and manages the linking information. In this way, by linking and managing the account information (e.g., an app ID that can uniquely identify a player's account) managed by the valuable management means 101, from which the valuable is subtracted, with the card ID of the IC card 4, from which the valuable is added, from that point on, if the card ID of the IC card 4 used by the player in the unit 3 or ejected from the card issuing machine 5 and held by the player can be identified, it becomes possible to identify the app ID linked to that card ID, and therefore it becomes possible to identify the player's personal information and membership information linked to that app ID. Therefore, it is possible to identify the player who uses or possesses the IC card 4 from the card ID, and the recording medium usage information (usage status of the IC card 4) acquired by the recording medium usage information acquisition means 119 can be linked to the individual player (app ID) and continuously monitored.

[0141] In this way, in the valuable management system 1B of the second embodiment, the charge fee setting means 118B sets the charge fee based on whether the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means 103 is within a predetermined specific period, so rather than collecting a flat charge fee, it is possible to appropriately collect a charge fee for charge execution while achieving an appropriate balance between promoting the use of the cashless payment system and discouraging excessive use.

[0142] Furthermore, even during a specific period such as a campaign period, the charge fee may not be set to 0 yen, but a default charge fee or a reduced charge fee may be collected once, and the collected charge fee or reduced charge fee may be refunded only to players who request a refund after the campaign period has ended. For this purpose, the management function unit 100B is provided with "charge fee refund means 121 capable of managing charge fee refund information that is recorded in order to later refund to the valuable value management means 101 a predetermined charge fee that has been deducted by the charge execution means 103 from the valuable managed in the valuable value management means 101."

[0143] The charging fee refund information recorded by the charging fee refund means 121 records, for example, a history of the date and time of charging by a player during a specific period and the charging amount, and can be used to calculate the total amount of charging fees paid by the player for charging during the specific period. Based on a charging fee refund request from the player who made the charging execution request, the charging fee refund means 121 refunds to the player an amount equivalent to the charging fee deducted from the charging fee refund information corresponding to the charging execution request. As an example, the refund is made by adding a valuable amount corresponding to the deducted charging fee in the charging fee refund information corresponding to the charging execution request (the total amount of all charging fees collected for charging during the specific period) to the player's wallet account in the valuable value management means 101. The charging fee refund is not limited to a valuable amount that can be added to a wallet account; it may also be returned by granting a bonus of the same value as the deducted charging fee. If the returned bonus of the same value can be used as a charging fee for subsequent charges, the charging fee is considered to have been refunded to the player. The charge fee to be returned is borne by the gaming establishment or the operating company of the valuable value management system 1B, which is the entity that set the specific period such as the campaign.

[0144] In this way, if the charge fee during a specific period is refunded at a later date, players who continue to visit the gaming establishment after the specific period, such as a campaign period, has ended can be given preferential treatment, which will be beneficial to the gaming establishment that organized the campaign.

[0145] Third Embodiment Next, a description will be given of a valuable asset management system 1C according to the third embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the valuable asset management system 1C includes a charge fee setting means 118C in a management function unit 100C, and other configurations and functions are the same as those of the valuable asset management system 1A according to the first embodiment described above, as indicated by the same reference numerals, and therefore detailed description will be omitted.

[0146] The valuable management system 1C according to the third embodiment is a "valuable management system for managing valuables that can be used by a player," and includes a "valuable management means 101 for managing valuables," a "cashless adding means 102 for making a deposit request to a general-purpose settlement center 40 that executes cashless settlement based on a deposit execution request from a player, and adding the valuable deposited from the general-purpose settlement center 40 by executing the cashless settlement to the valuable management means 101," and a "cashless adding means 102 for subtracting the requested value for charge and a predetermined charge fee from the valuable managed by the valuable management means 101 based on a charge execution request that requests charging to associate the valuable with a recording medium 4, and adding the requested value for charge from the subtracted value to the recording medium 3 (or 5)." 4”, “a settlement addition means 104 which, based on a settlement execution request requesting settlement of the remaining amount of the valuable associated with the recording medium 4, adds the valuable equivalent to the remaining amount to the valuable management means 101 to settle the remaining amount”, “a valuable addition / subtraction information management means 117 which acquires valuable addition / subtraction information including at least one type of information among information regarding the addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the cashless addition means 102, information regarding the addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the settlement / subtraction means 104, and information regarding the subtraction of valuable from the valuable management means 101 by the charging execution means 103, and manages it for each player”, and “a charging fee setting means 118C which sets a charging fee based on predetermined judgment conditions”.

[0147] The charge fee setting means 118C of the management function unit 100C can set the charge fee to a predetermined amount based on determining whether a special judgment condition different from the predetermined judgment condition is met when the charge execution means 103 executes a charge using the valuable added to the valuable management means 101 through settlement by the settlement and addition means 104. That is, in the valuable management system 1C according to the third embodiment, a charge fee is set based on whether a special judgment condition is met, in addition to setting the charge fee based on whether the predetermined judgment condition using the first to fifth judgment conditions in the first embodiment or the predetermined judgment condition using a specific period in the second embodiment is met.

[0148] The special judgment condition is arbitrary, but for example, when a gaming establishment settles the remaining amount of prepaid value charged to IC card 4 from a wallet account and returns it to the wallet account, and another gaming establishment uses the remaining amount of valuable value returned to the wallet account to charge IC card 4 again, the special judgment condition is that the gaming establishment that settles IC card 4 and the gaming establishment that charges IC card 4 are the same.

[0149] As mentioned above, a charge fee is collected when charging IC card 4 from a wallet account. Therefore, when the remaining prepaid value on IC card 4 is settled and the remaining balance of valuable value returned to the wallet account is used to charge IC card 4 again, if the charge fee is not deducted (the charge fee is set to 0 yen) to avoid double-charge, an inconvenient case can be expected. This is when the gaming parlor that settled the IC card 4 and the gaming parlor that charges IC card 4 are different. The gaming parlor that settled the IC card 4 collected a charge fee when charging IC card 4 from the player's wallet account, but the gaming parlor that charges IC card 4 again using the remaining balance of valuable value returned to the wallet account does not collect a charge fee for this charge. Therefore, when the charge fee setting means 118C determines that the special judgment condition is met (the gaming parlor where the IC card 4 is settled and the gaming parlor that charges the IC card 4 are the same), the charge fee is set to a predetermined amount (for example, a charge fee of 0 yen), and when the charge fee setting means 118C does not determine that the special judgment condition is met (the gaming parlor where the IC card 4 is settled and the gaming parlor that charges the IC card 4 are different), the charge fee can be left unchanged.

[0150] More specifically, the valuable addition / deduction information management means 117 associates and stores specific information set for the gaming establishment where the settlement / addition means 104 performed the settlement (for example, a coupon code assigned in advance to each gaming establishment) with information regarding the addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the settlement / addition means 104 (for example, it associates and stores a record number in a history management record in the valuable management means 101 where the ``addition type'' is ``settlement'' with the coupon code corresponding to this settlement), and when a charge is performed by the charge execution means 103 after settlement has been performed by the settlement / addition means 104, the charge fee setting means 118C determines that a special judgment condition is met if the specific information set for the gaming establishment performing the charge matches the specific information stored in the valuable addition / deduction information management means 117. In this way, the charge fee can be set to a predetermined amount (for example, a charge fee of 0 yen) only when the charge fee setting means 118C determines that the special judgment condition is met (the gaming parlor where the IC card 4 was settled and the gaming parlor where the IC card 4 is being charged are the same), and in cases where the IC card 4 is charged at a gaming parlor where the IC card 4 was not settled, the default charge fee can be collected.

[0151] The coupon code used as the identification information is different from the gaming facility ID and may be a code for each gaming facility or a code for each affiliated facility of a corporation, or a combination of these two codes to distinguish between gaming facilities within an affiliated facility. Furthermore, if a unique gaming facility ID is assigned to all gaming facilities included in the valuable value management system 1C, the gaming facility ID may be used instead of the coupon code. In this case, the valuable value adjustment information management means 117 simply links and manages the settled valuable value with the gaming facility ID of the gaming facility where the settlement was performed, and the charge fee setting means 118C simply compares and determines the gaming facility ID linked to the valuable value used for charging with the gaming facility ID of the gaming facility performing the charging.

[0152] Furthermore, as a special determination condition, for example, the difference between the date and time when the remaining amount of prepaid value charged to the IC card 4 from the wallet account is settled and returned to the wallet account and the date and time when the IC card 4 is recharged using the balance of the valuable value returned to the wallet account must be within a predetermined period. For example, if the period from the date and time when the remaining amount of prepaid value charged to the IC card 4 from the wallet account is settled and returned to the wallet account to the date and time when the IC card 4 is recharged using the balance of the valuable value returned to the wallet account is within a predetermined period (for example, two hours), the special determination condition is met and the charge fee when charging the IC card 4 from the player's wallet account is set to 0 yen, but if the predetermined period (two hours) has passed by the time the returned wallet value is charged to the IC card 4, the special determination condition is not met, and so the default charge fee is collected when charging the IC card 4 from the player's wallet account.

[0153] More specifically, when charging is performed by the charge execution means 103 after settlement is performed by the settlement and addition means 104, the charge fee setting means 118C determines that the special determination condition is met if the elapsed time from when settlement is performed by the settlement and addition means 104 to when charging is performed by the charge execution means 103 is within a predetermined period. In this way, the charge fee can be set to a predetermined amount (e.g., a charge fee of 0 yen) only when the difference (elapsed time) between the date and time when the value returned to the wallet account through settlement and the date and time when charging is performed to the IC card 4 using the value returned to the wallet is within the predetermined period, and a default charge fee can be collected if the elapsed time exceeds the predetermined period. The predetermined period may be set arbitrarily in units of hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc.

[0154] In this way, the valuable management system 1C according to the third embodiment sets the charge fee based on predetermined judgment conditions, and therefore, like the first and second embodiments described above, can appropriately collect a charge fee for charge execution while achieving an appropriate balance between promoting use of the cashless payment system and discouraging excessive use. Furthermore, in the valuable management system 1C according to the third embodiment, when the charge execution means 103 executes a charge using the valuable added to the valuable management means 101 in settlement by the settlement and addition means 104, the charge fee setting means 118C sets the charge fee to a predetermined amount based on determining that a special judgment condition different from the predetermined judgment condition is met, and therefore, it is possible to appropriately collect a charge fee for charge execution in accordance with the special judgment condition.

[0155] Next, the basic flow of the charging process in the valuable management system 1C according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 shows the process of recording a coupon code in a record when the wallet is returned after settlement, and Figure 13 shows the process of charging an IC card 4 at an amusement facility where a coupon code matching the coupon code recorded in the record is set.

[0156] As shown in FIG. 12, when settling the remaining balance of the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, the player first ejects the IC card 4 from the gaming device (unit 3) based on the player's operation of a card return button or the like. Then, the player inserts the IC card 4 ejected from the gaming device into a gaming device (adjustment machine 6) installed in the gaming parlor, and the adjustment machine 6 that accepts the IC card 4 transmits a wallet return availability confirmation request to the adjustment and addition means 104 of the management function unit 100C. This wallet return availability confirmation request includes at least the card ID of the IC card 4 and the remaining amount of the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. The adjustment and addition means 104 that receives the wallet return availability confirmation request checks the linking information between the card ID and the application ID managed by the management function unit 100C. Then, the player and the player's wallet account are identified from the application ID linked to the card ID. Here, if it is confirmed that the application ID linked when electronic money was added to the valuable value management means 101 is valid by identifying the player and the player's wallet account, a message indicating that wallet return settlement is possible is sent to the settlement machine 6 as a wallet return availability confirmation result. On the other hand, if it is not confirmed that the application ID is valid, a message indicating an error is sent to the settlement machine 6 as a wallet return availability confirmation result, although this is not shown in the drawing.

[0157] Next, when the settlement machine 6 receives the wallet return availability confirmation result indicating that wallet return settlement is possible, a message indicating that settlement is in progress is displayed on the screen of the settlement machine 6. After that, the settlement machine 6 transmits a settlement execution request to the settlement addition means 104, requesting settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value associated with the IC card 4. This settlement execution request includes at least the settlement machine ID, game parlor ID, card ID, settlement amount, and coupon code, which are identification information for each settlement machine 6. Here, based on the received settlement execution request, the settlement addition means 104 adds electronic money equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value to the wallet account corresponding to the card ID, and executes wallet return settlement of the remaining amount of prepaid value. Then, a new record is added to the valuable value management means 101, and electronic money equivalent to the remaining amount of prepaid value is recorded and managed in that record. In addition, the "addition type" of the record added at this time records "settlement" as an attribute of the electronic money, indicating that the electronic money being added is a settlement of the remaining prepaid value, and records the code number of the "coupon code" received from the gaming establishment where the settlement was executed. In this way, when the settlement addition means 104 executes the wallet return settlement for the remaining prepaid value associated with the IC card 4, it sends a settlement execution response to the settlement machine 6 and notifies the mobile terminal 10 via a communication means such as email that the settlement has been completed. Upon receiving the settlement execution response, the settlement machine 6 displays on its screen that the settlement has been completed, and also displays on the screen of the mobile terminal 10 that the settlement has been completed, so that the player can be notified that the settlement has been completed. The settlement machine 6 then collects the IC card 4, after the settlement of the remaining prepaid value has been completed. The above-mentioned wallet return settlement may also be executed by the unit 3.

[0158] When the settlement process for returning the balance on the IC card 4 to the wallet account is performed as described above, a record with the coupon code assigned to the gaming establishment where the settlement was performed is added and managed by the valuable value management means 101. At the gaming establishment where this coupon code has been assigned, when a player operates the touch panel display 11 or operation buttons on the gaming device to perform a "charge request operation" as shown in FIG. 12, a code information request is sent from the gaming device to the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100C to identify the gaming device operated by the player. This code information request includes, for example, a company ID, which is identification information for each business operator that identifies a business operator that manages the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 as a third party, a gaming establishment ID, which is identification information for each gaming establishment that identifies the gaming establishment where the gaming device operated by the player is installed, and a gaming device ID, which is identification information for each gaming device that identifies the gaming device.

[0159] The charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100C, which has received the code information request, responds with code information to the gaming device. The code information is information for displaying a code (e.g., a two-dimensional code or a barcode) that can be optically read by a camera provided on the mobile terminal 10 on the touch panel display 11 of the gaming device. Specifically, the code information outputs a code string that includes identification information for each charge, such as a deposit ID generated by the charge execution means 103 each time a code information request is received, an action URL for causing the mobile terminal 10 that reads the code displayed on the gaming device to perform a predetermined action, and information received from the gaming device as the code information request (company ID, gaming parlor ID, and gaming device ID). The gaming device that receives this code information displays a code that includes at least the deposit ID, action URL, company ID, gaming parlor ID, gaming device ID, and coupon code.

[0160] Next, when the mobile terminal 10 reads the code displayed on the gaming device, the mobile terminal 10 accesses the management function unit 100C based on the read operation URL and communicates with the charge execution means 103. At this time, the mobile terminal 10 transmits a pre-charge information request from the charge execution means 103 to the charge execution means 103, including information such as a deposit ID, the app ID of an application installed on the mobile terminal 10, and a coupon code assigned to the gaming facility. Upon receiving the pre-charge information request, the charge execution means 103 identifies the company ID, gaming facility ID, code generation date and time, etc. based on the deposit ID included in the pre-charge information request, and confirms the validity of the code. Here, the identified company ID and gaming facility ID are verified, and whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the code generation date and time is confirmed, thereby confirming the validity of the code. If the validity of the code cannot be confirmed, the charge execution means 103 transmits an error message to the mobile terminal 10, although this is not shown in the figure.

[0161] On the other hand, if the code is confirmed to be valid, the charge execution means 103 identifies the gaming parlor from the gaming parlor ID. The charge execution means 103 also identifies the storage area of ​​the valuable management means 101 linked to the application ID from the application ID, in other words, the wallet account for each player. In the identified valuable management means 101, the usability determination means 105 determines whether electronic money is usable and identifies the usable electronic money. Therefore, the charge execution means 103 calculates the total amount of electronic money usable for charge, in other words, the total amount of the "current balance" of the usable electronic money, based on the "current balance" of the identified usable electronic money. The calculated total amount of the "current balance" is then identified as the chargeable amount. Note that this determination must take into account the charge fee, and the amount obtained by subtracting the charge fee from the total amount of the current balance is calculated, and this calculated amount is identified as the chargeable amount. However, in this case, since the charge fee setting means 118C has set the charge fee to 0 yen, the total amount of the current balance may be identified as the chargeable amount. Then, the charge execution means 103 transmits the chargeable amount and the charge fee of 0 (such as a message indicating that the charge fee is 0 yen) to the corresponding mobile terminal 10 as a pre-charge information response.

[0162] If the "addition type" of the record identified by the charge execution means 103 to be used for charging is "settlement," the charge fee setting means 118C checks whether a "coupon code" is recorded in that record, and if a "coupon code" is recorded, determines whether it matches the "coupon code" included in the pre-charge information request. If the "coupon code" recorded in a record with an available balance whose "addition type" is "settlement" matches the "coupon code" assigned to the gaming facility where the gaming device (unit 3 or card issuing machine 5) that made the charge request is set, the charge fee setting means 118C sets the charge fee for using the balance of valuable in that record to charge the IC card 4 to a predetermined amount (for example, 0 yen). When the value of a record with an available balance whose "addition type" is not "settlement," or the value of a record whose "addition type" is "settlement" but whose "coupon code" does not match, is used to charge the IC card 4, the charge fee setting means 118C does not change the charge fee and applies a default charge fee (for example, 200 yen). Also, when the charge execution means 103 identifies multiple records to be used for charging, the charge fee setting means 118C makes a judgment based on the "coupon code" for each record identified by the charge execution means 103, and determines whether or not to set the charge fee to a predetermined amount for each record. The charge amount and charge fee corresponding to the balance of each record may be set individually, or if it is determined that the "coupon code" matches in one or more records, all charge fees may be set to a predetermined amount (for example, 0 yen).

[0163] Once the charge fee setting means 118C has set the charge fee and the charge execution means 103 has identified the chargeable amount, the charge execution means 103 transmits the identified chargeable amount and charge fee (in FIG. 13, a charge fee of 0 due to a match of the "coupon code") to the mobile terminal 10 as a pre-charge information response. Based on the received chargeable amount and charge fee, the mobile terminal 10 then displays a charge amount selection screen on which the player can specify a desired charge amount (specified amount) within the chargeable amount. This charge amount selection screen allows the player to select the desired charge amount from multiple options, such as 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, or 10,000 yen, but may also be configured to allow the player to specify any amount. At this time, if there is a charge amount to which a charge fee of 0 due to a match of the "coupon code" applies, it is desirable to notify the player of this. Then, once the player specifies the desired charge amount and performs a charge execution operation, a charge execution request is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103. This charge execution request includes at least the company ID, the gaming facility ID, the gaming device ID, the designated charge amount (designated amount), the application ID, and the like.

[0164] Upon receiving the charge execution request, the charge execution means 103 notifies the mobile terminal 10 of the completion of the charge execution by sending a charge execution response via a communication means such as email or a pop-up function in an application installed on the mobile terminal 10. The charge execution means 103 also identifies the gaming device operated by the player using the company ID, gaming facility ID, and gaming device ID, and deducts and subtracts from the valuable value management means 101 electronic money equivalent to the specified charge amount and a charge fee (if a charge fee of 0 yen is applied due to a match in the "coupon code," the charge fee is 0 yen). The charge execution means 103 then transmits a charge execution instruction to the identified gaming device to convert (charge) the electronic money equivalent to the deducted and subtracted charge amount into prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 by the gaming device. The gaming device that received the charge execution instruction associates the prepaid value equivalent to the electronic money deducted by the charge execution means 103 with the IC card 4 based on the received charge amount. Thereafter, the gaming device transmits the card ID of the IC card 4 associated with the prepaid value to the management function unit 100C as a charge result, and charging of the prepaid value to the IC card 4 is completed. At this time, if the gaming device is the unit 3, the player can use the prepaid value to play on the gaming machine 2, and if the gaming device is the card issuing machine 5, the IC card 4 is issued (ejected), and the player can insert the IC card 4 into the unit 3 to play on the gaming machine 2.

[0165] In the management function unit 100C that has received the charge result from the gaming machine, first, the "current balance" of the record recording the withdrawn usable electronic money is updated in the valuable management means 101. Furthermore, based on the card ID of the IC card 4 received as the charge result, the pair management means 120 of the management function unit 100C associates the card ID with the application ID, and records and manages the association information.

[0166] Fourth Embodiment Next, a description will be given of a valuable asset management system 1D according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the valuable asset management system 1D comprises a charge fee setting means 118D of a management function unit 100D, and other configurations and functions are the same as those of the valuable asset management system 1A according to the first embodiment described above, as indicated by the same reference numerals, and therefore detailed description will be omitted.

[0167] The value management system 1D according to the fourth embodiment is a "value management system for managing value that can be used by a player," and includes a "value management means 101 for managing value," a "cashless adding means 102 for making a deposit request to a general-purpose settlement center 40 that executes cashless settlement based on a deposit execution request from a player, and adding the value deposited from the general-purpose settlement center 40 by executing the cashless settlement to the value management means 101," and a "cashless adding means 102 for subtracting the value of the requested charge and a predetermined charge fee from the value managed by the value management means 101 based on a charge execution request that requests charging to associate the value with a recording medium 4, and adding the value of the requested charge from the subtracted value to the recording medium 3 (or 5)." 4”, “settling addition means 104 which, based on a settlement execution request requesting settlement of the remaining amount of the valuable associated with the recording medium 4, adds the valuable equivalent to the remaining amount to the valuable management means 101 to settle the remaining amount”, “valuable value addition / subtraction information management means 117 which acquires valuable value addition / subtraction information including at least one type of information among information regarding the addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the cashless addition means 102, information regarding the addition of valuable to the valuable management means 101 by the settlement / subtraction means 104, and information regarding the subtraction of valuable from the valuable management means 101 by the charging execution means 103, and manages it for each player”, and “settling fee setting means 118D which sets the charging fee based on predetermined judgment conditions”.

[0168] The charge fee setting means 118D of the management function unit 100D can determine whether a predetermined determination condition is met based on whether the timing of charge execution by the charge execution means 103 is within a specific elapsed period, which is the period that has elapsed since a predetermined starting date until a predetermined expiration date. That is, in the valuable value management system 1D according to the fourth embodiment, a charge fee is set depending on whether a specific elapsed period (for example, the period that has elapsed since a player registered as a member, the period that has elapsed since the grand opening or reopening of an amusement facility) from a predetermined base date (starting date) meets a specific condition.

[0169] For example, starting from the day the player registers as a member, if a specific condition is met within a specific period of time (for example, two years from 0:00 on April 1, 2023 to 23:59 on March 30, 2025), the charge fee is set to a predetermined amount (for example, 200 yen), and once the specific period of time has passed from the starting date (two years have passed since the player registered as a member), the charge fee is set to a default (for example, 0 yen). This allows players who have recently registered as members to be charged a set charge fee, and players who have been registered as members for two years to be given preferential treatment by having the charge fee reduced, thereby further promoting use of gaming parlors.

[0170] Furthermore, if an opening campaign is started on the day of the grand opening or reopening of an amusement parlor, and the campaign period is set to the day the opening campaign ends, a specific elapsed period is set during the campaign period (for example, one year from 0:00 on April 1, 2024 to 23:59 on March 30, 2025), and once the specific elapsed period has passed from the start date (the campaign period ends), the charge fee is set to a default (for example, 200 yen). This allows the charge fee to be reduced if certain conditions are met until the specific elapsed period has passed, making it possible to attract more customers to the amusement parlor, etc. during the campaign period, and once the specific elapsed period has passed and the campaign period ends, normal business operations can be resumed with the prescribed charge fee being collected.

[0171] In this way, in the fourth embodiment of the valuable value management system 1D, the charge fee setting means 118D determines whether a predetermined judgment condition is met based on whether the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means 103 is within a specific elapsed period, and sets the charge fee based on whether the time is within the specific elapsed period.Therefore, it is possible to appropriately collect the charge fee for the charge execution while achieving an appropriate balance between attracting customers to the amusement facility and the amusement facility's profits.

[0172] It should be noted that the predetermined amount that can be set by the charge fee setting means 118D during the specified elapsed period when the predetermined conditions are met is not limited to one type, but may be configured to allow multiple types of predetermined amounts to be set.

[0173] 14(A) shows a first example of fee setting in the valuable management system 1D according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the case of a specific elapsed period before the reference date, in which the period elapsed since the starting date (first day) is less than the reference date (e.g., one year), a default charge fee (e.g., 200 yen) is set by the charge fee setting means 118D, and therefore a charge fee of 200 yen is set for the charge to the IC card 4 performed by the charge execution means 103 at the first charge execution timing CT1. In the case of a specific elapsed period after the reference date, in which the period elapsed since the starting date (first day) is more than the reference date (e.g., one year) but less than the expiration of the specific elapsed period (e.g., two years), a charge fee according to the period since the reference date is set by the charge fee setting means 118D. For example, from the base date (1 year) until 6 months (1 year and 6 months), the charge fee setting means 118D applies a first predetermined amount (e.g., 200 yen, the same as the default charge fee), and if the charge execution means 103 charges the IC card 4 at the second charge execution timing CT2 that falls within this period, a charge fee of 200 yen is set. Also, from 1 year and 6 months to 1 year and 9 months, the charge fee setting means 118D applies a reduced charge fee for the first period (e.g., 100 yen, which is a 50% discount off the first predetermined amount), and if the charge execution means 103 charges the IC card 4 at the third charge execution timing CT3 that falls within this period, a charge fee of 100 yen is set. Furthermore, from one year and nine months to the expiration of the specific elapsed period (two years), the charge fee setting means 118D applies a reduced charge fee for the second period (for example, 40 yen, which is an 80% discount off the first predetermined amount), and if the charge execution means 103 charges the IC card 4 at the fourth charge execution timing CT4 that falls within this period, a charge fee of 40 yen is set. Then, after the specific elapsed period (two years) has passed, the charge fee setting means 118D applies a second predetermined amount (for example, 0 yen, which is a 10% discount off the first predetermined amount), and if the charge execution means 103 charges the IC card 4 at the fifth charge execution timing CT5 that falls within this period, a charge fee of 0 yen is set.

[0174] In this way, when the charge fee setting means 118D determines that a predetermined judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means 103 is within the pre-reference date elapsed period, which is the elapsed period from the calculation date to a predetermined reference date within a specific elapsed period, it sets the charge fee to a first predetermined amount, and when it determines that a predetermined judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means 103 is within the post-reference date elapsed period, which is the elapsed period from the reference date to the expiration date within a specific elapsed period, it sets the charge fee to a reduced charge fee for the elapsed period that is reduced from the first predetermined amount depending on the length of the period that has elapsed since the reference date, and when it determines that the predetermined judgment condition is not met based on the fact that the charge execution means 103 is executing a charge after the expiration date, it sets the charge fee to a second predetermined amount that is reduced from the reduced charge fee for the elapsed period, thereby gradually reducing the charge fee depending on the passage of time, which provides an incentive for players to continue their membership registration.

[0175] 14(B) shows a second example of fee setting in the valuable management system 1D according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the case of a specific elapsed period before the reference date, in which the period elapsed since the starting date (the first day) is less than the reference date (for example, June), the charge fee setting means 118D sets a second predetermined amount (for example, 0 yen), and therefore a charge fee of 0 yen is set for the charge to the IC card 4 performed by the charge execution means 103 at the sixth charge execution timing CT6. In the case of a specific elapsed period after the reference date, in which the period elapsed since the starting date (the first day) is more than the reference date (June) but less than the expiration of the specific elapsed period (for example, one year), the charge fee setting means 118D sets a charge fee according to the period since the reference date. For example, from the reference date (June) until three months have passed (September), the charge fee setting means 118D applies a charge fee reduced by the amount of the lapse of the period (for example, 40 yen, which is 80% off the first predetermined amount), and if the charge execution means 103 charges the IC card 4 at the seventh charge execution timing CT7 that falls within this period, a charge fee of 40 yen is set. Also, from September until the expiration of the specific elapsed period (one year), the charge fee setting means 118D applies a first predetermined amount (for example, 200 yen, the same amount as the default charge fee), and if the charge execution means 103 charges the IC card 4 at the eighth charge execution timing CT8 that falls within this period, a charge fee of 200 yen is set. Then, once the specific elapsed period (one year) has passed, the charge fee setting means 118D applies a default charge fee (for example, 200 yen), and if the charge execution means 103 charges the IC card 4 at the ninth charge execution timing CT9 that falls within this period, a charge fee of 200 yen is set.

[0176] In this way, when the charge fee setting means 118D determines that a predetermined judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution means 103 executes a charge within the pre-reference date elapsed period, which is the elapsed period from the start date to a predetermined reference date within a specific elapsed period, it sets the charge fee to a second predetermined amount; when the charge execution means 103 executes a charge within the post-reference date elapsed period, which is the elapsed period from the reference date to the expiration date within a specific elapsed period, it sets the charge fee to an increased charge fee for the elapsed period that is increased from the second predetermined amount depending on the length of the period that has elapsed since the reference date; and when the charge execution means 103 executes a charge beyond the expiration date, it determines that a predetermined judgment condition is not met based on the fact that the charge execution means 103 executes a charge beyond the expiration date, it sets the charge fee to a first predetermined amount that is increased more than the increased charge fee for the elapsed period, thereby gradually increasing the charge fee according to the passage of time, which is suitable for cases where it is desired to give players an advantageous situation before a specific elapsed period has elapsed, such as in a store opening campaign.

[0177] Alternatively, the charging fee setting means 118D may simply set two types of charging fees: one for a specific period of time and one for a specific period of time after the specific period of time has elapsed. Specifically, the charging fee setting means 118D sets the charging fee to a first charging fee when it determines that a predetermined determination condition is met based on the fact that the charging execution means 103 executed the charging within the specific period of time, and sets the charging fee to a second charging fee different from the first charging fee when it determines that the predetermined determination condition is not met. Setting the second charging fee lower than the first charging fee is suitable when it is desired to provide a player with an advantageous situation after the specific period of time has elapsed, such as for member registration, and setting the second charging fee higher than the first charging fee is suitable when it is desired to provide a player with an advantageous situation before the specific period of time has elapsed, such as for a store opening campaign.

[0178] Next, the basic flow of the charge process in the valuable value management system 1D according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the flow diagram in Fig. 15. Here, a specific period of two years has passed since the player who charges the IC card 4 registered as a member on August 1st, and the predetermined judgment condition will no longer be met from the following day (August 2nd).

[0179] 15, when a player operates the touch panel display 11 or operation buttons on a gaming device to perform a "charge request operation," a code information request is sent from the gaming device to the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100D in order to identify the gaming device operated by the player. This code information request includes, for example, a company ID, which is identification information for each business operator to identify the business operator that manages the prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 as a third party, a gaming facility ID, which is identification information for each gaming facility to identify the gaming device where the gaming device operated by the player is installed, and a gaming device ID, which is identification information for each gaming device to identify the gaming device.

[0180] Upon receiving the code information request, the charge execution means 103 of the management function unit 100D responds with code information to the gaming device. The code information is information for displaying a code (e.g., a two-dimensional code or a barcode) that can be optically read by a camera provided on the mobile terminal 10 on the touch panel display 11 of the gaming device. Specifically, the code information outputs a code string that includes identification information for each charge, such as a deposit ID generated by the charge execution means 103 each time a code information request is received, an action URL for causing the mobile terminal 10 that reads the code displayed on the gaming device to perform a predetermined action, and information received from the gaming device as the code information request (company ID, gaming parlor ID, and gaming device ID). The gaming device that receives this code information displays a code that includes at least the deposit ID, action URL, company ID, gaming parlor ID, and gaming device ID.

[0181] Next, when the mobile terminal 10 reads the code displayed on the gaming device, the mobile terminal 10 accesses the management function unit 100D based on the read operation URL and communicates with the charge execution means 103. At this time, information such as a deposit ID and the app ID of an application installed on the mobile terminal 10 is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103 as a pre-charge information request. The charge execution means 103, which has received the pre-charge information request, identifies the company ID, gaming facility ID, code generation date and time, etc. based on the deposit ID included in the pre-charge information request, and confirms the validity of the code. Here, the validity of the code is confirmed by verifying the identified company ID and gaming facility ID, and checking whether a predetermined period of time has passed since the code generation date and time. If the validity of the code cannot be confirmed, the charge execution means 103 sends an error message to the mobile terminal 10, although this is not shown in the figure. On the other hand, if the code is confirmed to be valid, the charge execution means 103 identifies the gaming facility from the gaming facility ID, and the charge fee setting means 118D sets a fee based on a specific elapsed period. For example, since it is known from the player's membership number linked to the app ID that the member's membership period exceeds a specific elapsed period, the charge fee setting means 118D determines that the predetermined judgment condition is not met and sets a charge fee (e.g., 0 yen) other than a predetermined amount (e.g., 200 yen). The charge execution means 103 also identifies a storage area of ​​the valuable management means 101 linked to the app ID from the app ID, in other words, a wallet account for each player.

[0182] In the identified valuable management means 101, the usability determination means 105 determines whether the electronic money can be used and identifies the available electronic money. Therefore, the charge execution means 103 calculates the total amount of electronic money available for charge, in other words, the total amount of the available electronic money's "current balance," based on the "current balance" of the identified available electronic money. The calculated total amount of the "current balance" is then specified as the available charge amount. Note that this determination must take into account the charge fee, and the amount obtained by subtracting the charge fee from the total amount of the current balance is calculated, and this calculated amount is specified as the available charge amount. However, since the charge fee setting means 118D has set the charge fee to 0 yen in this case, it is sufficient to specify the total amount of the current balance as the available charge amount. The charge execution means 103 then transmits the specified available charge amount to the mobile terminal 10 as a pre-charge information response. Based on the received available charge amount, the mobile terminal 10 then displays a charge amount selection screen on which the player can specify a desired amount within the available charge amount as the available charge amount (specified amount). This charge amount selection screen allows the player to select the desired charge amount from multiple options, such as 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, or 10,000 yen, but may also be configured to allow the player to specify any charge amount. Note that since the charge fee setting means 118D has set the charge fee to 0 yen, the charge fee will not be deducted from the balance of the player's wallet account, but it is desirable to inform the player that the charge fee is 0 yen. When the player specifies the desired charge amount and performs a charge execution operation, a charge execution request is sent from the mobile terminal 10 to the charge execution means 103. This charge execution request includes at least the company ID, gaming facility ID, gaming device ID, specified charge amount (specified amount), app ID, etc.

[0183] Upon receiving the charge execution request, the charge execution means 103 notifies the mobile terminal 10 of the completion of the charge execution by sending a charge execution response via a communication means such as email or a pop-up function in an application installed on the mobile terminal 10. The charge execution means 103 also identifies the gaming device operated by the player using the company ID, gaming facility ID, and gaming device ID, and deducts and subtracts electronic money equivalent to the specified charge amount and the identified charge fee from the valuable value management means 101. Then, the charge execution means 103 transmits a charge execution instruction to the identified gaming device to convert (charge) the electronic money equivalent to the deducted and subtracted charge amount into prepaid value associated with the IC card 4 by the gaming device. The gaming device that received the charge execution instruction associates the prepaid value equivalent to the electronic money deducted by the charge execution means 103 with the IC card 4 based on the received charge amount. The gaming device then transmits the card ID of the IC card 4 associated with the prepaid value to the management function unit 100D as a charge result, completing the charging of the prepaid value to the IC card 4. At this time, if the gaming device is the unit 3, the player can use the prepaid value to play on the gaming machine 2, and if the gaming device is the card issuing machine 5, an IC card 4 is issued (ejected), and the player can insert the IC card 4 into the unit 3 to play on the gaming machine 2.

[0184] Meanwhile, in the management function unit 100D that has received the charge result, first, the valuable management means 101 updates the "current balance" of the record in which the withdrawn usable electronic money is recorded. Furthermore, based on the card ID of the IC card 4 received as the charge result, the pair management means 120 of the management function unit 100D links the card ID with an application ID, and records and manages the linking information. That is, as the charge execution means 103 associates valuable with the IC card 4, which is a recording medium, the pair management means 120 links and manages account information managed by the valuable management means 101, from which the valuable is to be subtracted (for example, an application ID that can uniquely identify the player's account), and the card ID of the IC card 4, to which the valuable is to be added.

[0185] Other modification examples The above has explained the charging fee setting function using the charging fee setting means 118A to 118D in the valuable value management systems 1A to 1D according to the first to fourth embodiments, but it is also possible to have all charging fees set using the charging fee setting means 118A to 118D and to be able to arbitrarily set the charging fee setting means 118A to 118D to be applied to each gaming facility in accordance with requests from the gaming facility, etc.

[0186] Furthermore, if the charging fee includes an amount borne by the gaming parlor and an amount borne by the player who issued the charging request, the valuable value management systems 1A to 1D according to the first to fourth embodiments may be provided with a function that allows the breakdown of the charging fee to be determined. Specifically, by providing charging fee breakdown management means 122 that manages the breakdown of the charging fee set by the charging fee setting means 118A to 118D, it is possible to determine the amount borne by the gaming parlor and the amount borne by the player when the charging fee is reduced or increased. If the amount borne by the gaming parlor and the amount borne by the player can be set arbitrarily at the request of the gaming parlor, the gaming parlor can control the amount at its discretion, for example, by reducing the amount borne by the player or by adding the amount borne by the player to the normal charging fee.

[0187] Furthermore, the charge execution means 103 may notify the player of the value of the charge request based on the charge execution request and the charge fee set by the charge fee setting means 118A-118D by displaying it on the mobile terminal 10 that has issued the charge execution request, and may execute the charge based on the player's approval of the payment of the charge fee associated with the charge execution by performing an consent operation (for example, selecting the charge execution button) on the screen of the mobile terminal. If the player's final confirmation is obtained before the charge is executed, it is possible to prevent the player from making a mistake in the charge amount or making an unintended charge.

[0188] Furthermore, the charging fee setting means 118A-118D may have a tax-inclusive setting function that treats the amount set as the charging fee as a tax-inclusive amount including consumption tax, and a tax-exclusive setting function that treats the amount set as a tax-exclusive amount not including consumption tax, and may be able to arbitrarily select either the tax-inclusive setting function or the tax-exclusive setting function. If such a function is implemented, the charging fee can be displayed as a tax-inclusive amount without fractions, or as a tax-exclusive amount with fractions in the charging fee, and this can be set arbitrarily at the discretion of the gaming parlor or the value management system 1A-1D.

[0189] The above describes the value management system according to the present invention based on several embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and encompasses within its scope all value systems that can be realized as long as the configuration described in the claims is not changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0190] 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D Value Management System 2. Gaming machines 2a Control section 2b Unit communication section 3 units (amusement devices) 3a Control section 3b Gaming machine communication section 3c Management Function Department Communication Department 3d management device communication department 4. IC card (recording medium) 5. Card issuing machine (gaming device) 5a Control section 5b Management Function Department Communication Department 5c Management device communication department 6. Payment machines (gaming devices) 6a Control section 6b Management Functions Communication Section 7 HUB 8. Relay Device 9 Management device 9a Control section 9b Unit communication section 9c Card issuing machine communication section 10 Mobile devices 11 Touch panel display 20 Cashless Center 30 Prepaid Payment Center 40 General-purpose settlement center 40a Control section 40b Information Management Department 40c Management Function Department Communication Department 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D Management function unit (wallet) 101 Value Management Instruments 102 Cashless Addition Method 103 Charge execution means 104 Settlement and addition means 105 Usability determination means 106 Settlement execution instruction means 111 Control Unit 112 Center Communications Department 113 Unit communication section 114 Mobile terminal communication unit 115 Card issuing machine communication unit 116 Payment Machine Communication Unit 117 Valuable Value Addition and Deductibility Information Management Means 118A, 118B, 118C, 118D Charge fee setting means 119 Recording medium usage information acquisition means 120 Pair Management Methods 121 Charge fee refund method 122 Charge fee breakdown management method

Claims

1. A valuable management system for managing valuables that can be used by a player, a valuable management means for managing the valuable; a cashless adding means for making a deposit request to a settlement center that executes cashless settlement based on a deposit execution request from a player, and adding the valuable value deposited from the settlement center upon execution of the cashless settlement to the valuable management means; a charging execution means for subtracting the value managed by the value management means for the requested amount of charge and a predetermined charging fee based on a charging execution request for associating the value with a recording medium, and associating the value remaining after subtraction with the recording medium by the gaming device; a settlement adding means for adding the value corresponding to the remaining amount to the value managing means to settle the remaining amount based on a settlement execution request for settling the remaining amount of the value associated with the recording medium; a valuable addition / subtraction information management means for acquiring valuable addition / subtraction information including at least one of information regarding the addition of the valuable to the valuable management means by the cashless addition means, information regarding the addition of the valuable to the valuable management means by the settlement addition means, and information regarding the subtraction of the valuable from the valuable management means by the charge execution means, and for managing the acquired valuable addition / subtraction information for each player; a charging fee setting means for setting the charging fee based on a predetermined determination condition; and A valuable management system characterized in that the charge fee setting means is capable of determining whether the specified judgment condition is met based on whether the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means is within a specific elapsed period, which is the period that has elapsed since a specified starting date to a specified expiration date.

2. The charging fee setting means When it is determined that the predetermined determination condition is met based on the fact that the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means is within a period before a reference date, which is a period that has elapsed since the calculation start date and up to a predetermined reference date within the specific elapsed period, the charge fee is set to a first predetermined amount; When it is determined that the predetermined determination condition is met based on the fact that the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means is within a post-reference date elapsed period, which is a period that extends from the reference date to the expiration date within the specific elapsed period, the charge fee is set to a reduced charge fee for the period that has elapsed that is reduced from the first predetermined amount depending on the length of the period that has elapsed since the reference date, When it is determined that the predetermined determination condition is not satisfied based on the fact that the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means is beyond the expiration date, the charge fee is set to a second predetermined amount that is reduced from the reduced charge fee for the period that has elapsed.

2. The value management system according to claim 1.

3. The charging fee setting means When it is determined that the predetermined determination condition is met based on the fact that the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means is within a period before a reference date, which is a period that has elapsed since the calculation date and up to a predetermined reference date within the specific elapsed period, the charge fee is set to a second predetermined amount; When it is determined that the predetermined determination condition is met based on the fact that the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means is within a post-reference date elapsed period, which is a period that extends from the reference date to the expiration date within the specific elapsed period, the charge fee is set to an increased charge fee for the period that has elapsed that is increased from the second predetermined amount depending on the length of the period that has elapsed since the reference date, When it is determined that the predetermined determination condition is not satisfied based on the fact that the timing of the charge execution by the charge execution means is beyond the expiration date, the charge fee is set to a first predetermined amount that is increased more than the increased charge fee for the period elapsed.

2. The value management system according to claim 1.

4. The valuable management system described in claim 1, characterized in that the charge fee setting means sets the charge fee to a first charge fee when it determines that the specified judgment condition is met based on the fact that the charge execution timing by the charge execution means is within the specified elapsed period, and sets the charge fee to a second charge fee different from the first charge fee when it determines that the specified judgment condition is not met.

5. The charging fee includes an amount borne by the gaming establishment and / or an amount borne by the player who made the charging request, the charging fee setting means sets the charging fee by subtracting the amount borne by the gaming establishment from a predetermined basic fee or by adding the amount borne by the player to the basic fee; a charge fee breakdown management means for managing a breakdown of the charge fee set by the charge fee setting means; 5. The value management system according to claim 1, wherein the value management system is a system for managing a value.

6. the charging execution means notifies the player who has made the charging request of the value of the amount of the charging request based on the charging execution request and the charging fee set by the charging fee setting means, and executes the charging based on the player's approval of payment of the charging fee associated with the charging execution.

5. The value management system according to claim 1, wherein the value management system is a system for managing a value.

7. The charge fee setting means has a tax-inclusive setting function that treats the amount set as the charge fee as a tax-inclusive amount including consumption tax, and a tax-exclusive setting function that treats the amount set as a tax-exclusive amount not including consumption tax, and the tax-inclusive setting function or the tax-exclusive setting function can be selected at will.

5. The value management system according to claim 1, wherein the value management system is a system for managing a value.

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