JPH10216346A - Cashless game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable playing a game on a game machine even when a player has no cash. SOLUTION: When a credit card is inserted into a card reader 27 and the number of the bank account and code number of the player are entered at a numerical keyboard 28 to start a play, an on-line unit opens the designated bank account by communicating with the bank. In this case, the iris of a player' s eyeball is detected by a lens 30 and compared with a datafile accumulated in the bank for identification. Then, when the player presses a function button 29a, the on-line unit withdraws the designated sum of money from the opened bank account, and a slot machine is credited therewith. The player plays the game using the credit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which cash is paid out by betting cash without using a game medium.
The present invention relates to a cashless gaming machine in which a player plays a game without directly handling cash.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a slot machine shown in FIG. This kind of slot machine is mainly used in overseas casinos.

When a bill is inserted into the bill entry 1 or a coin is inserted into the coin entry 2, a game of the slot machine is started. The bill inserted into the building entry 1 is checked for its authenticity by a building validator built in the device. Following this cash input,
When the bet button 4 provided on the control panel 3 is operated by the player, paylines corresponding to the number of operations are activated. At this time, when the player operates the max bet button 5 instead of the bet button 4, all paylines are activated.

[0006] In the control panel 3 located at the middle stage of the main door 16, in addition to the bet button 4 and the max bet button 5, a change button 6, a cashout button 7 and a spin button 8 are arranged.

Next, when the player pulls the handle 9 forward, each reel 11 observed through each window 10
Rotates. Various symbols are drawn on the outer periphery of these reels 11, and the rotation of each reel 11 stops after a predetermined time. If a predetermined symbol combination is displayed on the activated payline at the time of this stop, a prize of a type corresponding to the symbol combination occurs. This winning type is shown in the payout table drawn on the top glass 12 of the head of the cabinet 17. A name strip 13 is provided below the top glass 12.

At the time of winning a slot machine, coins of an amount corresponding to the winning type are paid out to a coin tray 14 from a hopper built in the device. This hopper is arranged behind the bottom glass 15 located at the waist of the cabinet 17.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional slot machine, a certain amount of cash is prepared at the time of the game, and a bill entry 1 and a coin entry 2 are provided.
It is necessary to put the cash prepared in each time. For this reason, in the above-mentioned conventional slot machine, it was not possible to play a game unless the player has cash. In addition, it is troublesome for a player to put cash into a gaming machine every time a game is played.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and has an online unit for transferring money information to and from a bank connected online.
A cashless gaming machine comprises a card reader for reading information recorded on the inserted credit card, and a data input unit for transmitting information input by the player to the online unit.

Further, the cashless gaming machine is provided with an identification means for identifying the credit card owner based on physical characteristics.

A cashless gaming machine is provided with a ticket printer for inputting data from an online unit and issuing a ticket in which a result of a bank transaction is described.

[0011] The data input section comprises a numeric keypad for inputting numerical information and a function button for transmitting a predetermined command to the online unit when operated.

[0012] Further, the gaming machine is configured to issue a warning to the player when the balance of the bank account reaches a predetermined amount.

Further, a card reader and a data input unit are provided on the head of the device.

In such a configuration, when a credit card is inserted into the card reader by the player at the start of the game and the player's bank account number and password are input to the data input unit, the online unit communicates with the bank. And open the specified bank account. Subsequently, when a withdrawal instruction is input to the data input unit by the player, the online unit withdraws the designated amount from the opened bank account and credits the gaming machine. The player plays a game using the credit.

[0015] In addition, by providing personal identification means to identify the owner of the credit card based on physical characteristics, it becomes impossible for anyone other than the owner to use the credit card without fail.

Further, by providing a ticket printer and issuing a ticket in which the result of the bank transaction is issued, the player can know the amount of money used in the bank account, the amount of money deposited, and the like, and record and save this. You can do it.

The data input section is composed of a numeric keypad and a function button, so that an account number, a password and the like are input from the numeric keypad, and a withdrawal instruction, a transfer instruction, and the like are input by simply operating the function buttons. Is done.

[0018] Further, by configuring the gaming machine to issue a warning to the player when the balance of the bank account reaches a predetermined amount, the player is warned to pay too much.

Further, by providing the head of the gaming machine with the card reader and the data input section, the space for the coin entry and the building entry which is conventionally provided on the control panel becomes free. Therefore, it is possible to arrange only the game operation buttons on the control panel.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment in which a cashless gaming machine according to the present invention is applied to a slot machine will be described.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the above-described conventional slot machine, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the slot machine according to the present embodiment.

As shown in the figure, a bill entry 1 and a coin entry 2 are provided on a main door 16 of a conventional slot machine. In addition, a building validator 18 and a hopper 19 are built in the bottom of the cabinet 17, and a reel 11 is built in a middle stage of the cabinet 17.

On the other hand, in the slot machine according to the present embodiment, the control panel 22 of the main door 21 does not have the conventional bill entry 1 and coin entry 2.
Further, a building validator 18 is provided inside the cabinet 23.
No hopper 19 is provided, and an online unit 24 is provided instead. This online unit 2
4 is connected to the bank online and exchanges financial information with the bank. The online unit 24 has a built-in ticket printer (not shown). The ticket printer inputs data from the online unit 24 and issues a ticket 25 in which a result of a bank transaction is described.

A reel 26 is built in the middle stage of the cabinet 23, and the online unit 2 is mounted on the upper part of the name strip 13 which has been conventionally located.
Various devices 27 to 30 electrically connected to 4 are provided.

FIG. 1 shows a cashless system according to the present embodiment.
It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a slot machine, and the above-mentioned devices 27-30 are expanded and shown in the head of cabinet 23. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The card reader 27 is a device for reading information recorded on a credit card inserted by a player. The numeric keypad 28 and the function buttons 29 may constitute a data input unit for transmitting information input by the player to the online unit 24. Numeric information is input to the numeric keypad 28. The function buttons 29a to 29f are composed of a plurality of buttons, and transmit a predetermined command to the online unit 24 when pressed. For example, when the function button 29a is pressed, a withdrawal command from the bank account is transmitted, and when the function button 29b is pressed, a deposit (transfer) command to the bank account is transmitted.

The lens 30 constitutes a means for identifying the owner of the credit card based on physical characteristics, and performs identity verification based on the characteristics of the player's eyeballs. That is, the lens 30 shines a light beam on the eyeball of the player, detects the reflected light, and detects a retina or a cornea pattern of the eyeball. This crest is peculiar to the individual, and therefore, the individual can be identified by identifying the crest. It is a precondition that this crest is registered in advance in the bank's online system.

It is also possible to perform the identity verification based on a fingerprint which is a physical feature unique to the individual.
In this case, a device for detecting a fingerprint by a player touching a fingertip instead of the lens 30 is required.

The gaming operation of the slot machine is controlled by a control circuit board (not shown) built in the device. Electronic circuits such as a microcomputer (CPU) and storage elements (RAM, ROM) are mounted on the control circuit board, and the CPU processes a game operation in accordance with a program stored in the ROM. This control circuit board is also electrically connected to the online unit 24, and inputs money information from the online unit 24. When the control circuit board detects that the balance in the bank account has reached a predetermined amount, the control circuit board issues a warning to the player by voice, for example, from a built-in speaker.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a modification of the cashless slot machine shown in FIG. In this figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

In the cashless slot machine shown in FIG. 2, a card reader 27 ', a numeric keypad 28' and a function button 29 'are arranged at the right end of the control panel 22. Other configurations are the same as those of the slot machine shown in FIG. The configuration position of the card reader 27 'and the like corresponds to the conventional building entry configuration position. According to this configuration, the slot machine according to the present embodiment can be configured by applying the conventional housing.

In such a configuration, at the start of the game, the player places the credit card on the card reader 2.
7, 27 '. When the player's bank account number and password are entered into the numeric keys 28, 28 ', the online unit 24 contacts the bank to open the designated bank account. At this time, the fingerprint of the eyeball of the player is detected by the lens 30, and the identification is performed by referring to the data file stored in the bank. If the detected crest does not match the one registered in the bank, it is determined that the credit card is not the owner of the credit card, and the online unit 24 does not open the designated bank account.

Subsequently, the function button 29 is set by the player.
When c, 29c 'is pressed, a balance inquiry instruction is transmitted to the online unit 24, and the player can inquire the balance of the opened bank account. Next, when the function buttons 29a and 29a 'are pressed by the player, the online unit 24 withdraws the designated amount from the opened bank account and credits the slot machine. This amount is designated by operating the numeric keys 28, 28 '. The player plays a game using the credit.

During the game, when the balance of the bank account reaches a predetermined amount, the slot machine issues a voice alert from a built-in speaker.

When the function buttons 29b and 29b 'are pressed by the player at the end of the game, the online unit 24 receives a deposit instruction and transfers the money obtained by the player to the bank account. Note that it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the hopper is built in the device as in the related art, and the acquired amount is paid out to the tray 31 with coins. Also, function buttons 29d, 29d 'may be selected depending on the player.
Is pressed, a printer instruction is output to the ticket printer, and the ticket 25 is issued on the tray 31.

According to the cashless slot machine of this embodiment, even if the player does not have cash, he can play a game as described above if he has one credit card. . Therefore, since the game can be performed without cash, the convenience of the gaming machine is improved. In addition, it is not necessary to put cash into the slot machine every time a game is played, so that the player can play the game without feeling troublesome.

Further, by providing the lens 30 and identifying the owner of the credit card based on the characteristics of the eyeball, it becomes impossible for anyone other than the owner to use the credit card without fail. For this reason, for example, those who have picked up or stolen a credit card cannot open a bank account, and cashless
A slot machine is provided.

Further, by providing a ticket printer and issuing a ticket 25 in which a bank transaction result is described, the player can know the amount of money used in the bank account, the amount of money deposited, and the like, and record and save this. Can be done. This ticket 25 can also describe information such as the winning or losing amount of a game and a bank fee. For this reason, the player can easily manage the balance of the bank account and the win / loss status of the game.

The data input section is operated by using the ten keys 28, 2
8 'and the function buttons 29 and 29', the account number and the password are input from the ten keys 28, and the withdrawal instruction and the transfer instruction and the like are performed by simply operating the function buttons 29 and 29 '. Is entered.
Therefore, data input can be easily performed without bothering the player.

Further, when the balance in the bank account reaches a predetermined amount, the slot machine issues a warning to the player, so that the player is warned to use too much money. For this reason, the property bankruptcy of the player can be prevented.

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a card reader 27, a numeric keypad 28 and a function button 29 are provided at the head of the cabinet 23,
The space for the coin entry and the building entry, which has conventionally existed on the control panel 22, becomes available. Therefore, it is possible to arrange only the game operation buttons on the control panel 22. Therefore, the visibility and operability of these buttons by the player are improved.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a slot machine. However, the present invention can be applied to a poker game machine in which cash is paid by betting cash. In this case, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

Further, a 19-inch CRT shown in FIG.
It is also possible to configure a poker game machine using the monitor 40. In other words, the above-mentioned card reader, numeric keypad, and function buttons are configured in the portion of the payout table 41, and the poker game machine is configured to have no building entry or coin entry on the control panel 42, and is displayed on the 19-inch monitor 40. Each operation button 44 can be provided at the same position as the playing card 43.

In the conventional poker game machine, each of the buttons is difficult to operate because the playing card and the operation button are not arranged at the positions opposite to each other. Operation button 44
Visibility and operability are improved.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, a gaming machine can be used without directly handling cash by using a credit card. You can also transfer the cash you have earned directly to your bank account. Therefore, even when the player does not have cash, the player can play the game, and the convenience of the gaming machine is improved.
Further, the troublesome operation of inserting cash into a gaming machine every time a game is performed as in the related art is also eliminated.

In addition, by providing an identification means,
The security performance of the gaming machine is ensured. Further, by providing the ticket printer, the player can easily manage the balance of the bank account. In addition, since the data input section is composed of numeric keys and function buttons, data input can be performed by a simple operation. In addition, the gaming machine issues a warning to the player when the balance in the bank account reaches a predetermined amount, thereby preventing the player's property bankruptcy.

Further, by equipping the head of the gaming machine with the card reader and the data input section, it is possible to arrange the gaming operation buttons at any positions on the control panel. Therefore, the operability of each button is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cashless slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cashless storage device according to the embodiment shown in FIG.
It is a perspective view which shows and compares the structure of a slot machine and the conventional slot machine.

FIG. 3 shows a cashless memory according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
It is a perspective view showing a modification of a slot machine.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a cashless poker game machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional slot machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Main door 22 ... Control panel 23 ... Cabinet 24 ... Online unit 25 ... Ticket 26 ... Reel 27 ... Card reader 28 ... Numeric keypad 29 ... Function button 30 ... Lens 31 ... Coin tray

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An online unit for exchanging money information with a bank connected online, a card reader for reading information recorded on an inserted credit card,
And a data input unit for transmitting information input by the player to the online unit. 2. The cashless gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising identification means for identifying the owner of the credit card based on physical characteristics. 3. The cashless gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein said identification means identifies the owner of the player based on characteristics of the player's eyeball or fingerprint. 4. The cashless gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a ticket printer for inputting data from said online unit and issuing a ticket in which a result of a bank transaction is described. 5. The data input unit according to claim 1, further comprising a numeric keypad for inputting numerical information, and a function button for transmitting a predetermined command to the online unit when operated. Cashless gaming machine. 6. The cashless gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said gaming machine issues a warning to a player when a balance in a bank account reaches a predetermined amount. 7. The cashless gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the card reader and the data input unit are provided on a head of the device. 8. The cashless gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said gaming machine is a slot machine or a poker game machine.