JP4508633B2 - Game system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming system including a card unit or a card unit and a management device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gaming system that lends a game medium used for a game in a gaming machine provided in a game room in accordance with the use of the remaining amount owned by the player specified by the recording information of the recording medium.

  What is conventionally known as this type of gaming system is provided in the game hall according to the use of the remaining amount owned by the player specified by the recording information of the recording medium such as a prepaid card, for example. Some of them lent out game media such as game balls used for games on pachinko machines and the like.

In such a conventional game system, it is common to lend game media in units of a predetermined amount. And in such a gaming system, when lending gaming media, by performing a lending process that subtracts the amount of consumption tax added to the lending amount from the remaining amount owned by the player, In some cases, a consumption tax can be collected (Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-123651 A

  However, in the conventional gaming system that subtracts the consumption tax amount from the remaining amount as described above, for example, it was only possible to lend gaming media in units of a predetermined amount (hereinafter referred to as a unit amount) such as 100 yen. There are times when amounts less than the unit amount (hereinafter referred to as fractional amounts) remain. For example, if the unit amount is 100 yen with respect to the remaining amount of 10000 yen, and subtracts 105 yen including the consumption tax amount (5%) for each loan, a fractional amount of 25 yen will eventually remain. In the conventional game media lending process, the fractional amount thus generated cannot be used for the lending of the game media, and there is a problem that the player is disadvantaged by the fractional amount.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to rent game media using the remaining amount specified by the recording information of the recording medium and collect consumption tax from the remaining amount. An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming system that can reduce the disadvantages caused to the player.

Specific examples of means for solving the problems and their effects

(1) A game in a gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine 2) provided in a gaming hall (game hall 100) according to the use of the remaining amount owned by the player specified by the recording information (gaming card 21) of the recording medium A gaming system for lending (renting) gaming media (game balls) used for
Receiving means (card reader / writer device 33) for receiving the recording medium;
Based on the remaining amount specified by the recording information of the recording medium received by the receiving means, the gaming medium is lent (S55 to S57 in FIG. 13 and S62 in FIG. 14), and the gaming medium is lent. A loan processing means (card unit control unit 340) for performing a loan process, which subtracts the loan consumption amount consumed and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption amount from the remaining amount (S64, S67 in FIG. 14);
Lending consumption unit amount (lending consumption unit amount) which is the lending consumption amount and lending consumption unit when the lending processing means lends the game medium in a plurality of predetermined units (for example, 25) First data setting means (card management device 400, S14 in FIG. 11, card unit) for setting first data that can specify a first sum value (unit amount including tax) that is the sum of the consumption tax amount corresponding to the amount Control unit 340, S22 in FIG.
It is possible to specify a second combined value (fractional ball unit price including tax) of the game media unit price (fractional ball unit price) that is the lending consumption amount per game medium and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the game medium unit price. Second data setting means (card management device 400, S18 in FIG. 11, card unit control unit 340, S24 in FIG. 11) for setting second data;
Remaining amount determining means for determining whether the remaining amount after subtraction by the lending process is greater than or equal to the first summed value and less than the first summed value (card unit control unit 340, S41 in FIG. 13, FIG. 14 S50)
Number specifying means for specifying the number of game media that can be lent with the remaining amount based on the second data when the remaining amount determining means determines that the remaining amount after subtraction is less than the first total value (Card unit control unit 340, S45 in FIG. 13, S52 in FIG. 14),
A means for setting and changing a number specifying mode (number specifying mode) when the number specifying means specifies the number of game media, wherein the remaining amount less than the second total value is rounded up by one game medium to play a game. A first number specifying mode (first number specifying mode (rounding up)) for specifying the number of media and subtracting the remaining amount to zero in the lending process, and rounding off the remaining amount less than the second total value Number specifying mode setting means (card management device 400, FIG. 12) for setting and changing the second number specifying mode (second number specifying mode (truncated)) for specifying the number and subtracting the remaining amount to zero in the aforementioned lending process. S202),
The number specifying means specifies the number of game media in the number specifying mode set by the number specifying mode setting means (S45 in FIG. 13, S48, S52 in FIG. 14),
The lending processing means lends the number of game media corresponding to the lending consumption unit amount when the remaining amount determining means determines that the amount is equal to or greater than the first sum (S55Y, S56, FIG. 13). A first lending process of lending a predetermined number of game media by performing S62) of FIG. 14 once or a plurality of times and performing the subtraction (S64 of FIG. 14) based on the first data. On the other hand, when it is determined by the remaining amount determining means that the amount is less than the first combined value, the number of gaming media specified by the number specifying unit for the remaining amount less than the first combined value ( A second lending process is performed which performs S55N, S57, S56 in FIG. 13 and S62 in FIG. 14 and subtraction (S67 in FIG. 14) according to the number specifying mode.

  According to such a configuration, when it is determined that the remaining amount after the subtraction by the lending process is equal to or more than the first sum value obtained by summing the loan consumption unit amount and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount, A first lending that lends a predetermined number of game media by performing the process of lending the number of game media corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount once or a plurality of times, and performs subtraction based on the first data Processing is performed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the remaining amount after subtraction by the lending process is less than the first sum total of the loan consumption unit amount and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount, the game media unit price and the game Based on the second data that can specify the second total value including the consumption tax amount corresponding to the medium unit price, the number of game media that can be lent with the remaining amount is specified, and the specified number of game media A second lending process for lending and subtraction according to the number specifying mode is performed. Even if the remaining amount is less than the first total value, the number of gaming media that can be lent with the remaining amount is specified and the gaming medium is lent, so the remaining amount specified by the recording information of the recording medium is used. When a game medium is lent and a consumption tax is collected from the remaining amount, a disadvantage caused to the player can be reduced. Furthermore, as the number specifying mode for specifying the number of game media that can be lent with the remaining amount less than the first sum value, the number of game media is specified by rounding up one game medium with respect to the remaining amount less than the second sum value. And a first number specifying mode for subtracting the remaining amount to zero in the lending process, a number of game media is specified by rounding off the remaining amount less than the second total value, and a second amount for subtracting the remaining amount to zero in the lending process Since the number specifying mode can be set, when a game medium is lent with a remaining amount less than the first summed value, a remaining amount less than the second summed value can be prevented. And, since the number specifying mode to be set can be changed, whether the game room is rounded up or rounded down the remaining amount less than the second total value by one game medium according to the convenience of the game hall such as the management state and the sales policy. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of the game hall related to the lending of game media. For example, if the setting of rounding up the remaining amount less than the second total value is putting pressure on the management of the game hall, change the setting to round down the balance, and in the event holding period of the gaming hall according to the business policy The convenience of the game hall related to the lending of game media is improved by setting the remaining amount to be rounded up.

  (2) An amount obtained by multiplying the number of game media specified by the number specifying means by the second total value (the tax included for the number of loans obtained from the tax-included fractional amount received by the card management device 400 as fractional sales information) (The fractional amount) and the difference between the remaining amount less than the first total value (the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount managed by the card management device 400) (when the first number specifying mode is set, the play area burden amount) Further, a difference counting means (card management device 400, S402 to S404 in FIG. 22) for counting the player burden) when the second number specifying mode is set is further included.

  According to such a configuration, the difference between the amount obtained by multiplying the number of game media specified by the number specifying means by the second total value and the remaining amount less than the first total value is tabulated, thereby calculating the number. It is possible to clearly grasp the amount which has been borne by the game hall or the player by rounding up or rounding down when specifying. As a result, it is possible to change the setting of the number specifying mode after grasping the amount of the burden on the game hall and the amount of the burden on the player.

  (3) The consumption tax amount subtracted in the second lending process is specified based on the setting of the number specifying mode by the number specifying mode setting means (the consumption tax amount of the subtracted tax-included fractional amount is set) The consumption tax amount is calculated by summing up the specified consumption tax amount and the consumption tax amount subtracted in the first lending process. Means (card management device 400) is further included.

  According to such a configuration, the consumption tax amount subtracted in the second lending process is specified based on the setting of the number specifying mode, and the specified consumption tax amount and the consumption tax amount subtracted in the first lending process are specified. Therefore, the consumption tax amount can be accurately calculated in accordance with the number specifying mode in which the consumption tax amount is subtracted.

(4) Remaining amount addition updating means (card unit control unit 340, S176 in FIG. 20) for performing processing for adding and updating the remaining amount specified by the recording information of the recording medium received by the receiving means by payment from the player. )
The number specifying mode setting means specifies the number of game media by truncating the remaining amount less than the second sum value, and determines the remaining amount less than the second sum value from the recording information of the recording medium in the lending process. A third number specifying mode (third number specifying mode) in which subtraction is performed while remaining in an identifiable manner can be further set.
When the third number specifying mode is set, the lending processing means subtracts the remaining amount to a remaining amount less than the second combined value in the lending processing.

  According to such a configuration, in a configuration in which the remaining amount is added and updated by payment from the player, the number that specifies the number of game media that can be lent when the game media is lent with a remaining amount less than the first summed value. As a specific mode, the remaining amount less than the second sum value is rounded down to specify the number of game media, and the remaining amount less than the second sum value is left identifiable from the record information of the recording medium in the lending process. The third number specifying mode can be further set, and when the third number specifying mode is set, the remaining amount is subtracted to the remaining amount less than the second total value in the lending process. Since the remaining amount is added and updated by the deposit, even if the remaining amount less than the second sum remains when the game medium is lent with the remaining amount less than the first sum, the remaining amount can be used after the deposit Therefore, the remaining amount is not wasted. Then, in order to make it possible to use the remaining amount less than the second summed value after depositing, the remaining amount less than the second summed value is rounded down to specify the number of game media, and the second summed value is added. Since the third number specifying mode in which the remaining amount less than the value can be specified from the recording information of the recording medium can be selected, when the third number specifying mode is set, both the game hall and the player There is no need to bear the remaining amount less than the second summed value.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as an example of the gaming system, a gaming system including a card unit or a card unit and a management device will be described. The gaming system is based on the recording information of a recording medium. Applicable to any type of gaming system as long as it is a gaming system that lends game media to be used for gaming on a gaming machine provided in the game hall according to the use of the remaining amount owned by the specified player Is possible. In this embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a coin gaming machine, a slot machine using coins, a predetermined number of gaming balls instead of inserting coins. May be other gaming machines such as a gaming machine that performs slot machine gaming, and any gaming machine that uses gaming media for gaming.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko gaming machine 2 as an example of a gaming machine installed on a gaming machine installation island and a card unit 3 as an example of a recording medium processing device. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the lending operation unit 50 provided for performing operations related to lending game balls as lending game media in the pachinko gaming machine 2. Hereinafter, the pachinko gaming machine 2 and the card unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In the amusement hall, a gaming machine installation island 200a in which a plurality of pachinko gaming machines 2 in which a game is performed using a game ball (pachinko ball) as an example of a game medium are provided side by side (in a manner in which the back side faces each other). Are installed. A card unit 3 is attached to the left side of each pachinko gaming machine 2 in a one-to-one correspondence with one pachinko gaming machine 2.

  In this card unit 3, a game card issued individually to a player at the game hall can be used to receive a game ball rental (also referred to as lending or ball rental). The game card is a recording medium on which a player can be issued at a predetermined issue location such as a card vending machine installed in a game hall or a counter of a game hall. This game card has a prepaid function which is issued in a state where data of a predetermined amount (for example, a desired amount of 10,000 yen, 5000 yen, 1000 yen, etc.) is recorded as a card remaining amount at the time of issuance and A deposit function capable of depositing to increase the remaining amount. This game card is composed of a non-contact type IC card, and various information such as a card ID and a card balance is recorded as card information, as will be described later.

  In addition, in the gaming machine installation island 200a, at one end, an apparatus such as an island edge control device that performs various controls related to the gaming machine installation island 200a, such as conveyance control of banknotes in the gaming machine installation island 200a, and a banknote collection box are provided. The provided island edge control box 201 is provided.

  When the player inserts a game card into the card insertion / extraction port 4 provided at the lower end of the card unit 3, the card reader / writer device provided in the card unit 3 records the information ( Data) is read. A lending switch 80, a return switch 81, a card remaining amount indicator 8, a frequency lamp 52, and a ball number lamp 53 as shown in FIG. 2 are arranged at predetermined positions on the upper plate 5 of the pachinko gaming machine 2. A lending operation unit 50 is provided.

  In the card remaining amount display 8, information relating to the card remaining amount recorded in the game card is displayed. The remaining card indicator 8 is composed of a 7-segment LED capable of displaying a 3-digit number. When the lending switch 80 is pressed (lending operation), an amount obtained by adding the consumption tax amount to the set lending amount set by the player is deducted from the remaining card amount specified by the read data, and the debit amount is deducted. A corresponding number of game balls (rental balls) are lent out (paid out) to the upper plate 5 of the pachinko gaming machine 2. That is, the withdrawal amount obtained by adding together the loan consumption amount, which is the amount consumed for lending game balls, and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption amount is subtracted from the remaining card amount. In this way, at the time of renting game balls, the consumption tax amount with respect to the lent amount is collected by deduction from the remaining amount of the card.

  The rental amount of game balls includes, for example, a predetermined tax-included lending unit amount (unit amount (hereinafter referred to as lending consumption unit amount: 100 yen) + consumption tax amount (for example, 5 yen if the consumption tax rate is 5%)) Hereinafter, 105 yen), which is simply referred to as a tax-included unit amount, is predetermined. For this reason, payout of balls and withdrawal of the remaining amount of card are made in principle with the unit amount including tax as one unit. In addition, the payout of balls and the withdrawal of the remaining card amount are exceptionally made for fractional amounts less than the tax-included unit amount. With regard to paying out a rental ball for a fractional amount, for example, a predetermined unit price including tax (game ball) of game ball unit price (4 yen) + consumption tax amount (for example, 0.2 yen if the consumption tax rate is 5%) Lending consumption per unit) is determined in advance. For this reason, the payout of the ball for the fractional amount and the withdrawal of the remaining amount of the card are basically performed based on the fractional ball unit price including tax. With the card remaining amount display 8, the card remaining amount can be paid with the frequency (value of the integral multiple of the loan consumption unit amount, that is, the integer portion obtained by dividing the card remaining amount by 100) or the fractional ball (the remaining amount of the card less than the tax-included unit amount) The number of remaining game balls) indicates the remaining card amount. When the remaining card amount is displayed on the card remaining amount display 8, the frequency lamp 52 is turned on. On the other hand, when the remaining card amount display unit 8 displays the remaining card amount in the fractional ball number, the fractional ball lamp 53 is turned on. The remaining card indicator 8 displays the remaining card amount in frequency when the remaining card amount is greater than or equal to the loan consumption unit amount, and displays the remaining card amount in fractional balls when the remaining card amount is less than the loan consumption unit amount. In addition, the display form of the remaining card amount is switched based on the remaining card amount.

  The remaining amount is displayed on the card remaining amount indicator 8 as follows, for example. When the remaining card amount of the gaming card 21 is 10000 yen, when 500 yen is lent out, the withdrawal amount for one time is 525 yen, and the remaining card amount is 100 degrees (10000 yen) → 94 degrees (9475) Yen) → 89 degrees (8950 yen) →... → 5 degrees (550 yen) → 5 fractional sphere (25 yen). As described above, the card remaining amount display 8 displays the frequency and the fractional ball number in an easily distinguishable manner even though it is a single display. Further, the card unit 3 and the pachinko gaming machine 2 are connected by wiring, and are configured to exchange data.

  When a game card is inserted and a game ball is lent according to the player's operation, a signal such as a rent command signal is transmitted from the card unit 3 to the pachinko gaming machine 2. In the pachinko gaming machine 2, payout control is performed in accordance with a signal such as a rental command signal, whereby a predetermined number of balls (game balls to be rented) are paid out to the upper plate 5. As a result, it is possible to shoot and release the ball that has been paid out to the upper plate 5 to the gaming area 53 provided in the pachinko gaming machine 2, and to play a game in the pachinko gaming machine 2. When the return switch 81 is pressed by the player, the inserted game card is returned to the player.

  In addition, when the game card is inserted from the card insertion / extraction port 4 and a deposit permission condition as described later is satisfied, the player inserts a bill into the bill insertion slot 61 provided in the card unit 3. Or by inserting coins into the coin insertion slot 62 provided in the card unit 3, the amount of the inserted amount is added to the remaining card amount. In this way, adding the amount corresponding to the inserted money to the remaining card amount to update the remaining card amount is called depositing.

  In addition, in the gaming machine installation island 200a, a conveyance path of the banknote conveyance device is provided in the space between the two rows of pachinko gaming machines 2 and the card units 3 that are opposed to each other on the back side. The banknotes received by the card unit 3 are subjected to processing for identifying the banknotes, then discharged from the back side of the card unit 3 onto the transport path, and transported to the collection box provided at the end of the gaming machine installation island 200a. And recovered.

  When the player operates the hitting operation handle 51, the game balls on the upper plate 5 are shot and fired one by one and are put into the game area 53. When a hit ball (hit ball) that has been put into the game area 53 wins the start winning opening 54, the winning ball is detected by a start winning ball sensor (not shown), and a variable display provided at the center of the game area 53 is displayed. In the variable display area of the device 55 (for example, the variable display area has three variable display areas arranged on the left, middle, and right), the variable display (update display or update) of a plurality of types of symbols such as numbers is provided. Also called variable display). Note that the hitting of the hit ball at the start winning opening 54 is particularly called a start winning.

  And if the stop display result of the special symbol variation display in the variation display device 55 becomes a big hit symbol which is a predetermined specific display mode (for example, a combination of the symbols of the flats such as 777), the big hit as the specific gaming state A condition occurs. There are a plurality of types of jackpot symbol combinations. If any one of the jackpot symbol combinations is stopped and displayed, a jackpot state occurs.

  When a big hit state occurs, a sonoid (not shown) is excited, whereby the open / close plate 57 provided in the variable winning ball device 56 located in the lower portion of the variable display device 55 is opened and the big winning opening is opened. Is opened, and the variable winning ball apparatus 56 is in a first state advantageous to the player. Then, in the variable winning ball device 56, the condition of the game ball, which is the earlier one of a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winnings to the variable winning ball device 56 or the elapse of a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds), is selected. When established, the first state is terminated, and the opening / closing plate 57 is closed to change to a second state unfavorable to the player.

  If the hitting ball wins again at the start port 54 during the fluctuation display of the fluctuation display device 55, the start win is stored, and after the fluctuation display device 55 is variably stopped, the variable display device 55 can be variably started again to wait for the start prize. Based on this, the variable display device 55 is variably started again. The upper limit value of the start winning memory is set to “4” and is displayed at a predetermined location.

  A winning ball that has entered the variable winning ball device 56 during the period in which the variable winning ball device 56 is in the first state is detected by a 10-count sensor (not shown) or a specific winning ball sensor (not shown). If the winning ball is detected by the specific winning ball sensor, the repeated continuous control for controlling the variable winning ball device 56 to the first state again after the first state of the variable winning ball device 56 at that time is finished. Is done. The upper limit number of executions of this repeated continuation control is set to 16 times, for example.

  After the repeated continuous control is finished, the so-called big hit state is finished, and the open / close plate 57 is not opened unless a big hit occurs again. It should be noted that when the state is shifted to such a state, when the jackpot generated before the state shift is caused by a combination of a particular symbol, control is performed such that the probability of the jackpot occurring is increased. That is, when there are a plurality of types of symbol combinations in which a big hit occurs, and when a big hit occurs in a combination of symbols, control is performed so that the probability that a big hit will occur is increased.

  A gaming state in which the jackpot probability fluctuates in this way is particularly called a probability variation state (abbreviation, probability variation). Such a state in which the jackpot probability is changed continues, for example, until the next jackpot occurs.

  Further, in the game area 53, in addition to the above-described start winning port 54, a normal winning port 58 is provided. In addition, the game balls that have not won any winning area (the winning area and the winning area in the variable winning ball apparatus) are collected by the out port 58 provided below the gaming area 53. The game balls collected by the out port 58 and the game balls won in the winning area are merged inside the pachinko gaming machine 2 and discharged outside through a predetermined discharge route.

  In such a pachinko gaming machine 2, when a game ball wins, a predetermined number of award balls are paid out according to the type of winning, and a game can be performed by repeatedly firing the hit ball using the game ball. . Both game balls to be paid out for lending and game balls to be paid out as prize balls are supplied into the pachinko gaming machine 2 through a predetermined supply route. The game ball to be paid out is basically sent to the upper plate 5, but when the upper plate 5 becomes full (full tank), it is sent to the lower plate 6 provided below the upper plate 5.

  Next, the configuration of the card unit 3 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a front view of the card unit 3.

  A card insertion / ejection port 4 is provided at the lower end on the front side in the card unit 3, and a card reader / writer device 33 including an IC card reader / writer is provided on the back side. The card reader / writer device 33 is provided with a communication unit including an antenna coil for communicating with an antenna coil unit (see FIG. 4) provided on the game card 21. By performing data communication between these antenna coils, the card reader / writer device 33 can read and write information from and to the game card 21. The card reader / writer device 33 includes a control unit, and performs the following control in addition to the control related to reading and writing of information with respect to the game card 21. When the game card 21 is inserted into the inside, the control unit detects that the game card 21 has been inserted by a predetermined sensor, and transmits a card acceptance signal indicating that the game card 21 has been received to the card unit control unit 340. Further, the control unit transmits a card processing completion signal to the card unit control unit 340 when the game card 21 inserted therein is discharged. Further, when a predetermined abnormality is detected such that the stored data cannot be read normally from the game card 21 inserted therein, the control unit controls a card abnormality signal indicating that there is an abnormality in the game card. To the unit 340.

  On the uppermost part of the card unit 3, an online display lamp 91 is provided to notify whether or not the card unit 3 is in an online state with respect to the card management device (see FIG. 5). The online display lamp 91 is turned on when the card unit 3 is in an online state with respect to the card management apparatus, and is turned off when the card unit 3 is in an offline state. Below the online display lamp 91, an availability indicator 92 is provided which is a lamp for informing whether or not the card unit 3 can be used. The availability indicator 92 is turned on when the card unit 3 is usable, and is turned off when the card unit 3 is not usable.

  Further, when any error occurs in the card unit 3 or when a communication error occurs between the card unit 3 and the pachinko gaming machine 2, the availability indicator 92 blinks.

  A bill insertion slot 61 and a coin insertion slot 62 are provided below the game usable display 92 in the vertical direction. A plurality of types of banknotes of 1000 yen, 2000 yen, 5000 yen, and 10000 yen can be inserted into the banknote insertion slot 61. A plurality of types of coins of 100 yen and 500 yen can be inserted into the coin insertion slot 62.

  If a banknote is inserted into the banknote insertion slot 61, the banknote identification device (see FIG. 5) takes in the banknote and determines whether it is a proper banknote. Further, by inserting a coin into the coin insertion slot 62, it is determined whether or not the coin is taken in by a coin identification device (see FIG. 5) and is an appropriate coin. When such bills and coins, that is, money is appropriate and the inserted game card 21 is appropriate, the game card 21 is credited according to the situation as follows. Can be done.

  As a deposit mode for processing deposits, the remaining card amount is less than the above-mentioned fractional ball unit price (unit price of one game ball (4 yen) + consumption tax (0.2 yen) = 4.2 yen) There are provided a first deposit mode in which a deposit allowance condition is sometimes satisfied, and a second deposit mode in which a deposit allowance condition is established when the remaining card amount is less than the above-mentioned tax-included unit amount (105 yen). The deposit mode is selectively set in a card management device provided in the game hall so as to be either the first or second deposit mode. Then, information indicating the deposit mode set by the card management apparatus is distributed to each card unit 3, and the deposit mode indicated by the distributed information is set in each card unit 3. In each deposit mode, an upper limit (for example, 10,000 yen) is set for the deposit amount, and excessive deposits are restricted.

  Below the coin insertion slot 62, a return button 93 is provided which is operated to request a return when the inserted coin is jammed inside. When the return button 93 is operated, the inserted coin is returned from the coin return port 94 provided below the display plate 30 by performing a mechanical discharging operation according to the operation. Further, below the return button 93, there is provided a lending permission indicator 96 made up of a lamp for indicating whether or not the gaming ball can be lent. The lending permission indicator 96 is turned on when lending is possible and is turned off when lending is impossible.

  Below the rentable indicator 96, a display plate 30 for performing various displays and operations is provided. The display plate 30 is provided with a money available lamp 13, a money setting button 14, a money indicator 15, a money indicator 17, a ball indicator 18, a connection table direction indicator 19, and a card insertion indicator 20. ing.

  The money available lamp 13 informs whether or not money (banknotes and coins) can be inserted into the bill insertion slot 61 or the coin insertion slot 62 in order to deposit the game card 21 and issue the game card 23. belongs to. The currency usable lamp 13 is turned on when at least one of banknotes and coins can be inserted, and is turned off when both banknotes and coins cannot be inserted.

  The amount setting button 14 is for setting the amount of the remaining card amount used for one lending using the game card 21 (hereinafter referred to as a set lending amount). The amount can be selected. Each time the money amount setting button 14 is pressed, the remaining card amount used for one lending is switched. The amount of money that can be selected by the amount setting button 14 is provided in plural types such as 100 yen, 200 yen, 300 yen, 400 yen, 500 yen,... The amount can be selectively determined. For this reason, the player can freely select and set the set loan amount.

  The relationship between the operation of the money amount setting button 14 and the selection of the set loan amount is as follows. For example, an initial value (default value) is set for the set loan amount, and the set loan amount is 100 yen, 200 yen, 300 yen, 400 yen each time the amount setting button 14 is pressed once. When the operation is performed once more from the selection state of 1000 yen, the set loan amount returns to 100 yen again and is continuously switched in the same order. That is, each time the amount setting button 14 is operated, a plurality of types of set loan amounts are rotated.

  As the initial value of the set loan amount, one amount selected from a plurality of types of amounts is set. In the set loan amount, one of a plurality of types of set loan amounts that can be selected is set as an initial value in advance. It is desirable to set the initial value of the set loan amount to, for example, an amount (for example, 500 yen in the case of the above-described amount example) that is recognized as having the highest probability that the player selects as the set loan amount. If such a setting is made, it is possible for the player to save the trouble of changing the set loan amount, which is convenient for the player.

  The set loan amount selected according to the operation of the money amount setting button 14 is displayed by the money amount display 15. Then, when the game card 21 is inserted and the lending switch 80 provided in the pachinko gaming machine 2 is operated in a state where the set lending amount of, for example, 200 yen is selected by operating the amount setting button 14 The amount of consumption (210 yen) that is 200 yen plus the consumption tax amount is deducted from the remaining card amount recorded on the gaming card 21, and a rental ball for 200 yen is paid out from the pachinko machine 2. The

  In addition, a new game card 21 is used after the use of the game card 21 is finished, as in the case where the game card 21 is ejected from the card insertion / extraction port 4 and removed from the game card insertion port 4 by the player. When a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) elapses, the setting value of the set lending amount used for one lending (ball lending) is returned to the initial value described above, and the initial value (500 yen) is It is displayed on the amount display 15.

  The monetary amount display 17 is for displaying various information such as the amount of money inserted for depositing into the game card 21. Further, the money amount display unit 17 is also used for displaying an error code. For example, it is possible to display an error code for each abnormality cause such as various abnormal states occurring in the card unit 3 or communication abnormality between the card unit 3 and the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 2.

  The ball indicator 18 selectively lights up whether the card unit 3 is for renting game balls or for medals. Some card units 3 are used not for lending gaming balls but for lending medals (coins) such as slot machines, and are configured so that the distinction from them can be recognized by the lighting display of the ball indicator 18. Has been.

  The connection table direction indicator 19 is used to light and indicate which pachinko gaming machine 2 is connected to the card unit 3 by wiring. The card insertion lamp 20 is used to notify that the game card 21 has been inserted into the game card insertion slot 4 and received by a lighting display.

  A coin return port 94 is provided below the display plate 30. The inserted coins can be returned from the coin return port 94 as described above. Below the coin return port 94, a numerical value input unit 95 including a numeric keypad capable of inputting numerical values is provided.

  If the game card 21 is inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 4 and used in the game, and the player performs a pressing operation of the return switch 81 as a game end operation, the game card 21 in which the updated card remaining amount is recorded. Is discharged (returned) in such a manner that a part of the game card is inserted outward from the game card insertion slot 4. The player receives the discharged game card 21 by extracting the game card 21 discharged in such a state.

  Next, the game card 21 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the game card 21 and the recorded information. 4, (a) shows a partially broken plan view of the game card 21, and (b) shows recorded information of the game card 21, respectively.

  Referring to FIG. 4A, the game card 21 is a non-contact type IC card. In the game card 21, an IC chip 21a and an antenna coil 21b connected to the IC chip 21a are provided at one end. The IC chip 21a and the antenna coil 21b are provided in a manner embedded in the game card 21. In the figure, a state in which the vicinity of the IC chip 21a and the antenna coil 21b is broken is shown, and a configuration in which the IC chip 21a and the antenna coil 21b are embedded in the card is shown. The antenna coil 21b receives electromagnetic waves output from the card reader / writer device 33. Thereby, power is generated in the IC chip 21a and the IC chip 21a operates. The antenna coil 21 b transmits and receives various data to and from the card reader / writer device 33.

  The card reader / writer device 33 is provided with a communication unit including an antenna coil for communicating with the antenna coil unit 21b of the card. In the space inside the card reader / writer device 33, the communication unit When the antenna coil unit 21b is located at the opposite position, the gaming card 21 and the card reader / writer device 33 are in a communicable state, and reading and writing of recorded information on the gaming card is possible. An internal space at a peripheral position where such a communication unit is provided constitutes a card receiving unit that receives the game card 21.

  The IC chip 21a is provided with various components such as a power supply unit, a control unit, and a memory (not shown). Power is generated by the power supply unit and supplied to each unit, and the control unit and the memory operate. . The control unit is a processor capable of executing various operations and controls, and performs various controls such as data transmission / reception and data reading and writing by executing a control program. The memory stores data without losing data even when there is no power, and stores and holds card information.

  Referring to FIG. 4B, the gaming card 21 includes serial number information 211, card ID information 212, card balance information 213, issue store information 214, issue date information 215, security information 216, and other information. Information 217 is recorded in the memory. In the memory of the game card 21, an area for recording each piece of information is provided in order to record these pieces of information.

  The serial number information 211 is information for identifying a serial number assigned to each card individually by the card manufacturer. The card ID number information 212 is information for specifying a card ID number which is identification information given to each card in order to identify each card in the game hall. The remaining card amount information 213 is information for specifying the remaining card amount, and is recorded in the form of an amount in the present embodiment. The issue store information 212 is information for specifying the game arcade where the game card 21 is issued. The remaining card information 213 is information for specifying the remaining card amount. The issue date is information for specifying the date when the game card 21 is issued. The security information 216 is information for performing a security check of the game card 21. If the security information 216 matches the predetermined security information, it is determined that the card is a legitimate card. In addition to such information, the game card 21 stores various types of information, that is, other information 217.

  Next, the configuration of the card unit 3 and the configuration of the management system inside and outside the game hall 100 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card unit 3 and the configuration of the management system inside and outside the game hall, and illustration and description of some configurations are omitted.

  In the game hall 100, in addition to the pachinko gaming machine 2 and the card unit 3 described above, various devices such as a hall management computer 800, an island terminal device 50, a card management device 400, and a relay device 60 are provided.

  The card unit control unit 340 of the control device 34 in the card unit 3 includes a bill identifying device 31, a coin identifying device 32, a card reader / writer device 33, sensors and lamps 91, 92,... A numerical value input unit 95 is connected. The card unit control unit 340 includes a payout control unit 200 and a communication unit 36 which are provided in the pachinko gaming machine 2 and are composed of a control microcomputer capable of performing game ball lending control and prize ball payout control. Are connected in such a manner that they can communicate with each other. Further, the card unit control unit 340, via the communication unit 36, the lending switch 80, the return switch 81, the card remaining amount indicator 8, the frequency lamp 52, the ball number lamp 53, and the like provided in the pachinko gaming machine 2, The game control unit 300 is connected. The game control unit 300 is a control unit including a microcomputer that performs various game controls in the pachinko gaming machine such as the control of the variable display device 55 as described above, and the award according to the prize is given to the payout control unit 200. It is possible to output prize ball payout number data as a signal for instructing ball payout. The payout control unit 200 controls the payout device 90 including a payout motor for performing the operation of paying out the winning balls and the rental balls in accordance with instructions from the game control unit 300 and the card unit control unit 340, thereby Also, payout control for paying out rental balls is performed.

  The banknote identification device 31 includes an identification section for identifying whether or not a banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 61 is an appropriate banknote and a banknote transport section (both not shown). In the banknote identification device 31, the inserted banknote is sent to the identification section by the transport section, the identification section performs the banknote identification process (also identifies the type of banknote), and the card unit control section 340 displays information indicating the banknote identification result. Give to. The banknote identification device 31 is controlled by a control signal from the card unit control unit 340.

  The coin identifying device 32 includes an identifying unit that identifies whether or not the inserted coin is an appropriate coin, and a coin transporting unit (both not shown). In the coin discriminating device 32, the inserted coin is sent to the discriminating unit by the transport unit, the coin discriminating process (identifying the type of coin) is performed by the discriminating unit, and the information indicating the coin discriminating result is shown in the card unit control unit 340. Give to. The coin identifying device 32 is controlled by a control signal from the card unit controller 340.

  The card unit control unit 340 includes an off-line display lamp 91, a game-usable indicator 92, a lending-possible indicator 96, a money-usable indicator 13, a monetary indicator 15, a monetary indicator 17, a ball indicator 18, and a connection table direction indicator. A display control signal is given to each of the device 19 and the card insertion indicator 20, and the display control as described above is performed for each lamp and indicator. Further, the card unit control unit 340 receives an operation signal from the money amount setting button 14 and performs the control as described above according to the operation signal.

  Further, the card unit control unit 340 corresponds to the inserted money if the money is inserted in a state where the gaming card 21 is inserted into the card insertion / exit slot 4 on condition that the deposit permission condition is satisfied. Deposit control for adding the amount to be added to the remaining card amount of the game card 21 is performed.

  Further, the card unit control unit 340 of the control device 34 performs lending control in accordance with a lending operation signal from the lending switch 80. In addition, the card unit control unit 340 performs return control of the game card 21 in response to a return operation signal from the return switch 81. In addition, the card unit control unit 340 gives a display control signal to the card remaining amount display 8 provided in the pachinko gaming machine 2 and performs control to display the card remaining amount on the card remaining amount display 8. When displaying the frequency on the card balance display 8, the control is given to the frequency lamp 52 to turn on the frequency lamp 52. On the other hand, when displaying the fractional ball on the card balance display 8, A control signal is given to the ball number lamp 53 to control the end ball number lamp 53 to light.

  Further, when any abnormality occurs in the card unit 3, the control device 34 performs control to display an error code indicating the cause of the abnormality on the money amount display unit 17 or the card remaining amount display unit 8.

  In the card unit control unit 340, when there is a lending operation when the game card 21 is inserted, the card unit control unit 340 performs control for withdrawing the card remaining amount and lending the game ball. In the control for lending the game ball, the card unit control unit 340 pays out the lending command signal (lending instruction signal) for lending the number of game balls corresponding to the lending amount in the pachinko gaming machine 2. Control to transmit to unit 200 is performed.

  The lending command signal is a signal for instructing lending of game balls by one lending consumption unit amount or a fractional amount. For example, when instructing the lending of game balls for 5 lending consumption units, lending command signals for instructing lending of gaming balls for 1 lending consumption unit amounts are sent five times. The payout control unit 200 receives a signal such as a loan command signal from the card unit control unit 340 and performs control to lend a ball, and each time a unit amount is paid out, a card completion control signal is sent to the card unit control unit 340. Reply to Further, when paying out the fractional amount, the payout control unit 200 returns a lending completion signal to the card unit control unit 340 in response to paying out the rented amount of the designated fractional amount. The number of rentals for the fractional amount is determined based on the above-mentioned fractional ball unit price including tax (unit price obtained by adding the consumption tax amount to the rental unit price per game ball).

  The card unit control unit 340 subtracts and updates the remaining card amount read from the game card 21 and stored in the card unit control unit 340 each time a lending command signal is output (specifically, a unit amount including tax, ie, (The credit consumption unit amount and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount are subtracted and updated) and the remaining card amount of the gaming card 21 set in the card reader / writer device 33 is rewritten with the updated card remaining amount. Control. Further, the card unit control unit 340 performs control to display the card remaining amount updated in accordance with the subtraction update of the card remaining amount on the card remaining amount display 8. When executing such display control of the remaining card amount, the card unit control unit 340 controls the card remaining amount indicator 8 to display the frequency and turn on the frequency lamp 52 when the remaining card amount is equal to or greater than the loan consumption unit amount. When the remaining amount of the card is less than the loan consumption unit amount, the remaining number of balls is displayed on the card remaining amount display 8 and the fraction lamp 53 is controlled to be turned on, and the remaining number of balls is displayed on the remaining amount display 8 of the card. The display switching control is performed.

  Further, when the game card 21 is deposited, the deposit information indicating the deposited amount is sent in real time from the card unit control unit 340 via the communication unit 35 and the communication unit 37 to the card management device 400 and the hall management computer 800. Is output. In addition, when the game card 21 is lent out by debiting the remaining amount of the card, the sales information as consumption amount data indicating the rent amount (the unit amount sales information when the unit amount is lent, the fractional amount of the loan) (Fractional sales information) is output from the card unit control unit 340 to the card management device 400 and the hall management computer 800 via the communication unit 35 and the communication unit 37 in real time.

  When such deposit information and sales information are output, a signal indicating unit identification information for identifying the card unit and game card ID information is added to the information. As a result, in each of the card management device 400 and the hall management computer 800 to which these pieces of information are input, the information on which game card the input information is, and which card unit 3 has output the information. You can grasp whether it is a thing.

  Information output to the card management device 400 in this way is relayed by the plurality of relay devices 60 provided in the game hall 100 and given to the card management device 400. The relay device 60 is a device having an information relay function provided for each gaming machine installation island 200a in the game hall 100, and relays various information output from a plurality of card units 3 in the gaming machine installation island. Do. A plurality of card units 3 are communicably connected to each relay device 60. The plurality of relay devices 60 are communicably connected to the card management device 400, and data other than the relay device 60 directly connected to the card management device 400 is transmitted via other relay devices 60. Is sent to the card management device 400.

  Information output to the hall management computer 800 is relayed by the island terminal device 50 provided in the game hall 100 and given to the hall management computer 800. One island terminal device 50 is provided for each gaming machine installation island 200a in the game hall 100, and has an information processing function such as an information totaling function. Each island unit 50 is connected to each card unit 3 in each gaming machine installation island 200a island. In response to the output information, each signal is sent to the hall management computer 800.

  The card management device 400 is a management device including a management computer that executes various processes for managing all the game cards 21 and all the card units 3. One card management device 400 is provided in the game hall 100, and manages all the game cards 21 issued in the game hall 100 and all the card units 3 installed in the game hall 100. To do. The management contents include management of the operation status of the card unit 3, sales management of the card unit 3, and management of the game card 21.

  The card management device 400 stores a card management database for managing each game card in a storage unit such as an external storage device such as a hard disk device or an internal storage device such as a RAM. In the card management database, for example, card ID information and card balance information are stored in association with each other, and data that can manage the card balance of each game card 21 is included. Further, in the card management device 400, information such as payment information and sales information is classified and aggregated for each gaming card 21 or for each card unit 3, so that it can be useful for management management of the gaming hall 100. It also has a total management database.

  Further, in such a card management apparatus 400, an input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse that is connected to the management computer in the card management apparatus 400 and inputs various data to the management computer, and the management And a display unit (output unit) such as a liquid crystal display device that displays various information such as management setting data and management data managed by the management computer as images. Yes.

  Outside the amusement hall 100, a third party organization (founded by a third party other than the amusement hall and the player) that centrally manages information related to the gaming card for the plurality of amusement halls 100 in which the gaming card 21 is used. 500) is provided. In this third-party organization 500, transaction setting information such as a consumption tax rate used in transactions using the game cards 21 in a plurality of game halls 100 is set. For example, various transaction setting information such as a consumption tax rate is set for each game hall. A transaction information management device 501 that can be distributed to 100 is provided.

  The transaction information management apparatus 501 is configured by a management computer and is connected to the card management apparatus 400 of each game hall 100 through a communication line so as to be communicable. Then, for example, the transaction information management device 501 delivers consumption tax rate setting information to each card management device 400 every day. In each card management device 400, based on the consumption tax rate setting information distributed from the transaction information management device 501, it is the tax rate of the consumption tax that is collected with the lending of game balls in all the card units 3 in the game hall 100. The above-mentioned tax-included unit amount and tax-included fractional ball unit price are set so that the consumption tax rate becomes an appropriate consumption tax rate.

  Each data of the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price set in the card management device 400 is transmitted from the card management device 400 to all the card units 3 in the game hall 100. In the card unit 3, the data of the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price transmitted from the card management device 400 are stored in a storage unit such as a RAM provided in the card unit control unit 340, and the consumption tax amount at the time of lending is stored. Used for collection.

  When the player inserts the game card 21 into the card unit 3, the card unit 3 first reads the recorded information of the game card 21 by the card reader / writer device 33, and based on the read information, Authentication data (card ID information, card balance information, security information) is sent to the card management device 400 by communication via the network. This authentication data is data used to authenticate that the inserted card is a proper card. When the card is recognized as a proper card based on this authentication data, the game card 21 is displayed. Various processes such as depositing and lending used can be performed.

  In the card management device 400, authentication data (card ID information, card balance information, security information) stored in the member management database corresponding to the game card ID information included in the authentication data sent from the card unit 3 ), The read authentication data and the authentication data sent from the card unit 3 are collated, and if the data match, the game card 21 is authenticated as an appropriate game card. The use information is permitted and permission information indicating that the use is permitted is returned to the card unit 3. That is, the player can freely insert the game card 21, but depositing and lending using the card are performed on the condition that the card management device 400 has authenticated the card.

  Further, as described above, when the game card 21 is used for lending and depositing, the sales information and the depositing information are given to the card management device 400 by communication via the relay device 60 together with the card ID information. The card management device 400 performs a process of updating the information on the remaining amount of each game card being managed based on the received sales information and payment information. Thereby, in the card management apparatus 400, the card remaining amount of each game card is managed correctly.

  Further, when the card unit 3 and the card management device 400 are in an online state, the game card 21 is authenticated while communicating information between the card unit 3 and the card management device 400 as described above. However, when the card unit 3 and the card management device 400 are in an offline state, the game card 21 may be authenticated by the card unit 3 alone. In this case, for example, when the security information is stored in the card unit controller 340 of the card unit 3 and the security information matches the security information read from the gaming card 21, the gaming card 21 Simple authentication is performed to authenticate that the card is appropriate. In such an offline state, for the purpose of preventing fraud, the upper limit value of deposit is set to an amount lower than the upper limit value in the online state.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the remaining amount of the card is less than the tax-included unit amount by lending for the loan consumption unit amount, the number of the tax-included units is continued following the lending corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount. Any one selected from the first payout mode for lending a fractional amount less than the amount and the second payout mode for lending the fractional amount independently of the loan consumption unit amount Lending is performed in the payout mode. The card management device 400 has a function of selecting and setting a payout mode used uniformly in the game hall from these payout modes in accordance with the selection operation of the attendant. Then, the card management device 400 transmits the payout mode information for specifying the set payout mode to each card unit 3. Each card unit 3 sets a payout mode based on the payout mode information transmitted from the card management device 400, and lends in the set payout mode.

  The settlement apparatus 72 performs processing for such settlement for a player who requests settlement of the remaining amount of the game card 21. The payment apparatus 72 is communicably connected to the card management apparatus 400, and includes an input unit, a display unit, a processing unit (microcomputer capable of executing a payment process), a cash payout unit, and a communication unit. A player who wishes to settle the remaining amount of the card can take the game card 21 to the settlement apparatus 72 and insert the card into the settlement apparatus 72 to receive a settlement process.

  When the player inserts the game card 21 into the checkout device 72, the checkout device 72 reads the recorded information of the inserted game card 21, and based on the read information, the card management device 400 sends authentication data (card ID). Information, card balance information, security information). In the card management device 400, the authentication data sent from the settlement device is sent from the card unit 3 to the authentication data (card ID information, card balance information, security information) recorded on the game card 21. If the data matches the authentication data (card ID information, card balance information, security information) stored in the card management database corresponding to the game card ID information included in the authentication data, It authenticates that the game card 21 is an appropriate game card, permits its use, and returns to the checkout device 72 permission information indicating that the use is permitted. In other words, the payment using the game card 21 is performed on condition that the card is authenticated by the card management device 400.

  When the card is authenticated, the checkout device 72 displays the remaining card amount on the display unit, and performs a checkout process for paying out cash corresponding to the entire remaining card amount of the inserted game card 21 from the cash payout unit. . By providing such a settlement apparatus 72, the remaining card amount can be paid out to the player as cash in accordance with the player's wish. When such a checkout is performed, the card balance information after payment is sent from the checkout device 72 to the card management device 400 together with the game card ID information, so that the card management device 400 is sent as such. Based on the information, the remaining card amount of the corresponding game card ID is updated in the card management database.

  Next, the configuration of a circuit related to the payout of game balls in the pachinko gaming machine 2 and the card unit 3 will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a circuit related to the payout of game balls in the pachinko gaming machine 2 and the card unit 3.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 2, the game control unit 300 is provided on a game control board (not shown), and a prize ball that is paid out in accordance with the winning of the game ball via an input / output circuit 301 provided on the board. Prize ball payout number data is output as data indicating the number of balls. The winning ball payout number data is input to a payout control unit 200 provided on a payout control board (not shown) via an input / output circuit 201 provided on the board.

  Here, a main configuration for paying out the winning balls and the rental balls in the pachinko gaming machine 2 will be briefly described. On the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 2, in order to pay out winning balls and rental balls, a ball tank for storing game balls, a ball supply path such as a tank rail for flowing down game balls stored in the ball tank, and ball supply A payout device 90 (see FIG. 5) provided with a payout motor driven to pay out the game balls supplied from the route, a payout route for guiding the game balls from the payout device 90 to the upper plate 5, and an upper plate A payout route for guiding the game ball to the lower plate 6 when 5 is full and the game ball cannot be stored, and a ball removal for guiding the game ball from the payout device to the outside of the pachinko gaming machine 2 Structures such as a ball removal path are provided. On the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 2 having such a configuration, devices such as various sensors and motors used for payout control of game balls are provided.

  The detection outputs of the confirmation sensors 68a and 68b, the counting sensors 69a and 69b, the full switch 70, the ball removal switch 71, the position sensor 72, the tank ball sensor 73, and the winning ball sensors 82a and 82b are input from the detection circuit 78. It is input to the payout control unit 200 via the output circuit 201.

  The confirmation sensors 68a and 68b are detection means for confirming (detecting) that there is a game ball supplied to the payout device 90. Since two supply paths for game balls are provided, two confirmation sensors are provided so as to correspond to the respective supply paths. The counting sensors 69a and 69b are detection means for counting (detecting) the game balls paid out from the payout device 90 to the payout path. Since two game ball payout paths are provided, two counting sensors are provided to correspond to the respective payout paths.

  The full tank switch 70 is detection means for detecting that the lower plate is full of game balls. The ball removal switch 71 is a detection means for detecting a predetermined ball removal operation by a game attendant. The position sensor 72 is a detecting means for optically detecting the operation position of the ball feeding member driven by the payout motor of the payout device 90. Here, the ball feeding member is a rotating member that is rotationally driven by the payout motor 75, and has a spiral ball feeding groove formed on the outer peripheral surface. It is a member that performs an operation of delivering a game ball so as to pay out. The position sensor 72 detects the operation position of the ball feed member in order to recognize the operation state of the ball feed member. The tank ball sensor 73 is a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball in the ball tank.

  The payout control unit 200 causes the drive circuit 79 to input a control signal for lighting the payout lamp 74 via the input / output circuit 201. The drive circuit 79 performs lamp driving for turning on or off the payout lamp 74 in accordance with the input control signal. Also, the payout control unit 200 causes the drive circuit 80 to input a control signal for the payout motor 75 via the input / output circuit 201. The drive circuit 80 drives the payout motor 75 in accordance with the input control signal.

The payout control unit 200 causes the drive circuit 81 to input a control signal for driving the solenoid via the input / output circuit 201. The drive circuit 81 drives the discharge solenoids 76 and 77 in accordance with the input control signal. Here, the discharge solenoids 76 and 77 will be described. The winning balls are gathered inside the pachinko gaming machine 2, sent to a predetermined holding position one by one for the payout control, held by a predetermined holding member, and the winning balls are paid out to the winning ball. Thereafter, the discharge solenoids 76 and 77 are discharged to the outside of the pachinko gaming machine 2 by releasing the holding by the holding member. The payout control unit 200 performs control to discharge the winning ball to the outside by giving a control signal to the drive circuit 81 and driving the discharge solenoids 76 and 77 each time the winning ball is paid out to the winning ball. In the case of this embodiment, two winning solenoids are provided because the winning balls are gathered in two locations according to the type of winning balls and are held for paying out the winning balls.

  The winning balls assembled at two locations are detected by winning ball sensors 82a and 82b, respectively. The detection outputs of the winning ball sensors 82a and 82b are input from the detection circuit 78 to the payout control unit 200 via the input / output circuit 201. The detection outputs of the winning ball sensors 82a and 82b are also input to the game control unit 300, although not shown. In the game control unit 300, when a winning ball is detected by the winning ball sensors 82a and 82b, the above-mentioned winning ball payout number data is transmitted to the payout control unit 200.

  Further, the card unit control unit 340 executes the lending control through the input / output circuit 341, the VL signal (connection signal), the BRDY signal (unit operation signal), the BRQ signal (lending request / command signal), And a BNM signal (payout number designation signal) is output. These signals are input to the payout control unit 200 via the input / output circuit 202. Further, the payout control unit 200 outputs an EXS signal (lending preparation / completion signal) and a PRDY signal (pachinko machine operation signal) via the input / output circuit 202 in order to execute lending control. These signals are input to the card unit controller 340 via the input / output circuit 341.

  FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining the operation timing of the card unit 3 and the pachinko gaming machine 2.

  First, when the power is turned on (powered on), the PRDY signal is turned on, which indicates that the game ball can be paid out on the pachinko gaming machine 2 side. A state in which the PRDY signal is turned on is recognized as a payout enable signal. Next, when the lending switch 80 is operated and the lending operation signal is turned ON, when lending (lending) for an integral multiple of the lending consumption unit amount is performed, the BRDY signal is turned ON accordingly and the card unit 3 is turned on. It will be ready to lend. When a predetermined delay time a (for example, 20 msec) has elapsed since that time, the BRQ signal is turned ON, and a lending request signal from the card unit control unit 340 to the payout control unit 200 is output. That is, the state where the BRQ signal is turned on is recognized as the lending request signal. The reason why the predetermined delay time a is provided is to prevent a malfunction due to noise by providing a sufficient time for the payout control unit 200 to determine that the BRDY signal is turned on.

  From the time when this BRQ signal is turned on, at time E when a lending preparation signal confirmation time b (b ≦ T1) measured by a timer T1 described later has elapsed, the EXS signal is turned on and a lending preparation signal is issued. The data is output from the control unit 200 to the card unit control unit 340. That is, the state in which the EXS signal is turned on is recognized as a lending preparation signal. When a lending command signal confirmation time c (c ≦ T9) measured by a timer T9, which will be described later, elapses from when the EXS signal is turned on, the BRQ signal is turned off and the lending command signal is sent to the card unit controller 340. To the payout control unit 200. That is, the state where the BRQ signal is turned off is recognized as a lending command signal. Then, when a lending completion signal confirmation time d (d ≦ T3) measured by a timer T3, which will be described later, elapses from the time when the BRQ signal is turned off, the EXS signal is turned off, and the lending completion signal is sent to the payout control unit. 200 is output to the card unit controller 340. That is, the state in which the EXS signal is turned off is recognized as a lending completion signal.

  Further, when the next lending request signal confirmation time e (e ≦ T7) measured by a timer T7 described later has elapsed from the time when the EXS signal is turned off, the BRQ signal is turned on, and the next lending request signal is The output of the lending preparation signal, the output of the lending command signal, and the output of the lending completion signal are repeated as described above.

  When the card unit control unit 340 requests the payout control unit 200 to borrow a fractional ball, the BNM signal becomes a pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width corresponding to the number of fractional ball payouts before the BRQ signal is turned ON. . The relationship between the BRQ signal and the BNM signal indicates that a fractional ball is lent, and the number of fractional spheres is specified by the number of such pulses. On the other hand, when the card unit control unit 340 requests the payout control unit 200 to lend a unit amount, the BNM signal does not become a pulse signal but continues in the OFF state before the BRQ signal is turned ON. The relationship between the BRQ signal and the BNM signal indicates that the unit amount is lent.

  Next, the lending request signal and the payout number designation signal will be specifically described. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the lending request signal and the payout number designation signal. In FIG. 8, the number corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount (consumption tax amount is not used for lending, but is considered to be collected separately, it is the number corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount) The relationship between the lending request signal and the number-of-payout designation signal is shown for each payout mode when the lending is performed and when the number of loans corresponding to the fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount is performed.

  In the case of this embodiment, as described above, the lending is performed in either the first payout mode or the second payout mode as the lending payout mode. In FIG. 8, a detection signal and a BRQ signal of the lending switch 80 at the time of payout in the first payout mode are shown in (a), and a detection signal and a BRQ signal of the lending switch 80 at the time of payout in the second payout mode are shown. Is shown in (b).

  Referring to FIG. 8, in the number-of-payout designation signal, a pulse P having a relatively small pulse width in which the BNM signal repeats an ON state and an OFF state in a short cycle is output by the number of pieces to be dispensed. The number of payouts is specified by the number. When lending for the loan consumption unit amount is performed, the payout number designation signal pulse is not output in the BNM signal before the lending request signal for turning on the BRQ signal is output. On the other hand, when the fractional amount is lent out, a pulse of the number-of-payout designation signal is output in the BNM signal before the rental request signal for turning on the BRQ signal is output. Therefore, when the lending request signal is output with the BRQ signal turned ON, the payout control unit 20 lends based on whether or not the pulse of the payout number designation signal is output before the BRQ signal is turned ON. It is determined whether the request is for a loan for a consumption unit amount or a request for a loan for a fractional amount. The payout control unit 20 grasps the payout number of the fractional sphere by counting the number of payout number designation signals.

  When the payout number designation signal is not output before the lending request signal, the payout control unit 200 is requested to lend a number (25 balls) corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount stored in the payout control unit 200. On the other hand, when the payout number designation signal is output before the lending request signal, the number of game balls to be paid out as fractional balls is indicated by the number of pulse signals, so that the number of lendings corresponding to the number of pulse signals is sent to the payout control unit 200. Required.

  In the first payout mode shown in (a), when the remaining amount of the card becomes less than the tax-included unit amount by lending for the loan consumption unit amount according to the operation of the loan switch 80, the last loan consumption unit amount is loaned After the lending request signal is output, the operation of the lending switch 80 is not required, and then the lending request signal is output after the payout number specifying signal pulse for specifying the number of fractional spheres is output. As a result, the game balls for the fractional amount are lent out following the rent of the game balls for the last rental consumption unit amount.

  In the second payout mode shown in (b), even if the remaining amount of the card becomes less than the tax-included unit amount by lending the loan consumption unit amount in accordance with the operation of the loan switch 80, the last loan consumption unit After the lending request signal for lending the amount is output, the lending of fractional balls is not performed unless the lending switch 80 is newly operated. In other words, if the operation of the lending switch 80 is newly performed separately from lending for the lending consumption unit amount, a lending request signal is output after a pulse of a payout number specifying signal for specifying the number of fractional spheres is output.

  Next, management data related to card ID information and card balance information managed in the card management database stored in the card management device 400 will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing management data related to card ID information and card balance information managed in the card management database in a table format.

  Referring to FIG. 9, for each gaming card, data such as the remaining card amount and the date of issue are stored in correspondence with the card ID data. As described above, the remaining card information is updated each time sales information and payment information relating to each game card is input to the card management device 400. Thereby, the card management apparatus 400 can manage the remaining amount of each game card based on the data stored in the card management database.

  Next, tax rate management processing for managing the consumption tax rate executed by the management computer in the transaction information management apparatus 501 will be described. This tax rate management process is one of subroutine programs activated by a main program executed for various controls in the management computer of the transaction information management apparatus 501. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the tax rate management processing executed in the transaction information management device 501.

  First, in step S (hereinafter simply referred to as S) 1, consumption tax rate data indicating an appropriate consumption tax rate (for example, 5%) stored in the storage unit of the management computer is read. Then, in S2, the consumption tax rate data read in S1 is set as consumption tax rate data to be distributed to the card management device 400 of each game hall 100 (for example, processing to store in a predetermined storage area as distribution data). Is done. Then, the process proceeds to S3, and after processing for distributing the consumption tax rate data set in S2 to the card management device 400 of each game hall 100 as consumption tax rate setting information is performed, the process returns. Distribution of such consumption tax rate setting information is executed every day at a predetermined time before the start of business of each game hall 100.

  Next, in order to set the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price based on the consumption tax rate data distributed from the transaction information management apparatus 501, the management computer in the card management apparatus 400 and the card unit control unit 340 A process to be executed will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of processing executed for setting the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price in the card management device 400 and the card unit control unit 340. In FIG. 11, the tax-included loan amount management process executed by the card management device 400 is shown in (a), and the tax-included loan amount setting process executed by the card unit controller 340 is shown in (b).

  The tax-included loan amount management process (a) is one of subroutine programs that are activated by a main program that is executed for various controls in the management computer of the card management apparatus 400.

  First, in S11, it is determined whether or not the consumption tax rate setting information distributed from the transaction information management device 501 has been received. If it is determined that it has not been received in S11, this tax-included loan amount management process ends and the process returns. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has been received in S11, unit amount setting data indicating the lending consumption unit amount (for example, 100 yen) set in the game hall is read from the storage unit of the card management device 400 in S12. The Then, in S13, based on the consumption tax rate data indicated by the received consumption tax rate setting information and the unit amount setting data read in S12, a predetermined number (25) of game balls are lent. An operation for calculating a tax-included unit amount (for example, 105 yen), which is a first sum value of a loan consumption unit amount that is a loan consumption amount when performing and a consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount (100 yen) +100 yen × 0.05 = 105 yen).

  Next, in S14, a process of setting the tax-included unit amount calculated in S13 as data of an amount used for lending in each card 3 in the game hall 100 is performed. Then, in S15, processing for transmitting information indicating the tax-included unit amount set in S14 to each card unit 3 is performed.

  Next, in S16, fractional ball unit price setting data indicating the fractional ball unit price (unit price per game ball, for example, 4 yen) set in the game hall is read from the storage unit of the card management device 400. The Then, at S17, based on the consumption tax rate data indicated by the received consumption tax rate setting information and the fractional ball unit price setting data read out at S16, a game medium unit price (fractional ball) that is a rental consumption amount per game medium. (Unit price) and a consumption tax amount corresponding to the game medium unit price are calculated (4 yen + 4 yen × 0.05 = 4). .2 yen) will be held.

  Next, in S18, a process of setting the tax-included fractional ball unit price calculated in S17 as data of an amount used for lending in each card 3 in the game hall 100 is performed. Then, in S19, processing for transmitting information indicating the tax-included fractional ball unit price set in S18 to each card unit 3 is performed. After S18, this tax-included loan amount management process ends, and the process returns.

  The tax-included loan amount setting process in (b) is one of subroutine programs that are activated by the main program executed for various controls in the card unit control unit 340.

  First, in S21, it is determined whether or not information indicating a tax-included unit amount transmitted from the card management device 400 has been received. If it is determined that it has been received in S21, the received tax-included unit amount is stored in the storage unit in S22 and set as data (first data) used for calculating the remaining card amount at the time of lending. After that, the process proceeds to S23. On the other hand, if it is determined in S21 that it has not been received, the process proceeds to S23 as it is.

  In S23, it is determined whether or not information indicating the tax-included fractional ball price transmitted from the card management device 400 has been received. If it is determined in S23 that the received tax-included fractional ball unit price is stored in the storage unit in S24 and is set as data (second data) used for calculating the remaining card amount at the time of lending. Done. On the other hand, if it is determined in S23 that it has not been received, and after the processing in S24, this tax-included lending amount setting processing ends and returns.

  The tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price set in this way are used for renting game balls in the card processing control described later.

  In this embodiment, the first number specifying mode and the second number are used as the number specifying mode for specifying the number to be paid out when the fractional ball is lent according to the remaining amount of the card less than the tax-included unit amount. One of the number specifying modes is set from among a plurality of (three) number specifying modes called the specific mode and the third number specifying mode.

  In the first number specifying mode, the number of game balls (lending number) including tax is rounded up by one game ball with respect to the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price (rounded up to the fractional ball unit price including tax). In this mode, the remaining amount is subtracted to zero (0 yen) in the lending process. In addition, the second number specifying mode is a mode in which the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price is rounded down to specify the number of game balls (lending number), and the remaining amount is subtracted to zero (0 yen) in the lending process as described later. is there. Also, in the third number specifying mode, the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price is rounded down to specify the number of game balls (rented number). This is a mode for subtracting the remaining amount from the recorded information of the game card 21 so that the remaining amount can be specified (recorded as the remaining amount of the card).

  Next, for each of the first to third number specifying modes, a specific amount example (numerical example) related to the number specification of the fractional sphere and the subtraction of the remaining amount will be described. For example, when a remaining amount less than 25 yen including tax (105 yen) occurs, the number of fractional balls that can be lent as it is at 4.2 yen including tax is 5 and is less than the tax-included fractional price. Is 4 yen (25 yen -4.2 yen x 5 pieces = 4 yen).

  In the case of such an amount example, in the first number specifying mode, with respect to the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount of 25 yen, an amount less than 4 yen tax-included fractional ball unit price for one game ball (the tax-included fractional ball unit price is 4. Round up to 2 yen), specify the number of 6 game balls (25.2 yen ÷ 4.2 yen = 6), and subtract the remaining amount to zero (0 yen) in the lending process as described later To do. In that case, the remaining amount (25 yen) owned by the player is 0.2 yen short of the remaining amount (25.2 yen) required for 6 loans, but the shortage amount of 0.2 yen Six fractional balls are lent by the game hall paying on behalf of the player.

  In the case of such an amount example, in the second number specifying mode, the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball price of 4 yen is rounded down (25 yen−4 yen = 21 yen is left), and 5 (21 yen ÷ 21 The number of game balls (lending number) of 4.2 yen = 5) is specified, and the remaining amount is subtracted to zero (0 yen) in a lending process as described later. In that case, the remaining amount owned by the player (25 yen) will be subtracted by 4 yen more than the remaining amount required for lending (21 yen), but the excess deduction amount of 4 yen will be reduced. When the player pays (the remaining amount is set to “0”), five fractional balls are lent.

  In addition, in the case of such an amount example, in the third number specifying mode, the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price of 4 yen is rounded down for the number specifying calculation (25 yen-4 yen = 21 yen as the remaining amount) The number of game balls (lending number) of 5 (21 yen ÷ 4.2 yen = 5) is specified, and in the lending process as described later, the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price of 4 yen is stored in the card balance As a result, 21 yen (5 pieces × 4.2 yen = 21 yen), which is the remaining amount of the loaned, is subtracted from the record information of the remaining card amount of the game card 21 in an identifiable manner. . In that case, the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price of 4 yen remains as the remaining amount of the game card 21 as it is.

  In the present embodiment, since it is possible to deposit the game card 21 with the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price remaining, the third number specifying that the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price remains as the card balance is left as it is. A mode is provided. In addition, in the case of a system in which payment is not possible, the third number specifying mode may not be provided. Further, even in the case of a system capable of depositing, a third number specifying mode may be provided.

  Next, a process executed by the management computer in the card management apparatus 400 and the card unit control unit 340 in each card unit 3 in order to set the above-described number specifying mode (including setting change) will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of processing executed to set the number specifying mode in the card management device 400 and the card unit control unit 340. In FIG. 12, the number specifying mode setting process executed by the card management device 400 is shown in (a), and the number specifying mode storing process executed by the card unit control unit 340 is shown in (b).

  The number specifying mode setting process (a) is one of subroutine programs started by a main program executed for various controls in the management computer of the card management apparatus 400.

  First, in S201, it is determined whether or not the number specifying mode selection operation (setting operation) has been performed. The card management device 400 displays a number specifying mode setting screen for displaying an image used for setting the above-described number specifying mode by performing a predetermined input operation at the above-described input unit by the game hall manager. Display control is performed. In this number specifying mode setting screen, a plurality (three) of buttons for setting the first number specifying mode, buttons for setting the second number specifying mode, and buttons for setting the second number specifying mode are displayed. A button-shaped icon is displayed. If the administrator performs an operation (setting operation) for selecting any one of the setting buttons on the screen by operating the input unit, the selected number specifying mode is newly set. It will be set as the correct number specifying mode. Such a setting operation is a new setting operation when the number specifying mode is not set in advance, and is a setting changing operation when the number specifying mode is set in advance. That is, the setting operation in the number identification mode also serves as both a new setting operation and a setting change operation.

  If it is determined in S201 that the number specifying mode selection operation (setting operation) has not been performed, the number specifying mode setting process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined in S201 that the number specifying mode selection operation (setting operation) has been performed, the process proceeds to S202, in which data indicating the selected number specifying mode is stored in the storage unit, and the stored number specifying mode is stored. Is set as the number specifying mode used for lending fractional spheres in each card unit 3. Then, the process proceeds to S203, a process for transmitting the number specifying mode setting information indicating the number specifying mode set in S202 to each card unit 3 in the game hall is performed, and the process returns.

  The number specifying mode storage process in (b) is one of subroutine programs activated by a main program executed for various controls in the card unit control unit 340.

  First, in S301, it is determined whether or not the number specifying mode setting information transmitted from the card management device 400 has been received. If it is determined that it has been received in S301, data indicating the number specifying mode indicated by the received number specifying mode setting information is stored in the storage unit in S302, and the stored number specifying mode is used for lending a fractional sphere. A process of setting as the number specifying mode used for the is performed. Thereafter, the number specifying mode storing process is ended. On the other hand, if it is determined in S301 that it has not been received, the number specifying mode storage process is terminated as it is.

  The number specifying mode setting process is executed in the card management device 400 and the number specifying mode storing process is executed in each card unit 3, whereby the number specifying mode is set (set) in each card unit 3. Be changed.

  Next, card processing control executed for lending game balls based on the remaining amount of the game card 21 in the card unit control unit 340 will be described. This card processing control is one of subroutine programs activated by a main program executed for various controls in the card unit control unit 340. 13 to 15 are flowcharts showing the processing contents of the card processing control. In the card processing control described below, the data of the tax-included unit amount set in S14 of FIG. 11 and the data of the fractional ball unit price set in S18 of FIG. 11 are used for various determinations and effects. Further, in the card processing control described below, when calculating (specifying) the fractional ball number, calculation (specification) of the fractional ball number in the number specification mode set in S302 of FIG. 12 is performed.

  First, in S31, the data of the set loan amount set by the amount setting button 14 shown in FIG. 3 is read. Next, in S32, the availability indicator 92 (see FIG. 3) is turned on to indicate that it can be used. Next, the process proceeds to S33, where it is determined whether or not the card acceptance signal has been input from the control unit of the card reader / writer (R / W in the figure) device 33. When it is determined in S33 that there is no input, the process proceeds to S76, and it is determined whether or not the card abnormality signal is input from the control unit of the card reader / writer device 33. If it is determined in S76 that there is no input, the process returns to S33 again. If a proper gaming card 21 is received and a card acceptance signal is input during the loop, a determination is made that a card acceptance signal has been input, and the process proceeds to S34.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S76 that a card abnormality signal has been input, the process proceeds to S35, and control is performed to display the cause of the card abnormality on the card balance display 8 with an error code. Specifically, an error code indicating the type of cause of abnormality such as inability to read the inserted card or security error is displayed on the card remaining amount display 8. Then, the process proceeds to S36, and the availability indicator 92 is blinked.

  If the process proceeds to S34, the card ID information, the card balance information, and the security information read from the game card 21 are transmitted to the card management device 400 to check the card information as described above (whether the data matches). For confirmation) is performed. In S35, it is determined whether or not the verification result information returned from the card management device 400 is the above-described allowable information. If it is determined in S35 that the use of the game card 21 is not permitted, a process of discharging the inserted game card 21 and returning it to the player is performed in S37. On the other hand, if it is determined in S35 that the use of the game card 21 is permitted, the card insertion indicator 20 and the lending permission indicator 96 are turned on in S36, and the card remaining amount indicator 8 indicates the remaining amount of the current card. Processing for displaying is performed.

  Next, in S38, it is determined whether or not a lending operation has been performed by the lending switch 80. If it is determined in S38 that there is no lending operation, the process proceeds to S39, and it is determined whether or not there is a return operation by the return switch 81. If it is determined in S39 that there is no return operation, the process returns to S38. If it is determined in S39 that a return operation has been performed, the lending permission indicator 96 is turned off in S40, and then the process proceeds to S75 where control for returning the game card 21 is performed. Specifically, in S75, processing for outputting the remaining amount writing signal and the card ejection command signal to the control unit of the card reader / writer device 33 is performed. Here, the remaining amount writing signal is a signal for specifying the current remaining amount and instructing writing to the game card 21. The card discharge command signal is a signal for instructing discharge for returning the game card 21. Accordingly, the control unit of the card reader / writer device 33 performs control to return the inserted game card 21 to the player side.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S38 that there has been a lending operation, the process proceeds to S41, where the current remaining amount of the game card 21, that is, the remaining amount displayed on the card remaining amount display 8 is set by the amount setting button 14. It is determined whether the consumption tax is equal to or higher than the tax-included set amount.

  If it is determined in S41 that the current remaining amount is equal to or more than the set amount including tax, it is determined in S42 whether or not the currently set payout mode is the first payout mode. If it is determined in S42 that the mode is the first payout mode, it is determined in S43 whether or not the result of subtracting the tax-included set amount from the current remaining amount is less than the tax-included unit amount. That is, in S43, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount after the series of loans is a fractional amount.

  If it is determined in S43 that it is not less than the tax-included unit amount (is greater than or equal to the tax-included unit amount), a process for setting the current tax-included set amount as data of the current loan amount is performed in S44. After S44, the process proceeds to S54 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S43 that the amount is less than the tax-included unit amount, a fractional sphere that can be lent in accordance with the set number specifying mode (any one of the first to third number specifying modes) in S45. A process of calculating (identifying) the number of items is performed. Specifically, in S45, the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount determined by the current remaining amount-tax included set amount is lent by performing the calculation as shown in the above example of the amount according to the set number specifying mode. The number of possible fractional spheres is identified.

  In S46, the current lending amount data corresponding to the set number specifying mode is required for paying out the fractional sphere of the number calculated according to the number specifying mode in S45 to the current tax-included set amount. A process for setting the sum including the tax-included fraction is performed. Specifically, the tax-included fractional amount in S46 is the full tax-included fractional amount in each of the first number specifying mode and the second number specifying mode, and in the third number specifying mode, the fraction calculated in S45. It is the amount calculated by multiplying the number of balls by the tax-included fractional ball unit price.

  If it is determined in S42 that the first payout mode is not set, that is, if the second payout mode is set, a process of setting the current tax-included set amount as the current loan amount data is performed in S44. After that, the process proceeds to S54 described later. That is, in the first payout mode, it is necessary to lend the fractional amount following the last unit amount. However, since the second payout mode is performed when a fractional amount is required, the number of fractional spheres is not calculated.

  If it is determined in S41 described above that the current remaining amount is not equal to or greater than the tax-included set amount (less than the tax-included set amount), the process proceeds to S47 in FIG. In this way, if the current remaining amount is less than the tax-included set amount, it is not possible to set the tax-included set amount as the loan amount and pay out the game balls for the tax-included set amount, so as shown below, Processing is performed to set the upper limit amount that can be paid out by the remaining amount to the loan amount according to the payout mode. In S47, it is determined whether or not the currently set payout mode is the first payout mode. If it is determined in S47 that the current mode is the first payout mode, the number of fractional spheres to be paid out when all the current remaining amount is used for lending is calculated in S48. Specifically, in S48, by dividing the current remaining amount by the tax-included unit amount to obtain the remainder, a fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount generated when all the current remaining amount is used for lending (the remainder of the calculation result) In addition, from the fractional amount less than the calculated tax-included unit amount, according to the set number specifying mode (any of the first to third number specifying modes), the above-mentioned amount example is shown. By performing such an operation, a process of calculating (specifying) the number of fractional spheres that can be lent is performed.

  After S48, in S49, as the data of the current loan amount, the fractional sphere calculated by S48 is added to the tax-included amount required for paying out the loan consumption unit amount that can be paid out when all of the current remaining amount is used for the loan. A process of setting an amount obtained by adding a fractional amount including tax necessary for paying out the number is performed. The tax-included amount required for paying out the loanable consumption unit amount in this case is calculated by multiplying the tax-included unit amount by the number of times the tax-included unit amount can be paid out with the current remaining amount. In this case, the tax-included fractional amount is the entire tax-included fractional amount in each of the first number specifying mode and the second number specifying mode, and in the third number specifying mode, the fractional sphere calculated in S48. This is the amount calculated by multiplying the number of s by the tax-included fractional ball unit price. After S49, the process proceeds to S54.

  Further, when it is determined that the first payout mode is not determined in S47 described above, that is, in the second payout mode, the process proceeds to S50, and the current remaining amount (that is, the remaining amount after subtraction by the previous lending process) is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount It is determined whether or not. If it is determined by S50 that the amount exceeds the tax-included unit amount, the tax-included amount required for paying out the loan consumption amount that can be paid out when all the current remaining amount is used for lending as the current lending amount data at S51 The process of setting is performed. The tax-included amount required for paying out the loanable consumption unit amount in this case is calculated by multiplying the tax-included unit amount by the number of times the tax-included unit amount can be paid out with the current remaining amount. After S51, the process proceeds to S54.

  On the other hand, if it is determined by S50 that it is not more than the tax-included unit amount, that is, if it is less than the tax-included unit amount, the set number specifying mode (the first to the first- In accordance with any one of the third number specifying modes), a process for calculating (specifying) the number of fractional spheres that can be lent is performed by performing an operation as shown in the above-described example of the amount of money. Then, in S53, processing for setting the tax-included fractional amount necessary for paying out the number of fractional spheres calculated in S52 is performed as the current loan amount data. Specifically, the tax-included fractional amount in S53 is the entire tax-included fractional amount in each of the first number specifying mode and the second number specifying mode, and in the third number specifying mode, the fraction calculated in S52. It is the amount calculated by multiplying the number of balls by the tax-included fractional ball unit price. After S53, the process proceeds to S54.

  In S54 shown in FIG. 13, processing for turning off the lending permission indicator 96 is performed. Since the next lending operation is not accepted until the lending operation is once completed and the lending operation based on the lending operation is completed, the lending is permitted until the lending permission indicator 96 is turned on in S81 described later. The display 96 is turned off to indicate that the lending operation cannot be performed.

  Next, in S55, it is determined whether or not the loan amount is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount. If it is determined in S55 that the amount exceeds the tax-included unit amount, a rental request signal is output in S56, and the process proceeds to S58. That is, in the case of paying out the loan consumption unit amount, the loan request signal is output without outputting the pulse of the payout number designation signal. On the other hand, if it is determined in S55 that the amount is not more than the unit price including tax, a payout number designation signal for outputting a number of pulses corresponding to the number of fractional spheres calculated in S45, S48, or S52 is output in S57. , The process proceeds to S56, and a lending request signal is output. That is, in the case of payout of a fractional amount, a lending request signal is output after a pulse of a payout number designation signal is output.

  After S56, the timer T1 is set by S58. Then, in S59, it is determined whether or not a lending preparation signal has been input from the payout control unit 200. If it is determined in S59 that the lending preparation signal has not been input, it is determined in S60 whether or not the timer T1 has expired. If it is determined in S60 that the timer T1 has not expired, the process returns to S58. The determination as to whether or not such a lending preparation signal has been input is repeated until the timer T1 ends by performing the process of returning to S58 until it is determined in S60 that the timer T1 has ended.

  The payout control unit 200 receives the lending request signal in S56 or S57, and performs a preparation control for lending if lending is possible, and then sends a lending preparation signal to the card unit control unit 340 in S112 (FIG. 16). Is output. If a lending preparation signal is input from the payout control unit 200 before the timer T1 set in S58 ends, the process proceeds from S59 to S62 described later. On the other hand, if the lending preparation signal is not input before the timer T1 expires, the process proceeds from S60 to S61, the output of the lending request signal is stopped, the process of clearing the lending amount is performed, and the process proceeds to S38.

  When the pachinko gaming machine 2 has already paid out the rented balls, or has paid out the winning balls associated with winning a prize, the processing of S125, S126, S110 to S112 described later is not performed. The payout preparation unit 200 does not output a lending preparation signal until T1 ends, and in this case, the process in S61 is not performed. This T1 is, for example, a time of about 10 msec to 10 sec.

  In addition, when a lending preparation signal is input from the payout control unit 200 before the timer T1 expires and the process proceeds from S59 to S62, a lending command signal is output to the payout control unit 200 with reference to FIG. Thereafter, as will be described later, a lending completion signal from the payout control unit 200 is awaited.

  Next, in S63, it is determined whether or not a pulse of the payout number designation signal is output before the loan request signal is output for the current loan. That is, in S62, it is determined whether the current loan is a unit amount or a fractional amount. If it is determined in S63 that the payout number designation signal has not been output, this is the case of lending the loan consumption unit amount, and the process proceeds to S64, where the tax-inclusive unit amount is subtracted from the current remaining amount and the tax-inclusive unit amount is subtracted from the loan amount. A process of subtracting the unit amount is performed. That is, when a lending command signal is given to the payout control unit 200, a game ball corresponding to a lending consumption unit amount (for example, 100 yen) is lent on the pachinko gaming machine side, as will be described later. The tax-included unit amount obtained by adding the consumption tax amount to the loan consumption unit amount corresponding to the game ball to be played is subtracted from the current remaining amount and subtracted from the loan amount set in S44, S46, S49, and S51. In this way, by outputting the lending command signal, if the lending request signal is output without the payout number designation signal in S56, it corresponds to the lending consumption unit amount stored on the pachinko gaming machine 2 side. The number (25) of game balls is lent out from the pachinko gaming machine 2. On the other hand, if the lending request signal is output after outputting the number-of-payout designation signal in S57, S56, the number specified by the number of pulses of the number-of-payout designation signal, that is, the number specified in S45, S48 or S52 Game balls are lent out from the pachinko machine 2.

  Next, the processing proceeds to S65, and processing for outputting unit sales information indicating that sales for the tax-included unit amount have been made to the card management device 400 is performed. In the unit amount sales information, card ID information for specifying the game card 21 that has been sold and unit identification information of the card unit 3 in which the game card 21 is used are also shown. The card management device 400 receives the unit sales information output in this way, and performs processing such as updating the remaining amount of the corresponding game card 21 and totaling sales data based on the unit price including tax. Next, a process of outputting unit sales information to the hall management computer 800 is performed in S66, and then the process proceeds to S70 described later. The hall management computer 800 receives the unit sales information output in this way, and manages processing such as summarization of sales data.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S63 that the payout number designation signal has been output, this is a case of fractional amount lending, and the process proceeds to S67, and the current remaining amount and lending amount are set according to the set number specifying mode. Is subtracted. Specifically, in S67, when the first number specifying mode or the second number specifying mode is set, the current remaining amount and the loan amount are subtracted so as to become zero (0 yen). In S67, when the third number specifying mode is set, the tax-included fractional amount corresponding to the number of fractional spheres indicated by the number of pulses of the payout number designation signal is subtracted and the tax-included fractional amount is subtracted from the loan amount. The process of subtracting is performed. Next, proceeding to S68, the fractional amount indicating that there has been sales of the tax-included fractional amount subtracted in S67 (the tax-included fractional amount of the loan amount set in S45, S49, S53 according to the number specifying mode). Processing to output sales information is performed. In this fraction sales information, the tax-included fractional amount subtracted from the remaining card amount is shown, and the above-mentioned card ID information and the above-mentioned unit identification information are also shown.

  The card management device 400 receives the fractional sales information output in this way, and updates the remaining amount of the corresponding gaming card 21 and aggregates sales data based on the tax-included fractional amount indicated by the fractional sales information. Processing is performed. Next, a process for outputting the fractional sales information to the hall management computer 800 is performed in S69, and then the process proceeds to S70 described later. The hall management computer 800 receives the fractional sales information output in this way, and manages processing such as aggregation of sales data.

  Referring to FIG. 15, when the process proceeds to S70, timer T3 is set. This timer T3 is set to, for example, about 10 sec in consideration of the time required for paying out a rental ball on the payout control unit 200 side. Then, in S71, it is determined whether or not an input of a lending completion signal has been received from the payout control unit 200. If it is determined in S71 that an input of a lending completion signal has not been received, it is determined in S72 whether the timer T3 has expired. In S72, the process returns to S71 until it is determined that the timer T3 has expired.

  If a lending completion signal is input from the payout control unit 200 before the timer T3 expires, the process proceeds from S71 to S79 described later. On the other hand, if the lending completion signal has not been input before the timer T3 expires, the process proceeds from S72 to S73, the availability indicator 92 is turned off, and the process proceeds to S74. And the return control of the game card 21 after S74 is performed. That is, even if a loan preparation signal is input from the payout control unit 200 and the payout control unit 200 is supposed to perform the loan control, a loan completion signal is transmitted from the payout control unit 200 even when T3 ends. If it has not been done, it is considered that some abnormality has occurred in the ball payout device or the like on the pachinko gaming machine 2 side. In this case, the inserted game card 21 is returned to the player.

  When the process proceeds from S71 to S79, it is determined whether or not the loan amount = 0. Of the game balls corresponding to the set loan amount as described above, if there is an unpaid portion that has not yet been paid out, the loan amount is not “0”, so the process goes from S79 to S55 described above. The process from S55 to S57 as described above is performed again. On the other hand, if all of the game balls for the loan amount have been paid out, since the loan amount = 0, the process proceeds from S79 to S80, and it is determined whether the current remaining amount is less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price. Done.

  If the current remaining amount of the inserted card is still more than the tax-included fractional ball unit price, and it is determined in S80 that the current remaining amount is not less than the tax-included fractional unit price, the process proceeds to S81 and the lending permission indicator 96 is turned on. . Then, the process proceeds to S38 described above, and the lending operation and the return operation are awaited again. On the other hand, if it is determined in S80 that the unit price is less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price, the process proceeds to S82, and the above-described remaining amount writing signal and card discharge command signal are output to the control unit of the card reader / writer device 33. . Accordingly, the control unit of the card reader / writer device 33 performs control to return the inserted game card to the player side.

  In step S83, the card insertion indicator 20 is blinked. In step S84, the timer T4 is set. The timer T4 is set in consideration of a time sufficient for the card reader / writer device 33 to return (discharge) the game card 21. In S85, it is determined whether a card processing completion signal is received from the control unit of the card reader / writer device 33. If it is determined in S85 that the card processing completion signal has not been received, it is determined in S86 whether the timer T4 has expired. In S86, the process returns to S85 until it is determined that the timer T4 has expired. If the card processing completion signal is not received before the timer T4 expires, the process proceeds from S86 to S87, where the card processing machine abnormality is displayed as a code by the card remaining amount display 8, and the use indication is displayed. The device 92 is controlled to blink. Specifically, for example, an error or the like when the remaining amount cannot be written to the inserted card or when the written data is confirmed to be read is displayed by a code.

  On the other hand, if the card processing completion signal is received before the timer T4 expires, the process proceeds from S85 to S88, and the card insertion indicator 20 is turned off. Then, in S89, it is determined whether or not there is a predetermined loan abnormality. If it is determined in S89 that there is no abnormality in lending, the process proceeds to S33 described above, and a new game card 21 is awaiting reception. On the other hand, if it is determined in S89 that there is a loan abnormality, the process proceeds to S90, and the payout control unit 200 waits for an input of a payout enable signal. If it is determined in S90 that a payout enable signal has been input, the process proceeds to S2. Here, in the present embodiment, after the lending process, which is a process of lending a game ball and subtracting the remaining card amount, the game card 21 is temporarily returned when the remaining card amount is less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price. However, when a game card 21 having a card remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price is newly inserted, it is necessary to carry out a deposit process described later, so that the game card 21 is held inside without being returned. Has been. Even when the remaining card amount after the lending process is less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price, the payment process may be continued without returning the game card 21.

  As described above, each time a gaming ball (for example, 25 balls) corresponding to a tax-included unit amount (for example, 105 yen) or a gaming ball corresponding to a tax-included fractional amount is lent by the pachinko gaming machine 2, the payout control unit 200 A lending completion signal is output to the card unit controller 340. Then, each time the lending completion signal is input, the card unit control unit 340 determines whether or not all of the game balls for the lending amount have been lent, and if there is an unrented portion that has not yet been lent Until the entire unrented portion is lent out, the amount including the tax-included unit or the fraction including the tax is lent repeatedly.

  As described above, each time a gaming ball (for example, 25 balls) corresponding to a tax-included unit amount (for example, 105 yen) or a gaming ball corresponding to a tax-included fractional amount is lent by the pachinko gaming machine 2, the payout control unit 200 A lending completion signal is output to the card unit controller 340. Then, each time the lending completion signal is input, the card unit control unit 340 determines whether or not all of the game balls for the lending amount have been lent, and if there is an unrented portion that has not yet been lent Until the entire unrented portion is lent out, the amount including the tax-included unit or the fraction including the tax is lent repeatedly.

  As described above, when it is determined in S41 or S50 that the remaining amount (the remaining card amount after subtraction) is equal to or greater than the tax-included unit amount as the first total value (in fact, in S41, the remaining amount is equal to or greater than the tax-included set amount). It is determined whether or not, but if it is greater than or equal to the tax-included set amount, it is naturally greater than or equal to the tax-included unit amount. In S57, the process of outputting the lending command signal in S62 is performed once or a plurality of times without outputting the number-of-payout designation signal in S57, that is, the number corresponding to the lending consumption unit amount (100 yen) ( 25) to lend gaming balls once or a plurality of times, a predetermined number [{number corresponding to the lending consumption unit amount stored on the gaming machine side (25) x the above The number of game balls obtained by the number of force processing (one or more times)} is lent (paid out) from the gaming machine, and the card remaining amount is subtracted by the same number of times as the output processing in S64. Subtract by {(unit price including tax) × (the number of repetitions of the output process)} {that is, subtract based on the first data (unit amount including tax)). In other words, in the present embodiment, it is possible to output the lending command signal in S62 without outputting the payout number designation signal in S57, and the lending consumption unit amount stored on the gaming machine side (payout control unit 200) ( This corresponds to the process of transmitting a signal for instructing lending of game media based on the number (25) of game media corresponding to (100 yen) as a lending instruction signal.

  Here, the processing for transmitting a signal instructing lending of game media corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount is {(tax included set amount) ÷ (tax included unit amount)} times (the set amount including tax is set in S44 and S46). Or the tax-included amount set in S49 and S51 (an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount of the remaining card amount) / (tax-included unit amount)} times. Therefore, if the tax-included set amount or the tax-included amount set in S49, S51 is equal to the tax-included unit amount, such a signal is transmitted once, and the tax-included set amount or the tax-included amount set in S49, S51 is If the tax-included unit amount is twice or more, the process of transmitting such a signal is performed a plurality of times.

  Further, when it is determined in S43 or S50 that the remaining amount (card remaining after subtraction) is less than the tax-included unit amount as the first total value, the number of payouts that specifies the number of fractional spheres specified in S45 or S52 By outputting a designation signal in S57 and a lending command signal in S62, the specified number of game balls are lent (paid out) from the gaming machine, and in S67, subtraction corresponding to the number specifying mode from the card remaining amount { (In the case of the first number specifying mode and the first number specifying mode, the subtraction is made so that the remaining amount is zero, and in the case of the third number specifying mode, (the tax-included fractional ball unit price) × (the specified number) is subtracted (first 2) is subtracted to the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price, which is the total value of 2. In other words, in this embodiment, a payout number designation signal is output in S57, Outputting the lending command signal at 62, it corresponds to the process of transmitting a signal indicating the number of the identified game media by S45 and S52 (number specifying means) as lent instruction signal.

  Next, ball payout control processing performed for payout control by the payout control unit 200 will be described. This ball payout control is one of subroutine programs activated by a main program executed for various controls in the payout control unit 200. 16 to 19 are flowcharts showing the processing contents of the ball payout control.

  Referring to FIG. 16, first, in S101, it is determined whether or not the confirmation sensors A and B both detect the presence of a ball (when there is a game ball at both detection positions of both sensors). If it is determined in S101 that both sensors have a ball other than the ball, the process proceeds to S118. In S118, it is determined whether any of the counting sensors A (69a) and B (68b) has detected the flow of the game ball. If it is determined in S118 that the detection has not been performed, the process proceeds to S121, in which it is determined whether any of the confirmation sensors A (68a) and B (68b) has detected the sphere flowing down. If it is determined that the detection is not made in S118, the process proceeds to S122, and it is determined whether or not the payout motor 75 is rotating. If it is determined in S122 that the vehicle is not rotating, the process returns to S101.

  If it is determined in S122 that the payout motor 75 is rotating in the course of the loop consisting of S101, S118, S121, and S122, the process proceeds to S122 and a payout abnormality is indicated by an error cause indicator (not shown). , And after the ball removal process is performed in S124, the process proceeds to S165 in FIG. The determination as to whether or not the payout motor 75 is rotating in S122 is made based on the fact that the position sensor 72 has detected the rotation of the above-described ball feeding member.

  The fact that it is determined to be rotating by this S122 is a case where the payout motor 75 is rotated even though the payout control of the game ball is not performed, and such an abnormality is the drive of the payout motor 75. It is conceivable that the circuit 80 has failed. In such a case, a failure of the drive circuit 80 is notified and a ball removal process is performed, and a large number of game balls are mistakenly removed by removing the game balls in the ball tank and tank rail. Thus, it is prevented from being dispensed to the upper plate 5.

  Next, when any of the counting sensors A and B or the confirmation sensors A and B detects the flow of the sphere during the loop, the process proceeds from S118 or S121 to S119. In S119, an abnormality notification to the effect that the game ball has been paid out even though game ball payout control is not performed is displayed as a code on the error cause indicator. Then, after the ball removal process is performed in S120, the process proceeds to S165 in FIG.

  If it is determined in S101 that both sensors have a ball, the process proceeds to S102, and it is determined whether or not the full tank switch 70 has detected full tank. If it is determined that the full tank is detected in S102, the process proceeds to S118 described above. If it is determined that the full tank is not detected in S102, the process proceeds to S103, and whether or not the number of unpaid off is 0. Judgment is made. This “unpaid number” means the number of game balls that have not been paid out among the game balls to be paid out, and is set in S110, S111, S126, and is subtracted by the count value of the payout counter in S142 described later. The data is cleared by S117.

  If it is determined in S103 that the number of unpaid is “0”, the process proceeds to S104, and it is determined whether or not the ball removal switch 71 is in the ON state (the state where the ball removal operation has been performed). If it is determined in S104 that it is in the ON state, the process proceeds to S105, and after the above-described ball removal process for removing the ball is performed, the process proceeds to S165. On the other hand, if it is determined in S104 that it is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to S104a, and it is determined whether or not a payout number designation signal pulse is input from the card unit control unit 340.

  If it is determined in S104a that a pulse has been input, the process proceeds to S104b, the number of received (received) pulses is counted, and the process proceeds to S106. On the other hand, if it is determined in S104a that no pulse is input, the process proceeds to S106. In S106, it is determined whether or not there has been the above-described lending request signal from the card unit controller 340. Specifically, in S106, it is determined that the signal is a lending request signal when the BRQ signal is turned on.

  If it is determined in S106 that the lending request signal has not been input, it is determined in S108 whether or not the timer T7 has expired. This timer T7 is provided for giving priority to accepting a lending request over accepting a payout request for a winning ball only for a certain period, and is set in S150 described later. This timer T7 is the time required for outputting the maximum number (24) of the number of fractional spheres that can be taken by the number of fractional spheres, and the lending request signal as shown in FIG. Is set to a predetermined time longer than the sum of the total output time of the maximum number of pulses and the lending request signal reception waiting time. If it is determined in S108 that the timer T7 has not expired, the process returns to S104a. Thereby, the input determination of the pulse in S104a and the counting of the number of pulses of the payout number designation signal in S104b are repeated until the loan request signal is input or until it is determined in S108 that the timer T7 has ended. The determination as to whether or not the loan request signal has been input is repeated until it is determined in S108 that the timer T7 has expired.

  If the lending request signal is not input before the timer T7 expires, the process proceeds to S125 in FIG. On the other hand, if a lending request signal is input before the timer T7 expires, the process proceeds to S107, where it is determined whether the tank ball sensor 73 has detected a ball.

  If it is determined in S107 that the tank ball sensor 73 has not detected, there is no game ball in the ball storage tank 151, and the ball payout control cannot be performed based on the lending request signal. Proceed to On the other hand, when it is determined in S107 that the tank ball sensor 73 has detected, this is a case where ball payout control can be performed based on the lending request signal, and the process proceeds to S109.

  In S109, it is determined whether or not a payout number designation signal is received before the received lending request signal. That is, in S109, it is determined whether the loan requested from the card unit control unit 340 is the loan for the loan consumption unit amount or the loan for the fractional amount.

  If it is determined in S109 that the number-of-payout designation signal has not been received before the lending request signal, lending for the lending consumption unit amount is requested, so that the lending consumption unit is set to the unpaid number I in S110. A predetermined number of lending data (25) corresponding to the amount is set. The number of loans corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount is stored in advance in a storage area of a memory such as a ROM, a RAM, and an external storage device provided in the payout control unit 200, and is read and used when executing S110. Is done. Further, in S110, the data of the predetermined number of loans corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount is also set in the current number J of payments. Here, the current number of payouts J is data used to identify the number of loans indicated by the sales information output in S148 described later. Further, in S110, the data indicating the payout state is set to “loan”. It progresses to S112 after S110.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S109 that a payout number designation signal has been received before the lending request signal, lending for a fractional amount has been requested, and in S111, the unpaid number I and the current payout number In each data of J, the lending number of the fractional sphere indicated by the number-of-payout designation signal, that is, the number of received pulses of the number-of-payout designation signal counted in S104b is set as data of the lending number of the fractional sphere. The number of received pulses counted in S104b is initialized according to the payout of the number of fractional balls set in S111. Further, in S111, data indicating the payout state is set to “rental”. It progresses to S112 after S111.

  In S112, processing for outputting the above-described lending preparation signal to the card unit control unit 340 is performed. Then, the process proceeds to S113 and the timer T9 is set. Next, in S114, it is determined whether or not a rental command signal is input from the card unit control unit 340. If it is determined in S114 that there is no input, it is determined in S115 whether or not the timer T9 has expired. If it is determined in S115 that the timer T9 has not expired, the process returns to S114. The determination as to whether or not such a lending command signal has been input is repeated until the timer T9 ends by performing the process of returning to S114 until it is determined in S116 that the timer T9 has ended. If it is determined in S114 that the lending command signal has been input before the timer T9 expires, the process proceeds to S115, and after the above-described control for starting blinking of the lending indicator is performed, S128 in FIG. Proceed to On the other hand, if it is determined in S116 that the timer T9 has expired, the process returns to S101 after the unpaid number I is cleared in S117.

  Next, referring to FIG. 17, in S125, it is determined whether or not prize ball payout number data from the game control unit 300 is input. If it is determined in S125 that no prize ball payout number data has been input, the process proceeds to S101. On the other hand, when it is determined in S125 that the winning ball payout number data has been input, a process of setting the input winning ball payout number to the unpaid number I is performed in S126. Then, the process proceeds to S127, and the payout lamp 74 is turned on. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S128 in FIG.

  Next, referring to FIG. 18, in S128, rotation control of payout motor 75 is performed. Then, in S129, it is determined whether or not the position sensor 72 (see FIG. 4) has detected half rotation of the ball feeding member. If it is determined in S129 that half rotation has not been detected, the game ball has not been paid out, and the process proceeds to S101. On the other hand, if it is determined in S129 that half rotation has been detected, since the game ball has been paid out, the process proceeds to S130, and the rotation counter is incremented and updated by “1”. The rotation counter is incremented and updated by “1” every time the ball feeding member makes a half rotation, and is cleared by S140 described later.

  Next, in S131, it is determined whether or not the counting sensors 69a (A) and 69b (B) are turned on. If it is determined in S131 that it is not ON, the process proceeds to S138, which will be described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S131 that it is ON, the process proceeds to S132, and the payout counter is incremented and updated by “1”. Next, in S133, it is determined whether or not the payout state is “loan”. If it is determined as “rental” in S133, the process proceeds to S138, which will be described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S133 that it is not “rental”, that is, if the winning ball is being paid out based on the winning ball, the process proceeds to S134, and the number of winning balls paid out is updated by “1”. That is, every time one winning ball is paid out, the winning ball payout number is incremented by “1” in S134.

  Next, in S135, it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls paid out is “a”. If it is determined that it is not in S135, the process proceeds to S138, which will be described later. If it is determined that it is determined in S135, the process proceeds to S136, and a prize ball payout signal is output to the hall management computer 800. The hall management computer 800 detects the number of disadvantageous balls that is disadvantageous for the game hall based on the prize ball payout signal. Thus, every time a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out, a prize ball payout signal is outputted to the hall management computer for one pulse, and the prize required for outputting this one pulse prize ball payout signal. The number of balls paid out is “a”, which is set to 10 for example. After the winning ball payout signal is output, the winning ball payout number is cleared in S117, and the process proceeds to S138.

  In S138, it is determined whether or not the value of the aforementioned rotation counter has reached the number I of unpaid. If it is determined in S138 that it has not yet reached, the process returns to S101. As described above, this rotation counter is incremented and updated by “1” every time the ball feeding member is rotated halfway and one game ball is paid out to the payout side. The value and the number of game balls paid out should match as long as normal payout is performed. If it is determined in S138 that the value of the rotation counter matches the unpaid number I, the payout motor 75 is stopped in S139. And after a rotation counter is cleared by S140, it progresses to S141.

  In S141, the magnitude relationship between the value of the payout counter and the value of the unpaid number I is determined. When the payout device 90 is operating normally, the value of the payout counter should be equal to the number of unpaid I when the value of the rotation counter reaches the unpaid number I. In this case, The process proceeds from S141 to S144, and after clearing the unpaid number I and the payout counter, the process proceeds to S145 described later.

  Further, when the value of the payout counter is smaller than the unpaid number I due to malfunction of the payout device 90 or clogging of game balls to be paid out, the process proceeds from S141 to S142, and “unpaid number I− After the calculation result of the “payout counter value” is updated to the new unpaid number I, the payout counter is cleared in S143, and the process returns to S128. In other words, when the number of game balls actually paid out is less than the number of game balls to be paid out, the number of game balls for the shortage is calculated in S142, and the shortage is newly calculated. With the number of payouts set, the payout control of the shortage of game balls is performed by the processing after S128.

  When the value of the payout counter exceeds the unpaid number I due to malfunction of the payout device 90 or the like, the process proceeds from S141 to S151, and the above error cause indicator is used to indicate that a payout abnormality has occurred. Is displayed. Then, after the ball removal process is performed in S152, the process proceeds to S165 in FIG.

  When the process proceeds to S145, it is determined whether or not the payout state is “loaned”. If it is determined in S145 that it is not “loaned”, the process proceeds to S153 shown in FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that the item is “loaned” in S145, the process proceeds to S146, and processing for outputting a lending completion signal to the card unit control unit 340 is performed. Then, the process proceeds to S147, and the above-described lending indicator is turned off.

  Next, in S148, when the current payout number J is the number corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount (when the first loan processing is performed), it is indicated that at least the first loan processing described above has been performed. When the unit amount sales information (first lending process signal) shown is a fractional number of balls that is less than the number corresponding to the lending consumption unit amount (when the second lending process is performed), Processing for outputting at least fractional sales information (second lending processing signal) indicating the number of fractional balls lent by the second lending processing described above is performed.

  Specifically, between the pachinko gaming machine 2 and the hall management computer 800, one relay terminal is provided for one or a plurality of pachinko gaming machines 2, and the pachinko gaming machine 2 is connected to the relay terminal. Further, a unit amount signal line for transmitting the unit amount sales information and a fraction amount signal line for transmitting the fraction amount sales information are connected to each other from the pachinko gaming machine 2 via each signal line. The relay terminal that has received the amount sales information or fractional sales information totals the number of game balls lent to each pachinko machine, and manages the total number of game balls together with the machine number of the pachinko machine 2 at a predetermined time The data is transmitted to the computer 800.

  More specifically, when the pachinko gaming machine 2 performs the first lending process, the pachinko machine 2 transmits a first lending process signal of one pulse through the unit amount signal line, and the first lending process signal is transmitted. The received relay terminal adds 25 to the number of game balls lent from the pachinko gaming machine. On the other hand, when the pachinko gaming machine 2 performs the second lending process, the pachinko gaming machine 2 transmits, as the second lending process signal, a number of pulse signals equal to the number of fractional balls lent through the fractional amount signal line. The relay terminal that has received the two loan processing signals adds the number of pulses included in the received second loan processing signal to the number of game balls that have been loaned from the loaned pachinko gaming machine. In this way, the number of game balls lent in each pachinko gaming machine is totaled at the relay terminal, and transmitted to the hall management computer 800 every predetermined time.

  In addition, in the relay terminal of the present embodiment, the number of game balls lent in each pachinko gaming machine is tabulated, but not limited to this, 4 yen that is the unit price per game ball is included in the number of game balls The ball lending sales (lending consumption amount) may be calculated by multiplying the ball lending sales, and the consumption tax amount collected by multiplying the ball lending sales by the consumption tax rate of 5% may be totaled.

  In this embodiment, a relay terminal is installed between each pachinko gaming machine and the hall management computer 800, and each relay terminal is connected to each pachinko gaming machine based on the unit sales information and the fraction sales information. The number of game balls lent in pachinko machines is counted, but not limited to this, unit sales information and fraction sales information are sent directly from the pachinko machine to the hall management computer 800 without using a relay terminal. Then, based on the unit sales information and the fraction sales information from each pachinko gaming machine, the hall management computer 800 may total the number of game balls lent in each pachinko gaming machine.

  In the hall management computer 800, based on the number of game balls lent in each pachinko gaming machine transmitted from the relay terminal in this way, the total number of rents is converted, or the rented number is converted into monetary data and the sales data Hall management aggregation processing is performed. Next, the current payout number J is cleared by S149, the timer T7 is set by S150, and the process returns to S101.

  Referring to FIG. 19, when the process proceeds to S153, as shown below, a control is performed to discharge the winning balls for which the winning ball payout control has been completed one by one. First, in step S153, the timer T8 is set. The timer T8 is for measuring the time required for checking the winning ball discharge process. Next, in S154, the payout lamp 74 is turned off. Then, in S155, it is determined whether or not there is prize ball payout number data. As described above, the winning ball payout number data is transmitted from the game control unit 300, and as described above, detection from the winning ball sensors 82a and 82b that detect the winning balls assembled in two places. As long as the signal is input to the game control unit 300, the prize ball payout number data is continuously transmitted from the game control unit 300 to the payout control unit 200.

  If a detection signal from the winning ball sensor is no longer input to the game control unit 300 due to some abnormality during the winning ball payout control based on the winning ball, the winning ball payout number data is stored in the game. It is no longer input from the control unit 300. In this case, the process proceeds from S155 to S156, and the occurrence of a payout abnormality is displayed by a code on the error cause indicator described above, and a ball removal process is performed in S157. Then, it progresses to S165 mentioned later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S155 that there is an input of prize ball payout number data, the process proceeds to S158, and it is determined whether or not the sensor identification data is “sensor A”.

  This determination is made when the above-described prize ball payout control is performed based on the detection output from the winning ball sensor A (82a), because the high level signal is output from the winning ball sensor A (82a). In this case, it is determined that the sensor is “sensor A” in S158, and the process proceeds to S166. On the other hand, when the award ball payout control described above is performed based on the detection output of the winning ball sensor B (182b), a low level signal is output from the winning ball sensor B (182b). In this case, it is determined that the sensor is not “sensor A” in S158, and the process proceeds to S159.

  In S166, the discharge solenoid A (76) is turned ON, and the holding member (holding member driven by the discharge solenoid A) that prevents the game ball located at the detecting portion of the winning ball sensor A (82a) from dropping is retracted. The winning ball is allowed to fall downward. Next, in S167, it is determined whether or not there is prize ball payout number data. At the stage where the holding member driven by the discharge solenoid A is retracted backward, the game ball located at the detecting portion of the winning ball sensor A (82a) starts to fall downward. Until the game ball falls outside the detection unit of the detection sensor A (82a), the detection output from the winning ball detection sensor A (82a) continues to be input to the game control unit 300. As a result, the game control unit 300 The winning ball payout number data continues to be output to the payout control unit 200.

  In the meantime, a determination of YES is made in S167, and the process proceeds to S168, where it is determined whether or not the timer T8 has ended, and the processes of S166 and S167 are repeatedly executed until the timer T8 ends. If the game ball falls outside the detection unit of the winning ball detection sensor A (82a) before the timer T8 expires, the determination of NO is made in S167, and the process proceeds to S169, and the discharge solenoid A (76) ) Is controlled to OFF and the process returns to S101. However, even if control is performed to turn on the discharge solenoid A (76) due to ball clogging, a failure of the discharge solenoid A (76), etc., the number-of-prize-ball-paid-out data until the timer T8 ends. If the input is not stopped, the process proceeds to S163, and such an error cause is displayed by a code on the error cause indicator. Next, the process proceeds to S164, and after the ball removal process is performed, the process proceeds to S165.

  In S165, it is determined whether or not a reset operation has been performed by a reset button (not shown), and waits until a reset operation is performed. If this reset button (not shown) is operated, the process returns to S101.

  If it is determined in S158 that the sensor is not “sensor A”, the discharging solenoid B (77) is operated according to the steps S159 to S162, and the winning ball positioned at the detection unit of the winning ball sensor B (82b) is detected. The control for dropping one piece is performed. This control is the same as the control in S166 to S169 described above, and therefore, the description thereof will not be repeated here.

  Next, a deposit process executed to deposit the game card 21 will be described. This depositing process is one of subroutine programs that are activated by the above-mentioned main program in the card unit controller 340. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the contents of the deposit process.

  First, in S171, it is determined whether or not the game card 21 is being inserted. If it is determined in S171 that it is not being inserted, this depositing process is terminated and the process returns. On the other hand, if it is determined in S171 that it is being inserted, it is determined in S172 whether or not money has been inserted into the bill insertion slot 61 or the coin insertion slot 62.

  If it is determined in S172 that no money has been inserted, the deposit process is terminated and the process returns. On the other hand, if it is determined in S172 that money has been inserted, in S173, the inserted amount is recognized based on the identification information given from the bill identifying device 31 and the coin identifying device 32, and the inserted amount is displayed in the amount indicator. 17 is displayed. Then, the process proceeds to S174, and it is determined whether or not the current deposit mode is the first deposit mode.

  If it is determined in S174 that the first deposit mode is selected, the process proceeds to S175, and it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of the card is less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price. That is, in S174, it is determined whether or not the card remaining amount that cannot be lent is determined.

  If it is determined in S175 that the unit price is not less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price, the deposit acceptance condition in the first deposit mode is not satisfied, and therefore the inserted amount of money is inserted from the bill slot 61 and the coin slot 62 in S180. Processing to return is performed. Thereafter, after the display of the input money amount is cleared in S179, this depositing process is terminated and the process returns.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S175 that it is not less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price, the deposit allowance condition in the first deposit mode is satisfied, so in S176, the remaining amount of the card is added and updated by the deposit amount, that is, the deposit amount. (That is, the remaining amount of the card is added and updated by the deposit from the player). Next, in S177, a process for displaying the remaining amount updated in S176 on the card remaining amount display 8 is performed. Then, in S178, a process of transmitting deposit information including the deposit amount, the card ID of the game card in which the deposit has been made, and information that can identify the card unit in which the deposit has been performed to the card management device 400 is performed. After that, after the display of the input amount is cleared by S179, this depositing process is terminated and the process returns.

  If it is determined in S174 that the first deposit mode is not set, that is, if the second deposit mode is selected, the process proceeds to S181, and it is determined whether or not the remaining card amount is less than the tax-included unit amount. That is, in S181, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of the card is incapable of lending in the lending consumption unit amount.

  If it is determined in S181 that the amount is not less than the tax-included unit amount, the deposit permission condition in the second deposit mode is not satisfied, so that the inserted amount of money is returned from the bill slot 61 and the coin slot 62 in S182. Processing is performed. Thereafter, after the display of the input money amount is cleared in S179, this depositing process is terminated and the process returns.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S181 that the amount is less than the tax-included unit amount, the deposit permission condition in the second deposit mode is satisfied, so that the remaining card amount is added and updated by the inserted amount, that is, the deposited amount by S176. The Thereafter, as in the case described above, the updated balance is displayed on the card balance display 8 at S177, the deposit information is transmitted at S178, and the deposit amount display is cleared at S179, and then this deposit processing is completed. And return.

  Next, a counting process executed by the management computer of the card management apparatus 400 will be described. This tabulation process is one of subroutine programs that are activated by a main program that is executed for various controls in the management computer of the card management apparatus 400. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the aggregation processing executed by the management computer of the card management apparatus 400.

  First, in S191, it is determined whether or not information from the card unit 3 has been received. If it is determined in S191 that the message has not been received, the counting process ends and the process returns. On the other hand, if it is determined in S191 that the information has been received, the process proceeds to S192, where it is determined whether or not the game card deposit information has been received. If it is determined in S192 that it has not been received, the process proceeds to S195 described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that it has been received in S192, the process proceeds to S193, and the deposit amount corresponding to the game card of the card ID in the card management database is based on the card ID and deposit amount data specified by the received information. A process of recording and summing the deposit amount in the storage area is performed. Then, in S194, a process of adding and updating the remaining card amount corresponding to the received card ID data is performed based on the received deposit data. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the remaining card amount of the managed gaming card is added and updated according to the deposit. It progresses to S195 after S194.

  When the process proceeds to S195, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned unit sales information or fraction sales information by lending has been received. If it is determined in S195 that it has not been received, the process proceeds to S198 described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the card has been received in S195, the process proceeds to S196, and based on the card ID and sales amount data specified by the received information, the loan amount corresponding to the game card of the card ID in the card management database The lending amount is recorded in the storage area and totalized. Further, in S195, sales information as described later is also totaled based on the received sales information. Then, in S197, a process of subtracting and updating the remaining card amount corresponding to the received card ID data is performed based on the currently received sales amount data. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the remaining card amount of the managed gaming card is subtracted and updated according to the loan. It progresses to S198 after S197.

  In this way, for each gaming card, the remaining amount of each gaming card is added and updated each time a payment is made, and the remaining amount of each gaming card is subtracted and updated each time a loan is made, whereby the card management device 400. In the same way as the card unit 3, the remaining amount of the game card is managed.

  If the process proceeds to S198, the payment information and the sales information are totaled for each card unit 3 that is the output source of the received information, and the unit-specific tabulation table indicating the total data of the payment information and the sales information is output for each card unit 3. Is updated based on the received information. Thus, the card management device 400 is provided with a storage area for collecting data for each card unit, and the data is managed for each card unit.

  Next, the process proceeds to S199, where payment information and sales information are totaled for each gaming machine installation island from which the received information is output, and an island-specific tabulation table indicating total data of the payment information and sales information is output for each gaming machine installation island. A process for updating the aggregated data to be performed based on the received information is performed. As described above, the card management device 400 is provided with a storage area for collecting data for each gaming machine installation island, and the data is managed for each gaming machine installation island.

  Specifically, the sales information is totaled as follows. For example, the sales of the amusement hall 100 and the amount of consumption tax to be collected are collected separately. For example, when unit sales information is received, the loan consumption unit amount is added to the managed sales amount data, and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount based on the pre-stored consumption tax rate And the obtained consumption tax amount is added to the managed consumption tax amount data. In addition, when the fraction sales information is received, the consumed fraction data is added to the managed sales amount data, and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the fraction amount consumed based on the pre-stored consumption tax rate. And the obtained consumption tax amount is added to the managed consumption tax amount data. As the consumption tax amount, the consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the fractional amount are added together and tabulated. Furthermore, the consumption tax amount corresponding to the fractional amount in this case is specified according to the set number specifying mode as follows. Specifically, for example, when sales information indicating a tax-included fraction of 25 yen is received, in the first number specifying mode, the number of loans is six as described above, so the consumption tax amount per ball Is 0.2 yen (4 yen x 0.05 = 0.2), so the consumption tax included in 25 yen is 1.2 yen (6 x 0.2 = 1.2) In the two-item specifying mode, the number of loans is five as described above, so the consumption tax included in 25 yen is 1.0 yen (5 × 0.2 = 1.0). In addition, when such a 25 yen is present as the balance of the card and the third number specifying mode is set and the fractional sphere is lent, 5 fractional spheres are lent to 21 yen (5 Sales information indicating the fractional amount including tax (× 4.2 = 21) is received (because 4 yen less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price remains as the remaining amount), but the consumption tax included in this 21 yen is 1.0 yen (5 × 0.2 = 1.0). For this reason, the consumption tax amount corresponding to the fractional amount is calculated based on the currently set number specifying mode, the loaned amount is obtained from the fractional amount indicated by the sales information, and the obtained number is multiplied by the consumption tax amount per piece. By doing so, the consumption tax amount of the fractional amount subtracted from the remaining amount in accordance with the loan is specified. Then, after the consumption tax amount of the fraction including tax is specified in this way, the sales and the consumption tax amount are separately divided and totaled as follows. For example, when the first number specifying mode is set, 23.8 yen (25-1.2 = 23.8) is added to the sales out of the 25 yen tax-included fraction, and the consumption tax is 1.2. Yen is added. In addition, when the second number specifying mode is set, 24 yen (25-1.0 = 24) is added to sales and 1.0 yen is added to the consumption tax amount out of the 25 yen tax-included fraction. The Further, when the third number specifying mode is set, 20 yen (21-1.0 = 20) is added to sales out of the 21 yen tax-included unit amount, and 1.0 yen is added to the consumption tax amount. The

  Next, proceeding to S200, the payment information and the sales information are totaled for each time zone when the day is divided into a plurality of time zones, and the tabulation table by time zone showing the total data of the payment information and the sales information for each time zone. Is processed based on the received information. Thus, the card management device 400 is provided with a storage area for collecting data for each time zone, and the data is managed for each time zone.

  Next, it progresses to S201 and the process which updates the total data for creating the daily schedule of a game hall based on the received information is made. As described above, in the card management device 400, a storage area for collecting data for creating a daily schedule is provided, and a daily schedule is created. After S201, this tabulation process ends and the process returns.

  Next, the difference summation process executed by the management computer of the card management apparatus 400 will be described. This difference summation process is one of subroutine programs activated by the above-described main program executed in the management computer of the card management apparatus 400. In the difference summation process, the amount of the game hall burden (hereinafter referred to as the game hall burden amount) due to rounding up of the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price in the first number identification mode described above and the second number identification mode described above. In order to tabulate the amount of the player's burden (hereinafter referred to as the player's burden) due to truncation of the remainder less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price, the remaining amount owned by the player and the fractional sales information are indicated. This is a process of counting the difference from the fractional amount including tax.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the contents of the difference totaling process executed by the management computer of the card management apparatus 400.

  First, in S401, it is determined whether or not the fraction sales information from the card unit 3 has been received. If it is determined in S401 that the message has not been received, the difference summation process ends, and the process returns. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has been received in S401, the process proceeds to S402, where the number specifying mode currently set in S202 of FIG. 12 is the first number specifying mode (the mode for rounding up the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price), or Then, it is determined whether or not the second number specifying mode (a mode for discarding the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price).

  If it is determined in S401 that neither the first number specifying mode nor the second number specifying mode is satisfied, that is, if the third number specifying mode is set, the difference summation process is terminated and the process returns. . On the other hand, if it is determined in S401 that the first number specifying mode or the second number specifying mode is set, the process proceeds to S403, and the game card 21 with the card ID indicated by the received sales information is determined by the sales information. The number of game balls actually lent according to the number specifying mode set from the indicated tax-included fractional amount (the number corresponding to the number specified by the aforementioned S45, S48, S52) was specified and specified. Calculate the tax-included fractional amount for the loaned number (specified loaned number x fractional ball-price unit price), and manage the calculated tax-included fractional amount for the loaned number and the gaming card 21 of the card ID as described above. The remaining balance (the balance of the card less than the tax-included unit amount read based on the card ID indicated by the sales information received from the card management database) Processing is performed to calculate the amount. Specifically, in S403, when the first number specifying mode is set, the game hall burden amount is calculated as a difference by subtracting the remaining amount from the tax-included fractional amount for the loaned number, and the second number specifying mode Is set, the player's burden amount is calculated as a difference by subtracting the tax-included fractional amount for the number of loans from the remaining amount. For example, in the case where the sales information indicates a tax-included fractional value of 25 yen, when the first number specifying mode is set, the number of loans is 6 and the remaining amount is 25 yen, so the difference is 0. A game hall burden amount of 2 yen (6 × 4.2-25 = 0.2) is calculated. On the other hand, when the second number specifying mode is set, the number of loans is 5 and the remaining amount is 25 yen, so the player's burden amount of 4 yen (25-5 × 4.2 = 4) as the difference Is calculated.

  Next, a process of adding and totaling each of the game hall burden amount and the player burden amount calculated as the difference calculated in S404 according to the set number specifying mode is performed. Specifically, in S404, when the first number specifying mode is set as the number specifying mode, the game hall burden amount as the difference calculated in S403 is added and updated and added up, and the number specifying mode is set. When the second number specifying mode is set, the player burden amount as the difference calculated in S403 is added and updated and added up. After S404, the difference summation process ends, and the process returns.

  The total value calculated by the difference totaling process is displayed on the display unit as described above by performing a predetermined operation in the input unit as described above in the card management device 400.

  Next, main effects obtained by this embodiment will be described together.

  For example, when it is determined in S41 or S50 that the remaining card amount after subtraction is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount, the loan is issued based on outputting the lending command signal in S62 without outputting the payout number designation signal in S57. The process of lending the number of game media corresponding to the consumption unit amount is repeated one or more times to lend a predetermined number of game balls, and the subtraction based on the unit amount including tax is performed as shown in S64. 1 loan processing is performed. On the other hand, when it is determined in S41 or S50 that the remaining card amount after subtraction is less than the tax-included unit amount, for example, as shown in S45 or S52, a game ball that can be rented with the remaining amount based on the tax-included fractional ball unit price. In step S57, a payout number designation signal for designating the number of fractional spheres is output in S57, and a loan command signal is output in S62. Thus, the specified number of game balls are lent, and the number as shown in S67. A second lending process is performed in which the subtraction based on the tax-included fractional ball unit price according to the specific mode is performed. Even if the remaining card amount is less than the tax-included unit amount, the number of game balls that can be lent with the remaining amount is lent based on the tax-included fractional ball unit price, so the card remaining amount specified by the record information of the game card 21 is used. Thus, it is possible to reduce the disadvantages caused to the player when lending the game ball and collecting the consumption tax from the remaining amount of the card.

  Furthermore, as a number identification mode for identifying the number of game balls that can be lent with the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount, the number of game balls is specified by rounding up the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price, and the number of game balls is lent. The first number specifying mode for subtracting the remaining amount to zero in the processing, and the second number specifying mode for specifying the number of game balls by rounding off the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price and subtracting the remaining amount to zero in the lending processing Since it can be set, when a game ball is lent with a remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount, the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount can be prevented. And since the number identification mode to be set can be changed, the setting of whether the game room rounds up or rounds down the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price according to the convenience of the game hall such as the management status and sales policy Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of the game hall regarding the lending of game balls. For example, if the setting of rounding up the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price would put pressure on the management of the amusement hall, change the setting to round down the remaining amount, and in accordance with the sales policy, tax-included during the event period of the amusement hall The convenience of the game hall related to the lending of game balls is improved, for example, by setting up the remaining amount less than the fractional ball unit price.

  Further, in the card management device 400, as shown in S402 to S404 of FIG. 22, the number specifying mode set by the card management device 400 and the card unit 3 for the gaming card 21 managed by the card management device 400. By adding up the difference between the number of game balls specified according to the price of the fractional ball and the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount, the game hall or game will be rounded up or down to determine the number. It is possible to clearly grasp the amount of the burden on the person. As a result, it is possible to change the setting of the number specifying mode after grasping the amount of the burden on the game hall and the amount of the burden on the player.

  Further, as described in the method of counting consumption tax in the counting process of FIG. 21, the consumption tax subtracted in the second lending process is specified based on the setting of the number specifying mode, and the specified consumption tax amount; Since the consumption tax amount subtracted in the first lending process is summed and totaled, the consumption tax amount can be accurately totaled corresponding to the number specifying mode in which the consumption tax amount is subtracted.

  In the configuration in which the remaining amount is added and updated by payment from the player in the card unit 3 as shown in FIG. 20, as shown in FIG. 12, when the game ball is lent with the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount, it can be lent As the number specifying mode for specifying the number of game balls, the remaining amount less than the second total value is rounded down to specify the number of game media, and the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price in the lending process is used as the card remaining amount of the game card 21 A third number specifying mode in which subtraction is performed while remaining in an identifiable manner can be further set. When such third number specifying mode is set, as described above, the remaining amount is subtracted to the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball unit price in the lending process. In the case of this embodiment, the remaining amount is added and updated by the deposit, so even if the remaining amount less than the fractional ball unit price remains when lending game balls with the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount, the remaining amount will be The remaining amount is not wasted. In order to make the remaining amount less than the tax-included fractional ball price available after deposit, the number of game balls is specified by rounding off the remainder of the tax-included fractional ball unit price and the tax-included fractional ball unit price is specified. Since the third number specifying mode in which the remaining amount less than the remaining amount can be specified from the recorded information of the game card 21 can be selected, when the third number specifying mode is set, both the game hall and the player are fractional including tax. There is no need to bear the remaining amount of the ball unit.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, when performing lending corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount, lending based on the number of game balls lending corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount stored in the payout control unit 200 A predetermined number of game balls are lent out by repeatedly transmitting the first signal (lending command signal when the payout number specifying signal is not output) one or more times, while the fractional amount is When the corresponding lending is performed, the second signal indicating the number of fractional spheres (the number-of-payout designation signal and the lending command signal) is transmitted, so that the number of game balls is lent out. For this reason, without increasing the number of types of data stored on the payout control unit 200 side for renting out game balls, the remaining amount less than the tax-included unit amount, that is, the number to be lent based on the fractional amount can be clarified. Can show.

  Further, as shown in S3, consumption tax rate setting data that can specify the consumption tax rate set by the third party organization 500 is distributed from the transaction information management device 501 to the game arcade, and S13, S14, S17, S18, S22. , S24, the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price are set based on the distributed consumption tax rate setting data. For this reason, it is prevented that lending processing is performed at a consumption tax rate that is illegally set by the parties involved in the amusement hall, so the remaining amount is subtracted at an illegally set consumption tax rate (a higher tax rate than the actual tax rate). This can eliminate the risk of the player suffering a disadvantage.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the remaining card amount is equal to or greater than the loan consumption unit amount, the card remaining amount indicator 8 displays the frequency, and when the remaining card amount is less than the loan consumption unit amount, the remaining amount indicator 8 displays the number of fractional spheres. The display for displaying is switched. For this reason, when the remaining card amount is less than the loan consumption unit amount, the remaining amount information less than the loan consumption unit amount can be surely recognized by the player by the number of fractional spheres displayed on the card remaining amount display 8. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need to add a display area in order to display the remaining amount information (number) less than the loan consumption unit amount.

  Further, as shown in (a) of FIG. 8 and S46, S55 to S57 of FIG. 13, in the first payout mode, the card remaining amount is obtained by performing a lending process for lending the number corresponding to the lending consumption unit amount. When the amount is less than the tax-included unit amount, the loan processing is performed based on the fractional amount following the loan processing, so the player must perform a new operation to receive the loan for the fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount. This eliminates the need for the player.

  In addition, as shown in S193 and S196 in FIG. 21, since the loan amount data is aggregated based on the unit sales information and the fraction sales information in the card management device 400, the consumption amount due to the loan is accurately grasped. be able to.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the number of loans for a unit amount is indicated by a pulse of a payout number designation signal, as in the case of the number of loans for a fractional amount. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 23 is a timing chart showing a relationship between a lending request signal and a payout number designation signal according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 23, as in FIG. 8, the loan request signal when the number corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount is lent and when the number corresponding to the fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount is lent. And the payout number designation signal are shown for each payout mode.

  Referring to FIG. 23, in the payout number designation signal, when the unit amount is lent, the same pulse P as that when the fractional amount is lent is output by the number of payouts (25). Thus, the number of payouts per unit amount is specified by the number of pulses. That is, when the unit amount is lent, similarly to when the fraction amount is lent, the payout number designation signal pulse is output in the BNM signal before the lending request signal for turning on the BRQ signal is output. Is output.

  In the case of this second embodiment, in both cases of lending for a unit amount and lending for a fractional amount, a pulse of a payout number designation signal is output in the BNM signal. For this reason, the payout control unit 20 determines the unit amount based on whether or not the number of pulses of the payout number designation signal output before the BRQ signal is turned ON indicates the number of unit amounts (25). It is determined whether the request is a loan request or a fractional loan request.

  In the card processing control according to the second embodiment, in the card processing control shown in FIG. 13, when it is determined in S55 that the lending amount is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount, the lending number (25) for the unit amount is calculated. A step of outputting a number-of-payout designation signal having the number of pulses shown is provided, and the process proceeds to S56 after outputting the number-of-payout designation signal in that step.

  Next, ball payout control according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the ball payout control according to the second embodiment.

  The ball payout control of FIG. 24 is different from the ball payout control of FIG. 16 according to the first embodiment in that S109a is provided instead of S109 to S111 described above. In S109a, the lending number indicated by the received number-of-payout designation signal, that is, the number of received pulses of the number-of-payout designation signal counted in S104b is included in the data of the unpaid number I and the current number J of payments, respectively. Set as data. Further, in S109a, data indicating the payout state is set to “loan”. That is, in the case of the second embodiment, the number of game balls to be paid out depends on the number of pulses of the payout number designation signal in both cases of lending for the lending consumption unit amount and lending for the fractional amount. Therefore, the number of payouts is set according to the number of received pulses.

  Regarding such a second embodiment, the same technical effect as in the case of the first embodiment described above can be obtained with respect to the configuration based on the technical idea common to the first embodiment described above. A characteristic effect can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 23 (a), when performing lending corresponding to the lending consumption unit amount, a dispensing number designation signal and a lending request signal having a pulse number indicating the lending number (25) for the unit amount are repeatedly transmitted. As a result, a predetermined number of game balls are lent out. On the other hand, when renting out corresponding to the fractional amount, a payout number designation signal and a rent request signal indicating the number of fractional spheres are transmitted. As a result, the same number of game balls are lent out. For this reason, it is possible to more clearly indicate the number to be lent for each of the number of gaming balls corresponding to the lending consumption unit amount and the number of gaming balls based on the fractional amount.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the consumption tax rate information is distributed from the transaction information management device 501 to the card management device 400, and the tax management unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price are calculated on the card management device 400 side. In contrast, in the third embodiment, the transaction information management device 501 calculates the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price, and the transaction information management device 501 manages the information about the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price from the transaction information management device 501. An example of distribution to the device 400 will be described. In the third embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the tax rate management processing executed in the transaction information management device 501 according to the third embodiment.

  First, in S211, consumption tax rate data indicating an appropriate consumption tax rate (for example, 5%) stored in the storage unit of the management computer is read. In S212, unit amount setting data indicating a unit amount (for example, 100 yen) set in the game hall 100 is read from the storage unit of the management computer. Next, in S213, fractional unit price setting data indicating the fractional unit price (for example, 4 yen) set in the game hall 100 is read from the storage unit of the management computer.

  In S214, a tax-included unit amount (for example, 105 yen), which is the first sum, is calculated (set) based on the consumption tax rate data read in S211 and the unit amount setting data read in S212. The calculation to be performed (the calculation of adding the unit amount and the consumption tax amount of the unit amount calculated based on the consumption tax rate) is performed. Next, in S215, based on the consumption tax rate data read in S211 and the fractional ball unit price setting data read in S213, the tax-included fractional ball unit price (for example, 4.2 yen), which is the second total value. Is calculated (calculated by adding the fractional ball unit price and the consumption tax amount calculated based on the consumption tax rate).

  After the processing for distributing the tax-included loan amount information including the information including the tax-included unit amount calculated in S214 and the information including the tax-included fractional ball unit price calculated in S215 to the card management device 400 of each game hall 100 is performed. To return. Distribution of such tax-included loan amount information is executed every day at a predetermined time before the start of business of each game hall 100.

  Next, in order to set the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price based on the tax-included loan amount information distributed from the transaction information management device 501, the management computer and the card unit control unit 340 in the card management device 400 A process to be executed will be described.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of processing executed to set the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price in the card management device 400 and the card unit control unit 340 according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 26, as in FIG. 11, the tax-included loan amount management process executed by the card management device 400 is shown in (a), and the tax-included loan amount setting process executed by the card unit control unit 340 is ( As shown in b).

  First, with reference to the tax-included loan amount management process (a), it is determined in S221 whether or not the tax-included loan amount information distributed from the transaction information management apparatus 501 has been received. If it is determined that it has not been received in S221, this tax-included loan amount management process ends and the process returns. On the other hand, if it is determined that the card is received in S221, the card management device 400 sets the tax-included unit amount included in the received tax-included loan amount information as an amount used for lending in each card 3 in the game hall 100, in S222. Processing is performed. Then, in S223, a process for transmitting information indicating the tax-included unit amount set in S222 to each card unit 3 is performed.

  Next, in S224, the card management device 400 performs processing for setting the tax-included fractional ball unit price included in the received tax-included loan amount information as an amount used for lending at each card 3 in the game hall 100. Then, in S225, a process for transmitting information indicating the tax-included fractional ball unit price set in S224 to each card unit 3 is performed.

  The processing content of the tax-included loan amount setting process of (b) is the same as the processing content of the tax-included loan amount setting process of (b) shown in FIG. For this reason, repeated description will not be repeated.

  In the third embodiment, the same technical effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained with respect to the configuration based on the technical idea common to each of the above-described embodiments. An effect can be obtained. As shown in S216, the tax-included unit amount information and the tax-included fractional ball unit price information set by the third party organization 500 are distributed from the transaction information management device 501 to the game arcade, as shown in S222, S224, S22, and S24. In addition, based on the consumption tax rate setting data distributed, the tax-included unit amount and the tax-included fractional ball unit price are set. For this reason, it is prevented that lending processing is performed at a consumption tax rate that is illegally set by the parties involved in the amusement hall, so the remaining amount is subtracted at an illegally set consumption tax rate (a higher tax rate than the actual tax rate). This can eliminate the risk of the player suffering a disadvantage.

Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, an example will be described in which the number of loans for the last remaining loan consumption unit amount of the remaining card amount is indicated by a pulse together with the number of loans for the fractional amount. In the fourth embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 27 is a timing chart showing the relationship between a lending request signal and a payout number designation signal according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 27, as in FIG. 8, a loan request signal is issued when the number corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount is lent and when the number corresponding to the fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount is provided. And the payout number designation signal are shown for each payout mode.

  Referring to FIG. 27, in the first payout mode, as described above, when the remaining amount of the card becomes less than the tax-included unit amount by performing the lending for the unit amount, the number corresponding to the last unit amount is lent. The loan amount is less than the tax-included unit amount, and when the number corresponding to the last loan consumption unit amount is loaned, the amount to be paid out is the number of loans for the unit amount. By specifying the number of pulses P in the number-of-payout designation signal that is the sum of the number of loans and the number of loans for the fractional amount, the number of loans for the last loan consumption unit amount and the number of loans for the fractional amount are specified together.

  In the case of the fourth embodiment, in the first payout mode, the payout number designation signal pulse is output in the BNM signal for the loan for the last loan consumption unit amount and the loan for the fractional amount. For this reason, in the payout control unit 20, among the number of pulses of the payout number designation signal output before the BRQ signal is turned ON, the loan consumption unit amount for the pulses for the loan consumption unit amount (25). The remaining number of pulses is determined to be a fractional loan request.

  Next, card processing control according to the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the characteristic part of the card processing control according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 28, only the steps replaced with S55 to S57 in FIG. 13 are shown.

  The card processing control of FIG. 28 is different from the card processing of FIG. 13 according to the first embodiment in that S55a, S55b, S55d, and S55e are provided instead of S55 and S57 described above. In S55a, it is determined whether or not the loan amount is equal to or greater than the tax-included unit amount. If it is determined in S55a that the tax-included unit amount or more is determined, the process proceeds to S55b, and it is determined whether or not the amount obtained by subtracting the tax-included unit amount from the loaned amount is more than the tax-included unit amount.

  If it is determined in S55b that it is equal to or more than the unit price including tax, a lending request signal is output in S55c, and the process proceeds to S58. On the other hand, if it is determined in S55b that the amount is not more than the tax-included unit amount, the number-of-payout designation signal is output in S55d, which is the sum of the number of loans for the loan consumption unit amount and the number of loans for the fractional amount. Thereafter, a lending request signal is output at 55c, and the process proceeds to S58. On the other hand, if it is determined by S55a that it is not more than the tax-included unit amount, a payout number designation signal of the number of pulses corresponding to the fractional amount is output by S55e, and then a lending request signal is output by S55c. move on. By executing such card processing control, a signal as shown in FIG. 27 can be output.

  In the case of the fourth embodiment, in the first payout mode, the game ball obtained by adding the loan number for the last loan consumption unit amount and the loan amount for the fractional amount by the payout number designation signal output in S55d. Is indicated by the number of pulses. In S55d, the first lending process is performed by outputting a payout number designation signal indicating the number of game balls obtained by adding the lending number for the last lending consumption unit amount and the lending number for the fractional amount. When the remaining amount is less than the first total value (tax-included unit amount), the payout number indicating the number of game balls obtained by adding the number corresponding to the last loan consumption unit amount and the number specified by the number specifying means Corresponds to the process of transmitting the specified signal. In processing such as the update of the remaining card amount and the transmission of sales information, among the number of pulses of the payout number designation signal, for the number of pulses corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount (25), the request for lending for the loan consumption unit amount And the remaining number of pulses is identified as a request for lending the fractional amount.

  In the fourth embodiment, the same technical effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained with respect to the configuration based on the technical idea common to each of the above-described embodiments. An effect can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 27 (a), when the lending corresponding to the last loan consumption unit amount of the card remaining amount is performed, the number corresponding to the last loan consumption unit amount and the fractional amount are supported. Since a payout number designation signal indicating the number of items to be rented is transmitted, it is not necessary for the player to perform a new operation in order to borrow game balls for a fraction less than the tax-included unit amount, The player's trouble can be saved.

Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In the fifth embodiment, as in the case of the above-described fourth embodiment, the number of loans is indicated by the number-of-payout designation signal pulse as in the case of the second embodiment. Similarly, an example will be described in which the number of loans for the last remaining unit amount of the remaining card amount is indicated by a pulse together with the number of loans for the fractional amount. In the fifth embodiment, differences from the second embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 29 is a timing chart showing the relationship between a lending request signal and a payout number designation signal according to the fifth embodiment. In FIG. 29, as in FIG. 23, a loan request signal is issued when the number corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount is lent and when the number corresponding to the fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount is provided. And the payout number designation signal are shown for each payout mode.

  Referring to FIG. 29, in the first payout mode, as described above, when the remaining amount of the card becomes less than the tax-included unit amount by lending for the loan-consumed unit amount, it corresponds to the last loan-consumed unit amount. Following the lending of the number of units to be lent, lending is performed for a fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount. By indicating the number of pulses P in the number-of-payout designation signal that is the sum of the number of loans for the unit amount and the number of loans for the fractional amount, the number of loans for the last loan consumption unit amount and the number of loans for the fractional amount are obtained. Specify all together.

  In the case of the fifth embodiment, in the first payout mode, the payout number designation signal pulse is output in the BNM signal for the loan for the last loan consumption unit amount and the loan for the fractional amount. For this reason, in the payout control unit 20, among the number of pulses of the payout number designation signal output before the BRQ signal is turned ON, the loan consumption unit amount for the pulses for the loan consumption unit amount (25). The remaining number of pulses is determined to be a fractional loan request.

  In the card processing control according to the fifth embodiment, in the characteristic part of the card processing control shown in FIG. 28, it is determined in S55b that the amount obtained by subtracting the tax-included unit amount from the loaned amount is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount. In this case, there is provided a step of outputting a payout number designation signal having a pulse number indicating the number of loans for the loan consumption unit amount, and the process proceeds to S55c after outputting the payout number designation signal in that step. . The ball payout control according to the fifth embodiment is similar to the ball payout control shown in FIG.

  Regarding the fifth embodiment, the same technical effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained with respect to the configuration based on the technical idea common to each of the above-described embodiments. An effect can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 29 (a), when the lending corresponding to the last loan consumption unit amount of the remaining amount of the card is performed, the number lent and the fractional amount corresponding to the last loan consumption unit amount are calculated. A payout number designating signal indicating the number to be rented is transmitted, so that it is not necessary for the player to perform a new operation in order to borrow game balls for a fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount. This saves the player time.

  Next, modifications and feature points of the embodiment described above are listed below.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, fractional spheres such as processing relating to the determination of the remaining amount of a card such as whether or not the amount including a tax-included unit when lending is made, and calculation of the fractional amount and the number of fractional payout An example is shown in which the card unit 3 performs the process relating to the identification of In such a case, the game medium used for the game in the gaming machine provided in the game hall is used only by the card unit 3 according to the use of the remaining amount owned by the player specified by the recording information of the recording medium. It can be considered that a gaming system is lent.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, fractional spheres such as processing relating to the determination of the remaining amount of a card, such as whether or not it is a tax-included unit amount when lending, and calculation of the fractional amount and the number of fractional payouts An example is shown in which the card unit 3 performs the process relating to the identification of the card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, such processing is performed in the card management device 400, and information indicating such determination results and specific results such as the fractional amount and the number of fractional spheres to be paid is stored in the card unit 3 (card unit control unit). 340) may be notified. In such a case, the card unit 3 and the card management device 400 are used for a game in a gaming machine provided in the game hall in accordance with the use of the remaining amount owned by the player specified by the record information of the recording medium. It can be considered that a gaming system that lends game media to be played is configured.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the card management device 400 manages the gaming card 21 based on the card ID and authenticates the gaming card 21 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, the game card 21 is not managed based on the card ID, the security information common to the game card is stored in the card unit 3, and only the card unit 3 stores the game card 21 based on the verification of the security information. Authentication may be performed.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which sales information is output every time a loan is made. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and sales information may be collectively output when the game card 21 is returned.

  (5) The aforementioned unit sales information and fraction sales information may be transmitted in parallel using individually provided signal lines, or serially transmitted using one signal line. You may make it do.

  (6) The example of calculating the number of fractional balls paid out as described above from the remaining amount based on the tax-included fractional ball unit price is shown. However, not limited to this, the number of fractional spheres to be paid out will be the fractional tax-included amount by piece, such as 4.2 for 1 piece, 8.2 yen for 2 pieces, ... 100.8 yen for 24 pieces. A set data table may be stored, and a payout number of fractional spheres may be read from the data table and used according to the remaining card amount.

  (7) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a game card that can be used by all players can be used in the card unit 3 has been shown. However, the game card is not limited to this, and there are two types of game cards: a membership card issued individually to a player registered as a member in the game hall, and a visitor card that can be used by all players. It may be possible to use it. In such a case, only the membership card may have a deposit function.

  (8) In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which it is determined whether or not a fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount is generated in the remaining amount of the card when a lending operation is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be determined at the time when the gaming card 21 is inserted into the card unit 3 whether or not a fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount is generated in the remaining amount of the card. When such a determination is made, when there is a deposit, it may be determined whether or not a fractional amount less than the tax-included unit amount is generated in the remaining amount of the card based on the remaining amount of the card updated by the deposit.

  (9) In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the card remaining amount recorded on the game card 21 side is updated every time there is a loan and every time there is a deposit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the remaining card amount recorded on the game card 21 side is not updated until the game card 21 is returned, and when the game card 21 is returned, the game card 21 is inserted. You may make it update collectively based on the balance of the card | curd updated by the withdrawal and payment performed until it returned and memorize | stored in the card unit control part 340. FIG.

  (10) In the above-described embodiment, each card unit 3 sets a payout mode of game balls based on the payout mode information transmitted from the card management device 400, and lends in the set payout mode. The example to do was explained. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and each card unit 3 is provided with an operation unit for performing an operation of selecting a game ball payout mode, and a game ball payout mode is set based on the player's operation. You may make it lend in a mode.

  (11) In the above-described embodiment, when the remaining card amount is equal to or greater than the loan consumption unit amount, the remaining card amount is displayed on the card remaining amount display 8 and the frequency lamp 52 is lit on, and the remaining card amount is loaned. An example is shown in which when the amount is less than the consumption unit amount, the remaining card amount indicator 8 displays the remaining card amount in fractional balls and the fractional ball lamp 53 is lit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and instead of the fractional ball lamp 53, a fractional ball lamp is provided to indicate that the remaining card amount is displayed as a monetary amount when the remaining card amount is a fractional amount. When the remaining card amount is less than the lending consumption unit amount, the remaining card amount display unit 8 may display the remaining card amount as a fractional amount and control to turn on and display the fractional ball lamp.

  Further, in the embodiment described above, the display of the card remaining amount indicator 8 is switched depending on whether or not the remaining amount of the card is equal to or greater than the loan consumption unit amount. Sometimes the frequency is displayed, and when the remaining card amount is less than the tax-included unit amount, the number of fractional spheres may be displayed.

  (12) In the embodiment described above, a non-contact type IC card is shown as an example as a game card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a contact IC card may be used as a game card. The game card is not limited to an IC card, and other storage media such as a magnetic storage card may be used. That is, as the game card, any storage medium may be used as long as the remaining amount owned by the player is specified by the record information.

  (13) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the number management mode is set (setting change) in the card management apparatus 400 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to change the setting of the number identification mode in the transaction information management device 501 of the third party organization shown in FIG. When the request is made, the transaction information management device 501 performs setting (setting change) of the number specifying mode, and the setting data is distributed to the card management device 400 of the game hall via the communication line. A configuration in which the number specifying mode is set (setting change) based on the setting data that has been received may be employed.

  (14) In the above-described embodiment, as sales information output from the card unit 3, information indicating a unit price including tax or a fraction including tax is shown as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as sales information output from the card unit 3, information indicating the number of loaned game balls may be output. In that case, the card management device 400 manages the remaining amount of the card as described above based on the set number specifying mode and the sales information indicating the number of loaned game balls, and the sales amount and consumption tax amount. Are counted. For example, when sales information indicating the number of fractional spheres (a number less than 25) is received, the managed card balance is subtracted according to the set number specifying mode (first and second numbers). In the case of the specific mode, the remaining amount is subtracted to “0”, and in the case of the second number specific mode, the amount obtained by multiplying the number of fractional spheres by the tax-included fractional ball unit price is subtracted) and the set number Aggregate sales and consumption tax amounts according to the specific mode (in the case of the first and second number specific modes, the amount obtained by multiplying the number indicated by the sales information by the consumption tax per ball is used as the consumption tax amount. Aggregation to be added is performed, and the result obtained by subtracting the consumption tax amount from the balance of the managing card is added as the sales amount, and in the third number specifying mode, the number indicated by the sales information is added. Is added to the result of multiplying the consumption tax per ball as a consumption tax amount, and the result of multiplying the number indicated by the sales information by the game ball unit price is added as the sales amount. When the sales information indicating the number (25) corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount is received, the remaining amount is managed by subtracting the tax-included unit amount from the remaining amount managed, and the number indicated by the sales information is The total obtained by multiplying the consumption tax amount per ball is added as the consumption tax amount, and the total obtained by multiplying the number indicated by the sales information by the game ball unit price is added as the sales amount.

  (15) The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a front view showing a pachinko gaming machine as an example of a gaming machine installed on a gaming machine installation island and a card unit as an example of a recording medium processing device. It is an enlarged view of a lending operation unit provided for performing operations related to lending game balls in a pachinko gaming machine. It is a front view of a card unit. It is a figure which shows the structure and recorded information of a game card. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a card unit, and the structure of the management system inside and outside a game arcade. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the circuit relevant to payout of the game ball in a pachinko gaming machine and a card unit. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the operation timing of a card unit and a pachinko gaming machine. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between a rental request signal and a payout number designation signal. It is a figure which shows the management data regarding the card ID information and card balance information managed in the card management database in a table format. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the tax rate management process performed in a transaction information management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process performed in order to set a tax-included unit amount and a tax-included fractional ball unit price in a card management apparatus and a card unit control part. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process performed in order to set a number specific mode in a card management apparatus and a card unit control part. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of card processing control. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of card processing control. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of card processing control. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of ball payout control. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of ball payout control. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of ball payout control. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of ball payout control. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a money_receiving | payment process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the total process performed by the management computer of a card management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the difference total process performed by the management computer of a card management apparatus. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the rental request signal by 2nd Embodiment, and the payment number designation | designated signal. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the ball | bowl payout control by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the tax rate management process performed in the transaction information management apparatus by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process performed in order to set a tax-included unit amount and a tax-included fractional ball unit price in the card management apparatus and card unit control part by 3rd Embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the rental request signal by 4th Embodiment, and the payment number designation | designated signal. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the characteristic part of the card processing control by 4th Embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the rental request signal by 5th Embodiment, and the payment number designation | designated signal.

Explanation of symbols

100 game halls, 21 game cards, 2 pachinko machines, 3 card units, 33 card reader / writer devices, 340 card unit control units, 500 third party organizations, 501 transaction information management devices, 8 card balance display.

Claims (4)

A gaming system that lends a game medium used for a game in a gaming machine provided in a game hall according to the use of the remaining amount owned by the player specified by the record information of the recording medium,
Receiving means for receiving the recording medium;
Based on the remaining amount specified by the recording information of the recording medium received by the receiving means, the game medium is lent, and the loan consumption amount consumed for renting the game medium and the loan consumption amount are supported. Lending processing means for performing lending processing for subtracting the consumption tax amount to be deducted from the remaining amount;
A first sum of a loan consumption unit amount that is the loan consumption amount and a consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan consumption unit amount when the loan processing means lends the game medium in a plurality of predetermined units. First data setting means for setting first data capable of specifying the sum of values;
Second data for setting second data capable of specifying a second total value obtained by adding the game medium unit price, which is the lending consumption amount per game medium, and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the game medium unit price. Setting means;
A remaining amount determining means for determining whether the remaining amount after subtraction by the lending process is greater than or equal to the first combined value and less than the first combined value;
Number specifying means for specifying the number of game media that can be lent with the remaining amount based on the second data when the remaining amount determining means determines that the remaining amount after subtraction is less than the first total value When,
A means for setting and changing the number specifying mode when the number specifying means specifies the number of game media, wherein the number of game media is specified by rounding up the remaining amount less than the second total value by one game medium. And a first number specifying mode for subtracting the remaining amount to zero in the lending process, and specifying the number of game media by rounding off the remaining amount less than the second total value, and subtracting the remaining amount to zero in the lending process And a number specifying mode setting means for changing the setting of the second number specifying mode.
The number specifying means specifies the number of game media by the number specifying mode set by the number specifying mode setting means,
The lending processing unit performs a process of lending a number of game media corresponding to the lending consumption unit amount once or a plurality of times when the remaining amount determining unit determines that the amount is equal to or greater than the first total value. Lending a predetermined number of game media according to the above and performing a first lending process for performing the subtraction based on the first data, while determining that the remaining amount determination means is less than a first total value A second lending process for lending the number of game media specified by the number specifying means and subtracting according to the number specifying mode for the remaining amount less than the first total value A gaming system characterized by that.   And further comprising difference summing means for summing a difference between an amount obtained by multiplying the number of game media specified by the number specifying means by the second summed value and a remaining amount less than the first summed value. The game system according to claim 1.   The consumption tax amount subtracted in the second lending process is specified based on the setting of the number specifying mode by the number specifying mode setting means, and the specified consumption tax amount and subtracted in the first lending process The gaming system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising consumption tax summation means for summing up and summing the consumption tax amount. A remaining amount addition updating means for performing a process of adding and updating the remaining amount specified by the recording information of the recording medium received by the receiving unit by payment from the player;
The number specifying mode setting means specifies the number of game media by truncating the remaining amount less than the second sum value, and determines the remaining amount less than the second sum value from the recording information of the recording medium in the lending process. A third number specifying mode for performing subtraction while remaining in an identifiable manner is further selectable,
The lending processing means subtracts the remaining amount to a remaining amount less than the second combined value in the lending processing when the third number specifying mode is set. The game system according to any one of the above.

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