Slot machine

Abstract

To provide a slot machine with an improvement for a control at the time of shifting to an advantageous interval.SOLUTION: After an AT2 state is finished, an advantageous interval is to be finished and a shift is to be made to a normal interval, and when a shift is made again to the advantageous interval, a control may sometimes be performed into a CZ2 state where a possibility of being controlled into the AT2 state. After the AT2 state is finished, the advantageous interval is to be finished and a shift is to be made to the normal interval, and if a control is to be performed into the CZ2 state when a shift is made again to the advantageous interval, a presentation mode of the CZ2 state is selected based on a game history in the finished advantageous interval.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a slot machine capable of generating a predetermined winning according to a display result of a variable display unit capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information that can be individually identified.

Background Art

[0002] As this type of slot machine, there has been proposed one that can be controlled between a normal section not controlled in an advantageous state and an advantageous section that can be controlled in the advantageous state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the slot machine having an advantageous section as described in Patent Document 1, there is room for improvement in the control at the time of transition to the advantageous section.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine with improved control at the time of transition to an advantageous section.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The slot machine according to claim 1 includes a variable display unit capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information that can be individually identified, in the slot machine that derives a display result by stopping the variable display of the variable display unit and can generate a winning according to the display result, includes section control means that can be controlled to any one of a normal section not controlled in an advantageous state and an advantageous section that can be controlled in the advantageous state. The advantageous interval includes a normal state and a specific state in which the probability of transitioning to the advantageous state is higher than that of the normal state. The advantageous state and the advantageous period end, When the system returns to the advantageous period, it may be controlled to the specific state described above. When the aforementioned advantageous period ends and the program returns to the aforementioned advantageous period again When controlled to the aforementioned specific state, In the aforementioned advantageous period that has ended It is possible to vary the presentation of the specific state depending on the period during which the advantageous state is maintained. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the advantageous state ends, the advantageous period ends and the system transitions to the normal period, and then when the system transitions back to the advantageous period, the system controls the system to a specific state. It is possible to vary the presentation of a specific state depending on the period during which the game is controlled to be in an advantageous state. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the advantageous state up to that point and the subsequent specific state are occurring continuously.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention may have only the inventive features described in the claims of the present invention, or it may have the inventive features described in the claims of the present invention along with other features not described therein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a slot machine according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the arrangement of symbols on the reels. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a slot machine. [Figure 4] This is a diagram to explain the roles that are subject to internal lottery. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the execution methods of navigation notifications and navigation effects. [Figure 6] This figure shows the transition of the advantageous period state in the game period and the advantageous period in Example 1. [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating the advantageous interval state in Example 1. [Figure 8] This figure shows the AT lottery probability for Example 1. [Figure 9] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the start of the CZ1 state and the AT1 state in Example 1. [Figure 10] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the start of the CZ1 state and the AT1 state in Example 1. [Figure 11] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 12] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [[ID=ll]] [Figure 13] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 14] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 15] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 16] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 17] This is a diagram for explaining the control content at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 18] This is a diagram for explaining the screen transition at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 19] This is a diagram for explaining the screen transition at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 20] This is a diagram for explaining the screen transition at the end of the AT2 state. [Figure 21] This is a diagram showing a modification example of the AT lottery probability in Example 1. [Figure 22] This is a diagram for explaining a modification example of the control content at the end of the AT2 state in Example 1. [Figure 23] This is a diagram showing the transition of the advantageous section state in the game section and the advantageous section in Example 2. [Figure 24] This is a diagram for explaining the advantageous section state in Example 2. [Figure 25] This is a diagram showing the AT lottery probability in Example 2. [Figure 26] This diagram illustrates the control details for the CZ1 and AT3 states in Example 2. [Figure 27] This is a diagram illustrating the control details of the CZ3 state in Example 2. [Figure 28] This is a diagram illustrating the control details of the CZ3 state in Example 2. [Figure 29] This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT3 state in Example 2. [Figure 30] This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT4 state in Example 2. [Figure 31] This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT4 state in Example 2. [Figure 32] This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT4 state in Example 2. [Figure 33] This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT4 state in Example 2. [Figure 34] This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT4 state in Example 2. [Figure 35] This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT4 state in Example 2. [Figure 36] This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT4 state in Example 2. [Figure 37] This figure illustrates a modified example of the control content at the end of the AT4 state in Example 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments for implementing the slot machine according to the present invention will be described below based on examples.

[0010] [Form 1] The slot machine of type 1-1 is, It is equipped with a variable display unit (reels 2L, 2C, 2R) that can display multiple types of identification information that can be identified by each unit, In a slot machine (slot machine 1) in which a display result is derived by stopping the variable display of the variable display unit, and a prize can be awarded according to the display result, The system includes a section control means that can control the system to either a normal section that is not controlled to an advantageous state (AT state) or an advantageous section that can be controlled to the advantageous state (AT state), The aforementioned advantageous period includes a normal state and a specific state (CZ2 state) in which the probability of transitioning to the aforementioned advantageous state (AT state) is higher than that of the normal state. After the advantageous state (AT state) ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions back to the advantageous section, it may be controlled to enter the specific state (CZ2 state). The performance mode of the specific state (CZ2 state) that is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period is selected based on the game history (number of consecutive AT2s) in the advantageous period that ended. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the advantageous state ends, the advantageous period ends and the game transitions to the normal period, and then when the game transitions back to the advantageous period and controls the game to a specific state, the presentation of the specific state is selected based on the game history in the completed advantageous period. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the advantageous state up to that point and the subsequent specific state occurred continuously.

[0011] The slot machine of form 1-2 is the slot machine described in form 1-1, The performance mode of the specific state (CZ2 state) that is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period is selected based on the history of the advantageous state (number of consecutive AT2s) in the advantageous period that ended. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the advantageous state ends, the advantageous period ends and the game transitions to the normal period, and then when the game transitions back to the advantageous period and controls to a specific state, the presentation mode for the specific state is selected based on the history of the advantageous state in the terminated advantageous period. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the advantageous state up to that point and the subsequent specific state occurred continuously.

[0012] The slot machine of form 1-3 is the slot machine described in form 1-2, Regarding the performance mode of the specific state (CZ2 state) that is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned to, if the period during which the advantageous state (AT2 state) was controlled (number of consecutive AT2s) in the terminated advantageous period is 20 times or more, the specific performance mode (CZ2 performance (ED)) is more likely to be selected than when the period is less than 20 times. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, if the advantageous state is maintained for a certain period of time or longer during the completed advantageous period, a specific performance pattern is more likely to be selected. Therefore, by having a specific performance pattern in a specific state, it is possible to make the player recognize that the player has been maintained in an advantageous state for a long period of time.

[0013] A slot machine of form 1-4 is a slot machine described in any of forms 1-1 to 1-3, It is equipped with a pre-determination means (internal lottery) to determine whether or not to allow the occurrence of prize winners. In accordance with the decision result (favorable section transition role) of the pre-determination means in the normal section, the system transitions to the favorable section. The performance mode of the specific state (CZ2 state) that is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period is selected based on the history of the advantageous state in the terminated advantageous period (number of consecutive AT2s) and the type of the decision result of the pre-determination means (advantageous period transition role) that triggered the return to the advantageous period. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the advantageous state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and then when the game transitions back to the advantageous section and controls the game to a specific state, the presentation mode for the specific state is selected based on the history of the advantageous state in the terminated advantageous section and the type of decision result of the pre-determining means that triggered the transition back to the advantageous section. This allows for a presentation mode that corresponds to the trigger for the transition to the advantageous section.

[0014] A slot machine of form 1-5 is a slot machine described in any of forms 1-1 to 1-4, The performance mode for the specific state (CZ2 state) that is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period is selected based on the history of the advantageous state (number of consecutive AT2s) in the terminated advantageous period and whether or not the player is controlled to the advantageous state (AT2 state) after the termination of the specific state (CZ2 state). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the advantageous state ends, the advantageous section ends and the player transitions to the normal section, and then when the player transitions back to the advantageous section and controls to a specific state, the presentation mode for the specific state is selected based on the history of the advantageous state in the terminated advantageous section and whether or not the player is controlled to an advantageous state after the end of the specific state. This allows the player to focus on the presentation mode for the specific state.

[0015] The slot machine of form 1-6 is the slot machine described in form 1-5, It is equipped with a pre-determination means (internal lottery) to determine whether or not to allow the occurrence of prize winners. In accordance with the decision result (favorable section transition role) of the pre-determination means in the normal section, the system transitions to the favorable section. A first decision (AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section) is made to determine whether or not to control the system to the advantageous state (AT2 state) after the specific state (CZ2 state) according to the result of the decision of the predetermining means (advantageous section transition trigger) that triggered the termination of the advantageous section and the transition to the advantageous section again. A second decision (AT lottery in the CZ2 state) is made to determine whether or not to control the system to the advantageous state (AT2 state) after the specific state (CZ2 state) according to the result of the decision of the predetermining means (result of the internal lottery) in a predetermined game (first game) in the specific state (CZ2 state). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the advantageous state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and then when the game transitions back to the advantageous section and controls the game to a specific state, the presentation mode of the specific state is selected based on the results of both the first decision made when the game transitions to the advantageous section and the second decision made in a predetermined game in the specific state. Therefore, the results of both the first and second decisions can be reflected in the presentation mode of the specific state.

[0016] A slot machine of form 1-7 is a slot machine described in form 1-5 or 1-6, Regarding the performance mode of the specific state (CZ2 state) that is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned to, if the advantageous state (AT2 state) is not controlled after the end of the specific state (CZ2 state), the specific performance mode (CZ2 performance (ED)) is more likely to be selected than if the advantageous state (AT2 state) is controlled. It is characterized by the following. According to this characteristic, if the game is not controlled to an advantageous state after a specific state, it is more likely to be controlled to a specific presentation pattern in that state. On the other hand, if the game is controlled to an advantageous state, it is less likely to be controlled to a specific presentation pattern in that state. Therefore, it is possible to make it appear as if advantageous states are occurring continuously.

[0017] [Form 2] A slot machine of type 2-1 is, It is equipped with a variable display unit (reels 2L, 2C, 2R) that can display multiple types of identification information that can be identified by each unit, In a slot machine (slot machine 1) in which a display result is derived by stopping the variable display of the variable display unit, and a prize can be awarded according to the display result, The system includes a section control means that can control the system to either a normal section that is not controlled to an advantageous state (AT state) or an advantageous section that can be controlled to the advantageous state (AT state), The aforementioned advantageous period includes a normal state and a first specific state (CZ4 state) and a second specific state (CZ3 state) that have a higher probability of transitioning to the aforementioned advantageous state (AT state) than the normal state. It is possible to perform the following: a first control that, after the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, terminates the advantageous section and transitions to the normal section, and controls the system to the first specific state (CZ4 state) when it transitions back to the advantageous section; a second control that, after the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, controls the system to the first specific state (CZ4 state) while continuing the advantageous section; and a third control that, after the advantageous state (AT3 state) ends, controls the system to the second specific state (CZ3 state) while continuing the advantageous section. When the control is set to the first specific state (CZ4 state) in the first control, a preparation animation (standby animation) is performed when the system transitions to the normal section. In the second control, when controlling to the first specific state (CZ4 state), after the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, the control proceeds through a preparation performance state (preparation state) where the preparation performance (standby performance) is performed, and then to the first specific state (CZ4 state). In the third control, when controlling to the second specific state (CZ3 state), after the advantageous state (AT3 state) ends, the control proceeds to the second specific state (CZ3 state) without going through the preparation performance state (preparation state). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the advantageous period continues in the second control and the game is controlled to the first specific state, the game proceeds to the first specific state after a preparatory sequence, similar to when the advantageous period ends once in the first control and the game is controlled to the first specific state. This makes it difficult to determine whether the game proceeded to the first specific state while the advantageous period continued, or whether it proceeded to the first specific state after the advantageous period ended. On the other hand, when the advantageous period continues in the third control and the game is controlled to the second specific state, the game proceeds to the second specific state without going through a preparatory sequence. Therefore, in the third control, the game can transition to the second specific state quickly after the advantageous state ends.

[0018] The slot machine of form 2-2 is the slot machine described in form 2-1, The first specific state (CZ4 state) is a state in which the probability of transitioning to the advantageous state (AT state) is higher than that of the second specific state (CZ3 state). It is characterized by the following. This feature suggests that players can expect to be controlled into a favorable state after going through a preparatory sequence.

[0019] The slot machine of form 2-3 is the slot machine described in form 2-1 or 2-2, The aforementioned advantageous state (AT state) includes a first advantageous state (AT3 state) and a second advantageous state (AT4 state) in which a greater increase in game value can be expected than in the first advantageous state (AT3 state). When controlling from the first specific state (CZ4 state) to the advantageous state (AT state), the control is performed to the second advantageous state (AT4 state). When controlling from the second specific state (CZ3 state) to the advantageous state (AT state), the control is performed to the first advantageous state (AT3 state). It is characterized by the following. This feature suggests that going through the preparation sequence will lead to the expectation of being controlled to a more advantageous first-advantage state.

[0020] The slot machine of form 2-4 is the slot machine described in form 2-3, It is possible to decide to control the system to enter the advantageous state (AT state) when transitioning to the advantageous period. When it is decided to control the system to the advantageous state (AT state) when transitioning to the advantageous section, the system is controlled to the first advantageous state (AT4 state). It is characterized by the following. This feature prevents the system from being controlled to an unintended type of advantageous state when transitioning to an advantageous period during the first control process.

[0021] A slot machine of form 2-5 is a slot machine described in any of forms 2-1 to 2-4, The expected value of the period controlled in the first specific state (CZ4 state) is smaller than the expected value of the period controlled in the second specific state (CZ3 state). It is characterized by the following. This feature prevents the period between being controlled to a preparation state and being controlled to a favorable state from becoming redundant.

[0022] A slot machine of form 2-6 is a slot machine described in any of forms 2-1 to 2-5, It is equipped with a pre-determination means (internal lottery) to determine whether or not to allow the occurrence of prize winners. In the normal section, the system transitions to the advantageous section based on the determination result of the pre-determination means becoming a specific result (advantageous section transition trigger). In the second control, when controlling to the first specific state (CZ4 state), after the advantageous state ends, the control is made to the first specific state (CZ4 state) based on the fact that the decision result of the pre-determination means has become a specific result (advantageous section transition role). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the advantageous period continues during the second control and the machine is controlled to the first specific state, the machine is controlled to the first specific state at the same trigger as when the advantageous period ends once during the first control and the machine is controlled to the first specific state. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine whether the machine was controlled to the first specific state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the machine was controlled to the first specific state after the advantageous period ended.

[0023] A slot machine of form 2-7 is a slot machine described in any of forms 2-1 to 2-6, It is equipped with a derivation operation means (stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R) that the player operates to derive the displayed result, In the advantageous section, in a non-advantageous state (normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ3 state, CZ4 state) that is not controlled to the advantageous state (AT state), the degree of advantage regarding the transition to the advantageous state (AT state) differs depending on whether the derivation operation means is operated in the first mode (stopping operation order with the left reel as the first stop) or in the second mode (stopping operation order with a reel other than the left reel as the first stop) (a penalty related to AT is given when playing with a stopping operation order with a reel other than the left reel as the first stop). When the second control is performed in the advantageous section, the degree of advantage regarding the transition to the advantageous state (AT state) remains unchanged regardless of how the derivation operation means is operated during the preparation performance state (preparation state) (no penalty related to AT is given even if the game is played with a stopping operation order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, in the preparation state when the second control is performed, the degree of advantage regarding the transition to the advantageous state does not change regardless of how the derivation operation means is operated, just as in the normal section. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the first specific state while the advantageous section was still ongoing, or whether the game was controlled to the first specific state after the advantageous section had ended.

[0024] A slot machine of form 2-8 is a slot machine described in any of forms 2-1 to 2-7, During the aforementioned advantageous period, it is possible to control the external signals (CZ / AT signal, AT signal) that can be output to the outside of the slot machine to be in the ON state. In the first control, when controlling to the first specific state (CZ4 state), the external signals (CZ / AT signal, AT signal) are temporarily turned off when the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, and then turned on after transitioning to the first specific state (CZ4 state). In the second control, when controlling to the first specific state (CZ4 state), the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, causing the external signals (CZ / AT signal, AT signal) to be temporarily turned off. After remaining off for at least one game, the system transitions to the first specific state (CZ4 state) and then turns them on. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, even if the advantageous period continues during the second control and the system is controlled to the first specific state, the external signal will be turned off temporarily, just as in the case where the advantageous period ends once during the first control and then the system is controlled to the first specific state. This makes it difficult to determine whether the system was controlled to the first specific state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the system was controlled to the first specific state after the advantageous period had ended.

[0025] A slot machine of form 2-9 is a slot machine described in any of forms 2-1 to 2-8, The system includes specific light-emitting units (CZ / AT LED 19a, AT LED 19b) that can be emitted during the advantageous period s, In the first control, when controlling to the first specific state (CZ4 state), when the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, the specific light-emitting units (CZ / AT LED 19a, AT LED 19b) are temporarily set to a non-lighting state (non-illuminated state), and then set to a light-emitting state (illuminated state) after transitioning to the first specific state (CZ4 state). In the second control, when controlling to the first specific state (CZ4 state), the specific light-emitting parts (CZ / AT LED 19a, AT LED 19b) are temporarily set to a non-lighting state (off-illuminated state) when the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, and remain in a non-lighting state (off-illuminated state) for at least one game before transitioning to the first specific state (CZ4 state) and then becoming light-emitting (on-illuminated state). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, even if the system is controlled to the first specific state while the advantageous period continues in the second control, the specific light-emitting part will temporarily become non-emitting, just as in the case where the advantageous period ends once in the first control before being controlled to the first specific state. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine whether the system was controlled to the first specific state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the system was controlled to the first specific state after the advantageous period ended.

[0026] The slot machine of form 2-10 is a slot machine described in any of forms 2-1 to 2-9, The termination conditions for the advantageous period include an upper limit termination condition (termination condition 1) which is met when the game value (net increase in tokens) acquired by the player during the advantageous period exceeds the upper limit (upper limit), When the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, the advantageous period ends if the difference between the amount of game value (net increase in tokens) acquired by the player during the advantageous period and the upper limit (upper limit) (remaining net increase in tokens) is less than or equal to a specific amount (specific number). It is characterized by the following. This feature prevents situations where the advantageous state ends abruptly due to the condition for the upper limit of the advantageous period being met midway through, or where additional wins are restricted to prevent reaching the upper limit.

[0027] The slot machine of form 2-11 is a slot machine described in any of forms 2-1 to 2-10, If it is determined that the right to control the system to the advantageous state (AT4 state) has been granted in the advantageous state (AT4 state), then after the advantageous state (AT4 state) ends, the system will control the system to the advantageous state (AT4 state) without controlling it to the preparation performance state or the first specific state (CZ4 state). It is characterized by the following. According to this characteristic, in situations where it is certain that a favorable state will continue, it is possible to quickly maintain that favorable state without any unnecessary delays. [Examples]

[0028] Embodiment 1 of a slot machine to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment consists of a housing 1a with an open front and a front door 1b pivotally supported at the side end of the housing 1a. Inside the slot machine 1, reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (hereinafter referred to as the left reel, middle reel, and right reel) are arranged horizontally, each containing an equal number of multiple types of symbols that are identifiable from one another in a predetermined order. As shown in Figure 1, three consecutive symbols from these reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are displayed in three rows (upper, middle, and lower) in a transparent window 3 located approximately in the center of the front of the slot machine 1, so that they are visible to the player. Also, as shown in Figure 2, each reel contains multiple types of symbols that are identifiable from one another ("Red 7", "White 7", "BAR", "Watermelon a", "Watermelon b", "Cherry", "Bell a", "Bell b", "Replay", "Plum") arranged in a predetermined order.

[0029] In this embodiment, a configuration using three reels is illustrated, but a configuration using only one reel, a configuration using two reels, or a configuration using four or more reels may also be used. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a variable display unit is configured to display a variable pattern using reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, but the variable display unit may not be made of reels. For example, a configuration in which the pattern can be displayed by moving a belt on which multiple patterns are arranged on the outer surface may also be used. In addition, in this embodiment, the variable display unit is made of physical reels, but the variable display unit may be made of an image display device such as a liquid crystal display.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, the front of the slot machine 1 is equipped with a coin slot 4 into which coins can be inserted, a coin payout 9 from which coins are dispensed, a MAXBET switch 6 which is operated when setting the maximum number of bets from a predetermined number of bets (in this embodiment, 3 for non-internal and internal states, and 2 for special states) determined according to the game state using credits (the number of coins stored as game value owned by the player), a settlement switch 10 which is operated when settling the coins stored as credits and the coins used to set the bet (returning the coins used for credits and setting the bet), a start switch 7 which is operated when starting the game, stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R which are operated when stopping the rotation of reels 2L, 2C, and 2R respectively, and a performance switch 56 which is used for performance effects, all of which are operable by the player.

[0031] On the front of slot machine 1, as shown in Figure 1, there is a credit indicator 11 that displays the number of medals stored as credits, a game assistance indicator 12 that displays the number of medals dispensed when a win occurs, an error code indicating the nature of the error when an error occurs, and operation information (navigation notification) corresponding to the operation of stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, a 1BETLED 14 that lights up to indicate that the number of bets is set to 1, a 2BETLED 15 that lights up to indicate that the number of bets is set to 2, and a 3BETLED that lights up to indicate that the number of bets is set to 3. D16, a game display unit 13 is provided, which includes a start-enabled LED 18 that lights up to indicate that the game start operation by operating the start switch 7 is valid, a CZ / AT LED 19a that lights up to indicate that the game is controlled to either the CZ state or the AT state described later and that the CZ / AT signal described later is ON, an AT LED 19b that lights up to indicate that the game is controlled to the AT state described later and that the AT signal described later is ON, and a replay LED 20 that lights up to indicate that a replay game is in progress.

[0032] In this embodiment, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are provided separately, but they may be combined into a single LED that indicates by lighting up that the CZ / AT signal is ON or the AT signal is ON. In this case, the LED should be kept off when both the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are OFF, the LED should be turned on when at least one of the CZ / AT signal or the AT signal is ON, and then the LED should be kept off when both the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are OFF. With this configuration, the LED will always be lit when either the CZ / AT signal or the AT signal is ON, making it possible to confirm that either signal is being output.

[0033] Inside the MAXBET switch 6, there is a BET switch enabled LED 21 (see Figure 3) that lights up to indicate that the betting amount setting operation by operating the MAXBET switch 6 is valid. Inside the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, there are left, middle, and right stop enabled LEDs 22L, 22C, and 22R (see Figure 3) that light up to indicate that the operation to stop the reels by the corresponding stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R is valid.

[0034] Furthermore, a liquid crystal display 51 capable of displaying images is provided on the front of the slot machine 1. The liquid crystal display 51 has a liquid crystal panel that is transparent when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal elements, and is positioned so that the display area is located in front of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R on the front door 1b (on the player's side). Each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R on the back side of the liquid crystal display 51 is visible from the player's side through the transparent area of ​​the display area of ​​the liquid crystal display 51 that corresponds to the transparent window 3 and through the transparent window 3.

[0035] Inside the front door 1b of the slot machine 1, there is a reset switch 23 that detects a reset operation to clear an error state from outside the slot machine 1 by operating a predetermined key, a setting value display 24 that displays the current setting value while the setting value is being changed or checked, a door open detection switch 25 that detects the open state of the front door 1b, a flow path switching solenoid 30 that selectively switches the flow path of medals inserted from the medal insertion section 4 to either the hopper tank side or the medal payout outlet 9 side, which are located inside the slot machine 1, and a medal selector 29 having inserted medal sensors 31a to 31c that detect medals inserted from the medal insertion section 4 that have flowed down to the hopper tank side.

[0036] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 is equipped with a reel unit 34 for rotating and stopping the aforementioned reels 2L, 2C, and 2R in accordance with control signals from the main control unit 41, and a hopper unit 35 for dispensing medals from the medal payout port 9 in accordance with control signals from the main control unit 41.

[0037] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 is equipped with a setting key switch 37 for switching between a setting change state and a setting confirmation state, a reset / setting switch 38 which normally functions as a reset switch to clear an error state and, in the setting change state, functions as a setting switch to change the setting value of the winning probability (payout rate) of the internal lottery described later, and a power switch 39 which is operated when turning the power on / off.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, the slot machine 1 is equipped with a game control board 40 and a performance control board 90. The game control board 40 controls the game, and the performance control board 90 controls the performance according to the game state.

[0039] The game control board 40 is connected to the aforementioned MAXBET switch 6, start switch 7, stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, payout switch 10, reset switch 23, coin insertion sensors 31a to 31c, reel sensors of the reel unit 34 (not shown), payout sensors and full sensors of the hopper unit 35 (not shown), setting key switch 37, and reset / setting switch 38, and receives detection signals from these connected switches and other devices.

[0040] Furthermore, the game control board 40 is connected to the aforementioned credit display 11, game assistance display 12, 1-3 BET LEDs 14-16, start enabled LED 18, CZ / AT LED 19a, AT LED 19b, replay LED 20, BET switch enabled LED 21, left, middle, right stop enabled LEDs 22L, 22C, 22R, setting value display 24, flow path switching solenoid 30, reel unit 34, and hopper unit 35. These electrical components are driven based on the control of the main control unit 41, which is mounted on the game control board 40 and will be described later.

[0041] Furthermore, the game control board 40 is equipped with a main control unit 41 that controls the game. The main control unit 41 includes a ROM 41b for storing programs and the like, and a RAM 41c for temporarily storing work data.

[0042] Furthermore, the main control unit 41 sends various commands to the sub-control unit 91. Commands sent from the main control unit 41 to the sub-control unit 91 are sent in only one direction, and no commands are sent from the sub-control unit 91 to the main control unit 41.

[0043] Furthermore, the main control unit 41 outputs a CZ / AT signal, which can identify that the machine is controlled to either the AT state (described later) or the CZ state (described later), and an AT signal, which can identify that the machine is controlled to the AT state (described later), to external hall equipment such as call lamps via an external output board (not shown).

[0044] The aforementioned performance switch 56 is connected to the performance control board 90, and its detection signal is input to it. In addition, the performance control board 90 is connected to performance devices such as the aforementioned liquid crystal display 51, speakers 53 and 54 capable of outputting sound, and performance LEDs 57 whose light emission patterns can be changed. The output state of these performance devices can be controlled by the sub-control unit 91 mounted on the performance control board 90. The sub-control unit 91 receives commands transmitted from the main control unit 41 and the detection signal from the performance switch 56, and performs various controls for performing the performance.

[0045] The slot machine 1 in this embodiment is configured such that the payout rate of medals changes according to the set value. Specifically, the payout rate of medals changes by using the winning probability according to the set value in the lottery that affects the player's advantage, such as the internal lottery and the AT lottery. The set value consists of six levels from 1 to 6, with 6 having the highest payout rate, and the payout rate decreasing as the value decreases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. In other words, when the set value is 6, it is the most advantageous for the player, and the advantage decreases in stages as the value decreases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.

[0046] To change the setting value, the setting key switch 37 must be turned ON, and then the power switch 39 of the slot machine 1 must be turned ON. When the setting key switch 37 is turned ON and the power is turned ON, the setting value read from RAM 41c is displayed on the setting value display 24, and the machine transitions to a setting change state in which the setting value can be changed by operating the reset / setting switch 38. In the setting change state, when the reset / setting switch 38 is operated, the displayed value on the setting value display 24 is updated by 1 (if it is operated further from setting value 6, it returns to setting value 1). Then, when the start switch 7 is operated, the displayed value is confirmed as the setting value. Then, when the setting key switch 37 is turned OFF, the confirmed displayed value (setting value) is stored in the RAM 41c of the main control unit 41, and the machine transitions to a state in which the game can proceed. In addition, the main control unit 41 initializes the game-related data stored in RAM 41c in conjunction with the change in the setting value.

[0047] Furthermore, the setting key switch 37 and the reset / setting switch 38 are located inside the slot machine 1 and cannot be operated unless the front door 1b, which can be opened by a predetermined key operation, is opened. Therefore, only employees of the amusement parlor where the slot machine 1 is installed who possess the predetermined key can operate them. In particular, the setting key switch 37 requires an additional key operation, so only employees of the amusement parlor who possess the key to operate the setting key switch 37 can operate it. The reset switch 23 does not require opening the front door 1b, but it requires a key operation using a predetermined key, so only employees who possess the predetermined key can operate it. The reset / setting switch 38 also functions as a reset switch to clear error states under normal circumstances.

[0048] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when playing a game, first, tokens are inserted into the token slot 4, or the MAXBET switch 6 is operated to set the bet using credits. When a predetermined number of bets is set according to the game state, the predetermined winning line LN (see Figure 1; in this embodiment, it is set across the symbols arranged in a curve on the middle of reels 2L and 2C and the upper part of reel 2R) becomes active, and the start switch 7 becomes active, that is, the game can be started. If tokens are inserted in excess of the maximum number of tokens corresponding to the game state, the excess amount is added to the credits. In this embodiment, only one winning line is applied, but multiple winning lines may be applied.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to make it easier to recognize when a combination of symbols constituting a win has been assembled on the winning line LN, invalid lines LM1 to LM5 are set separately from the winning line LN. The invalid lines LM1 to LM5 are not configured so that a win is determined by the combination of symbols assembled on these invalid lines LM1 to LM5. Rather, when a combination of symbols constituting a win has been assembled on the winning line LN, a combination of symbols that suggests a win (for example, bell a-bell a-bell a) is assembled on one of the invalid lines LM1 to LM5, making it easier to recognize when a combination of symbols constituting a win has been assembled on the winning line LN.

[0050] When the start switch 7 is operated while the game is ready to start, reels 2L, 2C, and 2R rotate, and the symbols on each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R change continuously. When any of the stop switches 8L, 8C, or 8R are operated while reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are rotating, a stop control is applied to the corresponding reel 2L, 2C, or 2R, stopping its rotation, and the symbols on that reel are displayed as the result in the viewing window 3.

[0051] In stop control, when each stop switch is operated, control is performed to stop the rotation of the corresponding reels 2L, 2C, and 2R within the maximum stop delay time (190 ms in this embodiment) from the time the operation is performed. During the maximum stop delay time (190 ms) until the end of this period, up to four frames of symbols can be retracted. In other words, in stop control, when stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated, it is possible to select one symbol from the symbols currently displayed and the symbols up to four frames ahead, for a total of five frames (retraction range), and lead it to reels 2L, 2C, and 2R.

[0052] As a result, in stop control, when the rotation is stopped by operating the corresponding stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R for each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R, if the symbols constituting a winning combination that have been won in the internal lottery (described later) are within the pull-in range of up to 4 frames ahead of the symbol at the time the stop switch is operated, then those symbols are pulled onto the winning line LN, and the rotation of the reel whose stop switch has been operated is stopped. On the other hand, if the symbols constituting a winning combination that have been won in the internal lottery are not within that pull-in range, then symbols that do not constitute any winning combination are pulled onto the winning line LN, so that symbols that do not constitute a winning combination that have not been won in the internal lottery do not stop on the winning line LN, and the rotation of the reel whose stop switch has been operated is stopped.

[0053] Furthermore, in the stop control, if a special role (BB in this embodiment) that involves a transition in the game state is carried over, and a minor role that awards medals is won in the internal lottery, resulting in a situation where both a special role and a minor role are won simultaneously, the control is set to prioritize pulling the winning minor role's constituent symbols into the winning line LN within the aforementioned pull-in range. If it is not possible to pull the winning minor role's constituent symbols into the winning line LN, the control is set to pull the winning special role's constituent symbols into the winning line LN. As a result, in games where both a special role and a minor role are won simultaneously, it becomes difficult to award the winning special role.

[0054] Furthermore, in the stop control, if a special role (BB in this embodiment) is carried over, and a re-play role that grants a re-play is won through internal lottery, and both a special role and a re-play role are won simultaneously, the symbols that make up the won re-play role are prioritized and pulled into the winning line LN. The symbols that make up the re-play role on each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R are arranged within a predetermined pull-in range, and when a re-play role is won, the symbols that make up the re-play role are always pulled into the winning line LN. For this reason, in games where both a special role and a re-play role are won simultaneously, the won special role cannot be awarded.

[0055] A game ends when all reels 2L, 2C, and 2R stop. If a predetermined combination of winning symbols stops on the winning line LN on each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R, a win occurs and control is performed accordingly. When a minor win occurs, a predetermined number of medals are awarded to the player according to the type of win and added to the credits. When the credits reach the upper limit (50 in this embodiment), medals are dispensed directly from the medal payout port 9 (see Figure 1). If a re-play win occurs, the player is granted a re-play option that allows them to continue playing without inserting medals. If a special win occurs, the game state is changed to another game state.

[0056] In this embodiment, the game starts when the operation of the start switch 7 is detected while the start switch 7 is active, and the game ends when all reels have stopped. Furthermore, one unit of control for executing the game (game control) starts when all controls associated with the end of the previous game are completed, and ends when all controls associated with the end of the current game are completed.

[0057] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the types of winning combinations (hereinafter referred to as "winning combinations") are determined according to the game state and include minor combinations that result in the payout of medals, replay combinations that grant the ability to start the next game without needing to set the number of bets, and special combinations that result in a transition in the game state. Hereafter, minor combinations and replay combinations will be collectively referred to as general combinations. In order for each combination determined according to the game state to result in a win, it is necessary to win the internal lottery and set the winning flag for that combination. The internal lottery is performed by the main control unit 41, which uses random numbers to determine whether or not to allow the winning of each of the aforementioned combinations before the display results of all reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are derived (specifically, when the operation of the start switch 7 is detected with a predetermined number of bets set).

[0058] Furthermore, among the winning flags for each role, the winning flags for minor roles and replay roles are valid only in the game in which the flag is set and become invalid in the next game. However, the winning flag for special roles remains valid until the combination of roles permitted by that flag is achieved, and becomes invalid in the game in which the permitted combination of roles is achieved. In other words, once a special role winning flag is triggered, even if the combination of roles permitted by that flag is not achieved, the winning flag is not invalidated and is carried over to the next game.

[0059] Furthermore, in the internal lottery, when the stopping operation is performed in a predetermined sequence of operations (e.g., button press order, timing), it is possible to win a small win or a re-play win (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "navigation target win") that is more advantageous than when the stopping operation is performed in other sequences of operations. Navigation target wins include, for example, wins where the stopping sequence is more advantageous when the stopping operation is performed in a predetermined sequence of operations than when the stopping operation is performed in other sequences of operations, and wins where the probability of stopping in an advantageous sequence is higher when the stopping operation is performed in a predetermined sequence of operations than when the stopping operation is performed in other sequences of operations. In addition, advantageous stopping sequences include not only stopping sequences that result in the awarding of medals, but also stopping sequences that result in a transition to an advantageous game state, and stopping sequences that avoid a transition to an unfavorable game state.

[0060] The main control unit 41 can control the game to an assist time (AT) state, which is a notification period during which navigation notifications can be executed, in which navigation information that identifies the operation patterns of stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R that are advantageous to the player according to the results of an internal lottery is indicated by the lighting patterns of the game assistance display 12. The main control unit 41 starts controlling the game to an AT state when the player is granted the right to be controlled to an AT state. When the game is controlled to an AT state, if the player wins a target role, the main control unit 41 executes a navigation notification, informing the player of the operation patterns of stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R that are advantageous to the player (e.g., order of pressing, timing of operation, etc.) using the game assistance display 12, and also sends a command that identifies the operation patterns that are advantageous to the player to the sub-control unit 91, causing the sub-control unit 91 to execute a navigation effect that notifies the player of the operation patterns using the liquid crystal display 51, etc. By operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R according to the operation patterns notified by the navigation notification and navigation effect, the player can reliably win the target role that was won in the internal lottery.

[0061] In this embodiment, the main control unit 41 is equipped with a game assistance display 12 capable of displaying the number of medals dispensed, error codes, and navigation information, and the game assistance display 12 is used to notify navigation information in the control of navigation notification. However, it is also possible to have a dedicated display that can only display navigation information, and to use this dedicated display to notify navigation information in the control of navigation notification.

[0062] [Regarding the game state] The main control unit 41 can control the game state to one of the following: non-internal, internal, or special state.

[0063] During the non-internal state, no special winning combinations (BB) have been carried over. In the factory default state of slot machine 1, or when the game-related data stored in RAM41c has been initialized due to a setting change, the game is first controlled to the non-internal state. The game is also controlled to the non-internal state when the special state ends. The non-internal state ends when a special winning combination (BB) is won in the internal lottery during that non-internal game, and that special winning combination is not claimed, causing the game to transition back to the internal state. The non-internal state also ends when a special winning combination (BB) is claimed in the game in which it was won in the internal lottery, causing the game to transition back to the special state.

[0064] Furthermore, during non-internal operations, if the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in a manner that is advantageous to the player during a predetermined period, the payout rate of medals per game during that period will exceed 100%. Conversely, if the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are not operated in a manner that is advantageous to the player, the payout rate of medals per game during that period will not exceed 100%. During non-internal operations, if the operator is not notified of an operation manner that is advantageous to the player, the payout rate of medals per game will not exceed 100%.

[0065] During the internal phase, the winning of a special role (BB) is carried over. The game starts when a special role (BB) is won in the internal lottery during the non-internal phase.

[0066] Internally, during a game within a predetermined period, if the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in a manner that is advantageous to the player, the payout rate of medals per game during that period will exceed 100%. Conversely, if the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are not operated in a manner that is advantageous to the player, the payout rate of medals per game during that period will not exceed 100%. During periods when a player-advantaged operation is announced, the payout rate of medals per game will exceed 100%, while during periods when a player-advantaged operation is not announced, the payout rate of medals per game will not exceed 100%.

[0067] The special state is a game state controlled in conjunction with the winning of a special role (BB). It is started when a special role (BB) is won during non-internal mode and ends when a predetermined termination condition is met (for example, the total number of medals paid out during the special state exceeds a predetermined number (for example, 50 medals)). After the special state ends, the game returns to non-internal mode.

[0068] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, a special role (BB) is won at a predetermined probability (for example, about 1 / 4.2) during the non-internal state, and the game transitions to the internal state. During the internal state, i.e., when the special role (BB) winning flag is carried over, if the game is not controlled to the AT state described later, the payout rate of medals per game does not exceed 100%, while if the game is controlled to the AT state, the payout rate of medals per game exceeds 100%.

[0069] In addition, in the stop control of the reel, when a special combination and a minor combination are both winning, control is performed to prioritize and align the minor combination. Furthermore, within the internal area, the drawing range of the configuration symbol of the special combination (BB) overlaps with the drawing range of the configuration symbol of the minor combination for all minor combinations that are subject to internal lottery. Regardless of which minor combination wins, the configuration symbol of the winning minor combination will stop at the winning line LN. Also, when a special combination and a replay combination are both winning, control is always performed to align the replay combination. That is, when a minor combination or a replay combination is winning within the internal area, the special combination (BB) is prevented from winning.

[0070] Moreover, within the internal area, it is certain that either a minor combination or a replay combination will win. So, once the internal area is entered, the special combination (BB) is prevented from winning, and after entering the internal area, the internal area will be maintained.

[0071] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, since the game is controlled to be within the internal area for most of the play, assuming that the game is controlled within the internal area, the medal payout rate corresponding to the set value (in this embodiment, 1 to 6) is set to a value determined according to each set value by setting whether to control to the AT within the internal area, specifically, by setting the winning probability of the internal lottery, the transition probability to the AT state, etc. described later.

[0072] Also, the main control unit 41 can perform control of the AT to notify the operation mode (correct pressing order) of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R that are advantageous by navigation notification within the internal area where the winning of the special combination (BB) is carried over, and it is designed so that the medal payout rate is appropriate within the internal area.

[0073] [Regarding the target combinations of the internal lottery] As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, a normal replay in which winning of a normal replay accompanied by awarding of a replay game is permitted, a rare replay in which winning of a rare replay accompanied by awarding of a replay game is permitted, 12 types of push order winning combinations in which winning of a main minor winning combination accompanied by awarding of 12 medals and a sub-minor winning combination accompanied by awarding of 1 medal are permitted, a rare minor winning combination A in which winning of a rare minor winning combination A accompanied by awarding of 1 medal is permitted, a rare minor winning combination B in which winning of a rare minor winning combination B accompanied by awarding of 3 medals is permitted, a rare minor winning combination C in which winning of a rare minor winning combination C accompanied by awarding of 3 medals is permitted, a rare minor winning combination D in which winning of a rare minor winning combination D accompanied by awarding of 6 medals is permitted, a 1-medal winning combination in which winning of a 1-medal winning combination accompanied by awarding of 1 medal is permitted, a BB in which winning accompanied by transition to a special state is permitted, a BB + rare minor winning combination A in which winning of both BB and rare minor winning combination A is permitted, a BB + rare minor winning combination B in which winning of both BB and rare minor winning combination B is permitted, a BB + rare minor winning combination C in which winning of both BB and rare minor winning combination C is permitted, a BB + rare minor winning combination D in which winning of both BB and rare minor winning combination D is permitted, and a BB + 1-medal winning combination in which winning of both BB and 1-medal winning combination is permitted can be subject to an internal lottery.

[0074] During non-internal times, normal replays, rare replays, 16 types of push order winning combinations, BB + rare minor winning combination A, BB + rare minor winning combination B, BB + rare minor winning combination C, BB + rare minor winning combination D, BB + 1-medal winning combination, and BB are subject to an internal lottery. In the internal lottery during non-internal times, the winning probability of a normal replay is set to approximately 1 / 7.54, the winning probability of a rare replay is set to approximately 1 / 228, the winning probability of a push order winning combination is set to approximately 1 / 1.59 (the respective winning probabilities are approximately 1 / 12.7), the winning probability of BB + rare minor winning combination A is 1 / 8192, the winning probability of BB + rare minor winning combination B is set to approximately 1 / 199, the winning probability of BB + rare minor winning combination C is set to approximately 1 / 60, the winning probability of BB + rare minor winning combination D is set to approximately 1 / 33, the winning probability of BB + 1-medal winning combination is set to approximately 1 / 5.46, and the winning probability of BB is set to 1 / 16384.

[0075] Also, inside, normal replay, rare replay, 16 types of pressing order winning hands, rare minor winning hand A, rare minor winning hand B, rare minor winning hand C, rare minor winning hand D, and single-card minor winning hands are subject to internal lottery, and winning hands including special winning hands are not subject to internal lottery. In the internal lottery inside, the winning probability of normal replay is about 1 / 7.53, the winning probability of rare replay is about 1 / 228, the winning probability of pressing order winning hands is about 1 / 1.59 (each winning probability is about 1 / 12.7), the winning probability of rare minor winning hand A is 1 / 8192, the winning probability of rare minor winning hand B is about 1 / 199, the winning probability of rare minor winning hand C is about 1 / 60, the winning probability of rare minor winning hand D is about 1 / 33, and the winning probability of single-card minor winning hands is about 1 / 5.46.

[0076] The pressing order winning hand is a winning hand in which a plurality of minor winning hands (in this embodiment, the main minor winning hand and the sub-minor winning hand) win as described above. By performing a stop operation in the stop operation order corresponding to each pressing order winning hand (any of the operation orders of middle left right, middle right left, right left middle, and right middle left), regardless of the stop operation timing, the main minor winning hand accompanied by the awarding of 12 medals wins. On the other hand, by performing a stop operation in a stop operation order other than the corresponding stop operation order, depending on the stop operation timing, the sub-minor winning hand accompanied by the awarding of 1 medal wins or it is a navigation target winning hand where the sub-minor winning hand does not win (i.e., a miss). That is, it is a minor winning hand in which the expected value of the number of medals awarded changes due to the difference in the stop operation order, and the expected value of the number of medals awarded changes when the stop operation order corresponding to each pressing order winning hand is notified by navigation.

[0077] In this embodiment, only the stop order in which the middle or right reel is stopped first is assigned as the stop order for push-order small wins. Playing with the stop order in which the middle or right reel is stopped first increases the medal award rate. However, in the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state (CZ3 and CZ4 in Embodiment 2) described later, penalties are given in relation to the transition to the AT state, resulting in a disadvantage. Therefore, the medal award rate considering the transition to the AT state is lower than when playing with the stop order in which the left reel is stopped first. Specifically, in the normal state and pre-announcement state described later, if the stop order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first is performed, the end game count described later will not be updated, and in the CZ1 state and CZ2 state (CZ3 and CZ4 in Embodiment 2) described later, the AT lottery will not be performed. Therefore, in the normal state, premonition state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state (CZ3 and CZ4 in Example 2), as described later, players are encouraged to stop the reels in the order in which the left reel is stopped first.

[0078] Furthermore, winning numbers from 1 to 29 are assigned to each of the following: normal replay, rare replay, 16 types of button presses, rare small role A, rare small role B, rare small role C, rare small role D, 1-coin small role, BB + rare small role A, BB + rare small role B, BB + rare small role C, BB + rare small role D, BB + 1-coin small role, and BB. The winning number of the role won in the internal lottery is set in RAM41c. Winning numbers are assigned values ​​of 1 or less to roles that do not transition to the advantageous section described later, and values ​​of 2 or more to roles that transition to the advantageous section. For this reason, the main control unit 41 does not identify the individual winning numbers to determine whether an advantageous section transition role has been won in the normal section, but rather determines whether the winning number is 2 or more, and if the winning number is 2 or more, it determines that an advantageous section transition role has been won.

[0079] Furthermore, each role that is subject to internal lottery is assigned a flag category (FC), and the flag category (FC) of the role that is won in the internal lottery is set in RAM41c. Flag categories (FC) are assigned common values ​​to roles that have common attributes, such as multiple types of push-order roles, multiple roles with similar winning probabilities, and roles that are won by the same role. Therefore, when the main control unit 41 performs the AT lottery described later, and determines the probability according to the winning role, it does not determine the probability according to the winning role from each individual winning number, but rather determines the probability according to the flag category (FC) assigned to the winning role. As a result, it is not necessary to determine the probability for each individual winning number, and it is possible to determine the probability according to the attributes of the winning role by determining the probability for each flag category (FC), which is fewer than the number of winning numbers.

[0080] [Regarding navigation announcements and navigation effects] The modes of navigation notification performed by the main control unit 41 and the modes of navigation display performed by the sub-control unit 91 will be explained with reference to Figure 5.

[0081] The main control unit 41 can perform navigation notification during a predetermined game (from the start of reel rotation until all reels have stopped rotating) by displaying a navigation display on the game assistance display unit 12 corresponding to the navigation target role that has been won in the internal lottery, thereby notifying the player of a stopping pattern that is advantageous to the player according to the navigation target role. In addition, the main control unit 41 can send a command to the sub-control unit 91 at the start of a predetermined game in which navigation notification processing is performed, which includes a navigation number that can identify a stopping pattern that is advantageous to the player.

[0082] In response to this, the sub-control unit 91 can, in games where it is possible to identify a stopping pattern that is advantageous to the player based on a command received from the main control unit 41, perform a navigation display using the LCD display 51 or the like to notify the player of the stopping pattern.

[0083] The main control unit 41 performs processing related to navigation notification, and in games where the navigation number is set to "1", it displays navigation display 1 (displaying "21" on the game support display unit 12) on the game support display unit 12, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the middle-left-right stopping order. In games where the navigation number is set to "2", it displays navigation display 2 (displaying "23" on the game support display unit 12) on the game support display unit 12, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the middle-right-left stopping order. During a game in which the navigation number is set to "3" and displayed on the device 12, navigation display 3 (displaying "31" on the game support display 12) is displayed on the game support display 12, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the order of right, left, and center stops. During a game in which the navigation number is set to "4", navigation display 4 (displaying "32" on the game support display 12) is displayed on the game support display 12, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the order of right, center, and left stops.

[0084] In response to this, the sub-control unit 91 displays navigation image 1 on the liquid crystal display 51 in the case of a game in which navigation number "1" is identified based on a command received from the main control unit 41, indicating that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the middle-left-right stopping order; displays navigation image 2 on the liquid crystal display 51 in the case of a game in which navigation number "2" is identified, indicating that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the middle-right-left stopping order; displays navigation image 3 on the liquid crystal display 51 in the case of a game in which navigation number "3" is identified, indicating that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the right-left-right stopping order; and displays navigation image 4 on the liquid crystal display 51 in the case of a game in which navigation number "4" is identified, indicating that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the right-center-left stopping order.

[0085] In this embodiment, the navigation notification is configured to notify the player of the stop operation order (correct pressing order) as an advantageous operation method for stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. However, the navigation notification may also be configured to suggest the advantageous operation timing for stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, or to suggest a combination of the advantageous stop operation order and operation timing for stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. For example, if the advantageous operation method for stop switches is a predetermined operation timing for a predetermined reel, the game assistance display 12 can display the number of the symbol corresponding to the predetermined operation timing along with the number of the predetermined reel, or the liquid crystal display 51 can display the image of the symbol corresponding to the predetermined operation timing at the position corresponding to the predetermined reel, thereby suggesting the operation method.

[0086] [Regarding the gaming area] As shown in Figure 6, the main control unit 41 can control the game to either a normal section or a favorable section.

[0087] The normal section is a game section in which no navigation notifications are given. It begins when the next game starts after the game-related data (data indicating the game state, data indicating the game section, BB winning flag, etc.) has been reset due to a setting change, or after the advantageous section has ended. Subsequently, the normal section ends in a game in which the game state other than the special state is controlled, and the advantageous section transition role is won in the internal lottery.

[0088] The advantageous section is a game section in which navigation notifications may be issued, and it is a game section that is more advantageous to the player compared to the normal section because navigation notifications can be issued. The advantageous section begins when, in a game in the normal section that is controlled to a game state other than a special state, the advantageous section transition role is won in an internal lottery, and it is decided that the game will transition to the advantageous section, and the next game starts. After that, the advantageous section ends when the termination conditions (termination conditions 1 and 2 described below) are met.

[0089] During the advantageous period, when predetermined notification conditions are met (in this embodiment, the game is controlled to be in the AT state described later, and the target role for navigation is won in the internal lottery), navigation notification is made possible. When navigation notification is made, the player is notified of the operation methods of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, which are advantageous to the player.

[0090] The main control unit 41 controls the game to be in an advantageous section, and when it is in an AT state where navigation notifications are made, when a navigation target role is won in the internal lottery, it controls the navigation notification (controlling the game auxiliary display unit 12 to display a navigation display, controlling the transmission of a command that can identify the navigation number corresponding to the navigation display, etc.) and notifies the player of the operation of stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R which are advantageous to the player. The advantageous section is a game section that is more advantageous to the player compared to the normal section.

[0091] The conditions for ending the advantageous period include termination condition 1, which is met when the net increase in medals during the advantageous period (number of medals given - number of medals used) exceeds a predetermined upper limit (2400 in this embodiment), and termination condition 2, which is met when a predetermined arbitrary condition is satisfied (in this embodiment, the remaining net increase in medals (upper limit - net increase in medals during the advantageous period) at the end of the AT2 state described later is less than or equal to a specific value (200 in this embodiment)). The advantageous period ends when at least one of termination conditions 1 or 2 is met. The net increase in medals during the advantageous period is also counted as a negative value, and if the number of medals decreases, it can take a negative value. In this case, if the number of medals then increases and recovers to 0, and becomes a positive value and exceeds the predetermined number, termination condition 1 will be met. Therefore, it is possible for the number of medals to increase by more than 2400 from the time the net increase in medals during the advantageous period starts to increase while the number of medals is negative until termination condition 1 is met.

[0092] In this embodiment, the game transition to the advantageous section occurs when a predetermined advantageous section transition role is won while the game section is controlled to the normal section. However, it is also possible to have a configuration in which, when the game section is controlled to the normal section, an advantageous section transition lottery is held when an advantageous section transition target role is won in an internal lottery, and the game transition to the advantageous section occurs when the winner of the advantageous section transition lottery is selected.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the advantageous period ends when the net increase in medals during the advantageous period (number of medals awarded - number of medals used) exceeds a predetermined number set as the upper limit (2400 in this embodiment). However, the advantageous period may also end when a termination condition is met, which is when the number of games in the advantageous period (number of games in the advantageous period) reaches a predetermined number set as the upper limit (for example, 1500 games), or when any of these multiple conditions are met.

[0094] [Regarding the transitions between game periods and advantageous periods] Next, the transitions in the advantageous section state during the game section and the advantageous section, as controlled by the main control unit 41, will be explained based on Figures 6 and 7.

[0095] The main control unit 41, in a game played within the normal section, will switch the game section to the advantageous section from the next game if the advantageous section transition role is won in an internal lottery. The advantageous section consists of multiple game section states, including the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ2 state, AT1 state, AT2 state, and preparation state.

[0096] As shown in Figure 7, the normal state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, and is relatively disadvantageous to the player. The pre-announcement state is a state that is entered after the normal state ends, and no navigation notifications are given, but it is a state in which the player will always enter the CZ1 state afterward, and in this respect it is more advantageous to the player than the normal state. The CZ1 state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, but it is a state in which the player may enter the AT1 state afterward, and is more advantageous to the player than the normal state and the pre-announcement state. The CZ2 state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, but it is a state in which the player may enter the AT2 state afterward, and is more advantageous to the player than the normal state and the pre-announcement state. Furthermore, the CZ2 state is more advantageous to the player than the CZ1 state because the probability of winning the AT lottery is higher than in the CZ1 state, and as will be described later, when the AT lottery is won, the player will enter the AT2 state, which is more advantageous than the AT1 state. In this embodiment, the CZ2 state is more advantageous than the CZ1 state in that the probability of winning the AT lottery is higher than the CZ1 state, and when the AT lottery is won, the player transitions to the AT2 state, which is more advantageous than the AT1 state. However, it is sufficient that the CZ2 state is more advantageous than the CZ1 state in at least one of the following ways: the probability of winning the AT lottery is higher than the CZ1 state, when the AT lottery is won, the player transitions to the AT2 state, which is more advantageous than the AT1 state, or when the AT lottery is won, the probability of winning to the AT2 state is higher than the CZ1 state. The AT1 state is an AT state in which navigation notifications are made, and is more advantageous for the player than the normal state, the pre-announcement state, the CZ1 state, and the CZ2 state. The AT2 state is an AT state in which navigation notifications are made, and is more advantageous for the player than the normal state, the pre-announcement state, the CZ1 state, and the CZ2 state. Furthermore, the AT2 state is more advantageous for the player than the AT1 state because it offers the potential for a greater increase in medals, the possibility of additional games, and a guaranteed transition to the CZ2 state after its completion. The preparation state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, and is controlled before the start of the CZ2 state when the advantageous period continues after the end of the AT2 state.

[0097] In these advantageous zone states, during the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state, where navigation notifications are not provided, a penalty is imposed if the game is played with a stopping order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first. Specifically, in the normal state and pre-announcement state, the end game count described later is not updated, and in the CZ1 state and CZ2 state, the AT lottery is not performed. Furthermore, in the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state, the sub-control unit 91 issues a warning notification informing the player that a penalty has been imposed if the game is played with a stopping order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first, and urging the player to play with a stopping order in which the left reel is stopped first.

[0098] On the other hand, in AT1 and AT2 states where navigation notifications are displayed, no penalty is given and no warning is issued even if the game is played with a stopping order that includes a reel other than the left reel as the first stop. Also, in the preparation state, although navigation notifications are not displayed, no penalty is given and no warning is issued even if the game is played with a stopping order that includes a reel other than the left reel as the first stop.

[0099] The main control unit 41 transitions the game section to the advantageous section when a bonus trigger for transitioning to the advantageous section is won during the normal section. At this time, it determines whether the game state is in the non-internal or internal state, and if it is determined to be in the non-internal state, it performs a mode lottery and a game count lottery and controls the game to the normal state. When in the non-internal state, a bonus trigger that transitions to the internal state will always result in a transition to the advantageous section. Therefore, the game is controlled to the normal section while in the non-internal state only after the game-related data (data indicating the game state, data indicating the game section, bonus trigger flag, etc.) has been initialized by a setting change. For this reason, when transitioning to the advantageous section for the first time after a setting change, the game will be controlled to the normal state first.

[0100] The mode lottery determines the mode of the normal state that will be controlled thereafter. The game count lottery determines one of several ranges of game counts according to the mode determined in the mode lottery, and then determines the final number of games from the determined range.

[0101] The main control unit 41, in the normal state, adds to the number of games played since the system was controlled to the normal state (referred to as the normal game count) for each game played. The normal game count may be configured to add a predetermined value (for example, 1) for each game played, or it may be configured to determine the number of games to add based on the result of an internal lottery, and then add the determined number of games. Alternatively, the number of games to add may be increased during a specific period.

[0102] The main control unit 41 determines whether the number of normal games after addition has reached the number of ending games determined by the game number lottery. If the number of ending games has been reached, it terminates the normal state and controls the system to a pre-announcement state for a predetermined period (16 to 32 games in this embodiment). When the pre-announcement state ends, it controls the system to the CZ1 state.

[0103] In this embodiment, the system is configured to control the pre-announcement state and the subsequent CZ1 state based on the normal state ending when the number of normal games reaches a number of games selected according to the mode of the normal state. However, the system may also be configured to control the pre-announcement state and the subsequent CZ1 state based not only on the number of normal games reaching the number of games, but also on the normal state ending when the termination lottery, which is held every game or when a specific role is won or awarded, is won. Alternatively, the system may be configured to control the pre-announcement state and the subsequent CZ1 state based solely on the normal state ending when the termination lottery, which is held every game or when a specific role is won or awarded, is won.

[0104] The CZ1 state is controlled for a period of 20 games, during which time the main control unit 41 performs an AT lottery to determine whether or not to control the game to the AT state each time an AT lottery target role is won. As shown in Figure 8, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set for each lottery trigger and each FC assigned to the AT lottery target role, and whether or not the game is controlled to the AT state is determined by the winning probability corresponding to the lottery trigger and the FC of the won AT lottery target role.

[0105] The main control unit 41 terminates the CZ1 state after 20 games have elapsed since the start of the CZ1 state. If the AT lottery is won before the CZ1 state ends, the system controls the system to the AT1 state from the next game. On the other hand, if the AT lottery is not won before the CZ1 state ends, the system performs the mode lottery and game count lottery described above to determine the mode and end game count for the subsequent normal state, and controls the system to the normal state from the next game.

[0106] AT1 mode consists of 15 point-boosting games and up to 3 condition-determining games. In either game, if a target role for navigation notification is won, navigation notification will be given, so an increase in medals can be expected.

[0107] The main control unit 41, upon the start of the AT1 state, first controls the system to a point-up game, and after 15 games have elapsed, controls the system to a condition-determining game of up to 3 games.

[0108] In this embodiment, the point-up game consists of 15 games. However, the system may also be configured to terminate the point-up game when a predetermined trigger occurs (such as winning a specific role) or after each game, and to terminate the point-up game and control the system to a condition judgment game if the termination lottery is won. Alternatively, the number of point-up games may be determined by lottery from a number of games, so that the number of point-up games can vary.

[0109] The main control unit 41 performs a condition determination lottery for each game in the condition determination game. If the condition determination lottery is won for three consecutive games, the condition is met, the AT1 state ends, and the system switches to the AT2 state from the next game. On the other hand, if the condition determination lottery is not won even once, the AT1 state ends for that game as the condition is not met. Then, the mode lottery and game count lottery described above are performed to determine the mode and end game count for the subsequent normal state, and the system switches to the normal state from the next game.

[0110] In the conditional judgment lottery, the winning probability used is calculated by adding the winning probability based on the number of points accumulated since the start of the advantageous period to the initial winning probability. Points are awarded by winning point lotteries conducted in the normal state, pre-announcement state, and AT1 state, and are accumulated until the transition to the AT2 state.

[0111] In this embodiment, the system is controlled to the AT2 state when a condition is met in a condition determination game in the AT1 state. However, it is also possible to have a system where an AT lottery is held in the AT1 state, and the system is controlled to the AT2 state when the AT lottery is won.

[0112] The main control unit 41 sets the initial number of remaining games to 30 when the AT2 state starts. Then, it subtracts the number of remaining games with each game played, and terminates the AT2 state when the number of remaining games reaches 0.

[0113] Furthermore, in AT2 state, when a winning combination for additional games (a lottery combination corresponding to FC4-6) is won, the main control unit 41 conducts an additional game lottery to determine whether or not to add games to the remaining game count and the number of games to add. If the additional game lottery is won, the winning number of games is added to the remaining game count. Also, even if a winning combination for additional games is won in AT2 state, if the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous section) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment), the additional game lottery is not conducted, and the addition of games to the remaining game count is limited. The specific number is a value greater than the number of coins that are expected to increase by the addition of games when the winning combination for additional games (a lottery combination corresponding to FC6) that is expected to add the most games is won. As a result, it becomes less likely that the number of games added will exceed the maximum number of coins that are added during the advantageous section.

[0114] In this embodiment, if a winning combination for additional payouts is won in the AT2 state, and the remaining net increase in payouts (maximum payout - net increase in payouts during the advantageous period) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment), the additional payout lottery is not performed. However, for example, the system may be configured to control the system to an additional payout state in which the number of winning combinations for additional payouts increases, or the probability of winning the additional payout lottery increases. In such a configuration, if the remaining net increase in payouts is less than or equal to a specific number in the AT2 state, the system may restrict the control of the additional payout state while still performing the additional payout lottery if a winning combination for additional payouts is won. Furthermore, in a configuration that can be controlled to control multiple types of additional payout states with different expected number of games for additional payouts, if the remaining net increase in payouts is less than or equal to a specific number in the AT2 state, the system may restrict only certain types of additional payout states in which the expected number of games for additional payouts is relatively large.

[0115] Furthermore, the main control unit 41 conducts a stock lottery in the AT2 state to determine whether or not to grant the right to control the AT2 state again when a stock lottery target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC5 to 7) is won, and if the stock lottery is won, the right to win the AT is stocked. When the right to win the AT is stocked, the sub-control unit 91 notifies that fact and also notifies the number of remaining AT winning rights in a identifiable manner. In addition, even if a stock lottery target role is won in the AT2 state, if the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous period) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment), the stock lottery is not conducted, and control of the AT2 state again is restricted.

[0116] The main control unit 41 terminates the AT2 state when the number of remaining games becomes 0. At this time, if there are AT winning rights stocked, the stocked AT winning rights are deducted by 1, and the system is controlled to return to the AT2 state from the next game. If there are no AT winning rights stocked, the system determines whether the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous section) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment). If the remaining net increase in coins is less than or equal to the specific number, the system terminates the advantageous section and transitions the game section to the normal section. At this time, all data related to AT (net increase in coins during the advantageous section, number of points accumulated since the start of the advantageous section, etc.) is initialized. Furthermore, if there are no AT winning rights stocked, and the remaining net increase in coins is not less than or equal to the specific number (if it exceeds the specific number), the system is controlled to the preparation state from the next game while continuing the advantageous section.

[0117] In this way, at the end of the AT2 state, it is determined whether the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous section) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment). If the remaining net increase in coins is less than or equal to the specific number, the advantageous section is terminated and the game section is returned to the normal section. This prevents the AT2 state from ending abruptly due to the net increase in coins during the advantageous section exceeding the maximum number of coins, and also prevents the addition of remaining game counts through bonus draws and the granting of AT2 state rights through stock draws from being restricted in order to avoid reaching the maximum number of coins.

[0118] Furthermore, if the remaining net increase in tokens (maximum tokens - net increase in tokens during the advantageous period) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment), a bonus draw may be won, resulting in a large number of games being added at once, which may lead to an increase in tokens exceeding the specific number. Also, even if an increase in tokens exceeding the specific number is not expected due to the addition of games, the AT2 state may be controlled again when the remaining net increase in tokens is less than or equal to the specific number, due to previously stocked AT winning rights. In such cases, even before the remaining number of games reaches 0 in the AT2 state, the net increase in tokens during the advantageous period may exceed the maximum number, thus fulfilling the advantageous period termination condition 1.

[0119] Therefore, if, as a result of the bonus draw, the remaining number of games is added and the sum of the current net increase in coins during the advantageous section and the net increase in coins expected to increase based on the current remaining number of games and the stocked AT rights exceeds the upper limit, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the ED state. Regardless of the remaining number of games, the AT2 state continues until the net increase in coins during the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit and the termination condition 1 of the advantageous section is met. When termination condition 1 is met, the AT2 state ends along with the advantageous section. In such cases, the main control unit 41 also ends the AT2 state and the advantageous section, and transitions the game section to the normal section. In addition, all data related to AT (net increase in coins during the advantageous section, number of points accumulated since the start of the advantageous section, etc.) is initialized. Furthermore, when the sub-control unit 91 controls the system to the ED state, it executes an ED effect (Figure 20(a)) that is different in form from the AT2 effect (Figure 18(a)) described later. In the ED (ending) sequence, the remaining number of games and the number of AT win rights stocked, which are displayed in the AT2 sequence, are not shown. Instead, the number of medals remaining until termination condition 1 is met is announced.

[0120] The main control unit 41 performs an AT lottery when a favorable section transition role is won in the preparation state, ends the preparation state, and controls the game to the CZ2 state from the next game. Since the preparation state ends when a favorable section transition role is won, it is controlled for a period of at least one game.

[0121] The CZ2 state is controlled for a period of 5 games, and the main control unit 41 conducts an AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state. After 5 games have passed since the start of the CZ2 state and the CZ2 state ends, if the AT lottery conducted at the start of the preparation state or in the first game of the CZ2 state has been won, the main control unit 41 ends the CZ2 state and controls the system to the AT2 state from the next game. On the other hand, if the AT lottery conducted at the start of the preparation state or in the first game of the CZ2 state has not been won, the main control unit 41 ends the CZ2 state, conducts the aforementioned mode lottery and game count lottery to determine the mode and end game count of the subsequent normal state, and controls the system to the normal state from the next game.

[0122] Furthermore, when the main control unit 41 determines that the game state is internal when a winning combination for transitioning to the advantageous section is achieved during the normal section, it performs an AT lottery, controls the game to the CZ2 state from the next game, and performs an AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state.

[0123] As mentioned above, when a BB is won during a non-internal state, the game will always transition to the advantageous state. Therefore, the game will only be controlled to the normal state during an internal state after the advantageous state has ended, not after the game-related data (data indicating the game state, data indicating the game state, BB winning flag, etc.) has been initialized due to a setting change. Furthermore, the conditions for ending the advantageous state are rarely met in any advantageous state other than the AT2 state, so in practice, it is the state when the AT2 state has ended and the game has transitioned to the normal state. For this reason, when transitioning back to the advantageous state from the normal state after the advantageous state has ended due to the end of the AT2 state, the game will first be controlled to the CZ2 state. Then, at the end of the CZ2 state, if the game has won either the AT lottery conducted when transitioning to the advantageous state or the AT lottery conducted in the first game of the CZ2 state, the game will be controlled to the AT2 state. If the game has not won either the AT lottery conducted when transitioning to the advantageous state or the AT lottery conducted in the first game of the CZ2 state, the game will be controlled to the normal state.

[0124] [About AT lottery] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, AT lottery is conducted using the following triggers: when an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ1 state, which is controlled through the normal state and the pre-announcement state (CZ1 state); when an advantageous section transition role is won, which triggers the transition from the normal section to the advantageous section after the advantageous section has ended along with the end of the AT2 state (at the time of advantageous section transition (internal)); when an advantageous section transition role is won, which triggers the transition from the preparation state to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues after the end of the AT2 state (at the time of preparation state end (winning advantageous section transition role)); and the first game in the CZ2 state (CZ2 state).

[0125] As shown in Figure 8, in the AT lottery in CZ1 state, the target AT state is AT1 state, and the probability of winning is set as follows: when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC1 (when a single small role is won), the probability of winning is 2.5%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC2 (when a normal replay is won), the probability of winning is 5%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC3 (when a rare small role D is won), the probability of winning is 6.25%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC4 (when a rare small role C is won), the probability of winning is 12.5%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC5 (when a rare small role B is won), the probability of winning is 25%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC6 (when a rare replay is won), the probability of winning is 50%, and when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC7 (when a rare small role A is won).

[0126] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, in the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section (internal), the target AT state is the AT2 state, and the probability of winning is set to 60% when the advantageous section transition role belongs to FC0 or FC1 (when a push-order role or a single-coin role is won), and to 100% when the advantageous section transition role belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare small role A, rare small role B, rare small role C, or rare small role D is won).

[0127] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, in the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state (winning a role that transitions to the advantageous section), the target AT state is the AT2 state, and the probability of winning is set to 60% when the role that transitions to the advantageous section belongs to FC0 or FC1 (when a push-order role or a single-coin role is won), and to 100% when the role that transitions to the advantageous section belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare small role A, rare small role B, rare small role C, or rare small role D is won).

[0128] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, in the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state after the end of the AT2 state, the target AT state is the AT2 state. In this case, the probability of winning differs depending on whether the number of times the AT2 state has been controlled after the AT1 state is 1 to 3 times, 4 or more times, or whether the AT2 state was controlled without going through AT1 as a result of going through the normal section. If the number of times the AT2 state has been controlled after the AT1 state is 1 to 3 times, the probability of winning is set to 50% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC0 to FC2 (when a push order role, 1-coin role, or normal replay is won), 80% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC3 to FC4 (when a rare role C or rare role D is won), and 100% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC5 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare role A or rare role B is won). If the number is 4 or more, the probability of winning is set to 70% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC0~FC2 (when a push-order role, single-coin role, or normal replay is won), and to 100% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC3~FC7 (when a rare replay, rare role A, rare role B, rare role C, or rare role D is won). If the game is controlled to be in AT2 state without going through AT1 as a result of going through the normal section, the probability of winning is set to 70% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC0~FC2 (when a push-order role, single-coin role, or normal replay is won), and to 100% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC3~FC7 (when a rare replay, rare role A, rare role B, rare role C, or rare role D is won).

[0129] In this embodiment, AT lottery is conducted in both the CZ2 state, which is controlled at the start of the advantageous period transitioned from the normal period after the advantageous period ends with the end of the AT2 state, and the CZ1 state, which is controlled after the end of the CZ2 state via the normal state and the pre-announcement state. If the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state, the system is controlled to the AT1 state, whereas if the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state, the system is controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state. Thus, after the advantageous period begins and the CZ2 state ends, the system may be controlled to the AT2 state, which is expected to yield more medals than the AT1 state, after the AT1 state. Furthermore, if the advantageous period ends at the end of the AT2 state, when the advantageous period starts afterward, the system can be expected to be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0130] Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher in CZ2 state than in CZ1 state, and if the advantageous period ends when the AT2 state ends, it can be expected that when the advantageous period starts afterward, it will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0131] In this embodiment, the system is configured to control the system to the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous period that follows the end of the advantageous period after the AT2 state ends, and not to control the system to the CZ2 state at the start of the first advantageous period that follows a setting change. However, it is also possible to configure the system to control the system to the CZ2 state at the start of the first advantageous period that follows a setting change.

[0132] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an AT lottery is held each time an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ1 state. However, it is also possible to have an AT lottery held every game in the CZ1 state, or to have an AT lottery held only in a specific game (for example, the first game) in the CZ1 state.

[0133] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AT lottery is performed only in the first game in the CZ2 state, but it is also possible to perform the AT lottery in specific games other than the first game in the CZ2 state, or to perform the AT lottery in every game in the CZ2 state, or to perform the AT lottery each time an AT target role is won in the CZ2 state.

[0134] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AT lottery in the CZ1 state targets the AT1 state, and the AT lottery in the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section targets the AT2 state. However, it is also possible to configure the AT lottery in the CZ1 state to target both the AT1 and AT2 states, or to configure the AT lottery in the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section to target both the AT1 and AT2 states, or to configure the AT lottery in either the CZ1 state or the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section to target both the AT lottery and the AT lottery in the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section. Even with this configuration, for example, as shown in Figure 21, in the AT lottery in the CZ1 state, the probability of winning the AT1 state is high among the AT1 state and the AT2 state, and in the AT lottery in the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section, the probability of winning the AT2 state is high among the AT1 state and the AT2 state, by setting the winning probabilities in this way, if the advantageous section ends when the AT2 state ends, it can be expected that when the advantageous section starts afterward, the player will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0135] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after transitioning to the advantageous section and after the CZ2 state ends, no AT lottery is performed in the normal state and pre-stage state until the system is controlled to the CZ1 state. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that AT lotteries are performed in the normal state and pre-stage state until the system is controlled to the CZ1 state. Even in such a configuration, the AT lottery in the normal state and pre-stage state is configured so that only the AT1 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT1 state is set to be higher than that of the AT1 state and AT2 state. Similarly, the AT lottery in the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section is configured so that only the AT2 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT2 state is set to be higher than that of the AT1 state and AT2 state. This allows the system to anticipate that if the advantageous section ends when the AT2 state ends, when the advantageous section starts again, the system will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0136] In this embodiment, when the advantageous period transition role is won, which triggers the transition from the normal period to the advantageous period after the end of the AT2 state, an AT lottery is held in either the normal state or the pre-announcement state that is controlled after the end of the CZ2 state. If the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state, the player is controlled to the AT1 state, whereas if the AT lottery is won when transitioning to the advantageous period, the player is controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state. After the advantageous period starts and the CZ2 state ends, the player may be controlled to the AT2 state after the AT1 state, where more medals can be expected to be acquired than in the AT1 state. If the advantageous period ends when the AT2 state ends, the player can expect to be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, when the advantageous period starts afterward, without going through the AT1 state.

[0137] Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher when transitioning to the advantageous section than when in the CZ1 state. If the advantageous section ends when the AT2 state ends, it can be expected that when the advantageous section starts again, it will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0138] In this embodiment, an AT lottery is conducted when the advantageous section transition role, which triggers the transition from the normal section to the advantageous section after the end of the AT2 state and the end of the advantageous section, is won. However, after a setting change, an AT lottery is not conducted when the advantageous section transition role, which triggers the transition to the advantageous section for the first time, is won. However, it is also possible to configure the system to conduct an AT lottery when the advantageous section transition role, which triggers the transition to the advantageous section for the first time, is won after a setting change.

[0139] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AT lottery in the CZ1 state targets the AT1 state, and the AT lottery at the transition to the advantageous section targets the AT2 state. However, it is also possible to configure the AT lottery in the CZ1 state to target both the AT1 and AT2 states, or to configure the AT lottery at the transition to the advantageous section to target both the AT1 and AT2 states, or to configure the AT lottery in both the CZ1 state and the transition to the advantageous section to target both the AT1 and AT2 states. Even with such configurations, for example, as shown in Figure 21, by setting the winning probabilities so that the proportion of winning the AT1 state is high in the AT lottery in the CZ1 state, and the proportion of winning the AT2 state is high in the AT lottery at the transition to the advantageous section, if the advantageous section ends when the AT2 state ends, it is possible to expect that when the advantageous section starts afterward, the player will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0140] Furthermore, even if the AT lottery is performed in the normal state and pre-stage state before being controlled to the CZ1 state as described above, the AT lottery in the normal state and pre-stage state is configured so that only the AT1 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT1 state is set to be higher than that of the AT1 state and AT2 state. In the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section, the AT lottery is configured so that only the AT2 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT2 state is set to be higher than that of the AT1 state and AT2 state. This makes it possible to expect that if the advantageous section ends when the AT2 state ends, when the advantageous section starts afterward, the player will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0141] In this embodiment, an AT lottery is conducted when transitioning to the advantageous section (internal), but the probability of winning both the advantageous section transition role and the AT lottery is less than 50%. In other words, when transitioning to the advantageous section, the probability of not being controlled to the AT state is higher than the probability of being controlled to the AT state, and the proportion of cases where it is decided to be controlled to the AT state at the same time as transitioning to the advantageous section is suppressed, so that excessive gambling instincts are not stimulated. In addition, there is a role (normal replay) that is eligible for the AT lottery in the advantageous section but is not eligible for transitioning to the advantageous section, and if this role is won in the normal section, the player does not transition to the advantageous section and no AT lottery is conducted, so the normal section is not as advantageous as the advantageous section. Furthermore, for roles such as FC3 to FC7, which result in a 100% AT lottery win upon winning, it is also possible to have a configuration in which there is a role that is eligible for the AT lottery in the advantageous section but is not eligible for transitioning to the advantageous section, and such a configuration makes the difference in the degree of advantage between the normal section and the advantageous section even clearer.

[0142] In this embodiment, AT lottery is conducted in both the CZ2 state, which is controlled while the advantageous period continues after the end of the AT2 state, and the CZ1 state, which is controlled after the end of the CZ2 state via the normal state and the pre-announcement state. However, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state, the system is controlled to the AT1 state, whereas if the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state, the system is controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state. After the end of the AT2 state, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, it can be expected that the system will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0143] Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher in CZ2 state than in CZ1 state, and after the AT2 state ends, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, it can be expected that the game will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0144] In this embodiment, the AT lottery in the CZ1 state targets the AT1 state, and the AT lottery in the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends targets the AT2 state. However, it is also possible to configure the AT lottery in the CZ1 state to target both the AT1 and AT2 states, or to configure the AT lottery in the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends to target both the AT1 and AT2 states, or to configure the AT lottery in either the CZ1 state or the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends to target both the AT1 and AT2 states. Even with this configuration, for example, as shown in Figure 21, in the AT lottery in the CZ1 state, the probability of winning the AT1 state is high among the AT1 state and the AT2 state, and in the AT lottery in the CZ2 state after the end of the AT2 state, the probability of winning the AT2 state is high among the AT1 state and the AT2 state, by setting the winning probabilities in this way, after the end of the AT2 state, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, it is possible to expect that the player will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0145] Furthermore, even if the AT lottery is performed in the normal state and pre-stage state before being controlled to the CZ1 state as described above, the AT lottery in the normal state and pre-stage state is configured such that only the AT1 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT1 state is set to be higher than that of the AT1 state and AT2 state. Similarly, the AT lottery in the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends is configured such that only the AT2 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT2 state is set to be higher than that of the AT1 state and AT2 state. This makes it possible to expect that after the AT2 state ends, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, the player will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

[0146] In this embodiment, once the system is controlled to the normal state during the advantageous period, in the CZ1 state where an AT lottery is held thereafter, if the AT lottery is won at the end of the CZ1, the system is first controlled to the relatively unfavorable AT1 state, and only after fulfilling the conditions in the condition determination game in the AT1 state is the system controlled to the more favorable AT2 state.

[0147] On the other hand, once the system is controlled to the AT2 state, after the AT2 state ends, it is put into the CZ2 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT2 state again. Therefore, once the system is controlled to the AT2 state, it can be expected that the AT2 state will continue.

[0148] Furthermore, in the CZ2 state controlled after the AT2 state ends, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher when the number of times the AT2 state is controlled after the AT1 state is 4 or more is higher than when the number of times the AT2 state is controlled after the AT1 state is 1 to 3. Therefore, when the number of times the AT2 state is controlled after the AT1 state is 4 or more, it can be expected that the AT2 state will continue.

[0149] Furthermore, in AT2 state, if the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeds the upper limit and the advantageous period ends along with the AT2 state, or if the remaining net increase in coins falls below a certain number when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the AT-related data will be initialized. However, at the start of the subsequent advantageous period, the player will be placed in CZ2 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to AT2 state. Therefore, once controlled to AT2 state, it can be expected that the AT2 state will continue even if the advantageous period ends midway.

[0150] Furthermore, the reason the advantageous period ends at the end of the AT2 state is that there is a high probability that the number of times the AT2 state has been controlled after the AT1 state is four or more. Similarly, in the CZ2 state controlled at the start of the advantageous period, the probability of winning the AT lottery at the end of the CZ2 state is set higher than when the number of times the AT2 state has been controlled after the AT1 state is four or more, compared to when the number of times the AT2 state has been controlled after the AT1 state is 1 to 3. Therefore, if the number of times the AT2 state has been controlled after the AT1 state is four or more, it can be expected that the AT2 state will continue even if the advantageous period ends midway.

[0151] Furthermore, even if the advantageous period starts without going through the AT1 state and is controlled to the CZ2 state, and then controlled to the AT2 state, regardless of the number of times it has been controlled to the AT2 state, the probability of winning the AT lottery at the end of the CZ2 state is set higher than when it has been controlled to the AT2 state 1 to 3 times, just as when it has been controlled to the AT2 state 4 or more times after the AT1 state. Therefore, if it has been controlled to the AT2 state 4 or more times after the AT1 state, it can be expected that the AT2 state will continue even if the advantageous period ends midway.

[0152] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main control unit 41 controls the game to the CZ2 state when transitioning to an advantageous section, if the advantageous section is a transition from a normal section after the advantageous section has ended along with the end of the AT state. However, when transitioning from a normal section to an advantageous section for the first time after a setting change, it does not control the game to the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section, but controls it to the normal state. This ensures that even if a game parlor changes the settings, the game will not be intentionally controlled to the CZ2 state, which is advantageous to the player.

[0153] Furthermore, the main control unit 41 determines whether the game state is internal or non-internal when transitioning to a favorable section, thereby identifying whether it is a favorable section transitioned from a normal section after the favorable section ended with the end of the AT2 state, or the first favorable section transitioned from a normal section after a setting change. This makes it possible to identify whether it is a favorable section transitioned from a normal section after the favorable section ended with the end of the AT2 state, or the first favorable section transitioned from a normal section after a setting change, even if all AT-related data has been initialized at the end of the favorable section.

[0154] [Regarding control at the start of CZ1 state] Next, the control at the start of the CZ1 state will be explained based on Figures 9 and 10.

[0155] As shown in Figure 9, after the pre-announcement state ends following the normal state, the main control unit 41 controls the game to enter the CZ1 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the off state to the on state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the unlit state to the lit state. The AT signal remains in the off state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0156] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the normal effects performed in the normal state and the pre-announcement state to the CZ1 effects when the CZ1 state begins. The normal effects are effects that display the normal background image, etc., while the CZ1 effects are effects that display the CZ1 background image, etc., which are specific to the CZ1 state.

[0157] Subsequently, if the AT lottery was won at the end of the CZ1 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the AT1 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept ON, the AT signal is switched ON, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from the unlit state to the lit state.

[0158] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ1 presentation to the AT1 presentation when the AT1 state begins. The AT1 presentation is a presentation that displays AT1 background images and other elements specific to the AT1 state. Also, at the start of the AT1 presentation, the acquired coin counter value, which counts the number of coins acquired during the series of ATs, is reset to 0, and the acquired coin notification, which displays the acquired coin counter value, is started.

[0159] On the other hand, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ1 state, the main control unit 41 controls the game to the normal state from the next game. At this time, it switches the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal from the on state to the off state, and switches the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b from the lit state to the unlit state. In addition, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ1 performance to the normal performance when the CZ1 state ends.

[0160] The main control unit 41 controls the system to the AT2 state from the next game if the conditions are met in the condition determination game in the AT1 state. At this time, the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are kept in the ON state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are kept lit.

[0161] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the AT1 presentation to the AT2 presentation when the AT2 state begins. The AT2 presentation is a presentation that displays AT2 background images and other elements specific to the AT2 state. Also, even when the AT2 presentation starts, the acquired coin counter value is carried over, and the announcement of acquired coins continues.

[0162] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10, if the condition is not met in the condition determination game in the AT1 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are switched from the ON state to the OFF state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are switched from the lit state to the unlit state. In addition, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the AT1 performance to the normal performance when the AT1 state ends, and the notification of the number of acquired coins also ends.

[0163] [Regarding control when AT2 state ends] Next, the control process at the end of the AT2 state will be explained based on Figures 11 to 20.

[0164] As shown in Figure 11, the main control unit 41, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous section ends while the net increase in coins during the advantageous section is less than or equal to the upper limit, transitions to the normal section from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are switched from the on state to the off state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are switched from the lit state to the unlit state.

[0165] Furthermore, upon the termination of the AT2 state, the sub-control unit 91 terminates the AT2 performance (Figure 18(a)) and executes a result notification performance (Figure 18(b)) that notifies the net increase in coins and the number of games controlled by the AT during the series of AT periods (the period from the AT1 state), and consequently terminates the notification of the number of coins acquired. After that, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the result notification performance (Figure 18(b)) to the standby performance (Figure 18(c)). The standby performance is a performance in which a standby image and the like are displayed.

[0166] Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning a role in transitioning to the advantageous section during the normal section, performs an AT lottery and ends the normal section, starting the advantageous section from the next game, and controls the system to the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the off state to the on state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the unlit state to the lit state. The AT signal remains in the off state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0167] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation (Figure 18(c)) to the CZ2 introduction animation (Figure 18(d)) when the CZ2 state begins. The CZ2 introduction animation is an animation that indicates the start of the CZ2 state.

[0168] The main control unit 41, in the first game of the CZ2 state, performs an AT lottery at the start of the game based on the result of an internal lottery. If the AT lottery is won at the end of the CZ2 state, that is, if either the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state is won, the control unit controls the system to the AT2 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept in the ON state, the AT signal is switched from the OFF state to the ON state, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0169] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 wins either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, it switches from the CZ2 introduction sequence (Figure 18(d)) to the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 18(e)) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ2 state. The CZ2 sequence (normal) is a sequence in which the CZ2 normal background image and other elements specific to the CZ2 state are displayed. Then, with the start of the AT2 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 18(e)) to the AT2 sequence (Figure 18(a)). The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous section ends at the end of the previous AT2 state, and with the start of the AT2 sequence, it starts notifying the acquired coins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

[0170] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ2 state, that is, if the AT lottery was not won in either the AT lottery at the transition to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the lit state to the unlit state. The AT signal remains in the OFF state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0171] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 counts the number of consecutive AT2 states, which is the number of times the AT2 state continues after the AT1 state without an intervening normal state. The number of consecutive AT2 states is not reset even when the advantageous period ends and the system is controlled to the normal period. As long as the AT2 state continues without an intervening normal state, the count continues without interruption even if there is an intervening normal period.

[0172] Then, if the sub-control unit 91 does not win either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, and the number of consecutive AT2s is less than 20, it switches from the CZ2 introduction sequence (Figure 18(d)) to the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 18(e)) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ2 state, as shown in Figure 13. Then, upon the end of the CZ2 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 18(e)) to the normal sequence (Figure 18(f)).

[0173] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 fails to win either the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, and the number of consecutive AT2s is 20 or more, it switches from the CZ2 introduction sequence (Figure 19(d)) to the CZ2 sequence (ED) (Figure 19(e)) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ2 state, as shown in Figure 14. The CZ2 sequence (ED) is a sequence unique to the CZ2 state, but its presentation differs from the CZ2 sequence (normal), and it displays an ending image that suggests the end of the period in which a series of ATs have occurred continuously (a period in which the AT2 state continues after the AT1 state without an intervening normal state). Then, upon the end of the CZ2 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 sequence (ED) (Figure 19(e)) to the normal sequence (Figure 19(f)).

[0174] As shown in Figure 12, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous period continues, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the preparation state from the next game. At this time, similar to when the advantageous period ends, the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are switched from the on state to the off state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are switched from the lit state to the unlit state.

[0175] Furthermore, upon the termination of the AT2 state, the sub-control unit 91 terminates the AT2 performance (Figure 18(a)), executes the result notification performance (Figure 18(b)), and consequently terminates the notification of the number of acquired coins. Subsequently, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the result notification performance (Figure 18(b)) to the standby performance (Figure 18(c)), similar to when transitioning to the normal section.

[0176] Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning a role in transitioning to the advantageous section during the preparation state, performs an AT lottery and ends the preparation state, controlling the game to the CZ2 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the off state to the on state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the unlit state to the lit state. The AT signal remains in the off state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0177] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation (Figure 18(c)) to the CZ2 introduction animation (Figure 18(d)) upon the start of the CZ2 state, similar to when transitioning to the advantageous section.

[0178] The main control unit 41, in the first game of the CZ2 state, performs an AT lottery at the start of the game based on the result of the internal lottery. If the AT lottery is won at the end of the CZ2 state, that is, if either the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state is won, the control unit controls the system to the AT2 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept in the ON state, the AT signal is switched from the OFF state to the ON state, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0179] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 wins either the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, it switches from the CZ2 introduction sequence (Figure 18(d)) to the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 18(e)) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ2 state. Then, with the start of the AT2 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 18(e)) to the AT2 sequence (Figure 18(a)). The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous section ends at the end of the previous AT2 state, and with the start of the AT2 sequence, it starts notifying the acquired coins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

[0180] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ2 state, that is, if the AT lottery was not won in either the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the lit state to the unlit state. The AT signal remains in the OFF state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0181] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 fails to win either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, and the number of consecutive AT2 rounds is less than 20, then, as shown in Figure 15, it switches from the CZ2 introduction sequence (Figure 18(d)) to the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 18(e)) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ2 state. Then, upon the end of the CZ2 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 18(e)) to the normal sequence (Figure 18(f)).

[0182] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 fails to win either the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, and the number of consecutive AT2s is 20 or more, then, as shown in Figure 16, it switches from the CZ2 introduction sequence (Figure 19(d)) to the CZ2 sequence (ED) (Figure 19(e)) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ2 state. Then, upon the end of the CZ2 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 sequence (ED) (Figure 19(e)) to the normal sequence (Figure 19(f)).

[0183] As shown in Figure 17, even if the main control unit 41 controls the game to the aforementioned ED state by adding to the remaining number of games, and as a result the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit, causing the AT2 state to end and the advantageous section to terminate, the game will transition to the normal section from the next game. At this time, the sub-control unit 91 starts the ED animation (Figure 20(a)) when the ED state starts, and when the AT2 state ends, it ends the ED animation (Figure 20(a)), and in addition to the results of the series of AT periods (the period in which the AT2 state continues after the AT1 state without an intervening normal state), such as the net increase in coins and the number of games controlled by AT, it executes a result notification / advantageous section termination animation (Figure 20(b)) which notifies that the advantageous section has ended as a result of the net increase in coins exceeding the upper limit of the advantageous section, and consequently terminates the notification of acquired coins. After that, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the result notification / advantageous section termination animation (Figure 20(b)) to the normal animation (Figure 20(c)).

[0184] Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning a role that transitions to the advantageous section in the normal section, conducts an AT lottery and ends the normal section, starting the advantageous section from the next game, and controls the system to the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section. Then, in the first game of the CZ2 state, the main control unit 41 conducts an AT lottery based on the result of the internal lottery at the start of the game, and if the AT lottery was won at the end of the CZ2 state, that is, if either the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state was won, controls the system to the AT2 state from the next game.

[0185] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 wins either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, it executes a revival sequence (Figure 20(d)) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ2 state, and then switches to the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 20(e)). Subsequently, with the start of the AT2 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 sequence (normal) (Figure 20(e)) to the AT2 sequence. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous section ends at the end of the previous AT2 state, and with the start of the AT2 sequence, it starts notifying the acquired coins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

[0186] On the other hand, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ2 state, that is, if the AT lottery was not won in either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game.

[0187] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 fails to win either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ2 state, it will continue to execute the normal sequence (Figure 20(c)) without executing the revival sequence (Figure 20(d)) or the normal CZ2 sequence (Figure 20(e)).

[0188] In this embodiment, after the AT2 state ends, there are two possibilities: one is to control the CZ2 state, which is highly likely to be controlled to the AT2 state while the advantageous section continues; and the other is to control the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends, after the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and then transitions back to the advantageous section. When the system is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues, it proceeds through a preparation phase before being controlled to the CZ2 state. When the system is controlled to the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends and the system transitions back to the advantageous section, there is always a waiting period between the end of the AT2 state and the start of the CZ2 state. However, even when the system is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues, the CZ2 state does not start immediately, but proceeds through a predetermined preparation phase before being controlled to the CZ2 state. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether the system was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the system was controlled to the CZ2 state after the advantageous section ended.

[0189] In this embodiment, when a role for transitioning to the advantageous section is won in the normal section, the game transitions to the advantageous section. Furthermore, in the preparation state, which is controlled when the game is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues, when a role for transitioning to the advantageous section is won, the preparation state ends and the game is controlled to the CZ2 state. This means that when the game is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues, the game is controlled to the CZ2 state at the same trigger as when the advantageous section ends once and then the game is controlled to the CZ2 state. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state after the advantageous section ended once.

[0190] In this embodiment, no control related to AT is performed during the normal section, and even if the game is played with a stopping operation order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first, no penalty related to AT is given and no warning notification is executed. However, even if the game is played with a stopping operation order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first during the preparation state, unlike the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state, no penalty related to AT is given, the advantage related to AT does not change as in the normal section, and no warning notification is executed for AT. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state after the advantageous section ended once.

[0191] In this embodiment, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off, and after the advantageous period is re-entered and the CZ2 state begins, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal turn on again. However, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ2 state, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off in the preparation state, and then remain off for at least one game before the CZ2 state begins and the CZ / AT signal and AT signal turn on again. Therefore, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ2 state, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off, just as when the advantageous period ends once and then the system is controlled to the CZ2 state. This makes it difficult to determine whether the system was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the system was controlled to the CZ2 state after the advantageous period ended.

[0192] In particular, when the advantageous period continues, the CZ / AT signal remains on when switching from one state to the other, such as when transitioning from CZ1 state to AT1 state, from AT1 state to AT2 state, or from CZ2 state to AT2 state, in situations where the advantageous period continues. However, when switching from AT2 state to CZ2 state while the advantageous period continues, there is a preparation state in between, during which the CZ / AT signal is temporarily turned off. This makes it difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period was continuing, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state after the advantageous period ended.

[0193] In this embodiment, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b temporarily change from lit to unlit, and after transitioning to the advantageous period and starting the CZ2 state, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b change back to lit. However, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ2 state, in the preparation state, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b temporarily change from lit to unlit, and then remain unlit for at least one game. After the indicator lights are turned off, the CZ / AT LED19a and AT LED19b will turn on again once the CZ2 state begins. This makes it difficult to determine whether the CZ2 state was initiated while the advantageous period was still ongoing, or whether the CZ / AT LED19a and AT LED19b were turned off once before the advantageous period ended, just as in the case where the CZ2 state was initiated after the advantageous period ended.

[0194] In particular, when the advantageous period continues, the LED 19a during CZ / AT will remain lit when switching from one state to the other, such as when transitioning from CZ1 to AT1, from AT1 to AT2, or from CZ2 to AT2, in which case the LED 19a during CZ / AT will remain lit. However, when switching from AT2 to CZ2 while the advantageous period continues, there is a preparation state in between, during which the LED 19a during CZ / AT will temporarily become unlit. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to enter CZ2 while the advantageous period was still continuing, or whether the game was controlled to enter CZ2 after the advantageous period had ended.

[0195] In this embodiment, the main control unit 41 performs a stock lottery in the AT2 state to determine whether to grant the right to control the system back to the AT2 state when a stock lottery target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC5 to 7) is won. If the stock lottery is won, the right to win an AT is stocked. The sub-control unit 91 notifies the system when the right to win an AT is stocked and also notifies the number of remaining AT winning rights in a identifiable manner. If the right to win an AT is stocked at the end of the AT2 state, the system controls the system back to the AT2 state from the next game without going through the preparation state or CZ2 state. In situations where it is confirmed that the AT2 state will continue, the AT2 state can be continued quickly without any unnecessary delays.

[0196] In this embodiment, when an AT winning right is stocked, the system notifies the player of this fact and also notifies the number of remaining AT winning rights in a identifiable way. However, it is not necessary for all rights to be notified in an identifiable way; the system may be configured to notify only some of the rights in an identifiable way. In such a configuration, if an AT winning right is notified in an identifiable way, and if an AT winning right is stocked at the end of the AT2 state, the system may be controlled to return to the AT2 state from the next game without going through the preparation state or CZ2 state. If an AT winning right is stocked but is not notified in an identifiable way, the system may be configured to go through the preparation state or CZ2 state before consuming the stock and controlling the system to the AT2 state. With such a configuration, even if the AT2 state does not start immediately after the end of the AT2 state, the player can expect that an AT winning right is stocked.

[0197] In this embodiment, the sub-control unit 91 is equipped with a coin count counter value that counts the number of coins acquired during a series of ATs (a period in which the AT2 state continues after the AT1 state without an intervening normal state). During the AT1 performance in the AT1 state and the AT2 performance in the AT2 state, it performs a coin count notification that announces the number of coins acquired during the series of ATs based on the coin count counter value. Furthermore, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous section ends and the player transitions to the normal section, the coin count counter value is not reset but carried over. Subsequently, when the player wins an AT lottery during the transition to the advantageous section or in the CZ2 state which is the first state controlled after the transition to the advantageous section, and is controlled to the AT2 state, the coin count notification is performed based on the coin count counter value that has been carried over and counted from the AT2 state before the end of the advantageous section. This makes it appear as if the AT2 state is occurring continuously even if the advantageous section is interrupted.

[0198] In this embodiment, the number of acquired coins is announced during the AT1 performance while in AT1 state and during the AT2 performance while in AT2 state. However, it is also possible to have the number of acquired coins announced during the CZ2 performance while in CZ2 state.

[0199] In this embodiment, when the AT2 state ends with the net increase in coins in the advantageous section being less than or equal to the upper limit, and after the advantageous section ends, a new advantageous section starts and the CZ2 state begins, the sub-control unit 91 executes a result notification performance (Figure 18(b)) at the end of the AT2 state and the advantageous section, similar to when the advantageous section continues, and then executes a standby performance (Figure 18(c)) in the normal section, and when the CZ2 state starts, it switches from the standby performance (Figure 18(c)) to the CZ2 introduction performance (Figure 18(d)) and then to the CZ2 performance (normal) (Figure 18(e)) or the CZ2 performance (ED) (Figure 19(e)), whereas as a result of the game count being increased, it is controlled to the ED state and the advantageous section When the net increase in coins exceeds the upper limit and the AT2 state ends, ending the advantageous section, and then a new advantageous section begins and the CZ2 state starts, unlike when the advantageous section continues, the ED performance (Figure 20(a)) is executed when the control of the ED state begins, and when the AT2 state and the advantageous section end, in addition to the result notification, a result notification / advantageous section end performance (Figure 20(b)) is executed to notify that the advantageous section has ended as a result of the net increase in coins exceeding the upper limit of the advantageous section. After that, the normal performance is executed in the normal section, and when the CZ2 state starts and the AT lottery is won, the revival performance (Figure 20(d)) is executed, and then it switches to the CZ2 performance (Figure 20(e)). Thus, when a new advantageous period begins after the net increase in coins during an advantageous period exceeds the upper limit and the advantageous period ends, the presentation differs from when a new advantageous period begins after the net increase in coins during the advantageous period has not exceeded the upper limit. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the sense of incongruity caused by the AT2 state continuing even though the advantageous period has ended after the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeded the upper limit.

[0200] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 22, if the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeds the upper limit and the AT2 state ends, and after the advantageous period ends, a new advantageous period begins and the CZ2 state begins, and if the AT lottery is won, the result notification / advantageous period end animation (Figure 20(b)) is executed when the AT2 state and the advantageous period end, and then the normal animation (Figure 20(c)) is executed in the normal period, and the normal animation (Figure 20(c)) is continued in the CZ2 state after transitioning to the advantageous period, and if the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state, and the AT2 state starts after the CZ2 state ends, the animation may be switched from the normal animation (Figure 20(c)) to the AT2 animation. With this configuration, if the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeds the upper limit and the advantageous period ends, the connection with the subsequent AT2 state becomes weak, thus reducing the sense of incongruity that the AT2 state continues even though the net increase in coins during the advantageous period has exceeded the upper limit and the advantageous period has ended. Furthermore, in such a configuration, if the CZ2 state ends without winning the AT lottery after transitioning to the advantageous section, the normal performance should continue. Also, in such a configuration, if the AT lottery is won during the transition to the advantageous section or in the CZ2 state after transitioning to the advantageous section, and the system is controlled to the AT2 state, it is preferable to reset the net increase counter value to 0, and not carry over the number of coins acquired in the AT2 state before the end of the advantageous section. With such a configuration, if the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit and the advantageous section ends, the connection with the subsequent AT2 state becomes even weaker, further reducing the sense of incongruity that the AT2 state continues even though the net increase in coins in the advantageous section has exceeded the upper limit and the advantageous section has ended.

[0201] In this embodiment, after the AT2 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions to the advantageous section again, it may be controlled to the CZ2 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT2 state. When the AT2 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions to the advantageous section again, it is controlled to the CZ2 state, the presentation style of the CZ2 state is selected based on the game history in the terminated advantageous section, so that even if the advantageous section is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the AT2 state up to that point and the subsequent CZ2 state occurred continuously.

[0202] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the presentation mode of the CZ2 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player transitions back to the advantageous period, is selected based on the history of the AT2 state in the terminated advantageous period. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it is possible to make it appear as if the previous AT2 state and the subsequent CZ2 state occurred continuously.

[0203] In this embodiment, the presentation mode of the CZ2 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period is selected based on the history of the AT2 state in the advantageous period that ended. However, any configuration in which the presentation mode of the CZ2 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period is selected based on at least the game history in the advantageous period that ended will produce a similar effect. For example, the presentation mode of the CZ2 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period may be selected based on the history of the number of medals acquired (net increase) in the advantageous period that ended, the number of games in which the advantageous period continued, etc.

[0204] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the performance mode of the CZ2 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, is selected based on the number of consecutive AT2 states in the terminated advantageous period (the number of times the AT2 state continues after the AT1 state without an intervening normal state). However, it is also possible to select the mode based on the history of the AT state in the terminated advantageous period, such as the number of consecutive AT states including both the AT1 state and the AT2 state in the terminated advantageous period (the number of times the AT state continues without an intervening normal state), the number of medals increased since the start of the AT1 state, the number of games controlled to the AT2 state without an intervening normal state, the number of games controlled to the AT1 state and AT2 state without an intervening normal state after the start of the AT1 state, and the number of times the number of games was increased in the AT2 state.

[0205] In this embodiment, the presentation of the CZ2 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned, is such that the CZ2 presentation (ED) is selected only when the number of consecutive AT2 states (the number of times the AT2 state continues after the AT1 state without an intervening normal state) in the terminated advantageous period is 20 or more, that is, when the AT2 state continues for a long period of time. By executing the CZ2 presentation (ED) in the CZ2 state, it is possible to recognize that the state has been controlled to be in the AT2 state for a long period of time.

[0206] In this embodiment, regarding the presentation of the CZ2 state controlled when an advantageous period ends and the player returns to an advantageous period, the configuration is such that the CZ2 presentation (ED) is selected only if the number of consecutive AT2 plays in the terminated advantageous period is 20 or more. However, even if the configuration is such that the CZ2 presentation (ED) is selected only when the AT state continues for a long period of time, such as when the number of consecutive AT states including the AT1 state is 100 times or more, when the number of games controlled to AT2 in the terminated advantageous period is 1000 times or more, the CZ2 presentation (ED) is executed in the CZ2 state, allowing the player to recognize that the player has been controlled to the AT2 state for a long period of time.

[0207] Furthermore, in this embodiment, regarding the performance mode of the CZ2 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, a specific performance mode (CZ2 performance (ED)) is selected only if the period during which the AT2 state has been continuous in the terminated advantageous period is a specific period (20 times) or longer. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that when the period during which the AT2 state has been continuous in the terminated advantageous period is a specific period (20 times) or longer, the specific performance mode is more likely to be selected than when the period during which the AT2 state has been continuous in the terminated advantageous period is less than a specific period (20 times). Even with such a configuration, the execution of the CZ2 performance with the specific performance mode in the CZ2 state allows the player to recognize that the player has been controlled to the AT2 state for a long period of time.

[0208] In this embodiment, the presentation mode for the CZ2 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, is selected based on the history of the AT2 state in the terminated advantageous period and the type of advantageous period transition role that triggered the return to the advantageous period. Specifically, if the advantageous period transition role belongs to FC0 or FC1, which may not result in winning the AT lottery, the CZ2 presentation (ED) may be selected, whereas if it belongs to FC3 to FC7, which always results in winning the AT lottery, the CZ2 presentation (ED) will not be selected, and the CZ2 presentation (normal) will always be selected. Thus, when the player returns to the normal period after the advantageous state has ended and then returns to the advantageous period, and the player returns to the advantageous period, the presentation mode for the CZ2 state is selected based on the history of the AT2 state in the terminated advantageous period and the type of advantageous period transition role that triggered the return to the advantageous period. Therefore, the presentation mode can be tailored to the trigger for the return to the advantageous period.

[0209] In this embodiment, the performance pattern of the CZ2 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned to is selected based on the history of the AT2 state in the advantageous period that ended, and whether or not the AT2 state is controlled after the end of the CZ2 state, thus allowing attention to be drawn to the performance pattern of the CZ2 state.

[0210] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an AT lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the system to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state, depending on the advantageous section transition role that triggered the end of the advantageous section and the transition to the advantageous section again, and an AT lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the system to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state, depending on the result of the internal lottery in the first game in the CZ2 state. After the AT2 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and when the system is controlled to the CZ2 state when the system transitions to the advantageous section again, the presentation mode of the CZ2 state is selected based on the results of both the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section and the AT lottery in the first game in the CZ2 state. Thus, the results of both the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section and the AT lottery in the first game in the CZ2 state can be reflected in the presentation mode of the CZ2 state.

[0211] Furthermore, in this embodiment, regarding the presentation of the CZ2 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, the CZ2 presentation (ED) is selected only if the player is not controlled to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state ends, and the CZ2 presentation (normal) is selected if the player is controlled to the AT2 state. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the AT2 state is occurring continuously.

[0212] In this embodiment, the configuration for the CZ2 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, is such that the CZ2 performance (ED) is selected only if the player does not return to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state ends. However, the configuration for the CZ2 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, may be such that a specific performance pattern is more likely to be selected when the player does not return to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state ends than when the player does return to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state ends. In such a configuration, if the player does not return to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state, a specific performance pattern is more likely to occur in the CZ2 state, while if the player does return to the AT2 state, a specific performance pattern is less likely to occur in the CZ2 state, thus making it appear as if the AT2 state is occurring continuously.

[0213] [Effect 1] In this embodiment, after the AT2 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions to the advantageous section again, it may be controlled to the CZ2 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT2 state. When the AT2 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions to the advantageous section again, it is controlled to the CZ2 state, the presentation style of the CZ2 state is selected based on the game history in the terminated advantageous section, so that even if the advantageous section is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the AT2 state up to that point and the subsequent CZ2 state occurred continuously.

[0214] In this embodiment, the presentation mode of the CZ2 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player transitions back to the advantageous period, is selected based on the history of the AT2 state in the terminated advantageous period. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the previous AT2 state and the subsequent CZ2 state occurred continuously.

[0215] In this embodiment, the presentation of the CZ2 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned, is such that the CZ2 presentation (ED) is selected only when the number of consecutive AT2 states (the number of times the AT2 state continues after the AT1 state without an intervening normal state) in the terminated advantageous period is 20 or more, that is, when the AT2 state continues for a long period of time. By executing the CZ2 presentation (ED) in the CZ2 state, it is possible to recognize that the state has been controlled to be in the AT2 state for a long period of time.

[0216] In this embodiment, when the advantageous state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and then the system controls the system to the CZ2 state when it transitions back to the advantageous section, the presentation mode of the CZ2 state is selected based on the history of the AT2 state in the terminated advantageous section and the type of advantageous section transition trigger that led to the transition back to the advantageous section. Therefore, the presentation mode can be tailored to the trigger for the transition to the advantageous section.

[0217] In this embodiment, the performance pattern of the CZ2 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned to is selected based on the history of the AT2 state in the advantageous period that ended, and whether or not the AT2 state is controlled after the end of the CZ2 state, thus allowing attention to be drawn to the performance pattern of the CZ2 state.

[0218] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an AT lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the system to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state, depending on the advantageous section transition role that triggered the end of the advantageous section and the transition to the advantageous section again, and an AT lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the system to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state, depending on the result of the internal lottery in the first game in the CZ2 state. After the AT2 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and when the system is controlled to the CZ2 state when the system transitions to the advantageous section again, the presentation mode of the CZ2 state is selected based on the results of both the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section and the AT lottery in the first game in the CZ2 state. Thus, the results of both the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section and the AT lottery in the first game in the CZ2 state can be reflected in the presentation mode of the CZ2 state.

[0219] Furthermore, in this embodiment, regarding the presentation of the CZ2 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, the CZ2 presentation (ED) is selected only if the player is not controlled to the AT2 state after the CZ2 state ends, and the CZ2 presentation (normal) is selected if the player is controlled to the AT2 state. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the AT2 state is occurring continuously.

[0220] Although Embodiment 1 of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to Embodiment 1, and it goes without saying that any modifications or additions that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

[0221] In the above-described Example 1, an example was given in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine in which the number of bets is set using medals and credits as the value of the game. However, it may also be applied to a slot machine in which the number of bets is set using game balls as the value of the game, or to a medal-free slot machine in which the number of bets is set using only credits without using medals as the value of the game. [Examples]

[0222] Next, Embodiment 2 of a slot machine to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the hardware configuration of the slot machine in this embodiment is the same, the same reference numerals will be used for description. Furthermore, since the slot machine 1 of this embodiment includes configurations common to the slot machine 1 of Embodiment 1, the configurations that differ from those of Embodiment 1 will be described here, and the description of the common configurations will be omitted. Also, regarding configurations common to or similar to those of Embodiment 1, any modifications that are applicable to Embodiment 1 are also applicable to this embodiment.

[0223] [Regarding the transitions between game periods and advantageous periods] Next, the transitions in the advantageous period state during the game period and the advantageous period, as controlled by the main control unit 41 of the slot machine 1 in this embodiment, will be explained with reference to Figures 23 and 24.

[0224] The main control unit 41, in a game played within the normal section, will switch the game section to the advantageous section from the next game if the advantageous section transition role is won in an internal lottery. The advantageous section consists of multiple game section states, including the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ3 state, CZ4 state, AT3 state, AT4 state, and preparation state.

[0225] As shown in Figure 24, the normal state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, and is relatively disadvantageous to the player. The pre-announcement state is a state that is entered after the normal state ends, and no navigation notifications are given, but it is a state in which the player will always enter the CZ1 state afterward, and in this respect it is more advantageous to the player than the normal state. The CZ1 state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, but it is a state in which the player may enter the AT3 state afterward, and is more advantageous to the player than the normal state and the pre-announcement state. The CZ3 state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, but it is a state in which the player may enter the AT3 state afterward, and is more advantageous to the player than the normal state and the pre-announcement state. In addition, the CZ3 state is more advantageous to the player than the CZ1 state because the probability of winning the AT lottery is higher than in the CZ1 state. The CZ4 state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, but it is a state in which the player may enter the AT4 state afterward, and is more advantageous to the player than the normal state and the pre-announcement state. Furthermore, the CZ4 state is more advantageous to the player than the CZ1 state because the probability of winning the AT lottery is higher than that of the CZ1 state and the CZ3 state, and as described later, when the AT lottery is won, the player transitions to the AT4 state, which is more advantageous than the AT3 state. In this embodiment, the CZ4 state is more advantageous than the CZ1 state and the CZ3 state because the probability of winning the AT lottery is higher than that of the CZ1 state and the CZ3 state, and when the AT lottery is won, the player transitions to the AT4 state, which is more advantageous than the AT3 state. However, it is sufficient that the CZ4 state is more advantageous than the CZ1 state and the CZ3 state because it is favored in at least one of the following ways: the probability of winning the AT lottery is higher than that of the CZ1 state and the CZ3 state; when the AT lottery is won, the player transitions to the AT4 state, which is more advantageous than the AT3 state; or when the AT lottery is won, the rate of winning to the AT4 state is higher than that of the CZ1 state and the CZ3 state. AT3 state is an AT state in which navigation notifications are provided, and is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ3 state, and CZ4 state. AT4 state is an AT state in which navigation notifications are provided, and is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ3 state, and CZ4 state.Furthermore, the AT4 state is more advantageous for the player than the AT3 state because it offers the potential for a greater increase in medals, grants the right to re-enter the AT4 state, and always transitions to the CZ4 state after its completion. The preparation state is a state in which no navigation notifications are given, and is controlled before the start of the CZ4 state when the advantageous period continues after the end of the AT4 state.

[0226] In these advantageous zone states, during the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ3 state, and CZ4 state, where navigation notifications are not provided, a penalty is imposed if the game is played with a stopping order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first. Specifically, in the normal state and pre-announcement state, the end game count described later will not be updated, and in the CZ3 state and CZ4 state, the AT lottery will not be conducted. Furthermore, in the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ3 state, and CZ4 state, the sub-control unit 91 issues a warning notification informing the player that a penalty has been imposed if the game is played with a stopping order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first, and urging the player to play with a stopping order in which the left reel is stopped first.

[0227] On the other hand, in AT3 and AT4 states where navigation notifications are displayed, no penalty is given and no warning is issued even if the game is played with a stopping order that includes a reel other than the left reel as the first stop. Also, in the preparation state, although navigation notifications are not displayed, no penalty is given and no warning is issued even if the game is played with a stopping order that includes a reel other than the left reel as the first stop.

[0228] The main control unit 41 transitions the game section to the advantageous section when a winning combination for transitioning to the advantageous section is achieved during the normal section. At this time, it determines whether the game state is in the non-internal or internal state, and if it is determined to be in the non-internal state, it performs a mode lottery and a game count lottery and controls the game to the normal state.

[0229] In the normal state, the main control unit 41 adds the number of games since being controlled in the normal state (referred to as the normal game number) for each game, and determines whether the added normal game number has reached the end game number determined by the game number lottery. If the end game number has been reached, the normal state is terminated and the system is controlled to enter a precursor state for a predetermined period (in this embodiment, 16 to 32 games). Then, when the precursor state ends, it is controlled to enter the CZ1 state.

[0230] The CZ1 state is controlled for a period of 20 games. During this period, the main control unit 41 conducts an AT lottery to determine whether to control the system to enter the AT state every time the winning role of the AT lottery target is selected. As shown in FIG. 25, the winning probability of the AT lottery is set for each FC assigned to the lottery trigger and the AT lottery target role. Whether to control the system to enter the AT state is determined based on the winning probability corresponding to the lottery trigger and the FC of the winning AT lottery target role.

[0231] After the start of the CZ1 state, the main control unit 41 ends the CZ1 state after 20 games have elapsed. If the system wins the AT lottery before the CZ1 state ends, it is controlled to enter the AT3 state from the next game. On the other hand, if the system does not win the AT lottery before the CZ1 state ends, the aforementioned mode lottery and game number lottery are conducted to determine the mode and end game number of the subsequent normal state, and then it is controlled to enter the normal state from the next game.

[0232] When starting the AT3 state, the main control unit 41 sets 20 games as the initial value of the remaining game number. Then, the remaining game number is subtracted for each game, and when the remaining game number becomes 0, the AT3 state is terminated.

[0233] Also, in the AT3 state, the main control unit 41 conducts a bonus lottery to determine whether to add a bonus to the remaining game number and the number of games when the bonus target role (the lottery role corresponding to FC5 and FC6) is selected. If the system wins the bonus lottery, the number of winning games is added to the remaining game number.

[0234] When the AT3 state ends, the main control unit 41 determines whether or not it has won the additional draw three or more times in the AT3 state. If it has not won the additional draw three or more times, it is considered that the condition has not been met, and while continuing the advantageous section, it controls to the CZ3 state from the next game.

[0235] The CZ3 state is controlled for a period of six games. During that time, the main control unit 41 performs an AT draw to determine whether or not to control to the AT state every time the AT draw target combination wins.

[0236] After the start of the CZ3 state, the main control unit 41 ends the CZ3 state after six games have elapsed. If it wins the AT draw before the CZ3 state ends, it controls to the AT3 state from the next game. On the other hand, if it does not win the AT draw before the CZ3 state ends, it performs the above-described mode draw and game number draw to determine the mode of the subsequent normal state and the number of ending games, and controls to the normal state from the next game.

[0237] When the main control unit 41 has won the additional draw three or more times at the end of the AT3 state, it is considered that the condition has been met, ends the advantageous section, and shifts the game section to the normal section. At this time, all data related to the AT (the net increase number of sheets in the advantageous section, the number of points accumulated since the start of the advantageous section, etc.) is initialized.

[0238] In addition, in this embodiment, at the end of the AT3 state, by winning the additional draw three or more times in the AT3 state, it is considered that the condition has been met, ends the advantageous section, and is configured to be controlled to the CZ4 state as described below. However, for example, by achieving a previously presented task, the result of an internal draw, etc. satisfying specific conditions, the accumulated number of points being equal to or more than a specified value, etc., it is considered that the condition has been met, ends the advantageous section, and may be configured to be controlled to the CZ4 state as described below. Also, as in the first embodiment, by achieving the condition in a specific condition determination game, it is considered that the condition has been met, ends the advantageous section, and may be configured to be controlled to the CZ4 state as described below.

[0239] Furthermore, when the main control unit 41 determines that the game state is "internal" when a winning combination for transitioning to the advantageous zone is won during the normal zone, it controls the game to the CZ4 state from the next game.

[0240] As explained in Example 1, when a BB is won during a non-internal state, the game always transitions to the advantageous section. Therefore, the game is controlled to the normal section during the internal state not after the game-related data (data indicating the game state, data indicating the game section, BB winning flag, etc.) has been initialized by a setting change, but always after the advantageous section has ended. Furthermore, the conditions for ending the advantageous section are rarely met in any advantageous section state other than AT3 or AT4 state, so in practice, it is the state when AT3 or AT4 state has ended and the game has transitioned to the normal section.

[0241] Therefore, as mentioned above, when the advantageous section ends and the player transitions back to the advantageous section from the normal section after the advantageous section has ended, the player will first be controlled to the CZ4 state. Then, at the end of the CZ4 state, if the player has won either the AT lottery conducted when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery conducted in the first game of the CZ4 state, the player will be controlled to the AT4 state. If the player has not won either the AT lottery conducted when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery conducted in the first game of the CZ4 state, the player will be controlled to the normal state.

[0242] The main control unit 41 sets the initial number of remaining games to 30 when the AT4 state starts. Then, it subtracts the number of remaining games with each game played, and terminates the AT4 state when the number of remaining games reaches 0.

[0243] Furthermore, in AT4 state, when a winning combination for additional games (a lottery combination corresponding to FC4-6) is won, the main control unit 41 conducts an additional game lottery to determine whether or not to add games to the remaining game count and the number of games to add. If the additional game lottery is won, the winning number of games is added to the remaining game count. Also, even if a winning combination for additional games is won in AT4 state, if the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous section) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment), the additional game lottery is not conducted, and the addition of games to the remaining game count is limited. The specific number is a value greater than the number of coins that are expected to increase by the addition of games when the winning combination for additional games (a lottery combination corresponding to FC6) that is expected to add the most games is won. Therefore, it becomes less likely that the number of games added will exceed the maximum number of coins that are added during the advantageous section.

[0244] In this embodiment, when a winning combination for additional payouts is achieved in AT4 state, if the remaining net increase in payouts (maximum payout - net increase in payouts during the advantageous period) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment), the additional payout lottery is not performed. However, the system can be configured to control the system to an additional payout state in which the number of winning combinations for additional payouts increases, or the probability of winning the additional payout lottery increases. In such a configuration, when the remaining net increase in payouts is less than or equal to a specific number in AT4 state, the system can restrict the control of the additional payout state while still performing the additional payout lottery when a winning combination for additional payouts is achieved. Furthermore, in a configuration that can control the system to multiple types of additional payout states with different expected number of games for additional payouts, when the remaining net increase in payouts is less than or equal to a specific number in AT4 state, the system can restrict only certain types of additional payout states in which the expected number of games for additional payouts is relatively large.

[0245] Furthermore, the main control unit 41 conducts a stock lottery in the AT4 state to determine whether or not to grant the right to control the AT4 state again when a stock lottery target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC5 to 7) is won, and if the stock lottery is won, the right to win an AT is stocked. When the right to win an AT is stocked, the sub-control unit 91 notifies that fact and also notifies the number of remaining AT winning rights in a identifiable manner. In addition, even if a stock lottery target role is won in the AT4 state, if the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous section) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment), the stock lottery is not conducted, and control of the AT4 state again is restricted.

[0246] The main control unit 41 terminates the AT4 state when the number of remaining games becomes 0. At this time, if there are stocked AT winning rights, the stocked AT winning rights are deducted by 1, and the system is controlled to return to the AT4 state from the next game. If there are no stocked AT winning rights, the system determines whether the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous section) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment). If the remaining net increase in coins is less than or equal to the specific number, the system terminates the advantageous section and transitions the game section to the normal section. At this time, all data related to AT (net increase in coins during the advantageous section, number of points accumulated since the start of the advantageous section, etc.) is initialized. Furthermore, if there are no stocked AT winning rights, and the remaining net increase in coins is not less than or equal to the specific number (if it exceeds the specific number), the system is controlled to the preparation state from the next game while continuing the advantageous section.

[0247] In this way, at the end of the AT4 state, it is determined whether the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous section) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment). If the remaining net increase in coins is less than or equal to the specific number, the advantageous section is terminated and the game section is returned to the normal section. This prevents the AT4 state from ending abruptly due to the net increase in coins during the advantageous section exceeding the maximum number of coins, and also prevents the addition of remaining game rounds through bonus draws or the granting of AT4 state rights through stock draws from being restricted in order to avoid reaching the maximum number of coins.

[0248] Furthermore, if the remaining net increase in tokens (maximum tokens - net increase in tokens during the advantageous period) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment), a bonus draw may be won, resulting in a large number of games being added at once, which may lead to an increase in tokens exceeding the specific number. Also, even if an increase in tokens exceeding the specific number is not expected due to the addition of games, the AT4 state may be controlled again when the remaining net increase in tokens is less than or equal to the specific number, due to previously stocked AT winning rights. In such cases, even before the remaining number of games reaches 0 in the AT4 state, the net increase in tokens during the advantageous period may exceed the maximum number, thus fulfilling the advantageous period termination condition 1.

[0249] Therefore, if, as a result of the additional game count in the bonus draw, the sum of the current net increase in coins during the advantageous section and the net increase in coins expected to increase based on the current remaining game count and stocked AT rights exceeds the upper limit, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the ED state. Regardless of the remaining game count, the AT4 state continues until the net increase in coins during the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit and the termination condition 1 of the advantageous section is met. When termination condition 1 is met, the AT4 state ends along with the advantageous section. In such cases, the main control unit 41 also ends the AT4 state and the advantageous section, and transitions the game section to the normal section. It also initializes all data related to AT (net increase in coins during the advantageous section, number of points accumulated since the start of the advantageous section, etc.). Furthermore, when the system controls the system to the ED state, the sub-control unit 91 executes an ED animation that differs in form from the AT4 animation described later. In the ED animation, the remaining game count and the number of stocked AT winning rights displayed in the AT4 animation are not displayed, and the remaining increase in coins until termination condition 1 is met is announced.

[0250] The main control unit 41 performs an AT lottery when a favorable section transition role is won in the preparation state, ends the preparation state, and controls the game to the CZ4 state from the next game. Since the preparation state ends when a favorable section transition role is won, it is controlled for a period of at least one game.

[0251] The CZ4 state is controlled for a period of 4 games, and the main control unit 41 conducts an AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state. After 4 games have passed since the start of the CZ4 state and the CZ4 state ends, if the AT lottery conducted at the start of the preparation state or in the first game of the CZ4 state has been won, the main control unit 41 ends the CZ4 state and controls the system to the AT4 state from the next game. On the other hand, if the AT lottery conducted at the start of the preparation state or in the first game of the CZ4 state has not been won, the main control unit 41 ends the CZ4 state, conducts the aforementioned mode lottery and game count lottery to determine the mode and end game count of the subsequent normal state, and controls the system to the normal state from the next game.

[0252] Further, when the advantageous section transition role is elected and the game shifts to the advantageous section in the normal section, if the main control unit 41 determines that the game state is internal, it performs an AT lottery, controls to the CZ4 state from the next game, and performs an AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state.

[0253] As described above, being controlled to the normal section during internal is always a situation after the advantageous section has ended. Also, since the end condition of the advantageous section hardly ever holds in an advantageous section state other than the AT3 state and the AT4 state, it is substantially a situation where the AT3 state and the AT4 state have ended and the game has shifted to the normal section.

[0254] Therefore, when shifting from the normal section after the advantageous section has ended due to the end of the AT4 state to the advantageous section again, it is first controlled to the CZ4 state. Then, when the CZ4 state ends, if it has won in either the AT lottery performed at the time of advantageous section transition or the AT lottery performed in the first game of the CZ4 state, it is controlled to the AT4 state. If it has not won in either the AT lottery performed at the time of advantageous section transition or the AT lottery performed in the first game of the CZ4 state, it is controlled to the normal state.

[0255] [Regarding the AT lottery] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, at the time of winning of the AT lottery target role in the CZ1 state (CZ1 state) controlled through the normal state and the precursor state, at the time of winning of the AT lottery target role in the CZ3 state (CZ3 state) controlled after the end of the AT3 state, at the time of winning of the advantageous section transition role that triggers the transition from the normal section to the advantageous section after the end of the advantageous section along with the end of the AT3 state and the AT4 state (at the time of advantageous section transition (internal)), at the time of winning of the advantageous section transition role that triggers the transition from the preparation state to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues after the end of the AT4 state (at the time of end of the preparation state (winning of the advantageous section transition role)), and at the first game in the CZ4 state (CZ4 state), the AT lottery is performed with the lottery trigger.

[0256] As shown in Figure 25, in the AT lottery in CZ1 state, the target AT state is AT3 state, and the probability of winning is set as follows: when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC1 (when a single small role is won), the probability of winning is 2.5%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC2 (when a normal replay is won), the probability of winning is 5%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC3 (when a rare small role D is won), the probability of winning is 6.25%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC4 (when a rare small role C is won), the probability of winning is 12.5%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC5 (when a rare small role B is won), the probability of winning is 25%, when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC6 (when a rare replay is won), the probability of winning is 50%, and when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC7 (when a rare small role A is won).

[0257] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25, in the AT lottery in CZ3 state, the target AT state is AT3 state, and the probability of winning is set to 100% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when rare replay, rare small role A, rare small role B, rare small role C, or rare small role D is won).

[0258] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25, in the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section (internal), the target AT state is AT4 state, and the probability of winning is set to 60% when the advantageous section transition role belongs to FC0 or FC1 (when a push-order role or a single-coin role is won), and to 100% when the advantageous section transition role belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare small role A, rare small role B, rare small role C, or rare small role D is won).

[0259] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25, in the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state (winning a role that transitions to the advantageous section), the target AT state is AT4 state, and the probability of winning is set to 60% when the role that transitions to the advantageous section belongs to FC0 or FC1 (when a push-order role or a single-coin role is won), and to 100% when the role that transitions to the advantageous section belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare small role A, rare small role B, rare small role C, or rare small role D is won).

[0260] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25, in the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state after the AT4 state ends, the target AT state is the AT4 state, and the probability of winning is set to 70% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC0 to FC2 (when a push-order role, 1-coin role, or normal replay is won), and to 100% when the result of the internal lottery in that game belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare role A, rare role B, rare role C, or rare role D is won).

[0261] In this embodiment, AT lottery is conducted in all of the following states: the CZ4 state, which is controlled at the start of the advantageous period transitioned from the normal period after the advantageous period ends with the end of the AT4 state; the CZ1 state, which is controlled after the end of the CZ4 state via the normal state and the pre-announcement state; and the CZ3 state. If the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state or CZ3 state, the system is controlled to the AT3 state, whereas if the AT lottery is won in the CZ4 state, the system is controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state. Thus, after the advantageous period begins and the CZ4 state ends, the system may be controlled to the AT4 state, which is expected to yield more medals than the AT3 state, after the AT3 state. Furthermore, if the advantageous period ends at the end of the AT4 state, when the advantageous period starts afterward, the system can be expected to be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state.

[0262] Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher in CZ4 state than in CZ1 state and CZ3 state. If the advantageous period ends when the AT4 state ends, it can be expected that when the advantageous period starts afterward, the game will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state.

[0263] In this embodiment, the system is configured to control the system to the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous period that follows the end of the AT4 state and the normal period, and not to control the system to the CZ4 state at the start of the first advantageous period after a setting change. However, it is also possible to configure the system to control the system to the CZ4 state at the start of the first advantageous period after a setting change.

[0264] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an AT lottery is held each time an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ1 state and CZ3 state. However, it is also possible to have an AT lottery held every game in the CZ1 state and CZ3 state, or to have an AT lottery held only in a specific game (for example, the first game) in the CZ1 state and CZ3 state.

[0265] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AT lottery is performed only in the first game in the CZ4 state, but it is also possible to perform the AT lottery in specific games other than the first game in the CZ4 state, or to perform the AT lottery in every game in the CZ4 state, or to perform the AT lottery each time an AT target role is won in the CZ4 state.

[0266] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AT3 state is the target of the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, and the AT4 state is the target of the AT lottery in the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are targeted in the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, or so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are targeted in the AT lottery in the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section, or so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are targeted in the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states and the AT lottery in the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section. Even with this configuration, for example, in the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, the probability of winning the AT3 state is high, and in the AT lottery in the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section, the probability of winning the AT4 state is high. By setting the winning probabilities in this way, if the advantageous section ends when the AT4 state ends, it can be expected that when the advantageous section starts afterward, the player will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state.

[0267] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after transitioning to the advantageous section and after the CZ4 state ends, no AT lottery is performed in the normal state and pre-stage state until the system is controlled to the CZ1 state. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that AT lotteries are performed in the normal state and pre-stage state until the system is controlled to the CZ1 state. Even in such a configuration, the AT lottery in the normal state and pre-stage state is configured so that only the AT3 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT3 state is higher than that of the AT3 state and AT4 state. Similarly, in the AT lottery in the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section, the AT lottery is configured so that only the AT4 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT4 state is higher than that of the AT3 state and AT4 state. This allows the system to expect that if the advantageous section ends when the AT4 state ends, when the advantageous section starts afterward, the system will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state.

[0268] In this embodiment, when the advantageous period transition role is won, which triggers the transition from the normal period to the advantageous period after the end of the AT4 state, an AT lottery is held in either the CZ1 state or the CZ3 state, which are controlled after the end of the CZ4 state via the normal state and the pre-announcement state. If the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state or CZ3 state, the player is controlled to the AT3 state, whereas if the AT lottery is won when transitioning to the advantageous period, the player is controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state. After the advantageous period begins and the CZ4 state ends, the player may be controlled to the AT4 state after the AT3 state, where more medals can be expected to be acquired than in the AT3 state. If the advantageous period ends when the AT4 state ends, the player can expect to be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, when the advantageous period starts afterward, without going through the AT3 state.

[0269] Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher when transitioning to the advantageous section than when in the CZ1 or CZ3 state. If the advantageous section ends when the AT4 state ends, it can be expected that when the advantageous section starts again, it will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state.

[0270] In this embodiment, an AT lottery is conducted when the advantageous section transition role, which triggers the transition from the normal section to the advantageous section after the end of the AT4 state and the end of the advantageous section, is won. However, after a setting change, an AT lottery is not conducted when the advantageous section transition role, which triggers the transition to the advantageous section for the first time, is won. However, it is also possible to configure the system to conduct an AT lottery when the advantageous section transition role, which triggers the transition to the advantageous section for the first time, is won after a setting change.

[0271] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AT3 state is the target of the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, and the AT4 state is the target of the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are the targets of the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, or so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are the targets of the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section, or so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are the targets of the AT lottery in both the CZ1 and CZ3 states and when transitioning to the advantageous section. Even with this configuration, for example, in the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, the probability of winning the AT3 state is higher than the AT3 state, and in the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section, the probability of winning the AT4 state is higher than the AT3 state. By setting the winning probabilities in this way, if the advantageous section ends when the AT4 state ends, it can be expected that when the advantageous section starts afterward, the player will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state.

[0272] Furthermore, even if the AT lottery is performed in the normal state and pre-stage state before being controlled to the CZ1 state as described above, the AT lottery in the normal state and pre-stage state is configured such that only the AT3 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT3 state is set to be higher than that of the AT3 state and AT4 state. In the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section, the AT lottery is configured such that only the AT4 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT4 state is set to be higher than that of the AT3 state and AT4 state. This allows the player to expect that when the advantageous section ends at the end of the AT4 state, they will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state, when the advantageous section starts afterward.

[0273] In this embodiment, an AT lottery is conducted when transitioning to the advantageous section (internal), but the probability of winning both the advantageous section transition role and the AT lottery is less than 50%. In other words, when transitioning to the advantageous section, the probability of not being controlled to the AT state is higher than the probability of being controlled to the AT state, and the proportion of cases where it is decided to be controlled to the AT state at the same time as transitioning to the advantageous section is suppressed, so that excessive gambling instincts are not stimulated. In addition, there is a role (normal replay) that is eligible for the AT lottery in the advantageous section but is not eligible for transitioning to the advantageous section, and if this role is won in the normal section, the player does not transition to the advantageous section and no AT lottery is conducted, so the normal section is not as advantageous as the advantageous section. Furthermore, for roles such as FC3 to FC7, which result in a 100% AT lottery win upon winning, it is also possible to have a configuration in which there is a role that is eligible for the AT lottery in the advantageous section but is not eligible for transitioning to the advantageous section, and such a configuration makes the difference in the degree of advantage between the normal section and the advantageous section even clearer.

[0274] In this embodiment, AT lottery is conducted in all states: CZ4 state, which is controlled while the advantageous period continues after the end of AT4 state; CZ1 state, which is controlled after the end of CZ4 state via a normal state and a pre-announcement state; however, if the AT lottery is won in CZ1 state or CZ3 state, the system controls the system to AT3 state, whereas if the AT lottery is won in CZ4 state, the system controls the system to AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than AT3 state. After the end of AT4 state, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, the system is designed to allow the player to expect to be controlled to AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than AT3 state, without going through AT3 state.

[0275] Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher in CZ4 state than in CZ1 state and CZ3 state, and after the end of AT4 state, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, it can be expected that the game will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than AT3 state, without going through AT3 state.

[0276] In this embodiment, the AT3 state is the target of the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, and the AT4 state is the target of the AT lottery in the CZ4 state after the AT4 state has ended. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are targeted in the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, or so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are targeted in the AT lottery in the CZ4 state after the AT4 state has ended, or so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are targeted in the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, and so that both the AT3 and AT4 states are targeted in the AT lottery in the CZ4 state after the AT4 state has ended. Even with this configuration, for example, in the AT lottery in the CZ1 and CZ3 states, the probability of winning the AT3 state is high, and in the AT lottery in the CZ4 state after the AT4 state ends, the probability of winning the AT4 state is high, so that after the AT4 state ends, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, it can be expected that the player will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state.

[0277] Furthermore, even if the AT lottery is performed in the normal state and pre-stage state before being controlled to the CZ1 state as described above, the AT lottery in the normal state and pre-stage state is configured such that only the AT3 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT3 state is set to be higher than that of the AT3 state and AT4 state. Similarly, the AT lottery in the CZ4 state after the AT4 state ends is configured such that only the AT4 state is won, or the probability of winning the AT4 state is set to be higher than that of the AT3 state and AT4 state. This makes it possible to expect that after the AT4 state ends, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, the player will be controlled to the AT4 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT3 state, without going through the AT3 state.

[0278] In this embodiment, once the system is controlled to the normal state during the advantageous period, in the CZ1 and CZ3 states where AT lottery is subsequently conducted, if the AT lottery is won at the end of the CZ, the system is first controlled to the relatively unfavorable AT3 state, and only after fulfilling the conditions in the AT3 state is it controlled to the more favorable AT4 state.

[0279] On the other hand, once the system is controlled to the AT4 state, after the AT4 state ends, it will be switched to the CZ4 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT4 state again. Therefore, once the system is controlled to the AT4 state, it can be expected that the AT4 state will continue.

[0280] Furthermore, if the conditions are met in the AT3 state and the game is controlled to the CZ4 state, which can be controlled to the AT4 state, the advantageous period ends and the net increase in coins in the advantageous period is reset. As a result, even if the game is controlled to the CZ4 state and the AT4 state continues for a long period, it becomes difficult for the net increase in coins in the advantageous period to exceed the upper limit. This prevents the AT4 state from ending abruptly when the net increase in coins in the advantageous period exceeds the upper limit midway through the AT4 state, thus preventing the AT4 state from ending suddenly, and also prevents the addition of remaining game counts through bonus draws and the granting of rights to the AT4 state through stock draws from being restricted in order to avoid reaching the upper limit.

[0281] Furthermore, in AT4 state, if the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeds the upper limit and the advantageous period ends along with the AT4 state, or if the remaining net increase in coins falls below a certain number when the AT4 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the AT-related data will be initialized. However, at the start of the subsequent advantageous period, the game will be placed in CZ4 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to AT4 state. Therefore, once controlled to AT4 state, it can be expected that the AT4 state will continue even if the advantageous period ends midway.

[0282] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when transitioning to an advantageous section, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the CZ4 state if it is an advantageous section that has been transitioned from a normal section after the advantageous section has ended along with the end of the AT state. However, when transitioning from a normal section to an advantageous section for the first time after a setting change, the system does not control the system to the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section, but instead controls it to the normal state. This ensures that even if a gaming parlor changes the settings, it will not be intentionally controlled to the CZ4 state, which is advantageous for the player.

[0283] Furthermore, the main control unit 41 determines whether the game state is internal or non-internal when transitioning to a favorable section, thereby identifying whether it is a favorable section transitioned from a normal section after the favorable section ended with the end of the AT4 state, or the first favorable section transitioned from a normal section after a setting change. This makes it possible to identify whether it is a favorable section transitioned from a normal section after the favorable section ended with the end of the AT4 state, or the first favorable section transitioned from a normal section after a setting change, even if all AT-related data has been initialized at the end of the favorable section.

[0284] [Regarding control at the start of CZ1 state] Next, the control at the start of the CZ1 state will be explained based on Figure 26.

[0285] As shown in Figure 26, the main control unit 41 controls the game to enter the CZ1 state from the next game after the pre-announcement state has ended following the normal state. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the off state to the on state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the unlit state to the lit state. The AT signal remains in the off state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0286] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the normal performance that is performed in the normal state and the pre-announcement state to the CZ1 performance when the CZ1 state begins.

[0287] Subsequently, if the AT lottery was won at the end of the CZ1 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the AT3 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept ON, the AT signal is switched ON, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from the unlit state to the lit state.

[0288] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ1 presentation to the AT3 presentation when the AT3 state begins. The AT3 presentation is a presentation that displays AT3 background images and other elements specific to the AT3 state. Also, at the start of the AT3 presentation, the acquired coin counter value, which counts the number of coins acquired during the series of ATs, is reset to 0, and the acquired coin notification, which displays the acquired coin counter value, is started.

[0289] On the other hand, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ1 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the lit state to the unlit state. The AT signal remains in the OFF state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit. In addition, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ1 performance to the normal performance upon the end of the CZ1 state.

[0290] [Regarding control when AT3 state ends] Next, the control at the start of the AT3 state will be explained based on Figures 27 to 29.

[0291] As shown in Figure 27, if the conditions are not met at the end of the AT3 state, the main control unit 41 controls the game to the CZ3 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept in the ON state, the AT signal is switched to the OFF state, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from the lit state to the unlit state.

[0292] Furthermore, upon the termination of the AT3 state, the sub-control unit 91 terminates the AT3 performance and executes a results notification performance that reports the net increase in coins and the number of games controlled by the AT during the series of AT periods (the period from the initial AT3 state), and consequently terminates the notification of acquired coins. After that, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the results notification performance to the CZ3 performance. The CZ3 performance is a performance in which a background image specific to the CZ3 state is displayed.

[0293] Subsequently, if the AT lottery was won at the end of the CZ3 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to enter the AT3 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept ON, the AT signal is switched ON, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from off to lit.

[0294] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ3 presentation to the AT3 presentation when the AT3 state begins. The acquired coin counter value is also carried over, and when the AT3 presentation starts, it starts an acquired coin notification that displays the acquired coin counter value.

[0295] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 28, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ3 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the lit state to the unlit state. The AT signal remains in the OFF state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0296] As shown in Figure 29, the main control unit 41 terminates the advantageous period and transitions to the normal period from the next game if the conditions are met at the end of the AT3 state. At this time, the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are switched from the on state to the off state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are switched from the lit state to the unlit state.

[0297] Furthermore, upon the termination of the AT3 state, the sub-control unit 91 terminates the AT3 performance and executes a results notification performance that reports the net increase in coins and the number of games controlled by the AT during the series of AT periods (the period from the initial AT3 state), and consequently terminates the notification of the number of coins acquired. After that, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the results notification performance to the standby performance. The standby performance is a performance in which a standby image and the like are displayed.

[0298] Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning a role in transitioning to the advantageous section during the normal section, performs an AT lottery and ends the normal section, starting the advantageous section from the next game, and controls the system to the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the off state to the on state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the unlit state to the lit state. The AT signal remains in the off state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0299] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation to the CZ4 introduction animation when the CZ4 state begins. The CZ4 introduction animation is an animation that indicates the start of the CZ4 state.

[0300] The main control unit 41, in the first game of the CZ4 state, performs an AT lottery at the start of the game based on the result of its internal lottery. If the AT lottery is won at the end of the CZ4 state, that is, if either the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state is won, the control unit controls the system to the AT4 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept in the ON state, the AT signal is switched from the OFF state to the ON state, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0301] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 wins either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, it switches from the CZ4 introduction sequence to the CZ4 sequence (normal) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state. The CZ4 sequence (normal) is a sequence in which the CZ4 normal background image and other elements specific to the CZ4 state are displayed. Then, with the start of the AT4 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence (normal) to the AT4 sequence. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous section ends at the end of the previous AT3 state, and with the start of the AT4 sequence, it starts notifying the acquired coins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT3 state.

[0302] On the other hand, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ4 state, that is, if the AT lottery was not won in either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the lit state to the unlit state. The AT signal remains in the OFF state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0303] Furthermore, if the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state is not won, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 introduction sequence to the CZ4 sequence (normal) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state. Then, when the CZ4 state ends, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence (normal) to the normal sequence.

[0304] [Regarding control when AT4 state ends] Next, the control at the end of the AT4 state will be explained based on Figures 30 to 36.

[0305] As shown in Figure 30, the main control unit 41, when the AT4 state ends and the advantageous section ends while the net increase in coins during the advantageous section is less than or equal to the upper limit, transitions to the normal section from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are switched from the on state to the off state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are switched from the lit state to the unlit state.

[0306] Furthermore, upon the termination of the AT4 state, the sub-control unit 91 terminates the AT4 performance and executes a results notification performance that reports the net increase in coins and the number of games controlled by the AT during the series of AT periods (a period in which the AT3 state and AT4 state are consecutive without an intervening normal state), and consequently terminates the notification of acquired coins. After that, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the results notification performance to the standby performance. The standby performance is a performance in which a standby image is displayed.

[0307] Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning a role in transitioning to the advantageous section during the normal section, performs an AT lottery and ends the normal section, starting the advantageous section from the next game, and controls the system to the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the off state to the on state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the unlit state to the lit state. The AT signal remains in the off state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0308] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation to the CZ4 introduction animation when the CZ4 state begins.

[0309] The main control unit 41, in the first game of the CZ4 state, performs an AT lottery at the start of the game based on the result of its internal lottery. If the AT lottery is won at the end of the CZ4 state, that is, if either the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state is won, the control unit controls the system to the AT4 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept in the ON state, the AT signal is switched from the OFF state to the ON state, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0310] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 wins either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, it switches from the CZ4 introduction sequence to the CZ4 sequence (normal) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state. Then, with the start of the AT4 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence to the AT4 sequence. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous section ends at the end of the previous AT4 state, and with the start of the AT4 sequence, it starts notifying the acquired coins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT4 state.

[0311] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 32 and 33, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ4 state, that is, if the AT lottery was not won in either the AT lottery at the transition to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the lit state to the unlit state. The AT signal remains in the OFF state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0312] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 counts the number of consecutive AT states, which is the number of times the AT3 state and AT4 state are in a continuous state without an intervening normal state. The number of consecutive AT states is not reset even when the advantageous period ends and the system is controlled to the normal period. As long as the AT3 state and AT4 state are in a continuous state without an intervening normal state, the count continues without interruption even if there is an intervening normal period.

[0313] Then, if the sub-control unit 91 fails to win either the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, and the number of consecutive ATs is less than 20, it switches from the CZ4 introduction sequence to the CZ4 sequence (normal) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state, as shown in Figure 32. Then, upon the end of the CZ4 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence (normal) to the normal sequence.

[0314] Furthermore, if the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state is unsuccessful, and the number of consecutive ATs is 20 or more, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 introduction sequence to the CZ4 sequence (ED) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state, as shown in Figure 33. The CZ4 sequence (ED) is a sequence unique to the CZ4 state, but its presentation differs from the CZ4 sequence (normal), and it displays an ending image that suggests the end of the period in which a series of ATs have occurred consecutively (a period in which the AT3 state and AT4 state are consecutive without an intervening normal state). Then, upon the end of the CZ4 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence (ED) to the normal sequence.

[0315] As shown in Figure 31, when the AT4 state ends and the advantageous period continues, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the preparation state from the next game. At this time, similar to when the advantageous period ends, the CZ / AT signal and the AT signal are switched from the on state to the off state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are switched from the lit state to the unlit state.

[0316] Furthermore, upon the termination of the AT4 state, the sub-control unit 91 terminates the AT4 performance, executes the result notification performance, and consequently terminates the notification of the number of acquired coins. Subsequently, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the result notification performance to the standby performance, similar to when transitioning to the normal section.

[0317] Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning a role in transitioning to the advantageous section during the preparation state, performs an AT lottery and ends the preparation state, controlling the game to the CZ4 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the off state to the on state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the unlit state to the lit state. The AT signal remains in the off state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0318] Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation to the CZ4 introduction animation upon the start of the CZ4 state, similar to when transitioning to the advantageous section.

[0319] The main control unit 41, in the first game of the CZ4 state, performs an AT lottery at the start of the game based on the result of the internal lottery. If the AT lottery is won at the end of the CZ4 state, that is, if either the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state is won, the control unit controls the system to the AT4 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is kept in the ON state, the AT signal is switched from the OFF state to the ON state, the CZ / AT LED 19a is kept lit, and the AT LED 19b is switched from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0320] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 wins either the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, it switches from the CZ4 introduction sequence to the CZ4 sequence (normal) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state. Then, with the start of the AT4 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence (normal) to the AT4 sequence. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous section ends at the end of the previous AT4 state, and with the start of the AT4 sequence, it starts notifying the acquired coins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT4 state.

[0321] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 34 and 35, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ4 state, that is, if the AT lottery was not won in either the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the CZ / AT signal is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, and the CZ / AT LED 19a is switched from the lit state to the unlit state. The AT signal remains in the OFF state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

[0322] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 fails to win either the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, and the number of consecutive ATs is less than 20, then, as shown in Figure 34, it switches from the CZ4 introduction sequence to the CZ4 sequence (normal) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state. Then, upon the end of the CZ4 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence (normal) to the normal sequence.

[0323] Furthermore, if the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state is unsuccessful, and the number of consecutive ATs is 20 or more, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 introduction sequence to the CZ4 sequence (ED) triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state, as shown in Figure 35. Then, upon the end of the CZ4 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence (ED) to the normal sequence.

[0324] As shown in Figure 36, even if the main control unit 41 controls the game to the aforementioned ED state by adding to the remaining number of games, and as a result the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit, causing the AT4 state to end and the advantageous section to terminate, the game will transition to the normal section from the next game. At this time, the sub-control unit 91 starts the ED animation when the ED state begins, and ends the ED animation when the AT4 state ends. In addition to the results of the series of AT periods (the period in which the AT3 state and AT4 state are consecutive without an intervening normal state), such as the net increase in coins and the number of games controlled by AT, the sub-control unit 91 executes a result notification / advantageous section termination animation that notifies the player that the advantageous section has ended as a result of the net increase in coins exceeding the upper limit of the advantageous section, and consequently terminates the notification of acquired coins. After that, triggered by the operation to start the next game, the system switches from the result notification / advantageous section termination animation to the normal animation.

[0325] Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning a role in transitioning to the advantageous section during the normal section, conducts an AT lottery and ends the normal section, starting the advantageous section from the next game, and controls the system to the CZ4 state at the start of the advantageous section. Then, in the first game of the CZ4 state, the main control unit 41 conducts an AT lottery based on the results of the internal lottery at the start of the game, and if the AT lottery was won at the end of the CZ4 state, that is, if either the AT lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state was won, controls the system to the AT4 state from the next game.

[0326] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 wins either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, it executes a revival sequence triggered by the start operation of the first game of the CZ4 state, and then switches to the CZ4 sequence (normal). Subsequently, with the start of the AT4 state, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ4 sequence (normal) to the AT4 sequence. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous section ends at the end of the previous AT4 state, and with the start of the AT4 sequence, it starts notifying the acquired coins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT4 state.

[0327] On the other hand, if the AT lottery was not won at the end of the CZ4 state, that is, if the AT lottery was not won in either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game.

[0328] Furthermore, if the sub-control unit 91 fails to win either the AT lottery when transitioning to the advantageous section or the AT lottery in the first game of the CZ4 state, it will continue to execute the normal sequence without executing the revival sequence or the CZ4 sequence (normal).

[0329] In this embodiment, there are cases where, after the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and when it transitions back to the advantageous section, it is controlled to the CZ4 state; when the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section continues and the system is controlled to the CZ4 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT4 state; and when the AT3 state ends, the advantageous section continues and the system is controlled to the CZ3 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT3 state. When the system is controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues, it goes through a preparation state before being controlled to the CZ4 state. When the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and then the system transitions back to the advantageous section before being controlled to the CZ4 state, there is always a waiting period between the end of the AT4 state and the start of the CZ4 state. However, even when the system is controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues, the CZ4 state does not start immediately, but goes through a predetermined preparation period before being controlled to the CZ4 state. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether the system was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the system was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous section ended once.

[0330] On the other hand, if the advantageous period continues after the AT3 state ends and the system is controlled to the CZ3 state, the system is controlled to the CZ3 state without going through a preparation state. Therefore, if the advantageous period continues after the AT3 state ends and the system is controlled to the CZ3 state, the system can transition to the CZ3 state immediately after the AT3 state ends.

[0331] In this embodiment, the CZ4 state is set to have a higher probability of winning the AT lottery than the CZ3 state, and it can be expected that the system will be controlled to the AT4 state by being controlled to the preparation state.

[0332] In this embodiment, the AT state includes an AT3 state and an AT4 state in which more medals can be expected to be acquired than in the AT3 state. When the system is controlled from the CZ4 state to the AT state, it is controlled to the AT4 state, and when the system is controlled from the CZ3 state to the AT state, it is controlled to the AT3 state. Therefore, by being controlled to the preparation state, it is possible to expect to be controlled to the more advantageous AT4 state.

[0333] In this embodiment, the system is configured such that when controlled from the CZ4 state to the AT state, it is controlled to the AT4 state, and when controlled from the CZ3 state to the AT state, it is controlled to the AT3 state. However, when controlled from the CZ4 state to the AT state, it is more likely to be controlled to the AT4 state, and when controlled from the CZ3 state to the AT state, it is more likely to be controlled to the AT3 state, and even with such a configuration, it is possible to expect that being controlled to the preparation state will result in being controlled to the more advantageous AT4 state.

[0334] In this embodiment, an AT lottery is held when transitioning to a favorable section. If the AT lottery is won when transitioning to a favorable section, the system is controlled to the AT4 state. After the AT4 state ends, when transitioning to a favorable section again after ending the favorable section, the system is controlled to the CZ4 state. This prevents the system from being controlled to an unintended type of AT state during the transition to a favorable section.

[0335] In this embodiment, if the AT lottery is won when transitioning to the advantageous section, the system is controlled to the AT4 state. However, if the AT lottery is won when transitioning to the advantageous section, the system may also be configured to be more likely to be controlled to the AT4 state among the AT3 and AT4 states. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the system from being controlled to an unintended type of AT state when transitioning to the advantageous section again after the AT4 state has ended and the advantageous section has ended.

[0336] In this embodiment, the number of games controlled to the CZ4 state is less than the number of games controlled to the CZ3 state. Therefore, even if the system is controlled to the preparation state after the AT4 state ends, the period between the end of the CZ4 state and the subsequent control to the AT4 state is not redundant.

[0337] In this embodiment, the number of games in the CZ4 state and the number of games in the CZ3 state are fixed, but it is also possible to have a configuration in which these numbers of games fluctuate. In such a configuration, it is sufficient that the expected value of the number of games in the CZ4 state is smaller than the expected value of the number of games in the CZ3 state. Even with such a configuration, if the system is controlled to the preparation state after the end of the AT4 state, the period from then until the system is controlled to the AT4 state via the CZ4 state will not be redundant.

[0338] In this embodiment, when a role for transitioning to the advantageous section is won in the normal section, the game is transitioned to the advantageous section. Furthermore, in the preparation state, which is controlled when the game is controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues, when a role for transitioning to the advantageous section is won, the preparation state is terminated and the game is controlled to the CZ4 state. This means that when the game is controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues, the game is controlled to the CZ4 state at the same trigger as when the advantageous section ends once and then the game is controlled to the CZ4 state. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous section ended once.

[0339] In this embodiment, no control related to AT is performed during the normal section, and even if the game is played with a stopping operation order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first, no penalty related to AT is given and no warning notification is executed. However, even if the game is played with a stopping operation order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first during the preparation state, unlike the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ3 state, and CZ4 state, no penalty related to AT is given, the advantage related to AT does not change as in the normal section, and no warning notification is executed for AT, making it difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous section ended once.

[0340] In this embodiment, when the AT4 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off, and after the advantageous period is re-entered and the CZ4 state begins, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal turn on again. However, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ4 state, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off in the preparation state, and then remain off for at least one game before the CZ4 state begins and the CZ / AT signal and AT signal turn on again. Therefore, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ4 state, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off, just as when the advantageous period ends once and then the system is controlled to the CZ4 state. This makes it difficult to determine whether the system was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the system was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous period ended.

[0341] In particular, when the advantageous period continues, the CZ / AT signal remains on when switching from one state to the other, such as when transitioning from CZ1 state to AT3 state, from CZ3 state to AT3 state, or from CZ4 state to AT4 state. However, when switching from AT4 state to CZ4 state while the advantageous period continues, there is a preparation state in between, during which the CZ / AT signal is temporarily turned off. This makes it difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous period was still continuing, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous period had ended.

[0342] In this embodiment, when the AT4 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b temporarily change from lit to unlit, and after transitioning to the advantageous period and starting the CZ4 state, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b change back to lit. However, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ4 state, in the preparation state, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b temporarily change from lit to unlit, and then remain unlit for at least one game. After the lights go out, the CZ / AT LED19a and AT LED19b lights up again once the CZ4 state begins. This makes it difficult to determine whether the CZ4 state was initiated while the advantageous period was still ongoing, or whether the CZ / AT LED19a and AT LED19b went out temporarily, just as if the advantageous period had ended before the CZ4 state was initiated.

[0343] In particular, when the advantageous period continues, the LED 19a during CZ / AT will remain lit when switching from one state to the other, such as when transitioning from CZ1 state to AT3 state, CZ3 state to AT3 state, or CZ4 state to AT4 state. However, when switching from AT4 state to CZ4 state while the advantageous period continues, there is a preparation state in between, during which the LED 19a during CZ / AT state temporarily becomes unlit. This makes it difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to enter CZ4 state while the advantageous period was still continuing, or whether the game was controlled to enter CZ4 state after the advantageous period had ended.

[0344] In this embodiment, the main control unit 41 performs a stock lottery in the AT4 state to determine whether or not to grant the right to control the system back to the AT4 state when a stock lottery target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC5 to 7) is won. If the stock lottery is won, the right to win an AT is stocked. The sub-control unit 91 notifies the system when the right to win an AT is stocked and also notifies the system in a way that allows for the identification of the remaining right to win an AT. If the right to win an AT is stocked at the end of the AT4 state, the system controls the system back to the AT4 state from the next game without going through the preparation state or CZ4 state. In situations where it is confirmed that the AT4 state will continue, the AT4 state can be continued quickly without any unnecessary delays.

[0345] In this embodiment, when an AT winning right is stocked, the system notifies the player of this fact and also notifies the number of remaining AT winning rights in a identifiable way. However, it is not necessary for all rights to be notified in an identifiable way; the system may be configured to notify only some of the rights in an identifiable way. In such a configuration, if an AT winning right is notified in an identifiable way, and if an AT winning right is stocked at the end of the AT4 state, the system may be controlled to return to the AT4 state from the next game without going through the preparation state or CZ4 state. If an AT winning right is stocked but is not notified in an identifiable way, the system may be configured to consume the stock and control the system to the AT4 state after going through the preparation state or CZ4 state. With such a configuration, even if the AT4 state does not start immediately after the end of the AT4 state, the player can expect that an AT winning right is stocked.

[0346] In this embodiment, the sub-control unit 91 is equipped with a coin count counter value that counts the number of coins acquired during a series of ATs (a period in which AT3 state and AT4 state occur consecutively without an intervening normal state). During AT3 performances in AT3 state and AT4 performances in AT4 state, it performs coin count notification, which notifies the number of coins acquired during the series of ATs based on the coin count counter value. Furthermore, when the AT4 state ends and the advantageous section ends and the player returns to the normal section, the coin count counter value is not reset but carried over. Subsequently, when the player wins an AT lottery during the transition to the advantageous section or in the first CZ4 state controlled after the transition to the advantageous section, and is controlled to the AT4 state, it performs coin count notification based on the coin count counter value that has been carried over and counted from the AT4 state before the end of the advantageous section. This makes it appear as if the AT4 state is occurring continuously even when the advantageous section is interrupted.

[0347] In this embodiment, the number of acquired coins is announced during the AT3 performance while in AT3 state and during the AT4 performance while in AT4 state. However, it is also possible to have the number of acquired coins announced during the CZ3 performance while in CZ3 state and during the CZ4 performance while in CZ4 state.

[0348] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the AT4 state ends with the net increase in coins in the advantageous section being less than or equal to the upper limit, and after the advantageous section ends, a new advantageous section begins and the CZ4 state begins, the sub-control unit 91 executes a result notification performance at the end of the AT4 state and the advantageous section, similar to when the advantageous section continues, and then executes a standby performance in the normal section, and when the CZ4 state begins, it switches from the standby performance to the CZ4 introduction performance and then to the CZ4 performance (normal) or CZ4 performance (ED), whereas as a result of the game count being increased, it is controlled to the ED state and the net increase in coins in the advantageous section is When the AT4 state ends after exceeding the limit and the advantageous section ends, and then a new advantageous section begins and the CZ4 state starts, unlike when the advantageous section continues, the ED performance is executed at the start of control of the ED state, and when the AT4 state and the advantageous section end, in addition to the result notification, a result notification / advantageous section end performance is executed to notify that the advantageous section has ended as a result of the net increase in coins exceeding the upper limit of the advantageous section, and then the normal performance is executed in the normal section, and when the CZ4 state starts and the AT lottery is won, a revival performance is executed and then it switches to the CZ4 performance. In this way, when the advantageous section ends after the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit and a new advantageous section starts, the performance is different from when the advantageous section ends without exceeding the upper limit and a new advantageous section starts, so that the sense of incongruity that the AT4 state continues even though the advantageous section ended after the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeded the upper limit is reduced.

[0349] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 37, if the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeds the upper limit and the AT4 state ends, and after the advantageous period ends, a new advantageous period begins and the CZ4 state begins, and if the AT lottery is won, the result notification and advantageous period end animation will be executed when the AT4 state and the advantageous period end. After that, the normal animation will be executed in the normal period, and the normal animation will continue to be executed in the CZ4 state after transitioning to the advantageous period. If the AT lottery is won in the CZ4 state, and the AT4 state starts after the CZ4 state ends, the animation will switch from the normal animation to the AT4 animation. With this configuration, if the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeds the upper limit and the advantageous period ends, the connection with the subsequent AT4 state will be weak, thus reducing the sense of incongruity that the AT4 state continues even though the net increase in coins during the advantageous period has exceeded the upper limit and the advantageous period has ended. In addition, with this configuration, if the CZ4 state ends after transitioning to the advantageous period without winning the AT lottery, the normal animation will simply continue. Furthermore, in such a configuration, when an AT lottery is won during the transition to the advantageous section or in the CZ4 state after the transition to the advantageous section, and the system is controlled to the AT4 state, it is preferable to reset the net increase counter value to 0 and not carry over the number of coins acquired in the AT4 state before the end of the advantageous section. With such a configuration, if the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit and the advantageous section ends, the connection with the subsequent AT4 state becomes even weaker, thus further reducing the sense of incongruity caused by the AT4 state continuing even though the net increase in coins in the advantageous section has exceeded the upper limit and the advantageous section has ended.

[0350] In this embodiment, after the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions back to the advantageous section, it may be controlled to the CZ4 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT4 state. When the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions back to the advantageous section, it is controlled to the CZ4 state. In this case, the presentation style of the CZ4 state is selected based on the game history in the terminated advantageous section, so that even if the advantageous section is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the AT4 state up to that point and the subsequent CZ4 state occurred continuously.

[0351] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the presentation mode of the CZ4 state, which is controlled when an advantageous period ends and the player transitions back to an advantageous period, is selected based on the history of the AT4 state in the terminated advantageous period. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the previous AT4 state and the subsequent CZ4 state occurred continuously.

[0352] In this embodiment, the presentation mode of the CZ4 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period is selected based on the history of the AT4 state in the advantageous period that ended. However, any configuration in which the presentation mode of the CZ4 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period is selected based on at least the game history in the advantageous period that ended will produce a similar effect. For example, the presentation mode of the CZ4 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period may be selected based on the history of the number of medals acquired (net increase) in the advantageous period that ended, the number of games in which the advantageous period continued, etc.

[0353] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the performance mode of the CZ4 state, which is controlled when an advantageous period ends and the player returns to an advantageous period, is selected based on the number of consecutive ATs in the terminated advantageous period (the number of times AT3 and AT4 states are consecutive without an intervening normal state). However, it is also possible to select the mode based on the history of the AT states in the terminated advantageous period, such as the number of consecutive AT4 states in the terminated advantageous period (the number of times AT4 states are consecutive without an intervening normal state), the number of medals increased during a series of AT periods (periods in which AT3 and AT4 states are consecutive without an intervening normal state), the number of games controlled to the AT4 state without an intervening normal state, the number of games controlled to the AT3 and AT4 states without an intervening normal state, the number of times the number of games was increased in the AT4 state, the number of times the number of games was increased in the AT3 and AT4 states, etc.

[0354] In this embodiment, the presentation of the CZ4 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned, is such that the CZ4 presentation (ED) is selected only when the number of consecutive ATs (the number of times the AT3 state and AT4 state are consecutive without an intervening normal state) in the terminated advantageous period is 20 or more, that is, when the AT state is continuous for a long period of time. By executing the CZ4 presentation (ED) in the CZ4 state, it is possible to recognize that the state has been controlled to be in the AT state for a long period of time.

[0355] In this embodiment, regarding the presentation of the CZ4 state controlled when an advantageous period ends and the player returns to an advantageous period, the configuration is such that the CZ4 presentation (ED) is selected only if the number of consecutive ATs in the terminated advantageous period is 20 or more. However, even if the configuration is such that the CZ4 presentation (ED) is selected only when the AT state continues for a long period of time, such as when the number of consecutive AT4 states exceeds a specified number, when the number of games controlled to AT4 in the terminated advantageous period exceeds a specified number, or when the number of games controlled to the AT3 state or AT4 state exceeds a specified number, the execution of the CZ4 presentation (ED) in the CZ4 state allows the player to recognize that they have been controlled to the AT state for a long period of time.

[0356] Furthermore, in this embodiment, regarding the performance mode of the CZ4 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, a specific performance mode (CZ4 performance (ED)) is selected only if the period of continuous AT state in the terminated advantageous period is a specific period (20 times) or longer. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that the specific performance mode is more likely to be selected when the period of continuous AT state in the terminated advantageous period is a specific period (20 times) or longer than when the period of continuous AT state in the terminated advantageous period is less than a specific period (20 times). Even with such a configuration, the execution of the CZ4 performance with the specific performance mode in the CZ4 state allows the player to recognize that the player has been controlled to the AT state for a long period of time.

[0357] In this embodiment, the presentation mode for the CZ4 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player transitions back to the advantageous period, is selected based on the history of the AT state in the terminated advantageous period and the type of advantageous period transition role that triggered the transition back to the advantageous period. Specifically, if the advantageous period transition role is a role belonging to FC0 or FC1, which may not result in winning the AT lottery, the CZ4 presentation (ED) may be selected, whereas if it is a role belonging to FC3 to FC7, which always results in winning the AT lottery, the CZ4 presentation (ED) will not be selected, and the CZ4 presentation (normal) will always be selected. Thus, when the player transitions back to the normal period after the advantageous state has ended and the player transitions back to the advantageous period, the presentation mode for the CZ4 state is selected based on the history of the AT state in the terminated advantageous period and the type of advantageous period transition role that triggered the transition back to the advantageous period, so that the presentation mode can be tailored to the trigger for the transition to the advantageous period.

[0358] In this embodiment, the performance pattern of the CZ4 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned to, is selected based on the history of the AT state in the advantageous period that ended, and whether or not the AT4 state is controlled after the end of the CZ4 state. Therefore, attention can be drawn to the performance pattern of the CZ4 state.

[0359] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an AT lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the system to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state, depending on the advantageous section transition role that triggered the end of the advantageous section and the transition back to the advantageous section, and an AT lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the system to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state, depending on the result of the internal lottery in the first game in the CZ4 state. After the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and when the system is controlled to the CZ4 state when the system transitions back to the advantageous section, the presentation style of the CZ4 state is selected based on the results of both the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section and the AT lottery in the first game in the CZ4 state. Therefore, the results of both the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section and the AT lottery in the first game in the CZ4 state can be reflected in the presentation style of the CZ4 state.

[0360] Furthermore, in this embodiment, regarding the presentation of the CZ4 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, the CZ4 presentation (ED) is selected only if the player is not controlled to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state ends, and the CZ4 presentation (normal) is selected if the player is controlled to the AT4 state. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the AT4 state is occurring continuously.

[0361] In this embodiment, the configuration for the CZ4 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, is such that the CZ4 performance (ED) is selected only if the player does not return to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state ends. However, the configuration for the CZ4 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, may be such that a specific performance pattern is more likely to be selected when the player does not return to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state ends than when the player does return to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state ends. In such a configuration, if the player does not return to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state, a specific performance pattern is more likely to occur in the CZ4 state, while if the player does return to the AT4 state, a specific performance pattern is less likely to occur in the CZ4 state, thus making it appear as if the AT4 state is occurring continuously.

[0362] [Effect 2] In this embodiment, after the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions back to the advantageous section, it may be controlled to the CZ4 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT4 state. When the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the game transitions to the normal section, and when the game transitions back to the advantageous section, it is controlled to the CZ4 state. In this case, the presentation style of the CZ4 state is selected based on the game history in the terminated advantageous section, so that even if the advantageous section is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the AT4 state up to that point and the subsequent CZ4 state occurred continuously.

[0363] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the presentation mode of the CZ4 state, which is controlled when an advantageous period ends and the player transitions back to an advantageous period, is selected based on the history of the AT4 state in the terminated advantageous period. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the previous AT4 state and the subsequent CZ4 state occurred continuously.

[0364] In this embodiment, the presentation of the CZ4 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned, is such that the CZ4 presentation (ED) is selected only when the number of consecutive ATs (the number of times the AT3 state and AT4 state are consecutive without an intervening normal state) in the terminated advantageous period is 20 or more, that is, when the AT state is continuous for a long period of time. By executing the CZ4 presentation (ED) in the CZ4 state, it is possible to recognize that the state has been controlled to be in the AT state for a long period of time.

[0365] In this embodiment, when the advantageous state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and then when the system transitions back to the advantageous section, the CZ4 state presentation is selected based on the history of the AT state in the terminated advantageous section and the type of advantageous section transition trigger that led to the transition back to the advantageous section. Therefore, the presentation can be tailored to the trigger for the transition to the advantageous section.

[0366] In this embodiment, the performance pattern of the CZ4 state, which is controlled when the advantageous period ends and the advantageous period is returned to, is selected based on the history of the AT state in the advantageous period that ended, and whether or not the AT4 state is controlled after the end of the CZ4 state. Therefore, attention can be drawn to the performance pattern of the CZ4 state.

[0367] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an AT lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the system to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state, depending on the advantageous section transition role that triggered the end of the advantageous section and the transition back to the advantageous section, and an AT lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the system to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state, depending on the result of the internal lottery in the first game in the CZ4 state. After the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and when the system is controlled to the CZ4 state when the system transitions back to the advantageous section, the presentation style of the CZ4 state is selected based on the results of both the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section and the AT lottery in the first game in the CZ4 state. Therefore, the results of both the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section and the AT lottery in the first game in the CZ4 state can be reflected in the presentation style of the CZ4 state.

[0368] Furthermore, in this embodiment, regarding the presentation of the CZ4 state controlled when the advantageous period ends and the player returns to the advantageous period, the CZ4 presentation (ED) is selected only if the player is not controlled to the AT4 state after the CZ4 state ends, and the CZ4 presentation (normal) is selected if the player is controlled to the AT4 state. Therefore, even if the advantageous period is interrupted, it can be made to appear as if the AT4 state is occurring continuously.

[0369] [Effect 3] In this embodiment, there are cases where, after the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and when it transitions back to the advantageous section, it is controlled to the CZ4 state; when the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section continues and the system is controlled to the CZ4 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT4 state; and when the AT3 state ends, the advantageous section continues and the system is controlled to the CZ3 state, which has a high probability of being controlled to the AT3 state. When the system is controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues, it goes through a preparation state before being controlled to the CZ4 state. When the AT4 state ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions back to the advantageous section before being controlled to the CZ4 state, there is always a waiting period between the end of the AT4 state and the start of the CZ4 state. However, even when the system is controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues, the CZ4 state does not start immediately, but goes through a predetermined preparation period before being controlled to the CZ4 state. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether the system was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the system was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous section ended once.

[0370] On the other hand, if the advantageous period continues after the AT3 state ends and the system is controlled to the CZ3 state, the system is controlled to the CZ3 state without going through a preparation state. Therefore, if the advantageous period continues after the AT3 state ends and the system is controlled to the CZ3 state, the system can transition to the CZ3 state immediately after the AT3 state ends.

[0371] In this embodiment, the CZ4 state is set to have a higher probability of winning the AT lottery than the CZ3 state, and it can be expected that the system will be controlled to the AT4 state by being controlled to the preparation state.

[0372] In this embodiment, the AT state includes an AT3 state and an AT4 state in which more medals can be expected to be acquired than in the AT3 state. When the system is controlled from the CZ4 state to the AT state, it is controlled to the AT4 state, and when the system is controlled from the CZ3 state to the AT state, it is controlled to the AT3 state. Therefore, by being controlled to the preparation state, it is possible to expect to be controlled to the more advantageous AT4 state.

[0373] In this embodiment, an AT lottery is held when transitioning to a favorable section. If the AT lottery is won when transitioning to a favorable section, the system is controlled to the AT4 state. After the AT4 state ends, when transitioning to a favorable section again after ending the favorable section, the system is controlled to the CZ4 state. This prevents the system from being controlled to an unintended type of AT state during the transition to a favorable section.

[0374] In this embodiment, the number of games controlled to the CZ4 state is less than the number of games controlled to the CZ3 state. Therefore, even if the system is controlled to the preparation state after the AT4 state ends, the period between the end of the CZ4 state and the subsequent control to the AT4 state is not redundant.

[0375] In this embodiment, when a role for transitioning to the advantageous section is won in the normal section, the game is transitioned to the advantageous section. Furthermore, in the preparation state, which is controlled when the game is controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues, when a role for transitioning to the advantageous section is won, the preparation state is terminated and the game is controlled to the CZ4 state. This means that when the game is controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continues, the game is controlled to the CZ4 state at the same trigger as when the advantageous section ends once and then the game is controlled to the CZ4 state. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous section ended once.

[0376] In this embodiment, no control related to AT is performed during the normal section, and even if the game is played with a stopping operation order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first, no penalty related to AT is given and no warning notification is executed. However, even if the game is played with a stopping operation order in which a reel other than the left reel is stopped first during the preparation state, unlike the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ3 state, and CZ4 state, no penalty related to AT is given, the advantage related to AT does not change as in the normal section, and no warning notification is executed for AT, making it difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous section ended once.

[0377] In this embodiment, when the AT4 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off, and after the advantageous period is re-entered and the CZ4 state begins, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal turn on again. However, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ4 state, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off in the preparation state, and then remain off for at least one game before the CZ4 state begins and the CZ / AT signal and AT signal turn on again. Therefore, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ4 state, the CZ / AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off, just as when the advantageous period ends once and then the system is controlled to the CZ4 state. This makes it difficult to determine whether the system was controlled to the CZ4 state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the system was controlled to the CZ4 state after the advantageous period ended.

[0378] In this embodiment, when the AT4 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b temporarily change from lit to unlit, and after transitioning to the advantageous period and starting the CZ4 state, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b change back to lit. However, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to the CZ4 state, in the preparation state, the CZ / AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b temporarily change from lit to unlit, and then remain unlit for at least one game. After the lights go out, the CZ / AT LED19a and AT LED19b lights up again once the CZ4 state begins. This makes it difficult to determine whether the CZ4 state was initiated while the advantageous period was still ongoing, or whether the CZ / AT LED19a and AT LED19b went out temporarily, just as if the advantageous period had ended before the CZ4 state was initiated.

[0379] In this embodiment, at the end of the AT4 state, it is determined whether the remaining net increase in coins (maximum number of coins - net increase in coins during the advantageous section) is less than or equal to a specific number (200 in this embodiment). If the remaining net increase in coins is less than or equal to the specific number, the advantageous section is terminated and the game section is returned to the normal section. This prevents the AT4 state from ending abruptly due to the net increase in coins during the advantageous section exceeding the maximum number of coins, and also prevents the addition of remaining game counts through bonus draws and the granting of AT4 state rights through stock draws from being restricted in order to avoid reaching the maximum number of coins.

[0380] In this embodiment, the main control unit 41 performs a stock lottery in the AT4 state to determine whether or not to grant the right to control the system back to the AT4 state when a stock lottery target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC5 to 7) is won. If the stock lottery is won, the right to win an AT is stocked. The sub-control unit 91 notifies the system when the right to win an AT is stocked and also notifies the system in a way that allows for the identification of the remaining right to win an AT. If the right to win an AT is stocked at the end of the AT4 state, the system controls the system back to the AT4 state from the next game without going through the preparation state or CZ4 state. In situations where it is confirmed that the AT4 state will continue, the AT4 state can be continued quickly without any unnecessary delays.

[0381] Although Embodiment 2 of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to Embodiment 2, and it goes without saying that any modifications or additions that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0382] 1 Slot Machine 2L, 2C, 2R Reels 6 MAXBET switch 7. Start switch 8L, 8C, 8R Stop Switch 51 LCD display 41 Main Control Unit 91 Sub-control unit

Claims

[Claim 1] It is equipped with a variable display unit capable of displaying multiple types of identification information that can be identified by each individual, In a slot machine in which a display result is derived by stopping the variable display of the variable display unit, and a prize can be awarded according to the display result, The system includes a section control means that can control the system to either a normal section that is not controlled to an advantageous state, or an advantageous section that can be controlled to the advantageous state, The advantageous interval includes a normal state and a specific state in which the probability of transitioning to the advantageous state is higher than that of the normal state. When the advantageous state and the advantageous period end and the system returns to the advantageous period, it may be controlled to the specific state. A slot machine in which, when the advantageous period ends and the machine returns to the advantageous period, the machine is controlled to the specific state, and the performance of the specific state can be varied depending on the duration of the advantageous state in the terminated advantageous period.

Images