GAMING MACHINE

• US 20080064475A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,021,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

When a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted into a slot machine, the game mode is switched from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode according to the player'"'"'s input operation via a touch panel. In the insurance mode, the number of games is counted. When the counted game number has reached a predetermined number, a predetermined amount of credits is paid out. In a case where the amount of credits paid out according to the rearranged symbols is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the counted number of games is reset. On the other hand, the predetermined amount is changed based on the change in the maximum bet amount according to the input operation via a setting change switch, which allows the set value of the maximum bet amount to be changed.

Claims

1. A slot machine comprising:

a display that displays an image;

a symbol display device that is capable of displaying a plurality of symbols;

a first input device that allows a player to input an instruction to advance a game;

a second input device that allows a set value of a maximum bet amount to be changed; and

a controller programmed to execute the processes of;

(a) executing a game by, after a predetermined amount of credits, which is not more than a maximum bet amount determined beforehand, has been bet, rearranging the plurality of symbols via the symbol display device, and paying out a predetermined amount of credits according to the rearranged state symbols;

(b) switching the game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode according to a player'"'"'s input operation via the first input device, when a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted;

(c) counting the number of games after the game mode has been switched to the insurance mode, in a case where the game mode is switched to the insurance mode;

(d) executing a pay out of a predetermined amount of credits, when the number of games counted in the counting process (c) has reached a predetermined number;

(e) resetting the number of games counted in the counting process (c), when the amount of credits paid out according to the state wherein the plurality of symbols have been rearranged is not less than a predetermined amount; and

(f) changing the predetermined number based on a change in the maximum bet amount according to the input operation via the second input device.

2. A slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to further execute the process:

(g) displaying an image indicating a mode selected from the insurance mode and the non-insurance mode on the display.

3. A slot machine according to claim 2, wherein, in the displaying process (g), after the difference between the predetermined number and the counted number of games has reached a predetermined number in the insurance mode, a rendered image is displayed every time the number of games is counted.

4. A slot machine according to claim 3, wherein

the symbol display device is a mechanical reel device including a plurality of reels, each of which has an outer face bearing the plurality of symbols;

the display comprises a first display provided in front of the mechanical reel device, and having a function of displaying a screen image while allowing a player to visually observe the plurality of symbols displayed on the plurality of reels, and a second display provided above the first display; and

the first display displays the rendered image, and the second display displays an image indicating that the current game state is in the insurance mode, in the displaying process (g).

5. A method for a slot machine comprising the steps of:

(a) executing a game by, after a predetermined amount of credits, which is not more than a maximum bet amount determined beforehand, has been bet, rearranging a plurality of symbols via a symbol display device that is capable of displaying the plurality of symbols, and paying out a predetermined amount of credits according to the rearranged symbols;

(b) switching the game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode according to a player'"'"'s input operation via a first input device that allows the player to input an instruction, when a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted;

(c) counting the number of games after the game mode has been switched to the insurance mode, in a case where the game mode is switched to the insurance mode;

(d) executing a pay out of a predetermined amount of credits, when the number of games counted in the counting step (c) has reached a predetermined number;

(e) resetting the number of games counted in the counting step (c), in a case where the amount of credits paid out according to the rearranged symbols is not less than a predetermined amount; and

(f) changing the predetermined number based on a change in the maximum bet amount according to the input operation via the second input device.