Gaming machine

• US 8,025,563 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/735,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/42, 2731381- 2, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

With regard to a slot machine, in a case that a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted, 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. The number of games is counted in the insurance mode. When the counted number of games has reached a predetermined number, a predetermined amount of credits is paid out. In the insurance mode, determination of whether or not the game stage is to be switched to the bonus game stage is made based upon a value determined at random. When the game stage has been switched to the bonus game stage, the counted number of games is reset.

Claims

1. A slot machine, comprising:

a display to display an image;

a symbol display device to display a plurality of symbols; and

a controller programmed to execute, a basic game after an amount of credits has been bet, the amount of credits being not more than a predetermined maximum bet amount, arranging the plurality of symbols via the symbol display device, and paying out credits in an amount responsive to the arranging;

switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode when a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted to the slot machine;

determining whether the predetermined maximum bet amount has been placed;

continuing to count a number of games when the game mode has been switched to the insurance mode and the predetermined maximum bet amount has been placed until the counted number of games reaches a predetermined number or a game stage is switched to a bonus game differing in type from the basic game;

executing a payout of a predetermined amount of insurance credits, if the counted number of games has reached the predetermined number before the game stage is switched to the bonus game; and

resetting the number of games counted, if the game stage has been switched to the bonus game,

wherein the bonus game provides a payout if an award is won.

2. A slot machine according to claim 1, wherein, in the resetting, when the game stage has been switched to the bonus game, the insurance mode is reset.

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

display an image indicating a mode selected from the insurance mode and the non-insurance mode on the display.

4. A slot machine according to claim 3, wherein a rendered image is displayed every time the number of games is counted, when a difference between the predetermined number and the counted number of games is equal to or less than a predetermined number in the insurance mode.

5. A slot machine according to claim 4, wherein

the symbol display device is a mechanical reel device including a plurality of reels, each having an outer face bearing the plurality of symbols, and the display device comprises a first display and a second display, the first display provided in front of the mechanical reel device and displaying a screen image while allowing a player to visually identify the plurality of symbols displayed on the plurality of reels, the second display provided above the first display;

and

the first display displays a rendered image, and the second display displays an image that indicates that the current game state is in the insurance mode.

7. The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input device that allows a player to input an instruction,

wherein the counting is performed according to an input operation of the player via the input device.

8. The slot machine according to claim 7, wherein the controller is programmed to allow the player to input the information relating to identification of the player via the input device and to count the number of games for individual players.

9. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein switching of the game stage to the bonus game is determined based upon a value determined at random.

10. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the slot machine does not guarantee an award to a player in the insurance mode.

6. A method of providing a slot machine game comprising:

executing a payout of an amount of credits for a basic game according to a plurality of symbols rearranged, after an amount of credits has been bet, the amount of credits being not more than a predetermined maximum bet amount, and the plurality of symbols are rearranged via a symbol display device displaying a plurality of symbols;

switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode when a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted to the slot machine;

determining whether the predetermined maximum bet amount has been placed;

continuing to count a number of games when the game mode has been switched to the insurance mode and the predetermined maximum bet amount has been placed until the counted number of games reaches a predetermined number or a game stage is switched to a bonus game differing in type from the basic game;

executing a payout of a predetermined amount of insurance credits, if the number of games counted has reached the predetermined number before the game stage is switched to the bonus game; and

resetting the number of games counted, if the game stage has been switched to the bonus game,

wherein the bonus game provides a payout if an award is won.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the slot machine game does not guarantee an award to a player in the insurance mode.

12. A slot machine comprising:

a display to display an image;

a symbol display device to display a plurality of symbols;

a setting change switch configured to accept a maximum bet amount; and

a controller programmed to execute,

a basic game after an amount of credits has been bet, the amount of credits being equal to or less than the maximum bet amount, arranging the plurality of symbols via the symbol display device, and paying out credits in an amount responsive to the arranging;

determining an amount of insurance credits based on the maximum bet amount input through the setting change switch;

switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode when a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted to the slot machine;

determining whether the maximum bet amount has been placed;

continuing to count a number of games when the game mode has been switched to the insurance mode and the maximum bet amount has been placed until the counted number of games reaches a predetermined number or a game stage is switched to a bonus game differing in type from the basic game;

executing a payout of the amount of insurance credits, if the counted number of games has reached the predetermined number before the game stage is switched to the bonus game; and

resetting the number of games counted, if the game stage has been switched to the bonus game,

wherein the bonus game provides a payout if an award is won.

13. The slot machine according to claim 12, wherein, in the resetting, when the game stage has been switched to the bonus game, the insurance mode is reset.

14. The slot machine according to claim 12, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

display an image indicating a mode selected from the insurance mode and the non-insurance mode on the display.

15. The slot machine according to claim 14, wherein a rendered image is displayed every time the number of games is counted, when a difference between the predetermined number and the counted number of games is equal to or less than a predetermined number in the insurance mode.

16. The slot machine according to claim 15, wherein

the symbol display device is a mechanical reel device including a plurality of reels, each of the reels having an outer face bearing the plurality of symbols, and the display device comprises a first display and a second display, the first display provided in front of the mechanical reel device and displaying a screen image while allowing a player to visually identify the plurality of symbols displayed on the plurality of reels, the second display provided above the first display;

and

the first display displays a rendered image, and the second display displays an image that indicates that the current game state is in the insurance mode.