Roulette gaming machine and method for providing roulette game

Abstract

A roulette gaming machine includes: a wheel that is provided with a plurality of number pockets having identification numbers assigned thereto; a ball that rolls on an upper face of the wheel to be housed into one of the number pockets; a win number detecting unit that detects the identification number that is assigned to the number pocket into which the ball is housed as a win number; a betting unit that allows a player to input a betting operation for performing a prediction of the win number; and a controller that operates to: determine whether or not an award is won based on the win number detected by the win number detecting unit and the betting operation input by the player through the betting unit; provide the award to the player when determined that the award is won; and perform a secondary game in parallel with a roulette game when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is based upon and claims priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-307370, filed on Nov. 14, 2006, the entire content of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a roulette gaming machine and a method for providing a roulette game, which provide a secondary game in parallel with a roulette game when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

BACKGROUND

In gaming machines that provides a game in which a player predicts win numbers, such as roulette gaming machines, bingo gaming machines, and keno gaming machines, there is provided a wheel that is formed with a plurality of pockets thereon having identification numbers are assigned (for example, “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36” in the roulette gaming machines), and the win numbers are determined by lotteries being performed by rolling a rolling object, such as a ball, on the wheel to determine a pocket in which the rolling object rolls in.

In the conventional gaming machines, a series of game flow, in which the ball is rolled on the wheel and the win number is determined, is basically common to all the games, and when a player plays the game repetitively, there occurs a problem that the player gradually becomes tired of playing the game.

A document, U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,072 B2, discloses a roulette gaming machine that is provided with a plurality of wheels and performs lotteries using each of the wheels. By performing a game using a plurality of wheels as described in the document, it becomes possible to give a player a change to obtain a high-valued award and improve a variety of the game by using a plurality of win numbers that have been drawn.

Although the roulette gaming machine disclosed in the document uses a plurality of wheels, a table for performing a bet is the same with the table that is generally used. Accordingly, the game progresses in a manner that the player predicts a number at which the ball may stop on the roulette wheel and performs a bet by placing chips in a place on a table, and an award is provided on the basis of the win number and the betting operation.

SUMMARY

One of objects of the present invention is to provide a roulette gaming machine and a method for providing a game that prevent a player from being tired of the game by improving variety of the game while using the same structure of the wheel and lottery method as those which are generally used.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a roulette gaming machine including: a wheel that is provided with a plurality of number pockets having identification numbers assigned thereto; a ball that rolls on an upper face of the wheel to be housed into one of the number pockets; a win number detecting unit that detects the identification number that is assigned to the number pocket into which the ball is housed as a win number; a betting unit that allows a player to input a betting operation for performing a prediction of the win number; and a controller that operates to: determine whether or not an award is won based on the win number detected by the win number detecting unit and the betting operation input by the player through the betting unit; provide the award to the player when determined that the award is won; and perform a secondary game in parallel with a roulette game when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for providing a roulette game to a player, the method including: determining one of identification numbers assigned to a plurality of number pockets as a win number; determining whether not an award is won based on the win number and a betting operation input by the player for performing a prediction of the win number; providing the award when determined that the award is won; and performing a secondary game in parallel with a roulette game when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a drawing that shows a table provided in a roulette gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the roulette gaming machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the roulette wheel according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a server according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a drawing that shows a BET screen displayed in a display in a state where a bingo game is not played;

FIG. 6 is a drawing that shows a BET screen displayed in the display in a state where the bingo game is played;

FIG. 7 is a drawing that shows examples of a winning screen of the bingo game;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram that shows a control system of the roulette gaming machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram that shows a control system of a station according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing that shows a storage area of a ROM of the roulette gaming machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing that shows a storage area of a RAM of the roulette gaming machine;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a game processing program of the roulette gaming machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the game processing program of the roulette gaming machine according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a sub-process program of a bingo card generation process of the roulette gaming machine according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a roulette gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The roulette gaming machine is a gaming machine that provides a roulette game in which a player predicts a number or a symbol that is determined by a lottery performed by use of a roulette board, allows the player to bet a game medium such as medals on the predicted number, and provides a predetermined number of medals to the player when the bet number satisfies a win.

In the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment, a bingo card 75 is additionally displayed on a BET screen 61 on which a table type betting board 60 for placing a bet in a roulette game is displayed, especially when the number of bets placed by a player is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of bets (for example, 30 bets). A feature of the roulette gaming machine is that a bingo game is played using bingo cards 75 displayed during the consecutive five games after display of the bingo card 75 and win numbers on the wheel, in parallel with a roulette game.

First, a schematic configuration of the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the roulette gaming machine 1 has a housing 2 forming a main frame, a roulette board 3 provided on the approximate center of the top face of the housing 2, a plurality of (in the embodiment, twelve) stations 4 installed around the roulette board 3 so as to surround the roulette board 3, and an electronic display unit 5 provided above the housing 2, as basic components.

Each of the stations 4 serves as a betting unit that allows a player to input a betting operation that is performed on prediction of a win number in the roulette board 3. The station 4 includes a medal insertion slot 6 for inserting game medium such as coins or chips or medals which are used in a game, a controller unit 7 having a plurality of control buttons through which various commands for playing the game is input by the player, and a display 8 for displaying an image related with the game. The station 4 is defined as a game area for receiving a betting operation from the player. The player operates a touch panel, the controller unit 7, or the like so as to progress the current game while watching the image displayed on the display 8.

On side faces of the housing 2 on which the stations 4 are installed, medal payout openings 9 are provided. On upper right portion of the displays 8 of the stations 4, speakers 10 for providing music and sound effects are provided.

Above the displays 8 of the stations 4, WIN lamps 11 are provided. In a roulette game, when a bet number (in the embodiment, “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36”) bet in the station 4 wins the game, the WIN lamp 11 of the won station 4 is turned on. Similar to a bingo game to be described later, the WIN lamp 11 of the station 4 that acquires a jackpot (hereinafter, referred to as JP) is turned on. The WIN lamps are disposed in positions that can be seen from all the players seated in the installed stations 4 (in the embodiment, twelve stations), and other players participating in the same game provided by the roulette gaming machine 1 can check the lightening of the WIN lamps 11 of other players any time.

Inside the medal insertion slot 6, a medal sensor (not shown) is provided so as to identify game media such as medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 6 and to count the inserted medals. In addition, inside the medal payout opening 9, a hopper (not shown) is provided so as to pay a predetermined number of medals from the medal payout opening 9.

Inside a corner portion 12 located in a corner of the housing 2, a server 13 to be described later is disposed. Commonly, the server 13 is housed inside the corner portion 12 so as not to be operated by a player, and the server can be operated 13 by opening a corner door 14, which is located in the corner portion 12 using a key switch. It is possible to adjust various settings of the roulette gaming machine 1 by operating the server 13.

In the electronic display unit 5, a JP amount display section 15 for displaying the amount of a JP is provided. In the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment, 0.5% of credits bet in roulette games of the total twelve stations 4 using a BET screen 61, to be described later, are accumulated to be stored. The accumulated credits of the JP are paid to a predetermined station 4 when a predetermined condition is satisfied in a bingo game to be described later so as to win the JP. The JP amount display section 15 is provided on the top of the electronic display unit 5, and thereby the content of display thereof can be seen from all the players gaming at the stations 4.

Next, the configuration of the roulette board 3 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the roulette board 3 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the roulette board 3 has a frame 21 fixed to the housing 2 and a wheel 22 inserted into and supported by an inside of the frame 21 to be rotatable, as basic components. On an upper face of the wheel 22, a plurality of (in the embodiment, total of 38) number pockets 23 having a concaved shape are formed. In addition, on the upper face of the wheel 22, number indication plates 25 on which numbers of “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36”, represented as graphical characters, corresponding to the number pockets 23 are marked are formed in an outer direction of the number pockets 23. In other words, total of 38 number pockets 23 each having one of numbers of “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36” assigned are formed with respect to the wheel 22.

Inside the frame 21, a ball discharge port 36 is formed. A ball discharge unit not shown in the figure is connected to the ball discharge port 36 such that a ball 27 is discharged onto the wheel 22 from the ball discharge port 36 in accordance with the operation of the ball discharge unit. The whole upper side of the roulette board is covered with a cover member 28 that is made of transparent acryl and has a half-sphere shape.

Below the wheel 22, a win determination unit 86 (see FIG. 8) is installed. The win determination unit 86 is used for determining a number pocket 23 in which the ball 27 is housed. In addition, below the wheel 22, a ball collection unit not shown in the figure is installed. The ball collection unit is used for collecting the ball 27 on the wheel 22 after each game is over. Since, the ball discharge unit, the win determination unit, and the ball collection unit are known in public, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted here.

The frame 21 is formed in a shape that gently inclines toward an inner portion thereof, and a guide wall 29 is formed in a middle portion thereof. The guide wall 29 guides the input ball 27 against the centrifugal force so as to roll the ball 27. As the rotation speed of the wheel reduces and the centrifugal force decreases, the ball 27 rolls down the slope of the frame 21, moves inward, and arrives at the rotating wheel 22.

Then, the ball 27 that rolled to the wheel 22 passes through the number indication plate 25 disposed in an outer portion the rotating wheel 22 and is housed in one of the number pockets 23. Thus, when the ball 27 is housed in the number pocket 23, a number marked on the number indication plate 25 corresponding to the number pocket 23 housing the ball is determined by the win determination unit 86 and becomes a win number.

Next, a server 13 provided in the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the server 13 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a drawing that shows a status in which the corner door 14 of the corner portion 12 is opened. The server 13 is installed in a space 31 formed in a wall of the housing 2.

The server 13 is connected to each of the stations 4. The server 13 controls the stations 4 for progressing games by sending command signals to the stations 4. The server 13 performs controls for maintenance of the roulette gaming machine 1 in addition to the control for games of the roulette gaming machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, a liquid crystal display 32 and a keyboard 33 are connected to the server 13. On the liquid crystal display 32, a menu screen (not shown) or a maintenance screen (not shown) is displayed. The keyboard 33 is an operation means in which a plurality of keys are arranged. The roulette gaming machine 1 allows a maintenance person to perform a maintenance operation and various setting operations by operating the keyboard 33 with the menu screen or the maintenance screen being displayed on the liquid crystal display 32.

Next, the configuration of the controller unit 7 and the display 8 according to the embodiment will be described.

The controller unit 7, as shown in FIG. 2, is provided on a side of the display 8. Various buttons operated by a player are disposed in the controller unit 7. In the controller unit 7, a BET confirmation button 47, a payout (CASHOUT) button 48, and a help (HELP) button 49 are sequentially arranged from the left, when viewed from a position facing the station 4.

The BET confirmation button 47 is pressed for confirming a bet after a betting operation is performed by using the display 8, as described later. When the bet is confirmed and if the player has placed a bet on a number marked on a number indication plate 25 corresponding to a number pocket 23 of the roulette board 3 in which the ball 27 is housed during the game, the player wins the game. If the player wins the game, credits corresponding to the bet number of chips are added to the player's current credits. The betting operation will be described later in detail.

The payout button 48 is a button usually pressed when a game is over. When the payout button 48 is pressed, medals corresponding to the current credits of the player which have been acquired by the games (usually, one medal for each credit) are paid out to the player from the medal payout opening 9.

The help button 49 is a button pressed when the player is unfamiliar with a rule of the game. When the help button 49 is pressed, a help screen indicating various kinds of operation information are displayed on the display 8.

The display 8 is a touch-panel type liquid crystal display with a touch panel 50 attached to the front face thereof. The player presses an icon displayed on a liquid crystal screen with a finger when selecting the icon. FIGS. 5 and 6 are drawings showing examples of display screens displayed on the display 8 during the game.

As shown in FIG. 5, while only a roulette game is performed in the roulette gaming machine 1, a BET screen 61, in which a table type betting board 60 is included, is displayed on the display 8. The player can bet chips using the credits owned by the player by operating the BET screen 61.

First, the BET screen 61, which is used when only the roulette game is performed, will be discussed with reference to FIG. 5. The same numbers as 38 numbers of “0”, “00”, and “1” to “36” are arranged in the shape of grids on the table type betting board 60 displayed on the BET screen 61. In addition, special BET areas for the player to bet a chip by designating “odd numbers,” “even numbers,” “a color (red or black) of the number indication plates”, or “a predetermined range of numbers (for example, “1” to “12” or the like)” are arranged similarly in the shape of grids.

Displayed below the table type betting board 60 are a result history display section 65, unit BET buttons 66, a payout result display section 67, and a credit count display section 68 from the left side to the right side in the screen.

The result history display section 65 displays a list of the results of the win numbers up to the previous game (here, one game refers to an operation sequence from when the player places a bet in each station 4 until when the ball 27 rolls down into the number pocket 23 and credits are paid on the basis of the win number). When one game is over, a new win number is added to the top of the result history display section 65 for display and the player can check the history of the win numbers of a maximum of 16 games.

The unit BET buttons 66 are used for betting chips on a BET area 72 (on a grid or a line forming grids of a number or a mark) designated by the player. The unit BET buttons 66 include four types of buttons of a 1-BET button 66A, a 5-BET button 66B, a 10-BET button 66C, and a 100-BET button 66D.

The player first designates the BET area 72 to bet with a cursor 70 described later by directly pressing the screen with a finger. In this state, the player bets one chip at a time when the player presses the 1-BET button 66A (the number of bet chips sequentially increases from one to two, and from two to three, etc., each time the player presses the 1-BET button 66A with a finger). When the player presses the 5-BET button 66B, the player bets five chips at a time (the number of bet chips sequentially increases from five to ten, and from 10 to 15, etc., each time the player presses the 5-BET button 66B with a finger). When the player presses the 10-BET button 66C, the player bets 10 chips at a time (the number of bet chips sequentially increases from 10 to 20, and from 20 to 30, etc., each time the player presses the 10-BET button 66C with a finger). Similarly, when the player presses the 100-BET button 66D, the player can bet 100 chips at a time (the number of bet chips sequentially increases from 100 to 200, and from 200 to 300, etc., each time the player presses the 100-BET button 66D with a finger).

Therefore, even when a large number of chips are to be bet, the betting operation can be simplified.

The payout result display section 67 displays the number of bet chips of the player in the previous game and the number of paid-out credits. Here, subtracting the number of bet chips from the number of paid-out credits results in the number of credits that have been newly gained by the player in the previous game.

The credit count display section 68 displays the number of currents owned by the player. When the player bets chips, the number of credits is decreased by the number of the bet chips (one credit per chip). When the number on which the player bets becomes a win number and the credit is paid out, the number of credits is increased by the number of paid-out credits. When the number of credits owned by the player reaches zero, the game is over.

A BET timer display section 69 is provided in an upper portion of the table type betting board 60. The BET timer display section 69 displays the remaining time during which the player can bet. When reception for a betting operation is started, the BET timer display section 69 displays “20”. Then, the displayed number decreases by one per second, and when the displayed number becomes zero, the reception for the betting operation is over. When the remaining betting period becomes five seconds for each station 4, the ball discharge unit is driven to input the ball 27 on the roulette board.

On the right side of the BET timer display section 69, a JP display section 73 for displaying the current number of credits of the JP that have been accumulated is provided. In the JP, 0.5% of credits bet in the total 12 stations are added for accumulation and a number common to all the stations 4 is displayed in the JP display section 73 for each station 4. When a predetermined condition is satisfied in a bingo game that is performed in parallel with a roulette game under a predetermined condition, the JP is won. Thus, the credits corresponding to the number of credits of the JP are paid, and an initial value (for example, 50000 credits) is displayed in the JP display section after the payment. The current number of credits of the JP that has been accumulated is displayed in the JP amount display section 15 (see FIG. 2) of the electronic display unit 5 in addition to the JP display section 73.

A cursor 70 indicating the BET area 72 currently selected by the player is displayed on the table type betting board 30. A chip mark 71 indicating the number of chips bet so far and the BET area 72 is also displayed on the table type betting board 60. The number displayed on the chip mark 71 denotes the number of bet chips. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the chip mark 71 of “7” placed on the grid of “18” indicates that the player bets seven chips on the number of “18”. As described above, the method of betting on only one number is called “straight bet.”

The chip mark 71 of “1” placed at the intersection of the grids of “5”, “6”, “8”, and “9” indicates that the player bets one chip on the four numbers covering the number of “5”, “6”, “8”, and “9”. As described above, the method of betting a chip covering four numbers is called “corner bet.”

Other available bet methods are as follows: “split bet” for betting a chip covering two numbers on a line between the two numbers; “street bet” for betting a chip covering three numbers (for example, “13”, “14”, and “15”) on the end of one horizontal row of the numbers (in FIG. 5, one row in the vertical direction); “five bet” for betting a chip covering five numbers of “0”, “00”, “1”, “2”, and “3” on a line between the numbers “00” and 3; “line bet” for betting a chip covering six numbers (for example, “13”, “14”, “15”, “16”, “17”, and “18”) in two horizontal rows of the numbers (in FIG. 5, two rows in the vertical direction); “column bet” for betting a chip on the grid marked as “2 to 1” for covering 12 numbers; and “dozen bet” for betting a chip on the grid marked as “1st 12,” “2nd 12,” or “3rd 12.” covering 12 numbers. Further, bet methods each covering 18 numbers depending on the color (red or black) of the number indication plates, whether the number is an odd or even number, or whether the number is equal to or less than 18 or is equal to or more than 19, using six grids provided at the bottom of the table type betting board 60 are also available. The above-described bet methods have different amounts of credit awards (award multiplication factor) per chip which are given in a state where the bet chips win the game.

To bet a chip on the above-described BET screen 61, the player, first, designates a BET area 72 (on a grid of a number or a mark or a line forming the grid) to bet on the screen by pressing the BET area 72 directly with a finger. Consequently, the cursor 70 moves to the designated BET area 72.

Then, when the player presses the unit BET buttons 66 (the 1-BET button 66A, the 5-BET button 66B, the 10-BET button 66C, and the 100-BET button 66D), as many chips as the numbers indicated by the pressed unit BET buttons are bet on the designated BET area 72. For example, when the player presses the 10-BET button 66C four times, the 5-BET button 66B once, and the 1-BET button 66A three times, a total of 48 chips can be bet.

Next, the BET screen 61 that is used when a bingo game is performed in parallel with a roulette game will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment, when the player bets 30 chips or more in the roulette game, a bingo card 75 is displayed additionally on the BET screen 61. Then, a bingo game using the bingo card 75 is performed for the consecutive five games including the game in which display of the bingo card 75 is started and thereafter.

Hereinafter, the bingo card 75 that is displayed on the BET screen 61 will be described. The bingo card 75 includes a total of 25 grids 76 of 5×5, and in the grids 76, numbers are randomly arranged. The numbers arranged in the grids 76 are 25 numbers that are randomly extracted from the numbers of “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36” arranged on the number indication plates 25 of the wheel 22.

In the bingo game performed by the roulette gaming machine 1, grids 76, in which same numbers as win numbers drawn in the roulette board 3 during the five games are arranged, are sequentially checked. On the basis of arrangement of the checked grids 76, awards are given to the player. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when three checked grids 76 are consecutively arranged in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line, an award of credits twice as much as the bet amount bet at the start of the bingo game is given. In addition, when four checked grids 76 are consecutively arranged in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line, an award of credits four times as much as the bet amount bet at the start of the bingo game is given. In addition, when five checked grids 76 are consecutively arranged in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line, an award of credits eight times as much as the bet amount bet at the start of the bingo game is given.

In addition, when the total five grids 76 arranged on each corner and the center are checked, the JP is won, and accordingly, the pool amount that has been pooled in the JP is given as an award.

Next, the configuration of a control system of the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of the roulette gaming machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, the roulette gaming machine 1 includes a server 13 and a plurality of (12 in the embodiment) stations 4 connected to the server 13. To the server 13, a roulette board 3 and an electronic display unit 5 are connected. A control system of the stations 4 will be described later in detail.

The server 13 has a server control CPU 81 used as a calculation and controller unit for controlling the overall control of the server 13, a ROM 82, a RAM 83, a timer 84 connected to the server control CPU 81, a liquid crystal display 32 connected to the server control CPU 81 through a liquid crystal driving circuit 85, and a keyboard 33 (see FIG. 4), as basic components.

The server control CPU 81 performs various types of processes on the basis of input signals and the like supplied from the stations 4 and data and programs stored in the ROM 82 and the RAM 83 and transmits command signals to the stations 4 on the basis of the result of the processes, thereby controlling the stations 4 for progressing games. In addition, the server control CPU 81 performs input of the ball 27 and rotation of the wheel 22 by driving a drive motor included in the roulette board 3 and determines a win number on which the ball drops by controlling a win determination unit 86 that determines the location of drop of the ball. The server control CPU 81 determines whether the bet chips win the game on the basis of the acquired win number and bet information transmitted from the stations 4, thereby calculating the number of credits to be paid to the stations 4.

The ROM 82, for example, is implemented as a semiconductor memory or the like and stores a program for providing basic functions of the roulette gaming machine 1, a program for generating a bingo card that is distributed to the player under a predetermined condition, an award multiplication factor (the number of credits paid out per chip for winning the game) for a roulette game, and a program for controlling the stations 4.

The RAM 83 temporarily stores chip bet information supplied from the stations 4, the win number of the roulette board 3 determined by the sensor, the current amount of the JP that has been accumulated, result data of the processes performed by the server control CPU 81, and the like.

A timer 84 that measures a time is connected to the server control CPU 81. Time information output from the timer 84 is transmitted to the server control CPU 81, and the server control CPU 81 performs an operation for rotating the wheel 22 or input of the ball 27 on the basis of the time information.

The electronic display unit 5 (see FIG. 2) is connected to the server control CPU 81. The server control CPU 81 performs visual effects using lamps by controlling light emitting device such as LEDs and displays a predetermined text or the like on the electronic display unit 5. The server control CPU 81 displays the current amount of the JP that has been accumulated on the JP amount display section 15 of the electronic display unit 5.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the ROM 82, there is provided an award credit storage area 82A, in which award multiplication factors for the roulette game using the BET screen 61 are stored. As the award multiplication factors for each BET area 72 of the BET screen 61 which are stored in the award credit storage area 82A, multiplication factors in the range of 2 to 36 are determined and stored in advance for each type of the bet method (the “straight bet”, the “corner bet”, the “split bet”, or the like).

As shown in FIG. 11, in the RAM 83, there are provided a bet information storage area 83A in which bet information of the player currently playing the game is stored, a win number storage area 83B in which a win number of the roulette board 3 determined by the win determination unit is stored, and a JP accumulation storage area 83C in which a pool amount, to which 0.5% of the number of credits bet on the BET screen 61 (see FIG. 5) has been pooled is stored. The bet information is information on the bet performed using the station 4 such as the BET area 72 designated on the BET screen 61, the number of bet chips (number of bets), the type of the bet method, and the like.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the station 4 connected to the server 13 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of the station 4 according to the embodiment. Since each of the twelve stations 4 has the same configuration, hereinafter, one of the stations 4 will be described as an example.

The station 4, as shown in FIG. 9, includes a station controller unit 90 and several peripheral units. The station controller unit 90 includes a station control CPU 91, a ROM 92, and a RAM 93. The ROM 92, for example, is implemented as a semiconductor memory or the like and stores a program for providing basic functions of the station 4, other various programs required for controlling the station 4, a data table, and the like. The RAM 93 is a memory for temporarily storing various types of data calculated by the station control CPU 91, the current number of credits (stored in the station 4) owned by the player, a state of chip betting performed by the player, and the like.

The BET confirmation button 47, the payout button 48, and the help button 49, which are provided in the controller unit 7 (see FIG. 2), are connected to the station control CPU 91. The station control CPU 91 controls performing various appropriate operations on the basis of operation signals output by pressing the buttons or the like. The station control CPU 91 receives an input operation from the player, performs various processes on the basis of the input signal supplied from the controller unit 7 and data or a program which is stored in the ROM 92 or the RAM 93, and transmits the result to the above-described server control CPU 81.

The station control CPU 91 receives a command signal from the server control CPU 81, controls the peripheral units provided in the station 4, and progresses the roulette game in the station 4. In addition, the station control CPU 91, depending on the type of the process, receives an input operation from the player, performs various processes on the basis of the input signal supplied from the controller unit 7 and data or a program stored in the ROM 92 or the RAM 93, and controls the peripheral units constituting the station 4, thereby progressing the roulette game of the station 4.

A hopper 94 is connected to the station control CPU 91. The hopper 94 pays out a predetermined number of medals from the medal payout opening 9 (see FIG. 2) in accordance with the command signal transmitted from the station control CPU 91.

A display 8 is connected to the station control CPU 91 via a liquid crystal driving circuit 95. The liquid crystal driving circuit 95 includes a program ROM, an image ROM, an image control CPU, a work RAM, a VDP (video display processor), and a video RAM. In the program ROM, an image control program for display in the display 8 and various selection tables are stored. In the image ROM, for example, dot data (bitmap data) for forming an image displayed by the display 8 is stored. The image control CPU determines an image to be displayed in the display 8, among dot data stored in the image ROM in advance, on the basis of the parameters set by the station control CPU 91 in accordance with an image control program stored in the program ROM in advance. The work RAM is configured as a temporary storage at a time when the image control program is executed in the image control CPU. The VDP forms an image on the basis of display determined by the image control CPU and outputs the image to the display 8. The video RAM is configured as a temporary storage at a time when an image is formed by the VDP.

On the front face of the display 8, a touch panel 50 is attached, and the operation information of the touch panel 50 is transmitted to the station control CPU 91. In the touch panel, a chip betting operation on the BET screen 61 is performed by the player. In particular, the touch panel 50 is operated in selecting the BET area 72, an operation of the unit BET buttons 66, or the like, and information on the operation of the touch panel 50 is transmitted to the station control CPU 91. On the basis of the information, the current bet information (the BET area designated on the BET screen 61 and the number of bet chips) of the player is occasionally stored in the RAM 93. The bet information is transmitted to the server control CPU 81 and stored in the bet information storage area of the RAM 83.

A sound output circuit 96 and a speaker 10 are connected to the station control CPU 91. The speaker 10 generates and outputs various types of sound effects on the basis of a signal output from the sound output circuit 96.

A medal sensor 97 is connected to the station control CPU 91. The medal sensor 97 detects medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 6 (see FIG. 2), counts the inserted medals, and transmits the result to the station control CPU 91. Then, the station control CPU 91 increases the number of credits owned by the player, which is stored in the RAM 93, on the basis of the transmitted signal.

A WIN lamp 11 is connected to the station control CPU 91. When the chips bet on the BET screen 61 wins the game or the player wins the JP, the station control CPU 91 turns on the WIN lamp 11 in a predetermined color.

A game processing program on the server side executed by the server control CPU 81 and a game processing program on the station 4 side executed by the station control CPU 91 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. The programs shown as flowcharts in FIGS. 12 and 13 are stored in the ROM 82 or RAM 83 included in the server 13 and the ROM 92 or RAM 93 included in the station 4 and are executed by the server control CPU 81 and the station control CPU 91.

First, the game processing program on the station side will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. First, in Step (hereinafter, abbreviated to as S) 1, the station control CPU 91 determines whether a medal or a coin is inserted by the player on the basis of a detection signal transmitted from the medal sensor 97. When there is no insertion of a medal or a coin (S1: NO), the process stands by until a medal or a coin is inserted. On the other hand, when a medal or a coin is inserted (S1: YES), the process proceeds to S2.

In S2, credit data corresponding to the number of inserted medals or coins is stored in the RAM 93. Then, in S3, a medal insertion signal for indicating the insertion of the medal or the coin is transmitted to the server 13.

In S4, the BET screen 61 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed in the display 8 of the station 4, and a betting period in which the player can bet a chip is started (S5). Then, the player participating in the game can bet a chip in a BET area 72 corresponding to a number that the player predicts to win the game by operating the touch panel 50 during the betting period in which a bet can be received (see FIG. 5). Since the method of betting chips using the BET screen 61 has been described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

The player is allowed to join in a game while the game is under a state where the betting period is already started. In the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment, a maximum of 12 players are allowed to participate in the same game. When a game is performed following the previous game, the reception of the betting operation is started right after the previous game is over. When a bingo game is continued, a bingo card 75 displayed on the BET screen 61 in the previous game is continuously displayed.

In S6, when a betting period end signal directing the end of the betting period is received from the server control CPU 81, the display 8 of the station 4 displays an image indicating the end of the betting period, and the reception of a betting operation in the touch panel 50 ends (S7). Then, the station 4 transmits the information (the designated BET area 72 and the number of chips bet (the number of bets) in the designated BET area 72) on the betting operation performed by the player (S8).

In S9, the station control CPU 91 receives bingo card information from the server 13. The bingo card information is generated by the server control CPU 81 for determining the bingo card 75 when the betting operation for betting a predetermined amount or more (for example, 30 bets or more) is input to the station 4. To be more specific, the bingo card information is numbers randomly extracted from the numbers of “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36” which are assigned to the number pockets 23 of the wheel 22 and arrangement of the numbers on the bingo card 75. To a station 4 in which a bingo game is currently performed or the number of bets in this game is determined to be less than bets (30 credits), the bingo card information is not transmitted.

Next, in S10 shown in FIG. 13, the station control CPU 91 determines whether to start a bingo game from this game on the basis of the player's betting operation received in S5. In particular, the station control CPU 91 determines to start the bingo game when a bingo game is not currently performed and a betting operation for 30 bets (30 credits) or more is performed in this game.

When it is determined to start the bingo game (S10: YES), a bingo card 75 is additionally displayed on the BET screen 61 on the basis of the bingo card information received in S9 (S11). On the other hand, when it is determined not to start the bingo game (S10: NO), the process proceeds to S12.

Next, in S12, the station control CPU 91 receives from the server 13 information on a win number that has been detected by the win determination unit 86 on the basis of the result of a lottery using the roulette board 3. In S13, it is determined whether a bingo game is currently performed in the station 4. As a result, when it is determined that a bingo game is currently performed (S13: YES), display of the bingo card 75 displayed in the display 8 is updated on the basis of the win number received in S12 (S14). In particular, when there is a grid 76 in which a same number as the win number is arranged, the display color of the grid 76 is changed. On the other hand, when it is determined that a bingo game is not currently performed (S13: NO), the process proceeds to S15.

In S15, the station control CPU 91 receives the result of payout of credits transmitted from the server 13. The result of payout of credits includes the payout result of the roulette game performed using the BET screen 61 and the payout result of the bingo game.

Then, in S16, payout of credits is performed on the basis of the result of payout of credits received in S15. To be more specific, credit data for awards of roulette games that are ordinary games and credit data for awards of bingo games that are sub games are stored in the RAM 93. Then, when the payout button 48 is pressed, medals (usually, one medal for one credit) corresponding to the current number of credits stored in the RAM 93 are paid out from the medal payout opening 9.

Thereafter, when a game is played consecutively in any station 4, the process proceeds back to S4, and a betting period is started, thereby proceeding to the next game.

When games in all the stations 4 are over, the roulette game process ends.

Next, the game processing program on the server side will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. In S101, the server control CPU 81 receives a medal detection signal transmitted from the station control CPU 91 in S3 and determines whether the player has inserted a medal or a coin. In the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment, when a medal or a coin is inserted into any one of the stations 4, a medal insertion signal is transmitted from the station control CPU 91 of the station 4 into which the medal or coin has been inserted to the server control CPU 81.

Then, measuring of a betting period during which a player can place a bet is started from a time point when a firstly participating player inserts the medal or the coin (S102). When a game is played following the previous game, the betting period is started right after the previous game is over. A player participating in the game can bet his or her chips on the BET area 72 corresponding to a number that he predicts to win the game by operating the touch panel 50 during the betting period.

Next, in S103, it is determined whether the remaining betting period is 5 seconds. The remaining betting period is displayed in the display 8 by the BET time display unit 69 (see FIG. 5). When it is determined that the remaining betting period does not reach 5 seconds (S103: NO), the process stands by until the remaining betting period becomes 5 seconds. When it is determined that the remaining betting period has reached 5 seconds (S103: YES), a lottery process by using the roulette board 3 is performed in accordance with the game execution program, as described below.

In particular, first, the ball discharge unit is driven so as to input the ball 27 inside the roulette wheel (S104). Next, the driving motor is driven so as to rotate the wheel 22 at a predetermined rotation speed in a direction opposite to the ball input direction. The input ball 27 rolls on the roulette wheel along the guide wall 29. Then, as the rotation speed of the wheel reduces and the centrifugal force decreases, the ball rolls down the slope of the frame 21, moves inward, and arrives at the rotating wheel 22 (see FIG. 3).

Then, the ball 27 that has rolled to the wheel 22 passes through the number indication plate 25 disposed in an outer portion of the rotating wheel 22 and is housed in one of the number pockets 23. Thus, a number (in FIG. 3, any one of “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36”) marked on the number indication plate 25 corresponding to the number pocket 23 housing the ball 27 becomes a win number.

In S105, it is determined whether the betting period is over. When the betting period is not over (S105: NO), the process stands by until the betting period is over. When it is determined that the betting period is over (S105: YES), a betting period end signal indicating the end of the betting period is transmitted to the station control CPU 91 in S106.

In S107, bet information (the designated BET area 72, the number of chips (the number of bets) bet on the designated area 72, and the bet method) on the betting operation performed by the player for each station 4 is received and is stored in the bet information storage area 83A of the RAM 83.

In S108, credits corresponding to 0.5% of total credits bet in the stations 4 which are received in S107 are added to the amount of the JP recorded in the JP accumulation storage area 83C of the RAM 83. In accompaniment with the adding operation, display of the JP amount display section 15 and the JP display unit 73 is updated.

In S109, the server control CPU 81 performs a bingo card generation process (FIG. 14) to be described later. The bingo card generation process is a process for generating a bingo card 75 that is distributed to each station 4 to which a betting operation for betting a predetermined amount or more (for example, 30 bets or more) has been input.

Subsequently in S110, the server control CPU 81 transmits bingo card information for determining the bingo card 75 generated in S109 to a corresponding station 4. In particular, the bingo card information includes 25 numbers extracted from the numbers of “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36” which are arranged on the number indication plates 25 of the wheel 22 and the arrangement thereof.

In S111, after the ball 27 is housed in one of the number pocket 23, the server control CPU 81 drives the win determination unit 86 so as to determine a number corresponding to the number pocket 23 in which the ball 27 is housed. As a result, the win number of the roulette board 3 for the game is detected.

In S112, information on the win number detected in S111 is transmitted to each station 4. In S113, it is determined whether a bingo game played in any of the connected stations 4 is over, that is, whether there is a station 4 in which 5 games after the start of the bingo game are over.

As a result, when it is determined that the bingo game of any of the stations 4 is over (S113: YES), it is determined whether the player using the station 4 wins the bingo game on the basis of the bingo card 75 distributed to the station 4 in which the bingo game is over and the win numbers that have been detected in the latest five games (S114). In particular, 25 numbers arranged in the bingo card 75 distributed to the station 4 and five win numbers are compared with each other, grids 76 including the win numbers are checked, and it is determined that the player wins the bingo game when the checked grids 76 form a predetermined arrangement shown in FIG. 7. On the other hand, when it is determined that the bingo game of any of the stations 4 is not over (S143: NO), the process proceeds to S115.

In S115, the server control CPU 81 determines whether chips bet in each station 4 win the game on the basis of the bet information for each station 4 which has been received in S107 and the win numbers detected in S111.

Subsequently, the server control CPU 81 performs an award calculation process (S116). In the award calculation process, the chips bet on the win number are recognized for each station 4 and the total amount of award credits to be paid to each station 4 is calculated using the award multiplication factor (the number of credits paid for each chip (each bet)) for each BET area 72 stored in the award credit storage area 82A of the ROM 82. In addition, for the stations 4 in which the bingo games are over, the amounts of the award credits paid to each station 4 are calculated on the basis of the win determination process of S114.

In S117, the server control CPU 81 transmits the result of payout of credits for the roulette game and the result of payout of credits for the bingo game on the basis of the award calculation process in S116. In particular, credit data corresponding to the amount of the award of the roulette game is output to the station control CPU 91 of the station 4 that has won the roulette game, and credit data corresponding to the result of the award and the bet amount is output to the station control CPU 91 of the station 4 that has won the award in the bingo game. In addition, when the JP is won in the bingo game, credit data corresponding to the current pool amount pooled in the jackpot is output.

In S118, the ball 27 on the wheel 22 is collected by driving the ball collection unit provided below the wheel 22. The collected ball 27 is input inside the wheel 22 of the roulette board 3 again for the next game and thereafter.

Next, a sub process of the bingo card generation process of S109 will now be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a sub process of the bingo card generation process performed by the server control CPU 81 of the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment.

First, in S121, the server control CPU 81 reads the bet information, which has been received in S107, again. Then, the server control CPU 81 determines whether game media of 30 bets (30 credits) or more are bet for this game in each station 4 on the basis of the read information and determines stations 4 in which 30 bets or more are bet from among the total twelve stations 4 (S122).

Subsequently, in S123, numbers to be arranged on the bingo card 75 distributed to the station 4 that has been determined to have 30 bets or more in S122 are drawn using random numbers sampled by a sampling circuit or the like. In particular, first, 25 numbers are extracted from among the numbers of “00”, “0”, and “1” to “36” arranged on the number indication plates 25 of the wheel 22 and determines arrangement of the extracted 25 numbers.

As described above, in the roulette gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment, when there is a station 4 in which the number of bets received during the bet reception period for the roulette game is 30 or more, a bingo card 75 to be distributed to the station 4 is generated (S109) and the generated bingo card 75 is displayed in the display 8 (S1). As a result of the lottery process using the roulette board 3, when a number arranged in the bingo card 75 and a number corresponding to the number pocket 23 in which the ball 27 is housed on the wheel 22 are matched to each other, the grid 76 of the matched number is checked, and an award is provided on the basis of arrangement of the checked grids 76 (S16). Accordingly, the roulette gaming machine 1 improves a variety of the game while using the same structure of the wheel 22 and lottery method as those which are generally used, and thereby the roulette gaming machine can prevent the player from being tired of the game. In addition, it is possible to adjust the payout rate in an easy manner, compared with a case where only the roulette game is played.

When a bet of a predetermined amount or more is placed, a bingo game is played in parallel with the roulette game so as to increase the player's enthusiasm for the game, and accordingly, it is possible to lead the player to bet more amounts.

Since numbers to be checked on a bingo card during a bingo game and win numbers of roulette games are commonly used, it is possible to perform the bingo game by using the win numbers of the roulette games. Thus, it is possible to reduce the load for a control process related with the bingo game while two types of games are played.

When a predetermined award is won in the bingo game, the current pool amount pooled in the jackpot is paid, and accordingly, it is possible to give a high-value award that is difficult to be implemented only in a roulette game.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, although a bingo game is played for a station 4 having 30 bets or more as the number of bets received during the bet reception period for a roulette game in the embodiment, the number of bets received in each game may be accumulated and the bingo game may be played for a station 4 in which the accumulated number of bets becomes a predetermined number (for example, 300 bets).

Alternatively, a lottery may be performed for determination of the stations 4 for which the bingo game is played, and the bingo game may be performed for a station 4 determined to be the station 4 for which the bingo game is performed on the basis of the result of the lottery. Furthermore, the lottery may be performed only for the stations 4 having a predetermined amount of bet.

In addition, it may be configured to provide a high-value award when the player wins both the roulette game and the bingo game. For example, when the player wins the bingo game, two times to eight times the award acquired from the roulette game may be given.

In the embodiment, although examples in which the present invention is implemented in a roulette gaming machine 1 having a roulette board 3 have been described, the present invention may be implemented in a gaming device including a wheel having a plurality of pockets. Thus, for example, the present invention may be applied to a bingo gaming machine or a keno gaming machine.

Claims

1. A roulette gaming machine comprising:

a wheel that is provided with a plurality of number pockets having identification numbers assigned thereto;

a ball that rolls on an upper face of the wheel to be housed into one of the number pockets;

a win number detecting unit that detects the identification number that is assigned to the number pocket into which the ball is housed as a win number;

a betting unit that allows a player to input a betting operation for performing a prediction of the win number; and

a controller that operates to: determine whether or not an award is won based on the win number detected by the win number detecting unit and the betting operation input by the player through the betting unit; provide the award to the player when determined that the award is won; and perform a secondary game in parallel with a roulette game when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

2. The roulette gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller further operates to determine that the predetermined condition is satisfied when a bet amount calculated based on the betting operation is larger than a predetermined amount.

3. The roulette gaming machine according to claim 1 further comprising a display device,

wherein the controller further operates to: control the display device to display a bingo card arranged with the identification numbers when the predetermined condition is satisfied; and perform a bingo game using the bingo card as the secondary game in parallel with the roulette game.

4. The roulette gaming machine according to claim 3 further comprising a memory,

wherein the controller further operates to:

pool a part of a bet amount calculated based on the betting operation input by the player through the betting unit in the memory as a pooled amount; and

provide the pooled amount to the player as the award when the player wins the bingo game.

5. A method for providing a roulette game to a player, the method comprising:

determining one of identification numbers assigned to a plurality of number pockets as a win number;

determining whether not an award is won based on the win number and a betting operation input by the player for performing a prediction of the win number;

providing the award when determined that the award is won; and

performing a secondary game in parallel with a roulette game when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied when a bet amount calculated based on the betting operation is larger than a predetermined amount.

7. The method according to claim 5 further comprising:

displaying a bingo card arranged with the identification numbers when the predetermined condition is satisfied; and

performing a bingo game using the bingo card as the secondary game in parallel with the roulette game.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising:

pooling a part of a bet amount calculated based on the betting operation input by the player as a pooled amount; and

providing the pooled amount to the player as the award when the player wins the bingo game.