JP7846037B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a slot machine capable of generating predetermined prizes according to the display results of a variable display unit that can display multiple types of identifiable identification information, each of which is uniquely identifiable.

As for this type of slot machine, a system has been proposed that allows control between a normal section that is not controlled to enter a favorable state and a favorable section that can be controlled to enter a favorable state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-156564

As described in Patent Document 1, in slot machines equipped with a favorable period, there is room for improvement in the control during the transition to the favorable period.

The present invention aims to provide a slot machine with improved control during transitions to advantageous periods.

The slot machine according to claim 1 is
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,
An advantageous state control means that can control the state to an advantageous state,
A section control means that can control the section to either a normal section that is not controlled to the advantageous state, or an advantageous section that can be controlled to the advantageous state,
Equipped with,
In the aforementioned advantageous interval, the unadvantageous state can be controlled to a normal state and a high-probability state which is more likely to be controlled to the advantageous state than the normal state.
The aforementioned advantageous state includes a first advantageous state and a second advantageous state in which a greater increase in game value than the first advantageous state can be expected.
In the high-probability state that is controlled after a specific period has elapsed following the end of the aforementioned advantageous period, the proportion of the advantageous state that is determined to be controlled being the first advantageous state among the first and second advantageous states is high.
It is possible to control to a second advantageous state after being controlled to the first advantageous state,
The aforementioned advantageous period can be terminated when the second advantageous state ends.
In the high-probability state that is controlled after the end of the advantageous period and before the specific period has elapsed, the proportion of the advantageous state that is determined to be controlled being the second advantageous state among the first and second advantageous states is high.
In the high-probability state that is controlled after the second favorable state has ended and the specified period has elapsed, the proportion of the favorable state that is determined to be controlled being the first favorable state among the first and second favorable states is high.
In the high-probability state that is controlled before the end of the second favorable state and the expiration of the specified period, the proportion of the favorable state that is determined to be controlled being the second favorable state among the first and second favorable states is high.
There are two cases: one in which, after the second advantageous state ends, the system is controlled to the high-probability state while continuing the advantageous period; and another in which, after ending the second advantageous state and the advantageous period , the system transitions to the normal period, and then, upon transitioning back to the advantageous period, the system is controlled to the high-probability state.
During the advantageous period, it is possible to control the external signal that can be output to the outside of the slot machine to be in the ON state.
When the advantageous state and the advantageous period end , and the system transitions to the normal period, and then transitions back to the advantageous period, the system controls the system to the high probability state. When the second advantageous state ends, the external signal is temporarily turned off, the off state is maintained until the system transitions to the high probability state, and the signal is turned on at a timing after the transition to the high probability state .
When controlling to the high probability state while continuing the advantageous period, the external signal is temporarily turned off when the second advantageous state ends, remains off for at least one game, and is kept off until transitioning to the high probability state, and is turned on at a timing after the transition to the high probability state .
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, even if the machine is controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period continues, the external signal will be turned off temporarily, just as if the machine had ended once and then been controlled to a high-probability state. This makes it difficult to determine whether the machine was controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period continued, or whether it was controlled to a high-probability state after the advantageous period had ended.

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.

This is a front view of a slot machine according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. This is a diagram showing the arrangement of symbols on the reels. This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a slot machine. This is a diagram to explain the roles that are subject to internal lottery. This diagram illustrates the execution methods of navigation notifications and navigation effects. This diagram shows the transitions in the advantageous period state during the game period and the advantageous period. This is a diagram to explain the advantageous period state. This is a diagram showing the probability of winning the AT (Automatic Transmission) lottery. This diagram illustrates the control procedures at the start of the CZ1 and AT1 states. This diagram illustrates the control procedures at the start of the CZ1 and AT1 states. This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT2 state. This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT2 state. This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT2 state. This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT2 state. This diagram illustrates the control process at the end of the AT2 state. This diagram illustrates the screen transitions at the end of the AT2 state. This diagram illustrates the screen transitions at the end of the AT2 state. This figure shows a modified example of the AT lottery probability. This diagram illustrates a modified example of the control content at the end of the AT2 state.

The embodiments for implementing the slot machine according to the present invention will be described below based on examples.

[Form 1]
The slot machine of form 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,
A pre-determining method (internal lottery) for deciding whether or not to allow prize winners,
A means for controlling the state to be advantageous (AT state),
A section control means that can control the system to either a normal section that is not controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) or an advantageous section that can be controlled to the advantageous state (AT state),
Equipped with,
It is possible to control the system in a way that makes it impossible to determine whether it is controlled in the normal section or the advantageous section.
In the advantageous section, in a non-advantageous state (CZ1 state, CZ2 state) that is not controlled to the advantageous state (AT state), the decision result of the pre-determination means becomes a specific result (AT lottery target role), and the system can be controlled to the advantageous state (AT state).
The aforementioned advantageous state (AT state) includes a first advantageous state (AT1 state) and a second advantageous state (AT2 state) in which a greater increase in game value than the first advantageous state can be expected.
After the start of the advantageous period and a predetermined period has elapsed (after the end of the CZ2 state), when the system is controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) based on the fact that the decision result of the pre-determination means in the non-advantageous state (CZ1 state) became the specific result (AT lottery target role), the proportion of the system being controlled to the first advantageous state (AT1 state) among the first advantageous state (AT1 state) and the second advantageous state (AT2 state) is high.
After being controlled to the first advantageous state (AT1 state), it is possible to control to the second advantageous state (AT2 state),
The aforementioned advantageous period can be terminated when the second advantageous state (AT2 state) ends.
In the period between the start of the advantageous interval and the expiration of the predetermined period (CZ2 state), when the system is controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) based on the fact that the decision result of the pre-determination means in the non-advantageous state (CZ2 state) became the specific result (AT lottery target role), the proportion of the system being controlled to the second advantageous state (AT2 state) out of the first advantageous state (AT1 state) and the second advantageous state (AT2 state) is high.
According to this feature, after a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of the advantageous period, the game may be controlled to a second advantageous state, which offers a greater increase in game value than the first advantageous state. However, if the advantageous period ends after the second advantageous state has ended, it can be expected that when the advantageous period starts again, the game will be controlled to the second advantageous state again without going through the first advantageous state.

The slot machine of form 1-2 is the slot machine described in form 1-1,
After the second advantageous state (AT2 state) ends and the predetermined period has elapsed (after the CZ2 state ends), when the system is controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) based on the fact that the decision result of the pre-determination means in the non-advantageous state (CZ1 state) became the specific result (AT lottery target role), the proportion of the system being controlled to the first advantageous state (AT1 state) among the first advantageous state (AT1 state) and the second advantageous state (AT2 state) is high.
Before the end of the second advantageous state and the expiration of the predetermined period (CZ2 state), the system is characterized in that, when the system is controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) based on the fact that the decision result of the pre-determination means in the non-advantageous state (CZ2 state) became the specific result (AT lottery target role), the proportion of the system being controlled to the second advantageous state (AT2 state) out of the first advantageous state (AT1 state) and the second advantageous state (AT2 state) is high.
This feature allows players to expect to be controlled back into the second advantageous state without going through the first advantageous state, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended after the second advantageous state has ended.

The slot machine of form 1-3 is the slot machine described in form 1-1 or 1-2,
The system includes an acquisition information notification means (acquired number notification) capable of notifying acquisition information (number of acquired coins) regarding the game value acquired in the aforementioned advantageous state (AT state),
The acquisition information notification means is characterized in that, when the system is controlled to the second advantageous state (AT2 state) before the predetermined period has elapsed since the start of the advantageous period (CZ2 state), it takes over and notifies the acquisition information (number of acquired coins) from the advantageous state (AT state) that was controlled at the end of the previous advantageous period.
This feature makes it possible to make it appear as if a second advantageous state is continuously occurring even if the advantageous period is interrupted.

The slot machine of form 1-4 is a slot machine described in any of forms 1-1 to 1-3,
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),
The second advantageous state (AT2 state) is characterized in that when it 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) is less than or equal to a specific amount (specific number).
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.

The slot machine of form 1-5 is the slot machine described in form 1-4,
The system is characterized in that, after the aforementioned upper limit termination condition (termination condition 1) is met and the advantageous period ends, when a new advantageous period begins, a different type of presentation (result notification/advantageous period termination presentation, normal presentation, revival presentation) is executed compared to when the advantageous period ends without the aforementioned upper limit termination condition (termination condition 1) being met and a new advantageous period begins.
According to this feature, when a new advantageous period begins after the upper limit termination condition is met and the advantageous period ends, the presentation is different from when a new advantageous period begins after the advantageous period ends without the upper limit termination condition being met. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the sense of incongruity that a second advantageous state continues even though the upper limit termination condition has been met and the advantageous period has ended.

[Form 2]
The 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,
A pre-determining method (internal lottery) for deciding whether or not to allow prize winners,
A means for controlling the state to be advantageous (AT state),
A section control means that can control the system to either a normal section that is not controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) or an advantageous section that can be controlled to the advantageous state (AT state),
Equipped with,
It is possible to control the system in a way that makes it impossible to determine whether it is controlled in the normal section or the advantageous section.
In the advantageous section, in a non-advantageous state (CZ1 state, CZ2 state) that is not controlled to the advantageous state (AT state), the decision result of the pre-determination means becomes a specific result (AT lottery target role), and the system can be controlled to the advantageous state (AT state).
The aforementioned advantageous state (AT state) includes a first advantageous state (AT1 state) and a second advantageous state (AT2 state) in which a greater increase in game value can be expected than in the first advantageous state.
After the start of the advantageous period and a predetermined period has elapsed (after the end of the CZ2 state), when the system is controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) based on the fact that the decision result of the pre-determination means in the non-advantageous state (CZ1 state) became the specific result (AT lottery target role), the proportion of the system being controlled to the first advantageous state (AT1 state) among the first advantageous state (AT1 state) and the second advantageous state (AT2 state) is high.
After being controlled to the first advantageous state (AT1 state), it is possible to control to the second advantageous state (AT2 state),
The aforementioned advantageous period can be terminated after the second advantageous state (AT2 state) ends.
In the normal section, the system transitions to the advantageous section based on the fact that the result of the pre-determination means is at least a predetermined result (a specific role in the button sequence) or a specific result (a role eligible for AT lottery (excluding normal replays)).
When the decision result of the pre-determination means becomes the specific result (AT lottery target role (excluding normal replays)) and the transition to the advantageous section occurs, the advantageous state (AT state) can be controlled when the transition to the advantageous section occurs.
The system is characterized in that, when the decision result of the pre-determination means becomes the specified result (AT lottery target role (excluding normal replays)), the system transitions to the advantageous section and is controlled to the advantageous state (AT state), and the proportion of the system being controlled to the second advantageous state (AT2 state) out of the first advantageous state (AT1 state) and the second advantageous state (AT2 state) is high.
According to this feature, after a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of the advantageous period, the game may be controlled to a second advantageous state, which offers a greater increase in game value than the first advantageous state. However, if the advantageous period ends after the second advantageous state has ended, the game can be expected to be controlled to the second advantageous state again when the advantageous period starts again.

The slot machine of form 2-2 is the slot machine described in form 2-1,
After the second advantageous state (AT2 state) ends and the predetermined period has elapsed (after the CZ2 state ends), when the system is controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) based on the fact that the decision result of the pre-determination means in the non-advantageous state (CZ1 state) became the specific result (AT lottery target role), the proportion of the system being controlled to the first advantageous state (AT1 state) among the first advantageous state (AT1 state) and the second advantageous state (AT2 state) is high.
Before the end of the second advantageous state and the expiration of the predetermined period (CZ2 state), the system is characterized in that, when the system is controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) based on the fact that the decision result of the pre-determination means in the non-advantageous state (CZ2 state) became the specific result (AT lottery target role), the proportion of the system being controlled to the second advantageous state (AT2 state) out of the first advantageous state (AT1 state) and the second advantageous state (AT2 state) is high.
This feature allows players to expect to be controlled back into the second advantageous state, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended after the second advantageous state has ended.

The slot machine of form 2-3 is the slot machine described in form 2-1 or 2-2,
The system includes an acquisition information notification means (acquired number notification) capable of notifying acquisition information (number of acquired coins) regarding the game value acquired in the aforementioned advantageous state (AT state),
The acquisition information notification means is characterized in that, when the system is controlled to the second advantageous state (AT2 state) before the predetermined period has elapsed since the start of the advantageous period (CZ2 state), it takes over and notifies the acquisition information (number of acquired coins) from the advantageous state (AT state) that was controlled at the end of the previous advantageous period.
This feature makes it possible to make it appear as if a second advantageous state is continuously occurring even if the advantageous period is interrupted.

The slot machine of form 2-4 is a slot machine described in any of forms 2-1 to 2-3,
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),
The second advantageous state (AT2 state) is characterized in that when it 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) is less than or equal to a specific amount (specific number).
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.

The slot machine of form 2-5 is the slot machine described in form 2-4,
The system is characterized in that, after the aforementioned upper limit termination condition (termination condition 1) is met and the advantageous period ends, when a new advantageous period begins, a different type of presentation (result notification/advantageous period termination presentation, normal presentation, revival presentation) is executed compared to when the advantageous period ends without the aforementioned upper limit termination condition (termination condition 1) being met and a new advantageous period begins.
According to this feature, when a new advantageous period begins after the upper limit termination condition is met and the advantageous period ends, the presentation is different from when a new advantageous period begins after the advantageous period ends without the upper limit termination condition being met. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the sense of incongruity that a second advantageous state continues even though the upper limit termination condition has been met and the advantageous period has ended.

[Form 3]
The slot machine of form 3-1 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,
A means for controlling the state to be advantageous (AT state),
A section control means that can control the system to either a normal section that is not controlled to the advantageous state (AT state) or an advantageous section that can be controlled to the advantageous state (AT state),
Equipped with,
There are two possibilities: after the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, the system is controlled to a high-probability state (CZ2 state) with a high probability of transitioning back to the advantageous state (AT state) while continuing the advantageous section; and after the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, the system is controlled to terminate the advantageous section and transition to the normal section, and then, upon transitioning back to the advantageous section, the system is controlled to the high-probability state (CZ2 state).
The system is characterized in that, after the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, when it is controlled to enter the high probability state (CZ2 state) while continuing the advantageous period, it is controlled to enter the high probability state (CZ2 state) after a predetermined period of preparation.
According to this feature, if the game is controlled to a high-probability state after the advantageous state has ended and the advantageous period has ended and then the game has transitioned back to the advantageous period, there will always be a waiting period between the end of the advantageous state and the start of the high-probability state. However, even if the game is controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period is still ongoing, the high-probability state will not start immediately. Instead, the game will be controlled to a high-probability state after a predetermined preparation period. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period was still ongoing, or whether the game was controlled to a high-probability state after the advantageous period had ended.

The slot machine of form 3-2 is the slot machine described in form 3-1,
It includes a pre-determination mechanism (internal lottery) for deciding whether or not to allow prize winners,
In the normal section, the system transitions to the advantageous section based on the result of the prior determination means becoming a specific result (advantageous section transition trigger).
The present invention is characterized in that, after the advantageous state (AT2 state) has ended, when controlling the system to enter the high probability state (CZ2 state) while continuing the advantageous section, the system is controlled to enter the high probability state (CZ2 state) based on the fact that the determination result of the pre-determination means is the specific result (advantageous section transition role).
According to this feature, when the game is controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period continues, it will be controlled to a high-probability state at the same trigger as when the advantageous period ends once and then the game is controlled to a high-probability state. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period continued, or whether it was controlled to a high-probability state after the advantageous period ended.

The slot machine of form 3-3 is the slot machine described in form 3-1 or 3-2,
The system includes a deriving 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, CZ2 state) that is not controlled to the advantageous state (AT2 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 sequence with the left reel as the first stop) or in the second mode (stopping operation sequence 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 sequence with a reel other than the left reel as the first stop).
In the aforementioned preparation state, the degree of advantage regarding the transition to the advantageous state remains unchanged regardless of how the derivation operation means is operated (no penalty is given in relation to the AT even if the game is played with a stopping operation sequence 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, 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 advantageous section continued while the system was controlled to a high probability state, or whether the advantageous section ended once before the system was controlled to a high probability state.

The slot machine of form 3-4 is a slot machine described in any of forms 3-1 to 3-3,
During the 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.
When the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and when the system transitions back to the advantageous section, the system controls the system to enter the high probability state (CZ2 state), and when the advantageous state ends, the external signals (CZ/AT signal, AT signal) are temporarily turned off, and then turned on after the system transitions to the high probability state (CZ2 state).
When controlling the game to enter the high-probability state (CZ2 state) while continuing the advantageous period, the external signals (CZ/AT signal, AT signal) are temporarily turned off when the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, remain off for at least one game, and then turned on after transitioning to the high-probability state (CZ2 state).
According to this feature, even if the machine is controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period continues, the external signal will be turned off temporarily, just as if the machine had ended once and then been controlled to a high-probability state. This makes it difficult to determine whether the machine was controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period continued, or whether it was controlled to a high-probability state after the advantageous period had ended.

The slot machine of form 3-5 is a slot machine described in any of forms 3-1 to 3-4,
It is equipped with a specific light-emitting unit (CZ/AT LED 19a, AT LED 19b) that can be emitted during the advantageous period,
When the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and when the system transitions to the advantageous section again, the system controls the system to enter the high probability state (CZ2 state), and when the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, the specific light-emitting units (CZ/AT LED 19a, AT LED 19b) are temporarily set to a non-lighting state (off-illuminated state), and then set to a light-emitting state (on-illuminated state) after the system transitions to the high probability state (CZ2 state).
When controlling the game to enter the high-probability state (CZ2 state) while continuing the advantageous period, the specific light-emitting units (LED 19a during CZ/AT, LED 19b during AT) are temporarily set to a non-lighting state (off-illumination state) when the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, and remain in a non-lighting state (off-illumination state) for at least one game before being set to a light-emitting state (on-illumination state) after transitioning to the high-probability state (CZ2 state).
According to this feature, even if the machine is controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period continues, the specific light-emitting part will temporarily become non-illuminating, just as if the machine had ended once and then been controlled to a high-probability state. This makes it difficult to determine whether the machine was controlled to a high-probability state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the machine had ended once and then been controlled to a high-probability state.

The slot machine of form 3-6 is a slot machine described in any of forms 3-1 to 3-5,
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),
The second advantageous state (AT2 state) is characterized in that when it 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) is less than or equal to a specific amount (specific number).
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.

The slot machine of form 3-7 is a slot machine described in any of forms 3-1 to 3-6,
If it is determined that the right to control the system to the advantageous state (AT2 state) has been granted while the system is in the advantageous state (AT2 state), the system is characterized in that, after the advantageous state (AT2 state) ends, the system is controlled to the advantageous state (AT2 state) without controlling the system to the high probability state (CZ2 state) or the preparation state.
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.

An embodiment 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 mutually identifiable symbols arranged 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. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, each reel contains multiple identifiable symbols ("Red 7", "White 7", "BAR", "Watermelon a", "Watermelon b", "Cherry", "Bell a", "Bell b", "Replay", and "Plum") arranged in a predetermined order.

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

As shown in Figure 1, the front of the slot machine 1 is equipped with a coin slot 4 for inserting coins, a coin payout 9 for dispensing coins, a MAXBET switch 6 operated to set the maximum bet amount 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 the player's game value), a settlement switch 10 operated to settle the coins stored as credits and the coins used to set the bet amount (returning the coins used for credits and bet amount setting), a start switch 7 operated to start the game, stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R operated to stop the rotation of reels 2L, 2C, and 2R respectively, and a performance switch 56 used for special effects, all of which are operable by the player.

On the front of slot machine 1, as shown in Figure 1, there is a credit display 11 that shows the number of medals stored as credits, a game assistance display 12 that shows the number of medals dispensed when a win occurs, an error code indicating the content of the error when an error occurs, and operation information (navigation notification) corresponding to the operation of stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, a 1BET LED 14 that lights up to indicate that the number of bets is set to 1, a 2BET LED 15 that lights up to indicate that the number of bets is set to 2, and a 3BET LED 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 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 (described later) 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.

In this embodiment, the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are provided separately. However, a single LED could be used to indicate that either the CZ/AT signal or the AT signal is ON. In this case, the LED would be kept off when both the CZ/AT signal and the AT signal are OFF. When at least one of the CZ/AT signal or the AT signal is ON, the LED would be turned on. Subsequently, when both the CZ/AT signal and the AT signal are OFF, the LED would be turned off. With this configuration, the LED would 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.

Inside the MAXBET switch 6, there is a BET switch active LED 21 (see Figure 3) that illuminates to indicate that the bet setting operation by the MAXBET switch 6 is valid. Inside the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, there are left, middle, and right stop active LEDs 22L, 22C, and 22R (see Figure 3) respectively, which illuminate to indicate that the operation to stop the reels by the corresponding stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R is valid.

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 transparent liquid crystal panel when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal elements, and is positioned so that the display area is located on the front side (player side) of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R of the front door 1b. The reels 2L, 2C, and 2R on the rear side of the liquid crystal display 51 are visible from the player's side through the transparent area corresponding to the viewing window 3 within the display area of the liquid crystal display 51 and through the viewing window 3.

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 indicator 24 that displays the current setting value while the setting value is being changed or confirmed, 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 (described later), and a medal selector 29 having inserted medal sensors 31a to 31c that detect medals inserted from the medal insertion section 4 and flowing down to the hopper tank side.

Furthermore, inside the slot machine 1, there is 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 opening 9 in accordance with control signals from the main control unit 41.

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

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 gameplay, and the performance control board 90 controls the performance according to the game state.

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. Detection signals from these connected switches are input to the board.

Furthermore, the game control board 40 is connected to the aforementioned credit indicator 11, game assistance indicator 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 indicator 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.

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 other data, and a RAM 41c for temporarily storing work data.

Furthermore, the main control unit 41 transmits various commands to the sub-control unit 91. Commands transmitted from the main control unit 41 to the sub-control unit 91 are sent in only one direction; no commands are sent from the sub-control unit 91 to the main control unit 41.

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).

The aforementioned performance switch 56 is connected to the performance control board 90, and its detection signal is input to it. Furthermore, 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 capable of changing their light emission patterns. 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 performances.

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 corresponding to the set value in the internal lottery and AT lottery, which affect the player's advantage. The set value consists of six levels, from 1 to 6, with 6 having the highest payout rate, and the payout rate decreasing in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 as the value decreases. In other words, when the set value is 6, the player has the highest advantage, and the advantage decreases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 as the value decreases.

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 the RAM 41c is displayed on the setting value display 24, and the machine transitions to a setting change state where 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 again 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. 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 where gameplay can proceed. Furthermore, the main control unit 41 initializes the game-related data stored in the RAM 41c in accordance with the change in the setting value.

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 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.

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

Furthermore, in this embodiment, to make it easier to recognize when a winning combination of symbols is 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 winning combination of symbols is assembled on the winning line LN, a suggestive symbol combination (for example, bell a-bell a-bell a) indicating a win is assembled on one of the invalid lines LM1 to LM5, making it easier to recognize when a winning combination of symbols is assembled on the winning line LN.

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

In stop control, for each stop switch, 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 switch is operated. During the maximum stop delay time (190 ms), up to four frames of symbols can be retracted. In other words, in stop control, it is possible to select one symbol from the symbols displayed when stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated, 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.

This allows for the following control mechanism: When the rotation of each reel (2L, 2C, 2R) is stopped by operating the corresponding stop switches (8L, 8C, 8R), if a symbol representing a winning combination (details of the internal lottery) is within the pull-in range (up to four frames ahead of the symbol at the time the stop switch is operated), that symbol is pulled onto the winning line LN, stopping the rotation of the reel. However, if a symbol representing a winning combination (details of the internal lottery) is not within that pull-in range, the system can control the rotation of the reel by pulling onto a symbol that does not represent a winning combination (a symbol not representing a winning combination) onto the winning line LN, preventing any winning combinations from stopping there, thereby stopping the rotation of the reel.

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

Furthermore, in the stop control, if a special role (BB in this embodiment) is carried over, and a re-play role granting a re-play is won through internal lottery, resulting in a situation where both a special role and a re-play role are won simultaneously, the symbols constituting the won re-play role are prioritized and pulled into the winning line LN. The symbols constituting the re-play role on each reel (2L, 2C, 2R) are positioned within a predetermined pull-in range, and when a re-play role is won, the symbols constituting the re-play role are always pulled into the winning line LN. Therefore, in games where both a special role and a re-play role are won simultaneously, the won special role cannot be awarded.

The game ends when all reels 2L, 2C, and 2R stop. If a predetermined combination of winning symbols lands on the winning line LN on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, a win occurs, and control is performed accordingly. If a minor win occurs, the player is awarded a predetermined number of medals according to the type of win, and these are added to their credits. Furthermore, if the credits reach the maximum limit (50 in this embodiment), medals are directly dispensed 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 transitions to another game state.

In this embodiment, the game starts when the start switch 7 is activated and its operation is detected, and ends when all reels have stopped. Furthermore, each control unit (game control) for executing the game begins 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.

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 medal payouts, re-play combinations that grant the ability to start the next game without needing to set a bet amount, and special combinations that result in a transition in the game state. Hereafter, minor combinations and re-play combinations will be collectively referred to as general combinations. For each combination to be awarded according to the game state, 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 awarding 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).

Furthermore, among the winning flags for each role, the winning flags for minor roles and re-spin 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.

Furthermore, the internal lottery system allows for the winning of minor roles and re-play roles (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "navigation target roles") that are more advantageous when the stopping operation is performed in a predetermined manner (e.g., button press order, timing) than when the stopping operation is performed in a different manner. Navigation target roles include, for example, roles where the stopping pattern is more advantageous when the stopping operation is performed in a predetermined manner than when the stopping operation is performed in a different manner, and roles where the probability of stopping in an advantageous manner is higher when the stopping operation is performed in a predetermined manner than when the stopping operation is performed in a different manner. Moreover, advantageous stopping patterns include not only stopping patterns that result in the awarding of medals, but also stopping patterns that result in a transition to an advantageous game state, and stopping patterns that avoid a transition to an unfavorable game state.

The main control unit 41 can control the system to an Assist Time (AT) state, which is a notification period during which navigation notifications can be executed. Navigation information that identifies the advantageous operation patterns for stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R to the player, based on the internal lottery results, is indicated by the lighting patterns of the game assistance display 12. The main control unit 41 starts controlling the system to the AT state when the player is granted the right to be controlled to the AT state. When the system is controlled to the AT state, if the player wins a target role, the system executes a navigation notification, indicating the advantageous operation patterns for stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R (e.g., order of pressing, timing of operation, etc.) to the player using the game assistance display 12. It also transmits a command that identifies the advantageous operation patterns to the player to the sub-control unit 91, causing it to execute a navigation display that shows these operation patterns using the LCD display 51, etc. By operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R according to the operation patterns indicated by the navigation notification and navigation display, the player can reliably win the target role that was won in the internal lottery.

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. While the game assistance display 12 is used to notify navigation information during navigation notification control, a dedicated display capable of displaying only navigation information may also be provided, and this dedicated display may be used to notify navigation information during navigation notification control.

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

During the non-internal state, no special bonus (BB) wins have been carried over. In the factory default state of slot machine 1, or when the game-related data stored in RAM 41c has been initialized due to a setting change, the system is initially controlled in the non-internal state. Furthermore, the system is controlled in the non-internal state when the special state ends. The non-internal state ends when a special bonus (BB) is won in the internal lottery during that non-internal game, and that special bonus is not claimed, transitioning back to the internal state. It also ends when a special bonus (BB) is won in the internal lottery during a game, and that special bonus (BB) is awarded, transitioning back to the special state.

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

During the internal phase, the winning of a special bonus (BB) is carried over. The game begins when a special bonus (BB) is won in the internal lottery during the non-internal phase.

Internally, during a predetermined period of gameplay, if the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in a manner 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 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%.

The special state is a game state controlled in conjunction with the winning of a special bonus (BB). It begins when a special bonus (BB) is won during non-internal gameplay 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 (e.g., 50 medals)). After the special state ends, the game returns to non-internal gameplay.

In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, a special bonus (BB) is won at a predetermined probability (for example, approximately 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 bonus (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%. However, if the game is controlled to the AT state, the payout rate of medals per game exceeds 100%.

Furthermore, in the reel stopping control, if a special role and a minor role are won simultaneously, the system prioritizes aligning the minor role. Additionally, within the internal system, the reel pull-in range for the special role (BB) and the minor role symbols overlap for all minor roles subject to internal抽選 (internal lottery). Therefore, regardless of which minor role is won, the winning minor role's symbols will stop on the winning line LN. Also, if a special role and a re-spin role are won simultaneously, the system ensures that the re-spin role is always aligned. In other words, if a minor role or a re-spin role is won internally, the special role (BB) will not be awarded.

Furthermore, during the internal mode, one of the minor roles or one of the re-spin roles is guaranteed to be won. Therefore, once the game transitions to the internal mode, the special role (BB) will no longer be awarded, and the internal mode will be maintained after the transition.

Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, since the game is controlled internally for the majority of the gameplay, it is assumed that the game is controlled internally. The payout rate of medals according to the set value (1 to 6 in this embodiment) is set so that the payout rate according to each set value is determined by whether or not to control the game to AT (Automatic Trigger) internally. Specifically, this is achieved by setting the winning probability of the internal lottery, the probability of transitioning to the AT state, etc., as described later.

Furthermore, the main control unit 41 can control the AT (Automatic Trigger) to notify the operator of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in a way that is advantageous when a special role (BB) win is carried over, and is designed to ensure that the medal payout rate is appropriate during this internal state.

[Regarding the roles eligible for internal lottery]
As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, a normal replay is allowed to be awarded with the granting of a replay, a rare replay is allowed to be awarded with the granting of a replay, 12 types of push-order combinations are allowed to be awarded with the granting of a main combination and a sub-combination combination with the granting of a medal, a rare combination A is allowed to be awarded with the granting of a medal, a rare combination B is allowed to be awarded with the granting of a medal, a rare combination C is allowed to be awarded with the granting of a medal, and a combination of 6 medals is allowed The following may be subject to internal抽選 (internal lottery): Rare small role D, which allows for the awarding of a bonus; Single small role, which allows for the awarding of one medal; BB, which allows for the awarding of a BB that transitions to a special state; BB + Rare small role A, which allows for the awarding of both BB and Rare small role A; BB + Rare small role B, which allows for the awarding of both BB and Rare small role B; BB + Rare small role C, which allows for the awarding of both BB and Rare small role C; BB + Rare small role D, which allows for the awarding of both BB and Rare small role D; and BB + Single small role, which allows for the awarding of both BB and Single small role.
During non-internal play, the following are subject to internal抽選 (internal lottery): normal replay, rare replay, 16 types of push-order combinations, BB + rare combination A, BB + rare combination B, BB + rare combination C, BB + rare combination D, BB + 1-coin combination, and BB. In the internal lottery during non-internal play, the probability of winning a normal replay is set to approximately 1/7.54, the probability of winning a rare replay to approximately 1/228, the probability of winning a push-order combination to approximately 1/1.59 (each with a probability of approximately 1/12.7), the probability of winning BB + rare combination A to approximately 1/8192, the probability of winning BB + rare combination B to approximately 1/199, the probability of winning BB + rare combination C to approximately 1/60, the probability of winning BB + rare combination D to approximately 1/33, the probability of winning BB + 1-coin combination to approximately 1/5.46, and the probability of winning BB to 1/16384.

Furthermore, within the internal system, normal replays, rare replays, 16 types of push-order combinations, rare combination A, rare combination B, rare combination C, rare combination D, and single-coin combinations are subject to internal抽選 (internal lottery), while combinations including special combinations are not subject to internal lottery. In the internal lottery, the probability of winning a normal replay is approximately 1/7.53, a rare replay is approximately 1/228, a push-order combination is approximately 1/1.59 (each with a probability of approximately 1/12.7), rare combination A is 1/8192, rare combination B is approximately 1/199, rare combination C is approximately 1/60, rare combination D is approximately 1/33, and single-coin combinations are approximately 1/5.46.

As mentioned above, the "Push Order" role is a role in which multiple minor roles (in this embodiment, a main role and a sub-role) are awarded. By performing the stop operation in the order corresponding to each Push Order role (middle-left-right, middle-right-left, right-left-middle, or right-middle-left), the main role, which awards 12 medals, is won regardless of the timing of the stop operation. Conversely, if the stop operation is performed in a stop operation order other than the corresponding order, the sub-role, which awards 1 medal, is won, or the sub-role is not awarded, depending on the timing of the stop operation. In other words, the expected number of medals awarded changes depending on the stop operation order, and the expected number of medals awarded also changes as the stop operation order corresponding to each Push Order role is announced via navigation.

In this embodiment, only the stop order where the middle or right reel is stopped first is assigned as the stop order for the push-order small wins. Playing with the stop order where 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 (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 where the left reel is stopped first. Specifically, in the normal state and pre-announcement state (described later), if the stop order where anything other than the left reel is stopped first is used, the end game count (described later) will not be updated. In the CZ1 state and CZ2 state (described later), the AT lottery will not be held. Therefore, in the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state (described later), playing with the stop order where the left reel is stopped first is encouraged.

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 RAM 41c. Winning numbers assigned to roles that do not transition to the advantageous section (described later) are 1 or less, while winning numbers assigned to roles that transition to the advantageous section are 2 or more. Therefore, the main control unit 41, in determining whether an advantageous section transition role has been won in the normal section, does not identify each individual winning number, but rather determines whether the winning number is 2 or more. If the winning number is 2 or more, it identifies that an advantageous section transition role has been won.

Furthermore, each role subject to internal lottery is assigned a flag category (FC), and the flag category (FC) of the role won in the internal lottery is set in RAM 41c. Flag categories (FC) are assigned common values to roles with common attributes, such as multiple types of push-order roles, multiple roles with similar winning probabilities, and roles where a common role is won. Therefore, when the main control unit 41 performs the AT lottery described later, and determines the probability corresponding to the winning role, it does not determine the probability corresponding to the winning role from each individual winning number, but rather determines the probability corresponding to the winning role based on the value of the flag category (FC) assigned to the winning role. This eliminates the need to determine the probability for each individual winning number, and by determining the probability for each flag category (FC), which is fewer than the number of winning numbers, it becomes possible to determine the probability according to the attributes of the winning role.

[Regarding navigation announcements and navigation presentation]
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.

The main control unit 41, during a predetermined game (from the start of reel rotation until all reels have stopped rotating), can display navigation indicators on the game assistance display unit 12 corresponding to the navigation target role that has been won by internal lottery. This allows the main control unit 41 to provide navigation notifications that inform the player of a stopping pattern advantageous to the player, depending on the navigation target role. Furthermore, at the start of a predetermined game where navigation notification processing is performed, the main control unit 41 can transmit a command to the sub-control unit 91 containing a navigation number that identifies a stopping pattern advantageous to the player.

In response to this, the sub-control unit 91 can, based on commands received from the main control unit 41, identify a stopping pattern advantageous to the player in a game, and can then use a liquid crystal display 51 or the like to provide a navigation display indicating that stopping pattern.

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 12) on the game support display 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 12) on the game support display 12, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping pattern for the player is the middle-right-left stopping order. During games where the navigation number is set to "3" and displayed on 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 sequence for the player is right, left, then center. During games where 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 sequence for the player is right, center, then left.

In response to this, the sub-control unit 91 displays the following on the LCD display 51 based on the command received from the main control unit 41: Navigation image 1 on the LCD display 51, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping sequence for the player is middle-left-right; Navigation image 2 on the LCD display 51, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping sequence for the player is middle-right-left; Navigation image 3 on the LCD display 51, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping sequence for the player is right-left-center; Navigation image 4 on the LCD display 51, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping sequence for the player is right-center-left; and Navigation image 4 on the LCD display 51, suggesting that the most advantageous stopping sequence for the player is right-center-left.

In this embodiment, the navigation notification is configured to inform the player of the stop operation sequence (correct pressing order) for stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, which would be advantageous to the player. However, the navigation notification could also suggest the advantageous timing for operating stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, or suggest a combination of the advantageous stop operation sequence and timing for stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. For example, if the advantageous stop switch operation sequence for the player is a predetermined timing for a predetermined reel, the game assistance display 12 could display the symbol number corresponding to that predetermined timing along with the number corresponding to the predetermined reel, or the LCD display 51 could display the image of the symbol corresponding to that predetermined timing at the position corresponding to the predetermined reel, thereby suggesting that operation sequence.

[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.

The normal section is a gameplay section in which no navigation notifications are issued. It begins after the game-related data (data indicating the game state, data indicating the game section, BB winning flag, etc.) is reset due to a setting change, or after the advantageous section ends, when the next game starts. Subsequently, the normal section ends in a game where the advantageous section transition trigger is won through internal lottery during a game controlled to a game state other than a special state.

The advantageous period is a gameplay period in which navigation notifications may be issued, and it is a more advantageous period for the player compared to the normal period because navigation notifications can be issued. The advantageous period begins when, in a game controlled in a game state other than a special state during the normal period, an advantageous period transition symbol is won through internal lottery, determining that the game will transition to the advantageous period, and the next game begins. The advantageous period then ends when the termination conditions (termination conditions 1 and 2 described below) are met.

During the advantageous period, when predetermined notification conditions are met (in this embodiment, the system is controlled to the AT state described later, and the navigation target role is won in the internal lottery), navigation notification becomes possible. When navigation notification is provided, the player is informed of the advantageous operation methods for stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R.

The main control unit 41 controls the game to be in a favorable section. When the game is in an AT (Automatic Trigger) state where navigation notifications are enabled, if a target role for navigation is won in the internal lottery, the control unit performs navigation notification control (such as displaying a navigation indicator on the game assistance display 12, or sending a command that identifies the navigation number corresponding to the navigation indicator) to notify the player of the advantageous operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. The favorable section is therefore a game section that is more advantageous to the player compared to the normal section.

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 awarded - 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) becomes less than or equal to a specific value (200 in this embodiment) at the end of the AT2 state described later). 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 also counts negative values, and can take a negative value if the number of medals decreases. In this case, if the number of medals then increases and recovers to 0, and becomes a positive value exceeding the predetermined number, Termination Condition 1 is met. Therefore, it is possible for the number of medals to increase by more than 2400 between the time the net increase in medals during the advantageous period starts to increase while the net increase in medals is negative, and before Termination Condition 1 is met.

In this embodiment, the game transition to the advantageous section occurs when a predetermined advantageous section transition symbol is won while the game section is controlled to the normal section. However, it is also possible to have a configuration where, while the game section is controlled to the normal section, an advantageous section transition lottery is conducted when an advantageous section transition target symbol is won in an internal lottery, and the game transition to the advantageous section occurs when the player wins in that lottery.

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 upper limit (2400 in this embodiment). However, the advantageous period may also end when a termination condition is met, such as when the number of games in the advantageous period (number of games in the advantageous period) reaches a predetermined upper limit (for example, 1500 games), or when any of these multiple conditions are met.

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

The main control unit 41, in a game played within the normal section, will transition the game section to the advantageous section from the next game if the advantageous section transition trigger is selected through internal lottery. The advantageous section consists of multiple game section states: normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, CZ2 state, AT1 state, AT2 state, and preparation state.

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 where no navigation notifications are provided, and it is controlled before the start of the CZ2 state if the advantageous period continues after the end of the AT2 state.

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 that prioritizes a reel other than the left reel as the first stop. 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, even if a target role for AT lottery is won, the AT lottery is not performed. Furthermore, in the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state, if the game is played with a stopping order that prioritizes a reel other than the left reel as the first stop, a warning notification is issued indicating that a penalty has been imposed and urging the player to play with a stopping order that prioritizes the left reel as the first stop.

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. Furthermore, 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.

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 a non-internal state or an internal state. If it determines that the state is non-internal, it performs a mode lottery and a game count lottery, and controls the game to the normal state. Since a BB (Big Bonus) win during a non-internal state always transitions to the advantageous section, the game is controlled to the normal section while in a non-internal state only after the game-related data (data indicating the game state, data indicating the game section, BB winning flag, etc.) has been initialized due to a setting change. Therefore, when transitioning to the advantageous section for the first time after a setting change, the game is initially controlled to the normal state.

The mode selection process determines the mode of the normal state that will be controlled afterward. The game count selection process determines one of several game count ranges based on the mode determined in the mode selection, and then determines the final game count from that range.

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

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 count 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). Then, when the pre-announcement state ends, it controls the system to the CZ1 state.

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.

The CZ1 state is controlled for a maximum period of 20 games. During this time, the main control unit 41 performs an AT lottery each time an AT lottery target role is won, determining whether or not to control the system into the AT state. As shown in Figure 8, the winning probability of the AT lottery is set for each lottery trigger and each FC assigned to the AT lottery target role. Whether or not the system is controlled into the AT state is determined by the winning probability corresponding to the lottery trigger and the FC of the won AT lottery target role.

The main control unit 41 terminates the CZ1 state and controls the system to the AT1 state from the next game if the AT lottery is won within 20 games after the start of the CZ1 state. On the other hand, if 20 games have passed without winning the AT lottery, after terminating the CZ1 state, the system performs the aforementioned mode lottery and game count lottery 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.

The AT1 state 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, a navigation notification will be issued, allowing for an increase in medals.

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 it to a condition-determining game of up to 3 games.

In this embodiment, the point-up game consists of 15 games. However, the system may also be configured to terminate the point-up game upon a predetermined trigger (such as winning a specific role) or after each game, and to control the system to a condition judgment game upon winning the termination lottery. Alternatively, the number of point-up games may be determined by lottery from a number of multiple game counts, resulting in a variable number of point-up games.

The main control unit 41 performs a condition determination lottery for each game in the condition determination game. If the condition determination lottery is successful 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 fails even once, the AT1 state ends for that game, 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.

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 AT2 state.

In this embodiment, the system is controlled to the AT2 state when a condition is met in the 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 lottery is won.

The main control unit 41 sets the initial number of remaining games to 30 upon the start of the AT2 state. Then, it subtracts from the remaining games with each game played, and terminates the AT2 state when the remaining games reach 0.

Furthermore, in AT2 state, when a bonus target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC4-6) is won, the main control unit 41 conducts a bonus lottery to determine whether or not to add remaining games and the amount of games to add. If the bonus lottery is won, the winning number of games is added to the remaining games. Also, even if a bonus target role 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 bonus lottery is not conducted, thus limiting the addition of remaining games. The specific number is a value greater than the number of coins expected to increase by the game addition when the bonus target role that offers the greatest potential for game addition (a lottery role corresponding to FC6) is won. Therefore, it becomes less likely that a game addition will occur where the net increase in coins during the advantageous section exceeds the maximum number of coins.

In this embodiment, if a bonus target role is won in AT2 state and 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 bonus lottery is not performed. However, for example, the system may be configured to control the bonus state in which the number of bonus target roles increases or the probability of winning the bonus lottery increases. In such a configuration, when the remaining net increase in coins in AT2 state is less than or equal to a specific number, the control of the bonus state may be restricted, while the bonus lottery is still performed when a bonus target role is won. Furthermore, in a configuration that can control multiple types of bonus states with different expected bonus game counts, when the remaining net increase in coins in AT2 state is less than or equal to a specific number, the system may restrict only certain types of bonus states with relatively large expected bonus game counts.

Furthermore, the main control unit 41 conducts a stock lottery in the AT2 state to determine whether to grant the right to return to the AT2 state when a stock lottery target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC5-7) is won. If the stock lottery is won, the right to win the AT is stocked. The sub-control unit 91 notifies the system when the right to win the AT is stocked 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 the control of the AT2 state again is restricted.

The main control unit 41 terminates the AT2 state when the remaining number of games reaches 0. If there are stocked AT winning rights at this time, 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 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 the 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 (i.e., it exceeds the specific number), the system controls the system to the preparation state from the next game while continuing the advantageous section.

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 period) 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 period is terminated and the game period is returned to the normal period. This prevents the AT2 state from ending abruptly due to the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeding the maximum number of coins, and prevents the addition of remaining game rounds through bonus draws or the granting of AT2 state rights through stock draws from being restricted in order to avoid reaching the maximum number of coins.

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, potentially leading to an increase in tokens exceeding the specific number. Even if an increase in tokens exceeding the specific number is not expected due to the game count increase, 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 stockpiled AT winning rights. In such cases, even before the remaining number of games reaches zero in the AT2 state, the net increase in tokens during the advantageous period may exceed the maximum token limit, thus fulfilling the advantageous period termination condition 1.

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 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 performance (Figure 17(a)) that is different in form from the AT2 performance (Figure 16(a)) described later. In the ED (Ending) sequence, the remaining number of games and the number of stocked AT win rights displayed in the AT2 sequence are not shown. Instead, the number of medals remaining until termination condition 1 is met is announced.

The main control unit 41, upon winning a role that triggers the transition to the advantageous section during the preparation state, conducts an AT lottery if the role is eligible for the AT lottery, and then terminates the preparation state. Since the preparation state ends upon winning a role that triggers the transition to the advantageous section, it is controlled for at least one game. If a role that triggers the transition to the advantageous section is won during the preparation state and the AT lottery is won, the system is controlled back to the AT2 state from the next game. If the AT lottery is not won, the system is controlled to the CZ2 state from the next game. Furthermore, if the winning role that triggers the transition to the advantageous section is not eligible for the AT lottery, i.e., if it is a push-order role, the system is controlled to the CZ2 state from the next game without conducting an AT lottery.

The CZ2 state is controlled for a maximum period of 20 games. During this time, the main control unit 41 conducts an AT lottery each time an AT lottery target role is won. If the AT lottery is won within 20 games after the start of the CZ2 state, the main control unit 41 terminates the CZ2 state and controls the system to the AT2 state from the next game. On the other hand, if 20 games have passed without winning the AT lottery, after terminating the CZ2 state, the mode lottery and game count lottery described above are performed to determine the mode and end game count of the subsequent normal state, and the system controls the system to the normal state from the next game.

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 (Attack Time) lottery if the winning combination is an AT lottery target combination. If the AT lottery is won, the system controls the game to the AT2 state from the next game. If the AT lottery is not won, the system controls the game to the CZ2 state from the next game. If the winning combination for transitioning to the advantageous section is not an AT lottery target combination, i.e., a push-order combination, the system controls the game to the CZ2 state from the next game without performing an AT lottery.

As mentioned above, during non-internal periods, a transition to the advantageous period is guaranteed upon winning a Big Bonus (BB), which will lead to an internal period. Therefore, the state where the game is controlled to the normal period during internal periods is not the state after the game-related data (data indicating the game state, data indicating the game period, BB winning flag, etc.) has been reset due to a setting change, but rather the state after the advantageous period has ended. Furthermore, the conditions for ending the advantageous period are rarely met in any advantageous period state other than AT2, so in practice, it is the state where AT2 has ended and the game has transitioned to the normal period. Therefore, when transitioning back to the advantageous period from the normal period after the advantageous period has ended due to the end of AT2, an AT lottery is held. If the AT lottery is won, the game is initially controlled to the AT2 state. If the AT lottery is not won (including cases where the advantageous period transition role is a push-order role), the game is initially controlled to the CZ2 state. Subsequently, if the AT lottery is not won in the CZ2 state, the game is controlled to the normal state.

[About the AT lottery]
In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the AT lottery is conducted using the following triggers: when a favorable section transition role is won, which is the trigger for transitioning from the normal section to the favorable section after the favorable section has ended along with the end of the AT2 state (Favorable Section Transition (Internal)); when an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ2 state, which is controlled at the start of the favorable section transitioned from the normal section after the favorable section has ended along with the end of the AT2 state (CZ2 State (Favorable Section Start)); when an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ1 state, which is controlled after the end of the CZ2 state via the normal state and pre-announcement state (CZ1 State); when a favorable section transition role is won, which is the trigger for transitioning from the preparation state to the CZ2 state while the favorable section continues after the end of the AT2 state (Preparation State End (Favorable Section Transition Role Won)); and when an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ2 state, which is controlled while the favorable section continues after the end of the AT2 state (CZ2 State (1st to 3rd time after the end of the AT2 state), CZ2 State (4th time or more after the end of the AT2 state)).

As shown in Figure 8, during the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section (internal), the target AT state is AT2 state. The probability of winning is 10% when the advantageous section transition role belongs to FC1 (when a single-coin small win occurs), and 100% when the advantageous section transition role belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare small win A, rare small win B, rare small win C, or rare small win D occurs).

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, in the AT lottery during the CZ2 state (start of the advantageous period), the target AT state is AT2 state. The probability of winning is set to 10% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC1 (when a single-coin small win occurs), 25% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC2 (when a normal replay occurs), and 100% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare small win A, rare small win B, rare small win C, or rare small win D occurs).

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, in the AT lottery in CZ1 state, the target AT state is AT1 state. The winning probability is set as follows: 2.5% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC1 (when a single-coin small win occurs), 5% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC2 (when a normal replay occurs), 6.25% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC3 (when a rare small win D occurs), 12.5% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC4 (when a rare small win C occurs), 25% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC5 (when a rare small win B occurs), 50% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC6 (when a rare replay occurs), and 100% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC7 (when a rare small win A occurs).

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, in the AT lottery at the end of the preparation state (when a favorable section transition role is won), the target AT state is AT2 state. The winning probability is set to 10% when the favorable section transition role belongs to FC1 (when a single-coin role is won), and 100% when the favorable section transition role belongs to FC3 to FC7 (when a rare replay, rare role A, rare role B, rare role C, or rare role D is won).

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, in the AT lottery in 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 or 4 or more times. 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 5% when the target role for the AT lottery belongs to FC1 (when a single small role is won), 10% when the target role for the AT lottery belongs to FC2 (when a normal replay is won), 12.5% when the target role for the AT lottery belongs to FC3 (when a rare small role D is won), 25% when the target role for the AT lottery belongs to FC4 (when a rare small role C is won), and The selection probability is 50%, the winning probability is 66% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC6 (when a rare replay is won), and the winning probability is 100% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC7 (when a rare small role A is won). If the number of times the game is controlled to AT2 state after AT1 state is 4 or more, the winning probability is 10% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC1 (when a single small role is won), 25% when the AT lottery target role belongs to FC2 (when a normal replay is won), and 100% when the AT lottery target 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).

In this embodiment, an AT lottery is conducted when an AT lottery target role is won, regardless of whether the CZ2 state (controlled at the start of the advantageous period transitioning from the normal period after the end of the AT2 state) or the CZ1 state (controlled after the end of the CZ2 state, via the normal state and pre-announcement state) is selected. However, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state, the system controls the system to the AT1 state. Conversely, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state, the system controls the system to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state. Therefore, after the start of the advantageous period and the end of the CZ2 state, the system may control the system to the AT2 state, which offers the potential to acquire 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 again, the system is designed to allow the system to be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without passing through the AT1 state.

Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher when the AT lottery target role is won in CZ2 state than when it is won in CZ1 state. If the advantageous period ends at the end of AT2 state, it can be expected that when the advantageous period begins again, it will be controlled to the relatively more advantageous AT2 state without passing through AT1 state.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the advantageous period transition role, which triggers the transition from the normal period to the advantageous period after the end of the AT2 state, is won, and in either the normal state or the pre-announcement state controlled after the end of the CZ2 state, an AT lottery is held when an AT lottery target role is won. However, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state, the system controls the system to the AT1 state, whereas if the AT lottery is won at the time of the advantageous period transition, the system controls the system to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state. Thus, after the start of the advantageous period and the end of the CZ2 state, the system may control the system to the AT2 state, which is expected to yield more medals than the AT1 state, after the AT1 state. However, if the advantageous period ends at the end of the AT2 state, when the advantageous period starts afterward, it is expected that the system will control the system to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher when the AT lottery target role is won during the transition to the advantageous section than when it is won during the CZ1 state. If the advantageous section ends at the end of the AT2 state, it can be expected that when the advantageous section begins afterward, it will be controlled to the relatively more advantageous AT2 state without going through the AT1 state.

Furthermore, during the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section (internal), the probability of winning both the advantageous section transition role (which is eligible for the AT lottery) and winning the AT lottery is less than 50%. In other words, at the time of transition 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. The proportion of being controlled to the AT state simultaneously with the transition to the advantageous section is suppressed, preventing excessive gambling impulses. Additionally, there is a role (normal replay) that is eligible for the AT lottery in the advantageous section but not for transitioning to the advantageous section. If this role is won in the normal section, the game does not transition to the advantageous section and no AT lottery is conducted, thus preventing the normal section from becoming as advantageous as the advantageous section. Furthermore, for roles like FC3 to FC7, which guarantee a 100% AT lottery win upon winning, it is also possible to include a role that is eligible for the AT lottery in the advantageous section but not for transitioning to the advantageous section. Such a configuration would further clarify the difference in the degree of advantage between the normal section and the advantageous section.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, 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, an AT lottery is held when an AT lottery target role is won. However, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state, the system controls the system to the AT1 state, whereas if the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state, the system controls the system 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, the system is designed to allow the player to expect to be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher when the AT lottery target role is won in CZ2 state than when it is won in CZ1 state. After the end of AT2 state, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended or not, it can be expected that the game will be controlled to the relatively more advantageous AT2 state without going through AT1 state.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a winning combination triggers the transition from the preparation state to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period continues after the end of the AT2 state, and when a winning combination is achieved in either the normal state or the pre-announcement state after the end of the CZ2 state, an AT lottery is conducted if a winning combination is achieved. However, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state, the system controls the system to the AT1 state. In contrast, if the AT lottery is won at the end of the preparation state (winning the advantageous period transition combination), the system controls the system to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state. Therefore, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended at the end of the AT2 state, when the first winning combination triggers the transition of the advantageous period after the end of the AT2 state, the system can be expected to control the system to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

Furthermore, the probability of winning the AT lottery is set higher when the AT lottery target role is won at the end of the preparation state (when the advantageous section transition role is won) than when the AT lottery target role is won in the CZ1 state. This further increases the expectation that, regardless of whether the advantageous section has ended at the end of the AT2 state, when the advantageous section transition role is won for the first time after the end of the AT2 state, the game will be controlled to the relatively more advantageous AT2 state without going through the AT1 state.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, once the system is controlled to the normal state during the advantageous period, in the subsequent CZ1 state where an AT lottery is held, if the AT lottery is won, the system is first controlled to the relatively disadvantageous AT1 state. Only by fulfilling the conditions in the condition determination game in the AT1 state is the system controlled to the more advantageous AT2 state.

On the other hand, once the system is controlled to the AT2 state, after the AT2 state ends, it is switched to 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.

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, by having the AT2 state controlled after the AT1 state 4 or more times, it can be expected that the AT2 state will continue.

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 specific number at the end of the AT2 state 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 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.

Furthermore, the end of the advantageous period at the end of the AT2 state is highly likely to occur if 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 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, by having four or more times the AT2 state has been controlled after the AT1 state, it is possible to expect the AT2 state to continue even if the advantageous period ends midway.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main control unit 41 controls the game to the CZ2 state when transitioning to an advantageous section, specifically when transitioning from a normal section after the AT state has ended. 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 instead controls it to the normal state. This ensures that even if a game parlor changes the settings, it cannot intentionally control the game to the advantageous CZ2 state for the player.

Furthermore, the main control unit 41 determines whether the game state is internal or non-internal when transitioning to a favorable section. This allows it to identify whether the favorable section transitioned from the normal section after the favorable section ended with the end of the AT2 state, or whether it is the first favorable section transitioned from the normal section after a setting change. Even if all AT-related data is initialized at the end of the favorable section, it can still determine whether the favorable section transitioned from the normal section after the favorable section ended with the end of the AT2 state, or whether it is the first favorable section transitioned from the normal section after a setting change.

[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.

As shown in Figure 9, the main control unit 41 controls the game to enter the CZ1 state from the next game after the normal state and the pre-announcement state have ended. 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 off, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the normal animations performed in the normal state and pre-stage state to the CZ1 animations upon the start of the CZ1 state. Normal animations display the normal background image, while CZ1 animations display the CZ1 background image, which is specific to the CZ1 state.

Subsequently, if the AT lottery is won in 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.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ1 presentation to the AT1 presentation upon the start of the AT1 state. 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.

On the other hand, if the CZ1 state ends without winning the AT lottery, the main control unit 41 controls the system 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. Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ1 presentation to the normal presentation upon the end of the CZ1 state.

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.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the AT1 presentation to the AT2 presentation when the AT2 state begins. The AT2 presentation displays AT2 background images and other elements specific to the AT2 state. Even after the AT2 presentation begins, the acquired coin counter value is retained, and the acquired coin count notification continues.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10, the main control unit 41 controls the system to the normal state from the next game if the condition is not met in the condition determination game in the AT1 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. Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ1 performance to the normal performance upon the end of the CZ1 state, and the notification of the number of acquired coins also ends.

[Regarding control when AT2 state ends]
Next, the control at the end of the AT2 state will be explained based on Figures 11 to 17.

As shown in Figure 11, the main control unit 41, when the AT2 state ends with the net increase in coins during the advantageous period being less than or equal to the upper limit, and the advantageous period ends, transitions to the normal period 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.

Furthermore, upon the termination of the AT2 state, the sub-control unit 91 terminates the AT2 presentation (Figure 16(a)) and executes a result notification presentation (Figure 16(b)) 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 AT1 state), and consequently terminates the notification of the number of coins acquired. Afterward, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the result notification presentation (Figure 16(b)) to the standby presentation (Figure 16(c)). The standby presentation is a presentation in which a standby image and other elements are displayed.

Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning the advantageous section transition role in the normal section, terminates the normal section and starts the advantageous section from the next game. If the AT lottery conducted at this time is unsuccessful, the system 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. However, the AT signal remains off, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation (Figure 16(c)) to the CZ2 animation (Figure 16(d)) upon the start of the CZ2 state. The CZ2 animation displays a background image specific to the CZ2 state, etc.

On the other hand, the main control unit 41, upon winning the AT lottery during the transition to the advantageous period, controls the system to the AT2 state at the start of the advantageous period. At this time, it switches the CZ/AT signal and the AT signal from the off state to the on state, and also switches the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b from the unlit state to the lit state.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation (Figure 16(c)) to the AT2 animation (Figure 16(a)) upon the start of the AT2 state. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous period ends at the end of the previous AT2 state. Upon the start of the AT2 animation, the acquired coin count notification begins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

The main control unit 41 controls the system to enter the AT2 state from the next game if the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state. 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.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 presentation (Figure 16(d)) to the AT2 presentation (Figure 16(a)) upon the start of the AT2 state. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous period ends at the end of the previous AT2 state. Upon the start of the AT2 presentation, the acquired coin count notification begins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 13, if the CZ2 state ends without winning the AT lottery, 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. Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 presentation (Figure 16(d)) to the normal presentation (Figure 16(e)) upon the end of the CZ2 state.

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.

Furthermore, upon the termination of the AT2 state, the sub-control unit 91 terminates the AT2 animation (Figure 16(a)), executes the result notification animation (Figure 16(b)), and consequently terminates the notification of the number of acquired coins. Then, triggered by the operation to start the next game, it switches from the result notification animation (Figure 16(b)) to the standby animation (Figure 16(c)), similar to the transition to the normal section.

Subsequently, the main control unit 41 terminates the preparation state if the advantageous section transition role is won during the preparation state. If the AT lottery conducted at this time is not won, the system controls the system 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. However, the AT signal remains in the off state, and the AT LED 19b also remains unlit.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation (Figure 16(c)) to the CZ2 animation (Figure 16(d)) upon the start of the CZ2 state.

On the other hand, if the AT lottery is won at the end of the preparation state, the main control unit 41 controls the system to enter the AT2 state from the next game. At this time, the CZ/AT signal and the AT signal are switched from the off state to the on state, and the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b are switched from the unlit state to the lit state.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the standby animation (Figure 16(c)) to the AT2 animation (Figure 16(a)) upon the start of the AT2 state. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous period ends at the end of the previous AT2 state. Upon the start of the AT2 animation, the acquired coin count notification begins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

The main control unit 41 controls the system to enter the AT2 state from the next game if the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state. 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.

Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 presentation (Figure 16(d)) to the AT2 presentation (Figure 16(a)) upon the start of the AT2 state. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous period ends at the end of the previous AT2 state. Upon the start of the AT2 presentation, the acquired coin count notification begins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 14, if the CZ2 state ends without winning the AT lottery, 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. Furthermore, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 presentation (Figure 16(d)) to the normal presentation (Figure 16(e)) upon the end of the CZ2 state.

As shown in Figure 15, even if the main control unit 41 controls the game to enter the aforementioned ED state due to an increase in the remaining number of games, resulting in the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeding the upper limit and ending the AT2 state, the game will transition to the normal period from the next game. At this time, the sub-control unit 91 starts the ED animation (Figure 17(a)) upon the start of the ED state, and terminates the ED animation (Figure 17(a)) upon the end of the AT2 state. It then executes a result notification/advantageous period termination animation (Figure 17(b)) indicating that the advantageous period has ended because the net increase in coins during the entire AT period (the period from the AT1 state) exceeded the upper limit of the advantageous period, in addition to the results of the AT period itself. Consequently, the notification of acquired coins ends. Afterward, triggered by the operation to start the next game, the game switches from the result notification/advantageous period termination animation (Figure 17(b)) to the normal animation (Figure 17(c)).

Subsequently, the main control unit 41, upon winning the advantageous section transition role in the normal section, terminates the normal section and starts the advantageous section from the next game. If the AT lottery conducted at this time is unsuccessful, the system controls the system to the CZ2 state along with the start of the advantageous section. At this point, the sub-control unit 91 executes a revival sequence (Figure 17(d)) upon the start of the CZ2 state, and then switches to the CZ2 sequence (Figure 17(e)).

Meanwhile, the main control unit 41, upon winning the AT lottery during the transition to the advantageous section, controls the system to the AT2 state at the start of the advantageous section. At this time, the sub-control unit 91 executes a revival sequence (Figure 17(d)) upon the start of the AT2 state, and then switches 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. Upon the start of the AT2 sequence, the system begins notifying the acquired coin count based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

The main control unit 41 controls the game to enter the AT2 state from the next game if the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state. At this time, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 presentation (Figure 17(e)) to the AT2 presentation upon the start of the AT2 state. The acquired coin counter value is carried over without being reset even if the advantageous period ends at the end of the previous AT2 state. Upon the start of the AT2 presentation, the acquired coin count notification begins based on the acquired coin counter value that has been carried over and counted since the end of the previous AT2 state.

On the other hand, if the CZ2 state ends without winning the AT lottery, the main control unit 41 controls the system to return to the normal state from the next game. At this time, the sub-control unit 91 switches from the CZ2 presentation (Figure 17(e)) to the normal presentation (Figure 17(f)) upon the end of the CZ2 state.

In this embodiment, after the AT2 state ends, there are two possibilities: one where the system is controlled to the CZ2 state, which is highly likely to be controlled to the AT2 state while the advantageous section continues; and another where, after the AT2 state ends, the advantageous section ends, the system transitions to the normal section, and then, upon transitioning back to the advantageous section, the system is controlled to the CZ2 state. When the system is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues, it proceeds through a preparation phase. When the system is controlled to the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends and the advantageous section ends before transitioning 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. Instead, it proceeds through a predetermined preparation phase before being controlled to the CZ2 state. Therefore, it becomes 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.

Furthermore, in the normal section, when a winning combination for transitioning to the advantageous section is achieved, the game transitions to the advantageous section. Similarly, in the preparation state, which is controlled when the game is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues, when a winning combination for transitioning to the advantageous section is achieved, the preparation state ends and the game is controlled to the CZ2 state. Therefore, 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 before being controlled to the CZ2 state. This makes it difficult to distinguish 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.

Furthermore, in the normal section, no control related to the AT (Automatic Trigger) is performed. Even if the game is played with a stopping order that places a reel other than the left reel as the first stop, no penalty related to the AT is given, and no warning notification is issued. However, even if the game is played in the preparation state with a stopping order that places a reel other than the left reel as the first stop, unlike the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state, no penalty related to the AT is given. Similar to the normal section, there is no change in the advantage level related to the AT, and no warning notification is issued for the AT. 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.

Furthermore, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ/AT signal and AT signal temporarily turn off. After transitioning to the advantageous period and starting the CZ2 state, the CZ/AT signal and AT signal turn on again. However, even when the advantageous period continues while the system is controlled to the CZ2 state, the CZ/AT signal and AT signal temporarily turn off during the preparation state. They remain off for at least one game, and then turn on again after the CZ2 state begins. Therefore, even when the system is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period continues, the CZ/AT signal and AT signal temporarily turn off, similar to when the advantageous period ends before being controlled to the CZ2 state. This makes it difficult to distinguish whether the system was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period continued, or whether it was controlled to the CZ2 state after the advantageous period ended.

In particular, when the CZ/AT signal is switched from one state to the other while the advantageous period continues (e.g., from CZ1 to AT1, from AT1 to AT2, or from CZ2 to AT2), the CZ/AT signal remains on. However, when switching from AT2 to CZ2 while the advantageous period continues, a preparation state is 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 continued, or whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state after the advantageous period ended.

Furthermore, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b will 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 will change back to lit. However, even when the advantageous period continues and the system is controlled to enter the CZ2 state, the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b will temporarily change from lit to unlit in the preparation state, and then remain unlit for at least one game. After the lights turn on, and after the CZ2 state begins, the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b will change back to the lit state. Even if the game is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period continues, the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b will temporarily turn off, similar to the case where the advantageous period ends before the CZ2 state is activated. This makes it difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the advantageous period ended before the CZ2 state was activated.

In particular, when the CZ/AT LED 19a is lit during a transition from one state to another while the advantageous period continues (e.g., transitioning from CZ1 to AT1, from AT1 to AT2, or from CZ2 to AT2), the CZ/AT LED 19a remains lit. However, when the advantageous period continues and the game switches from AT2 to CZ2, a preparation state is inserted, during which the CZ/AT LED 19a temporarily becomes unlit. This makes it difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to enter CZ2 while the advantageous period was still ongoing, or whether the advantageous period ended before the game was controlled to enter CZ2.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main control unit 41 performs a stock lottery in the AT2 state to determine whether to grant the right to return to the AT2 state when a stock lottery target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC5-7) is won. If the stock lottery is won, the right to win the AT is stocked. The sub-control unit 91 notifies the player when the right to win the AT is stocked and also notifies the number of remaining AT winning rights in a identifiable manner. If the right to win the AT is stocked at the end of the AT2 state, the system will return 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.

Furthermore, 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 (the period from the start of the AT1 state until the CZ2 state ends without winning the AT lottery in the CZ2 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. Also, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, the coin count counter value is not reset but carried over. Subsequently, when the system transitions to the advantageous section or when the system wins the AT lottery in the first CZ2 state controlled after the transition to the advantageous section and is controlled to the AT2 state, it performs a coin count notification 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.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the AT2 state ends while the net increase in coins in the advantageous section is less than or equal to the upper limit, and after the advantageous section ends, a new advantageous section starts and the CZ2 state or AT2 state begins, the sub-control unit 91 executes a result notification animation (Figure 16(b)) at the end of the AT2 state and the advantageous section, similar to when the advantageous section continues, and then executes a standby animation (Figure 16(c)) in the normal section, and when the CZ2 state or AT2 state starts, switches from the standby animation (Figure 16(c)) to the CZ2 animation (Figure 16(d)) or AT2 animation (Figure 16(a)), 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 less than or equal to the upper limit. When the AT2 state ends and the advantageous section ends, and a new advantageous section begins and the CZ2 state or AT2 state starts, unlike when the advantageous section continues, the ED performance (Figure 17(a)) is executed at the start of control of the ED state, and when the AT2 state and advantageous section end, in addition to the result notification, a result notification/advantageous section end performance (Figure 17(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 or AT2 state starts, the revival performance (Figure 17(d)) is executed, and then it switches to the CZ2 performance (Figure 17(e)) or AT2 performance. Thus, when a new advantageous period begins after the net increase in coins during the 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 reduces the sense of incongruity caused by the AT2 state continuing even though the advantageous period ended after the net increase in coins exceeded the upper limit.

[Effect 1]
In this embodiment, 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, an AT lottery is held when an AT lottery target role is won. However, 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 in the CZ2 state, 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. Furthermore, if the advantageous period ends at the end of the AT2 state, when the advantageous period starts afterward, the player can expect to be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

In this embodiment, the system is controlled to the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous period that follows the end of the AT2 state and the normal period. However, it is not controlled to the CZ2 state at the start of the first advantageous period after a setting change. Nevertheless, it is also possible to configure the system to be controlled to the CZ2 state at the start of the first advantageous period after a setting change.

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 18, if an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ1 state, the probability of winning the AT1 state is higher than that of the AT1 state and the AT2 state. Similarly, if an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ2 state at the start of the advantageous section, the probability of winning the AT2 state is higher than that of the AT1 state. By setting the winning probabilities in this way, if the advantageous section ends at the end of the AT2 state, it can be expected that when the advantageous section starts again, the player will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without passing through the AT1 state.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, after transitioning to the advantageous section and after the CZ2 state ends, AT lottery is not conducted 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 lottery is conducted if an AT lottery target role is won in the normal state and pre-stage state until the system is controlled to the CZ1 state. Even with 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. By doing so, if the advantageous section ends when the AT2 state ends, it can be expected that 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.

In this embodiment, when the advantageous period ends with the end of the AT2 state and the advantageous period ends, and when the advantageous period transition trigger is won, an AT lottery is held when the AT lottery target role is won in either the normal state or the pre-announcement state controlled after the end of the CZ2 state. However, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ1 state, the system controls the system to the AT1 state. On the other hand, if the AT lottery is won at the time of the advantageous period transition, the system controls the system to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state. 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, 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.

In this embodiment, the 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, the 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.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AT lottery in the CZ1 state targets the AT1 state, and the AT lottery at the time of 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 time of 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 AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous section to target both the AT1 and AT2 states. Even with this configuration, for example, as shown in Figure 18, if an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ1 state, the probability of winning the AT1 state is higher than that of the AT1 state and the AT2 state. Similarly, if an AT lottery target role is won when transitioning to the advantageous section, the probability of winning the AT2 state is higher than that of the AT1 state. By setting the winning probabilities in this way, if the advantageous section ends at the end of the AT2 state, it can be expected that when the advantageous section starts again, the player will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without passing through the AT1 state.

Furthermore, even if the system is configured so that an AT lottery is held when an AT lottery target role is won in the normal state and pre-stage state before being controlled to the CZ1 state, as mentioned 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. Similarly, the AT lottery at the time of transition to 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 player to expect that, if the advantageous section ends at the end of the AT2 state, when the advantageous section begins afterward, the system will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without passing through the AT1 state.

In this embodiment, 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, an AT lottery is held when an AT lottery target role is won. 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.

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 18, if an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ1 state, the probability of winning the AT1 state is higher than that of the AT1 state and the AT2 state. Similarly, if an AT lottery target role is won in the CZ2 state after the AT2 state has ended, the probability of winning the AT2 state is higher than that of the AT1 state. By setting the winning probabilities in this way, it is 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.

Furthermore, even if the system is configured so that an AT lottery is held when an AT lottery target role is won in the normal state and pre-stage state before being controlled to the CZ1 state, as mentioned 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. Similarly, the AT lottery in the CZ2 state after the end of the AT2 state 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. This allows the player to expect that, after the end of the AT2 state, regardless of whether the advantageous period has ended, the system will be controlled to the AT2 state, which is relatively more advantageous than the AT1 state, without going through the AT1 state.

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 (the period from the start of the AT1 state until the CZ2 state ends without winning the AT lottery in the CZ2 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 game transitions to the normal section, the coin count counter value is not reset but carried over. Subsequently, when the game transitions to the advantageous section or when the AT lottery is won in the first CZ2 state controlled after the transition to the advantageous section, and the game is controlled to the AT2 state, it performs a coin count notification 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.

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 implement a configuration that announces the number of acquired coins during the CZ2 performance while in CZ2 state.

In this embodiment, 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 period) 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 period is terminated and the game period is transitioned to the normal period. This prevents the AT2 state from ending abruptly due to the net increase in coins during the advantageous period exceeding the maximum number of coins, and prevents the addition of remaining game rounds through bonus draws or the granting of AT2 state rights through stock draws from being restricted in order to avoid reaching the maximum number of coins.

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 or AT2 state begins, the sub-control unit 91 executes a result notification animation (Figure 16(b)) at the end of the AT2 state and the advantageous section, similar to when the advantageous section continues, and then executes a standby animation (Figure 16(c)) in the normal section, and when the CZ2 state or AT2 state begins, it switches from the standby animation (Figure 16(c)) to the CZ2 animation (Figure 16(d)) or the AT2 animation (Figure 16(a)). However, when the number of games is increased and the game is controlled to the ED state, and the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit, and the AT2 state ends, and after the advantageous section ends, a new advantageous section starts and the CZ2 state or AT2 state begins, unlike when the advantageous section continues, at the start of control of the ED state, The ED (Ending) sequence (Figure 17(a)) is executed, and at the end of the AT2 state and the advantageous section, in addition to the result notification, a result notification/advantageous section end sequence (Figure 17(b)) is executed, notifying that the advantageous section has ended as a result of the net increase in coins exceeding the upper limit of the advantageous section. Afterward, in the normal section, the normal sequence (Figure 17(c)) is executed. When the CZ2 state or AT2 state begins, a revival sequence (Figure 17(d)) is executed, followed by a switch to the CZ2 sequence (Figure 17(e)) or AT2 sequence. This sequence differs from the sequence when the advantageous section ends after the net increase in coins exceeds the upper limit, thus reducing the sense of incongruity caused by the continuation of the AT2 state despite the advantageous section ending after the net increase in coins exceeded the upper limit.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19, 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 or AT2 state starts, the result notification/advantageous period end animation (Figure 17(b)) is executed when the AT2 state and the advantageous period end. After that, the normal animation (Figure 17(c)) is executed in the normal period, and the normal animation (Figure 17(c)) is continued in the CZ2 state after transitioning to the advantageous period. When the AT lottery is won in the CZ2 state and the AT2 state starts, the animation may be switched from the normal animation (Figure 17(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 this configuration, if the AT lottery is won when transitioning to the advantageous section, the system should switch from the normal presentation to the AT2 presentation when the AT2 state begins. If the CZ2 state ends after transitioning to the advantageous section without winning the AT lottery, the system should continue with the normal presentation. Also, in this configuration, if the AT lottery is won during the transition to the advantageous section or in the CZ2 state after the transition 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 this configuration, if the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeds the upper limit and the advantageous section ends, the connection to the subsequent AT2 state becomes even weaker. Therefore, the sense of incongruity caused by the AT2 state continuing despite the net increase in coins in the advantageous section exceeding the upper limit and the advantageous section ending can be further reduced.

[Effect 2]
In this embodiment, after the AT2 state ends, there are two possibilities: one is to control the system to 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 system to the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends, after the advantageous section ends and the system transitions to the normal section, and then transitions to the advantageous section again. When the system is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues, it is controlled to the CZ2 state after a preparation state. When the system is controlled to the CZ2 state after the AT2 state ends and the advantageous section ends and then transitions to the advantageous section again, 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 is controlled to the CZ2 state after a predetermined preparation period. 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 once.

In this embodiment, during the normal section, the game transitions to the advantageous section when a winning combination is achieved. Furthermore, in the preparation state, which is controlled when the game is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continues, the preparation state ends and the game is controlled to the CZ2 state when a winning combination is achieved. Therefore, 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 before being controlled to the CZ2 state. This makes it difficult to distinguish whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous section continued, or whether it ended once before being controlled to the CZ2 state.

In this embodiment, during the normal section, no control related to the AT is performed. Even if the game is played with a stopping operation sequence that places a reel other than the left reel as the first stop, no penalty related to the AT is given, and no warning notification is issued. However, even if the game is played in the preparation state with a stopping operation sequence that places a reel other than the left reel as the first stop, unlike the normal state, pre-announcement state, CZ1 state, and CZ2 state, no penalty related to the AT is given, the advantage related to the AT does not change as in the normal section, and no warning notification is issued for the AT. 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.

In this embodiment, when the AT2 state ends and the advantageous period ends, the CZ/AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off. After transitioning to the advantageous period and starting the CZ2 state, the CZ/AT signal and AT signal turn on again. However, even when the advantageous period continues while the system is controlled to the CZ2 state, the CZ/AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off during the preparation state. They remain off for at least one game, and then turn on again after the CZ2 state starts. Therefore, even when the system continues while the system is controlled to the CZ2 state, the CZ/AT signal and AT signal are temporarily turned off, similar to the case where the advantageous period ends before the system is controlled to the CZ2 state. This makes it difficult to distinguish 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.

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 enter 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 become unlit, the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b will light up again after the CZ2 state begins. Therefore, even if the game is controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period continues, the CZ/AT LED 19a and AT LED 19b will temporarily become unlit, similar to the case where the advantageous period ends before the CZ2 state is activated. This makes it difficult to determine whether the game was controlled to the CZ2 state while the advantageous period continued, or whether the advantageous period ended before the CZ2 state was activated.

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 (the period from the start of the AT1 state until the CZ2 state ends without winning the AT lottery in the CZ2 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 game transitions to the normal section, the coin count counter value is not reset but carried over. Subsequently, when the game transitions to the advantageous section or when the AT lottery is won in the first CZ2 state controlled after the transition to the advantageous section, and the game is controlled to the AT2 state, it performs a coin count notification based on the coin count counter value carried over 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.

In this embodiment, the main control unit 41 performs a stock lottery in the AT2 state to determine whether to grant the right to return to the AT2 state when a stock lottery target role (a lottery role corresponding to FC5-7) is won. If the stock lottery is won, the right to win the AT is stocked. The sub-control unit 91 notifies the system when the right to win the AT is stocked and notifies the number of remaining AT winning rights in a identifiable manner. If the right to win the 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.

In this embodiment, when an AT (Attack Time) winning right is stocked, this fact is notified, and the number of remaining AT winning rights is also notified in a identifiable manner. However, it is not necessary for all rights to be notified in an identifiable manner; a configuration in which only some rights are notified in an identifiable manner is also possible. In such a configuration, only when an AT winning right is notified in an identifiable manner, 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 manner, the system may be configured to consume the stock and control the system to the AT2 state after going through the preparation state or CZ2 state. By using such a configuration, even if the AT2 state does not start immediately after the end of the AT2 state, it is possible to give the expectation that an AT winning right is stocked.

While embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It goes without saying that modifications and additions that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are also included within the scope of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, an example was described 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 game value. However, it may also be applied to slot machines in which the number of bets is set using game balls as the game value, or to medal-free slot machines in which the number of bets is set using only credits without using medals as the game value.

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 (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,
An advantageous state control means that can control the state to an advantageous state,
A section control means that can control the section to either a normal section that is not controlled to the advantageous state, or an advantageous section that can be controlled to the advantageous state,
Equipped with,
In the aforementioned advantageous interval, the unadvantageous state can be controlled to a normal state and a high-probability state which is more likely to be controlled to the advantageous state than the normal state.
The aforementioned advantageous state includes a first advantageous state and a second advantageous state in which a greater increase in game value than the first advantageous state can be expected.
In the high-probability state that is controlled after a specific period has elapsed following the end of the aforementioned advantageous period, the proportion of the advantageous state that is determined to be controlled being the first advantageous state among the first and second advantageous states is high.
It is possible to control to a second advantageous state after being controlled to the first advantageous state,
The aforementioned advantageous period can be terminated when the second advantageous state ends.
In the high-probability state that is controlled after the end of the advantageous period and before the specific period has elapsed, the proportion of the advantageous state that is determined to be controlled being the second advantageous state among the first and second advantageous states is high.
In the high-probability state that is controlled after the second favorable state has ended and the specified period has elapsed, the proportion of the favorable state that is determined to be controlled being the first favorable state among the first and second favorable states is high.
In the high-probability state that is controlled before the end of the second favorable state and the expiration of the specified period, the proportion of the favorable state that is determined to be controlled being the second favorable state among the first and second favorable states is high.
There are two cases: one in which, after the second advantageous state ends, the system is controlled to the high-probability state while continuing the advantageous period; and another in which, after the second advantageous state and the advantageous period end and the system transitions to the normal period, the system is controlled to the high-probability state again when the system transitions back to the advantageous period.
During the advantageous period, it is possible to control the external signal that can be output to the outside of the slot machine to be in the ON state.
When the advantageous state and the advantageous period end , and the system transitions to the normal period, and then transitions back to the advantageous period, the system controls the system to the high probability state. When the second advantageous state ends, the external signal is temporarily turned off, the off state is maintained until the system transitions to the high probability state, and the signal is turned on at a timing after the transition to the high probability state .
A slot machine in which, when controlling to the high probability state while continuing the advantageous period, the external signal is temporarily turned off when the second advantageous state ends, remains off for at least one game, is kept off until transitioning to the high probability state, and is turned on at a timing after the transition to the high probability state .