GAMING MACHINE

• US 20080318657A2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Inventors: OKADA, Kazuo
• Application Number:
  US11/735,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

When a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted into a slot machine, a game mode is switched from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode according to the user'"'"'s input operation via a touch panel. After the switching to the insurance mode, determination is made whether or not the amount of bet credits matches the maximum bet amount. In a case where determination has been made that the amount of bet credits matches the maximum bet amount, the number of games is counted after the switching of the game mode to the insurance mode. When the counted number of games has reached a predetermined number, a predetermined amount of credits is paid out.

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;

an input device that allows a player to input an instruction; 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 symbols;

(b) determining whether the amount of bet credits is the maximum bet amount;

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

(d) counting the number of games after the mode has been switched to the insurance mode, when determination has been made in the determining process (b) that the amount of bet credits matches the maximum bet amount, and when the switched game mode is the insurance mode; and

(e) paying out a predetermined amount of credits, when the counted number of games in the counting process (d) has reached a predetermined number.

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

(f) 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 (f), after the difference between the predetermined number and the 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, 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 the insurance mode, in the displaying process (f).

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) determining whether the amount of bet credits is the maximum bet amount;

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

(d) counting the number of games after the game mode has been switched to the insurance mode, in a case where determination has been made in the determining step (b) that the amount of bet credits matches the maximum bet amount, and in a case where the switched game mode is the insurance mode; and

(e) executing a payout of a predetermined amount of credits, when the counted number of games in the counting step (d) has reached a predetermined number.