WO2021131544A1

WO2021131544A1 - Management system

Info

Publication number: WO2021131544A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/044759
Authority: WO
Inventors: 淳 ▲配▼島; 重彦北川
Original assignee: 株式会社ユニバーサルエンターテインメント
Priority date: 2019-12-23
Filing date: 2020-12-02
Publication date: 2021-07-01
Also published as: JP7218918B2; JP2021097920A

Abstract

Provided is a management system that prevents using a gaming machine only for a sports broadcast, and with which it is possible to promote betting on the gaming machine. In a management system A1: a gaming machine A2 transmits, to a PTS terminal 1700, bet number data relating to bets on a game that has been executed; the PTS terminal 1700 adds calculating time based on the bet number data to a browsing time, and setting the browsing time as a limit, transmits sports broadcast data from a sports book server A4 of a selected sports book to the auxiliary gaming machine A2; and the PTS terminal 1700 displays the sports broadcast data on a lower-side display panel 1141.

Description

Management system

Regarding a management system that manages multiple gaming machines.

Conventionally, there is a system that manages gaming machines such as multiple slot machines. For example, as in Patent Document 1, a management server is connected to a plurality of gaming machines via a communication line, and the result information associated with the execution result of the game on each gaming machine is collected in the management server, and the result is based on the result information. A management system for managing a game in which a ranking is determined and a ranking is competed between gaming machines (players) or between groups such as stores to which the gaming machine belongs is disclosed.

Gaming machines are installed in casinos, etc., but in such casinos, it may be possible to make sports books to bet on the results of sports. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a gaming machine capable of performing a sports book.

Special Table 2008-512189 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016-0307395

In general, during the period when a global sports competition is held, the number of people who play sports books increases, so the play on gaming machines tends to decrease. Even if it is possible to play a sports book on a gaming machine as in the conventional case, there is a problem that the player does not play on the gaming machine and concentrates on watching sports.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a management system capable of solving the above problems.

The management system of the present invention
It is attached to a gaming machine that starts a game based on a bet, is equipped with a reader that acquires a member ID, and is connected to a sportsbook server that accepts bets on sportsbooks and distributes sports broadcasts subject to the bets so that data communication is possible. Information management department,
Have,
The gaming machine transmits bet information regarding the bet of the executed game to the information management unit.
The information management department
The time calculated based on the bet information is added to the browsing time,
The sports relay data from the sportsbook server of the selected sportsbook is transmitted to the accompanying gaming machine and displayed on the display within the viewing time.
It is characterized by that.

According to the above configuration, the sports broadcast delivered by the sports book server can be viewed on the gaming machine, and the viewing time is calculated based on the bet on the gaming machine. As a result, it is possible to prevent the gaming machine from being used only for sports broadcasting and to promote betting on the gaming machine.

Further, in the management system of the present invention,
When the member ID is associated with the existence of a bet on the sportsbook, the information management unit may add a predetermined time to the browsing time.

According to the above configuration, when there is a bet on the sports book, viewing of the sports broadcast for a predetermined time is permitted regardless of the bet on the gaming machine. This makes it possible to improve the possibility of guiding the user who is doing the sports book to the gaming machine.

It is a block diagram of a management system. It is a block diagram of a slot machine. It is a perspective view of a slot machine. It is a block diagram of a PTS terminal. It is a perspective view of a PTS terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display screen of a PTS terminal and a slot machine. It is a data table showing a sportsbook history table. It is a data table showing a sportsbook candidate table. It is a flowchart of a sportsbook execution process. It is a flowchart of sports relay processing.

First, the outline of the management system will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the management system A1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of information management devices A21 and a management server A3.

The plurality of information management devices A21, each of which functions as an information management unit, are attached so as to be able to communicate with each of the plurality of gaming machines A2 in which the game is started based on the bet of the game value. The gaming machine A2 has a display A22 for displaying a game. In the present embodiment, the information management device A21 is connected to the sportsbook server A4 via the management server A3 so as to be capable of data communication. The information management device A21 may be directly connected to the sportsbook server A4 so as to be capable of data communication. The information management device A21 has a reading device A211, and the reading device 211 reads a membership card or the like held by the user and acquires a member ID. The sportsbook server A4 accepts bets on sportsbooks and distributes sports broadcasts subject to the bets. A plurality of sportsbook servers A4 are illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, in the present embodiment, the sports broadcast is displayed on the display A22 of the gaming machine A2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be displayed on a display device (for example, LCD1719 described later) included in the information management device A21.

Here, the "game value" is information related to the cache, and may be a tangible object having the game value information, or an intangible object obtained by converting the game value information into electronic data. "Game value information" is non-valuable information such as coins, banknotes, electronic valuable information corresponding to these, and game points that do not include valuable information. Examples of the "game value" of tangible objects include chips, medals, tokens, electronic money cards, plaques, and tickets. The ticket is, for example, a ticket with a barcode. The game value includes a convertible game value that can be exchanged for currency and a non-convertible game value that cannot be exchanged for currency. Further, the game value of a tangible object corresponds to a configuration in which the game value information is stored in electronic data or an external form, and the game value information can be read from the outside by wireless communication, image recognition, or the like. The outer surface form is a form that can be identified from the outside such as a color, a pattern, a character, an image, and a shape.

The "gaming machine A2" is exemplified by a slot machine configured to be able to output game information including bet number data and payout number data and player identification information. Further, the gaming machine A2 may be a table game device such as a baccarat game device as long as the game value information can be read from the outside such as a chip by wireless communication, image recognition, or the like. Examples of wireless communication include RFID (radio frequency identification) that transmits and receives information by short-range wireless communication using an electromagnetic field, radio waves, and the like. Further, the gaming machine A2 may be provided with a function capable of outputting game information and player identification information by hardware or software. In this case, a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a stationary terminal device such as a desktop computer can be used as the gaming machine A2.

The "information management device A21" is configured so that game information including game value bet number data and payout number data output from the gaming machine A2 and player identification information of a player who plays a single game can be transmitted to the outside. It suffices if it is done. Therefore, the information management device A21 may be configured to cause a computer of a general information processing device to execute a process of transmitting game information and player identification information, or a computer that controls the gaming machine A2. It may be configured to execute a process of transmitting game information and player identification information. In this embodiment, the player tracking system (PTS) device described later will be used for description.

The information management device A21 calculates the viewing time for displaying the sports broadcast on the display A22 based on the bet number data (bet information) of the executed game transmitted from the gaming machine A2. That is, the information management device A21 adds the time calculated based on the bet number data to the browsing time. Therefore, the user can browse the sports broadcast on the gaming machine A2 until the browsing time is exhausted. In the present embodiment, the bet information is bet number data, but the bet information is not limited to this. For example, the bet information may be the number of games, the number of winnings in the game, and the like. Further, based on the user's member information (for example, customer rank, etc.), additional time may not be added to the browsing time.

In this way, the sports broadcast delivered by the sports book server can be viewed on the gaming machine A2, and the viewing time is calculated based on the bet on the gaming machine A2. As a result, it is possible to prevent the gaming machine A2 from being used only for sports broadcasting and to promote betting on the gaming machine A2.

If the sports broadcast displayed on the display A22 is a sports book to be bet by the user, a predetermined time may be added to the browsing time. That is, when the member ID is associated with the existence of a bet on the sports book, the information management device A21 adds a predetermined time to the browsing time and attaches the sports broadcast data of the sports book to the gaming machine A2. It may be transmitted and displayed on the display A22. In this way, when there is a bet on the sports book, viewing of the sports broadcast for a predetermined time is permitted regardless of the bet on the gaming machine A2. This makes it possible to improve the possibility of guiding the user who is doing the sports book to the gaming machine A2.

"The information management device A21 is attached to the gaming machine A2" means that the information management device A21 is installed in the gaming machine A2 so that at least data communication is possible from the gaming machine A2 to the information management device A21. In the present embodiment, the information management device A21 is built in the gaming machine A2, but the present embodiment is not limited to this.

The management server A3 has a management server controller A32, a storage device A33, and a communication device 34. The storage device A33 has a memory for rewritably storing data and information. The memory is a non-transient storage medium for storing a program for executing a process described later and various data. The storage device A33 stores information for managing the user in the casino. The storage device A33 has, for example, a storage area for storing a member ID, member information associated therewith, sportsbook bet history, sports relay data, sportsbook user information, and the like. The stored member ID is information that identifies a user who plays the gaming machine A2, and is collated with the member ID read by the information management device A21. In the storage device A33, the member ID is associated with the sportsbook bet history and the sportsbook user information.

The management server controller A32 accepts sportsbook bets from the information management device A21 and the sportsbook Kyosk (not shown) via the communication device 34. Based on the bet received, the management server controller A32 logs in to the system for voting for the sportsbook by using the sportsbook user information stored in the storage device A33 in advance, and the sportsbook in response to the request from the user. To vote for. Authentication information such as a password may be stored in the storage device A33 in advance, or is configured to perform password input and biometrics authentication in the information management device A21 or the like when betting on a sports book. May be good. As described above, in the present embodiment, the information management device A21 is configured to accept the bet of the sports book and vote for the sports book, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the gaming machine A2 may be configured so that voting for sports books is not possible.

When a bet is placed on a sportsbook, the management server A3 cumulatively stores the bet information in the storage device A33 as a sportsbook bet history. For example, the sportsbook bet history is information in which information on the date and time of betting, the sportsbook targeted for betting, the holding period of the sportsbook, the bet amount, and the like are stored in association with the member ID.

The management server A3 periodically accesses the sportsbook server A4 and updates the sportsbook candidates that can be relayed. In addition, the management server A3 acquires sports broadcast data for displaying the sports broadcast being distributed from each sports book server A4. The sports relay data may be video data or connection information for accessing the video data.

The information management device A21 receives the sports broadcast delivered from the sports book server via the management server A3 and displays it on the display A22 of the accompanying gaming machine A2. Specifically, the information management device A21 acquires a sportsbook candidate associated with the member ID from the management server A3. Then, the information management device A21 selects a sportsbook to be displayed on the display A22 from the sportsbook candidates. If the sportsbook candidate includes a sportsbook bet by the user, the information management device A21 selects the sportsbook.

Then, the information management device A21 transmits the sports relay data from the sports book server of the selected sports book to the accompanying gaming machine and displays it on the display A22. The information management device A21 may have a program for causing the computer to execute the above-mentioned processing. The program may be distributed by wire or wirelessly, or may be distributed in a state of being recorded on a recording medium.

As described above, the management system A1 has a display A22 for displaying the game, and is attached to each of the plurality of gaming machines A2 for starting the game on the bet and the plurality of gaming machines A2 to acquire the member ID. It is equipped with A211 and has a sportsbook server A4 that accepts bets on sportsbooks and distributes sports broadcasts that are the targets of the bets, and an information management device A21 that is connected to enable data communication. Then, the gaming machine A2 transmits the bet information regarding the bet of the executed game to the information management device A21. Then, the information management device A21 adds the time calculated based on the bet information to the browsing time, and limits the browsing time to the gaming machine A2 to which the sports relay data from the sportsbook server A4 of the selected sportsbook is attached. It is transmitted and displayed on the display A22.

According to the above configuration, the sports broadcast broadcast distributed by the sports book server A4 can be viewed on the gaming machine A2, and the viewing time is calculated based on the bet on the gaming machine A2. As a result, it is possible to prevent the gaming machine A2 from being used only for sports broadcasting and to promote betting on the gaming machine A2.

As a specific example of the management system, a case where the management system A1 is provided with a slot machine as the gaming machine A2 and the PTS device 1700 is provided as the information management device A21 will be specifically described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine 1010, which is the gaming machine A2, includes a player tracking system device (Player Tracking System Device) 1700. The player tracking device 1700 is a terminal for realizing a player tracking system (Player Tracking System), and in the present specification, this device is hereinafter referred to as a PTS terminal 1700.

The PTS terminal 1700 has a PTS control unit 1700A, a PTS user interface unit 1700B, and a mixing device 1790. The PTS control unit 1700A controls various processing operations of the PTS terminal 1700 and is connected to various external devices so as to be capable of data communication. Further, the PTS user interface unit 1700B is configured to enable input processing and output processing mainly with an operator such as a user. The mixing device 1790 synthesizes the game image received from the controller 1100 described later of the slot machine 1010 and the sports relay image received by relaying the management server A3 from the sports book server A4, and displays the display (upper side) of the slot machine 1010. It is displayed on the image display panel 1131 and the lower image display panel 1141). The display mode on the display is preferably, but is not limited to, a picture-in-picture mode in which the sports broadcast is displayed in a predetermined area in the game image. For example, when there are a plurality of displays, one may be occupied by the display of the sports broadcast. In the slot machine controller 1100, a board on which a CPU or the like constituting the slot machine is installed is connected to a PTS terminal 1700 by an HDMI (registered trademark) cable or the like, and data can be transmitted and received. The mixing device 1790 is not limited to that of the PTS terminal 1700, and may be built in the slot machine 1010 or the like. Details of the PTS control unit 1700A and the PTS user interface unit 1700B will be described later.

In addition, the slot machine 1010 is equipped with a payment machine 1868. The slot machine 1010 is connected to the management server A3 via the PTS control unit 1700A of the PTS terminal 1700 and the network. The PTS control unit 1700A is connected to the banknote classifier 1022 via a communication line (or slot machine 1010). Further, the PTS control unit 1700A transmits / receives data to / from the controller 1100 based on a predetermined protocol, and also performs data communication with the management server A3 or the like connected via the network. For example, the PTS control unit 1700A sends the credit information required to start the game to the controller 1100, a stop command instructing the stop of the unit game at the time of interlocking production, and the like, and the controller 1100 sends the PTS. Credit information as a result of the game, start notification, end notification, and the like of the unit game can be transmitted to the control unit 1700A.

In addition, the PTS control unit 1700A of the PTS terminal 1700 can be used for membership card import / withdrawal notifications, unit game start / end notifications, lottery results, bet information, game information such as the number of payouts, bonus winning notifications, and member's notifications. Send and receive credit information, etc.

Here, the game flow for members is as follows. First, membership registration is performed using a membership card ticketing terminal, and at that time, a membership card (IC card) is issued. After that, the player inserts the membership card into the PTS terminal 1700 (PTS user interface unit 1700B) of the slot machine 1010, and inserts cash there. When a bill is inserted, the bill classifier 1022 identifies the denomination and the amount of money, and as a result of the identification, the denomination data and the amount of money data are transmitted to the PTS control unit 1700A. The PTS control unit 1700A obtains a credit for a game from the denomination data and the amount data, and transmits this to the controller 1100.

The controller 1100 executes a single game based on the credits transmitted from the PTS control unit 1700A. Credits according to the game result are transmitted from the controller 1100 to the PTS control unit 1700A, and the PTS control unit 1700A calculates the payout of the dividend based on the game result to determine the amount to be paid to the player. In the PTS terminal 1700 (PTS user interface unit 1700B), the determined amount of money is written as it is on the membership card, and the membership card is ejected. In addition, a predetermined point is given to the membership card according to the execution of the game or the like.

When the player who is a member plays the game next time, the PTS control unit 1700A reads the inserted membership card and reads the amount of money stored in the membership card. The read amount is converted into credits and sent to the controller 1100. Credits according to the game result are transmitted from the controller 1100 to the PTS control unit 1700A in the same manner as described above, and the PTS control unit 1700A performs a payout calculation based on the game result to determine the amount to be paid out to the player. At this time, this is updated by adding the amount obtained as a result of the game to the amount of the inserted membership card.

At this time, the PTS control unit 1700A further transmits the identification code (or player identification code) read from the membership card and the updated amount to the member management server 13, and the member management server 13 is transmitted from the PTS control unit 1700A. The amount of money is added to the amount of money of the member specified by the above identification code and stored. By this process, the amount of money held by the member is always managed.

After that, the player who is a member can make a payment based on the amount stored in the membership card at a cashier counter or the like as necessary. If the slot machine 1010 is provided with a payment machine 1868, the slot machine 1010 can be used for payment with a membership card.

On the other hand, the game flow for non-members is as follows. The player inserts cash into the PTS terminal 1700 (PTS user interface unit 1700B) of the slot machine 1010. When a bill is inserted, the bill classifier 1022 identifies the denomination and the amount of money, and as a result of the identification, the denomination data and the amount of money data are transmitted to the PTS control unit 1700A. The PTS control unit 1700A obtains a credit for a game from the denomination data and the amount data, and transmits this to the controller 1100.

The controller executes the game based on the credits transmitted from the PTS control unit 1700A. Credits according to the game result are transmitted from the controller 1100 to the PTS control unit 1700A, and the PTS control unit 1700A performs a payout calculation based on the game result to determine the amount to be paid out to the player. In the PTS terminal 1700 (PTS user interface unit 1700B), the determined amount of money is written in a new IC card stocked in the slot machine 1010, and the IC card is ejected. Non-members will get an IC card for the first time here.

After that, the non-member player can make a payment based on the amount stored in the IC card with a cashier counter or the like, if necessary. When the slot machine 1010 is provided with a payment machine 1868, the slot machine 1010 can be used for payment using an IC card.

Next, a case where a slot machine is adopted as the gaming machine A2 of the management system A1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the slot machine 1010 uses a membership card (IC card), banknotes, or electronic valuable information corresponding thereto as a game medium. In particular, in this embodiment, credit-related data such as cash data stored in the IC card 1500 is used.

The slot machine 1010 includes a cabinet 1011 and a top box 1012 installed on the upper side of the cabinet 1011 and a main door 1013 provided on the front surface of the cabinet 1011.

The main door 1013 is provided with a symbol display device 1016 called a lower image display panel 1141. The symbol display device 1016 is formed of a transparent liquid crystal panel. The screen displayed by the symbol display device 1016 has a display window 1150 in the center. The display window 1150 is composed of 20 display blocks 1028 in 5 columns and 4 rows. The four display blocks 1028 in each row form pseudo reels 1151 to 1155 and rotate according to the operation of the player. In each of the pseudo reels 1151 to 1155, the four display blocks 1028 are moved and displayed downward while changing the speed as a whole, so that the symbol 1501 displayed on each display block 1028 is rotated in the vertical direction. It makes it possible to perform a relocation that stops later.

Here, "relocation" means a state in which the symbol 1501 is relocated after the placement of the symbol 1501 is released. “Arrangement” means that the symbol 1501 is in a state where it can be visually confirmed by an external player. The slot machine 1010 executes a so-called slot game in which a payout according to a winning combination (winning combination) is given according to the arrangement state of the symbols 1501 when the rotated pseudo reels 1151 to 1155 are stopped.

Although the slot machine 1010 is a so-called video slot machine in the present embodiment, the slot machine 1010 of the present invention may employ a so-called mechanical reel or some pseudo reels. It may be substituted for 1151 to 1155.

Further, a touch panel 1069 is provided on the front surface of the symbol display device 1016, and the player can operate the touch panel 1069 to input various instructions. An input signal is transmitted from the touch panel 1069 to the main CPU.

An upper image display panel 1131 is provided on the front surface of the top box 1012. The upper image display panel 1131 is composed of a liquid crystal panel and constitutes a display. The upper image display panel 1131 displays an image related to the effect, an image showing the content of the game and an explanation of the rules. Further, the top box 1012 is provided with a lamp 1111.

A credit number display unit (not shown) is displayed above the display window 1150, and the current number of credits is displayed. Here, the "credit" is a virtual game medium on the game used when the player bets. The credit number display unit displays the total number of credits currently owned by the player.

In addition, a fractional cash display (not shown) is displayed below the credit number display. Fractional cash is displayed on the fractional cash display unit. "Fraction cash" is cash that has not been converted into credit because the amount invested is insufficient.

Further, below the lower image display panel 1141, the PTS terminal 1700 is incorporated in the cabinet 1011. Further, speakers 1112 are provided on the left and right sides of the PTS terminal 1700, respectively. In the slot machine 1010, the production of the unit game is executed by displaying an image on the upper image display panel 1131, outputting sound by the speaker 1112, outputting light by the lamp 1111, and the like.

The PTS terminal 1700 can be incorporated into various types of gaming machines of various manufacturers by exchanging data using a data interface shared with the slot machine 1010. As a result, in the game system 1 having various gaming machines including the slot machine 1010, the management system A1 can be easily constructed by mounting the PTS terminal 1700 on the gaming machine.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a case where the PTS terminal 1700 is adopted as the information management device A21 in the management system A1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the PTS terminal 1700 has a PTS control unit 1700A and a PTS user interface unit 1700B.

The PTS control unit 1700A has a PTS controller 1750. The PTS controller 1750 has a CPU, ROM, and RAM. The CPU of the PTS controller 1750 controls the execution of each component of the PTS terminal 1700, and also executes and calculates various programs stored in the ROM. For example, the CPU executes a credit update program to update the credit-related data stored in the IC card 1500.

The PTS controller 1750 has a storage device 1770 composed of a ROM or a RAM. The ROM of the PTS controller 1750 is composed of a memory device such as a flash memory, and stores permanent data executed by the CPU. For example, the ROM contains a credit update program that rewrites credit-related data stored in the IC card 1500, an interlocking effect control program that is executed in response to a request from the bonus server 11, and a request (notification information, etc.) from the management server A3. ) Is stored in the notification program or the like to be executed. Further, the RAM of the PTS controller 1750 temporarily stores data necessary for executing various programs stored in the ROM.

The PTS control unit 1700A includes a server I / F (interface) 1755, a gaming machine I / F (interface) 1756, a bill classifier I / F (interface) 1757, and a checkout machine I / F (interface) 1758 as an external device. It has as a communication interface with.

The server I / F1755 realizes data communication between a server such as the management server A3 and the PTS terminal 1700. The gaming machine I / F1756 realizes data communication between the controller 1100 of the slot machine 1010 and the PTS terminal 1700, and a specified protocol can be used for the data communication. The banknote classifier I / F1757 is connected to the banknote acceptor 1022. The settlement machine I / F1758 is connected to the settlement machine 1868.

Further, the PTS control unit 1700A has a USB control unit 1759. The USB control unit 1759 determines whether to supply power from the power supply unit at the USB terminal, and enables the USB terminal to be charged when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The player can connect an electronic device to the USB terminal and charge the electronic device when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Further, the PTS control unit 1700A has a control unit connected to each part of the PTS user interface unit 1700B. Specifically, the PTS user interface unit 1700B includes full-

color LEDs

1721a and 1721b, an LCD 1719 having a touch panel, a card unit 1741, a card stacker 1742, an inkjet button 1732, a touch unit 1745, a human body detection camera 1713, a microphone 1715 and 1717, and a speaker. It has 1707 and 1709, and an audio terminal 1738. Details of the PTS user interface unit 1700B will be described with reference to FIG. On the other hand, the PTS control unit 1700A includes an LED drive unit 1761, an LCD control unit 1762, an IC card control unit 1763, a touch unit control unit 1764, a camera control unit 1766, and a DSP 1765.

The LED drive unit 1761 controls the full-color LED 1721a and the full-color LED 1721b of the PTS user interface unit 1700B to be turned on at a predetermined timing in response to a notification request or the like from the management server A3. The full-color LED 1721a causes the light emitting plate 1720a on the upper side of the LCD 1719 in the PTS user interface unit 1700B of FIG. 5 to emit light. The full-color LED 1721b causes the light emitting plate 1720b on the lower side of the LCD 1719 to emit light.

The LCD control unit 1762 controls the LCD 1719 to display information about the game, member information, member information, etc., and to display the data read from the IC card 1500 and the data input by the player. The LCD 1719 has a touch panel function, and when the touch panel is operated by the player, a predetermined signal is transmitted to the CPU of the PTS controller 1750.

The IC card control unit 1763 controls insertion, ejection, writing of credit data, etc. of the IC card 1500. The IC card control unit 1763 includes an IC card R / W (reader / writer) control unit, an IC card suction / discharge control unit, and an LED control unit.

The IC card R / W control unit of the IC card control unit 1763 controls the card unit 1741 to update the credit-related data stored in the IC card 1500. Further, when a new IC card 1500 is issued, credit-related data corresponding to the settled amount is stored. The card unit 1741 has an antenna unit for reading or writing data on the IC card 1500 by NFC or the like. The card unit 1741 has a function of an IC card reader that reads information stored in the IC card 1500 and an IC card writer that writes information in the IC card 1500, but it is assumed that the card unit 1741 has either function as necessary. May be good.

The IC card suction / discharge control unit of the IC card control unit 1763 controls the suction and discharge of the IC card 1500. When the IC card 1500 is inserted into the card insertion slot 1730 of FIG. 5 by the player, the IC card is controlled to be held in the card unit 1741 while the player is executing the game. Further, after the credit-related data is written to the IC card 1500 at the time of payment, the IC card 1500 is controlled to be ejected. Further, when the eject button 1732 is pressed, the IC card 1500 is ejected. When a new IC card 1500 is issued, the IC card 1500 is newly taken out from the card stacker 1742, and the IC card 1500 is supplied to the card unit 1741 in order to store credit-related data.

The LED control unit of the IC card control unit 1763 controls to light the LED provided in the vicinity of the card insertion slot 1730 of the card unit 1741, and also controls to light the LED provided in the vicinity of the eject button 1732. ..

The touch unit control unit 1764 controls data transmission / reception associated with touch operations of the IC card 1500, mobile phones, smartphones, and the like. The touch unit control unit 1764 includes a non-contact R / W (reader / writer) control unit and an LED control unit.

The non-contact R / W control unit of the touch unit control unit 1764 determines whether or not the IC card 1500 or the mobile phone is close to a predetermined distance (for example, there is a touch operation) by the touch unit 1745, and determines whether or not the touch unit has been operated. When the distance is close, the reading result or the like is acquired from the touch unit 1745. The touch unit 1745 has an antenna unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from the IC card 1500 or a mobile phone by NFC or the like.

The touch unit 1745 has a function of an IC card reader that reads information stored in the IC card 1500 or a mobile phone, and an IC card writer that writes information in the IC card 1500 or the mobile phone. It may have the function of.

The LED control unit 1764b of the touch unit control unit 1764 controls the LEDs arranged at the four front corners of the touch unit 1745 and lights them at a predetermined timing.

The camera control unit 1766 acquires an image of a player or the like captured by the human body detection camera 1713, performs predetermined image processing as necessary, and transmits the processed data to the CPU of the PTS controller 1750. The data is transmitted to the management server A3 or the like via the server I / F1755, for example. Further, the camera control unit 1766 transmits the image pickup information captured by the human body detection camera 1713 to the management server A3 or the like.

The DSP1765 receives the voice data acquired from the microphones 1715 and 1717, performs predetermined voice processing, and then transmits the data to the CPU of the PTS controller 1750. Further, the DSP1765 transmits the received voice data to the speakers 1707 and 1709. Further, the DSP1765 outputs the received sound to the headphones to the connected audio terminal of the headset, processes the sound received from the microphone, and transmits the sound to the CPU of the PTS controller 1750. Note that the schematic configuration is shown here, and the A / D converter, D / A converter, amplifier, and the like are omitted.

Further, as described above, the PTS control unit 1700A has a mixing device 1790. The mixing device 1790 is connected to the upper image display panel 1131 and the lower image display panel 1141 via an HDMI (registered trademark) cable or the like. The mixing device 1790 is based on the game image received from the controller 1100 via the gaming machine I / F1756 and the sports broadcast image received from the management server A3 via the server I / F1755, and the upper image display panel 1131 and the lower image. An image to be displayed on the display panel 1141 is configured.

As shown in FIG. 5, the PTS user interface unit 1700B has a panel 1710. Each part arranged on the front surface of the panel 1710 is visible to the player. On the other hand, the members arranged on the back surface of the panel 1710 are housed inside the slot machine 1010 so that they cannot be seen by the player.

An LCD 1719 having a touch panel function is provided on the right side of the front surface of the panel 1710.

An LCD cover 1719a is provided around the LCD 1719. In this example, the LCD 1719 is configured to have a touch panel function, but the player's instructions may be input by another input device such as a keyboard or a mouse.

Further, above the LCD 1719 and the LCD cover 1719a, a light emitting plate 1720a that is connected to an LED and emits light is provided. The light emitting plate 1720a is made of, for example, polycarbonate, is connected to a plurality of (for example, seven) full-color LEDs 1721a arranged on the back side of the panel 1710, and emits light in response to the light emission of the full-color LEDs 1721a.

Similarly, a light emitting plate 1720b that is connected to an LED and emits light is provided below the LCD 1719 and the LCD cover 1719a. The light emitting plate 1720b is made of, for example, polycarbonate, is connected to a plurality of (for example, seven) full-color LEDs (not shown) arranged on the back side of the panel 1710, and emits light in response to the light emission of these full-color LEDs.

An imaging window 1712 is provided on the right side of the LCD 1719, and a human body detection camera arranged inside the LCD cover 1719a or behind the panel 1710 images a player or the like through the imaging window 1712. The image pickup window 1712 may be, for example, a half mirror material that has been shielded by smoke or the like.

A home button 1722 is provided on the LCD cover 1719a at the lower right of the LCD 1719. The home button 1722 is a button for transitioning the screen displayed on the LCD 1719 to a predetermined upper screen.

A speaker duct 1706 is provided on the LCD cover 1719a on the right side of the LCD 1719, and a bass reflex type (bass reflex type) speaker 1707 is provided at a position on the back side of the panel 1710 corresponding to the duct 1706. .. Similarly, a speaker duct 1708 is provided on the left side of the LCD 1719, and a bass reflex type (bass reflex type) speaker 1709 is provided at a position on the back side of the panel 1710 corresponding to the duct 1708. These

speakers

1707 and 1708 are dedicated speakers for the PTS terminal 1700, and are provided separately from the speakers for slot machine games provided in the slot machine 1010. These

speakers

1707 and 1708 realize interlocking effects, voice calls, output notification sounds due to forgetting to remove the IC card 1500, and output sounds and voices related to various notification information and winning information. Can be done.

The LCD cover 1719a at the lower left of the LCD 1719 is provided with a microphone opening 1714 and a microphone opening 1716, and microphones 1715 and 1717 are provided inside the corresponding LCD cover 1719a, respectively. ..

A card insertion slot 1730 into which an IC card 1500 can be inserted or taken out is provided at the lower left of the front surface of the panel 1710. A full-color LED is provided in the card insertion portion of the card insertion slot 1730, and by lighting in a plurality of colors, it is possible to notify the remaining number of IC cards 1500 accumulated in the card stacker 1742. The card insertion slot 1730 is provided with an eject button 1732, and a red LED provided in the vicinity of the eject button 1732 lights up so that the position of the eject button 1732 and the process of the eject operation can be understood. ing.

Further, a card unit 1741 and a card stacker 1742 are provided at positions on the back side of the panel 1710 corresponding to the card insertion slot 1730, and the card insertion slot 1730 is configured as a part of the card unit 1741. About 30 IC cards 1500 can be stored in the card stacker 1742, and when a player who has newly played a unit game pays for credits, the IC card 1500 stored in the card stacker 1742 can be stored. It is taken out and discharged to the card insertion slot 1730.

The IC card 1500 taken in from the card insertion slot 1730 and held in the card unit 1741 updates the credit information by NFC or the like at the time of credit settlement, and then ejects the IC card 1500 from the card insertion slot 1730. The IC card 1500 is completely stored inside the card unit 1741 while the player is playing a unit game.

Further, when the absence of the player is detected by the human body detection camera or the like even though the IC card 1500 remains at the time of credit settlement, the IC card 1500 can be stored in the card stacker 1742. .. As a result, for example, even if the player leaves the seat with the IC card 1500 knowing that the remaining credits are low, or simply forgets to take the IC card 1500 and leaves the seat, the IC card 1500 Will not remain held in the card unit 1741 for an extended period of time.

A USB terminal 1737 and an audio terminal 1738 are provided on the upper left of the front surface of the panel 1710. The USB terminal 1737 is configured so that a USB device can be connected to the USB terminal 1737 for charging or the like. Further, the audio terminal 1738 is, for example, a 4-pole terminal, and a headset can be inserted into the audio terminal 1738 to talk with the other party using headphones and a microphone. Further, the audio terminal 1738 can be used as a 2-pole or 3-pole terminal so that audio can be heard with headphones.

A touch unit 1745 is provided on the front side of the panel 1710 and on the left side of the LCD 1719. The touch unit 1745 is a writer that writes data by data communication to an IC device including an IC chip (for example, a non-contact IC card, a mobile phone or a smartphone having a communication function by NFC), or data from the IC device. It contains an RFID module that can function as a reader that reads data via communication. In addition, LEDs are arranged at the four front corners of the touch unit 1745. Further, in addition to the touch unit 1745, or instead of the touch unit 1745, an information recording medium reading device for reading information stored in an information recording medium such as a magnetic card may be provided. In this case, a magnetic card can be used as a membership card instead of the IC card 1500.

In the PTS terminal 1700 (PTS user interface unit 1700B) configured as described above, the IC card 1500 is inserted, the number of credits stored in the IC card is displayed on the credit number display unit, and the fractional cash display unit is displayed. , Fractional cash stored in the IC card is displayed. These numerical values are stored in the member management server 13 in association with the identification code of the membership card.

The IC card 1500 is a non-contact IC card and incorporates an IC (Integrated Circuit) for recording and calculating various data such as credits. For example, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) such as NFC (Near Field Communication) is incorporated. ) Short-range wireless communication using technology is possible. The player can own the credit-related data by using the IC card 1500, and can freely carry it between different slot machines. Then, the player inserts the IC card 1500 into the PTS terminal 1700 of the slot machine 1010, and uses the credit-related data (amount data) stored in the IC card 1500 to play a unit game or the like on the slot machine 1010. You can play games. The IC card 1500 may store player-specific usage value data.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the display screens displayed on the lower image display panel 1141 of the slot machine 1010 and the LCD 1719 of the PTS terminal 1700 will be described. In the present embodiment, the lower image display panel 1141 displays the game image of the slot machine 1010, and also displays the sports broadcast image in the form of a picture-in-picture.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lower image display panel 1141 of the slot machine 1010 is provided with a display window 1150 in which symbols are variable and stopped in the center, and a sports broadcast is displayed in the upper right. A relay display area 1142 is provided. A viewing time display area 1142a is provided below the sports broadcast display area 1142 to indicate the remaining time during which the sports broadcast can be viewed. For the remaining time shown in the browsing time display area 1142a, a value corresponding to the bet is added each time a bet is placed on the game of the slot machine 1010.

Further, the LCD 1719 of the PTS terminal 1700 is provided with a plurality of sports relay display units 1719a for explaining the displayable sports relay for each sports broadcast, and a selection operation unit 1719b is provided for each of the sports relay display units 1719a. .. The selection operation unit 1719b is an area where the touch panel of the LCD 1719 receives an input. That is, when the user touch-operates the selection operation unit 1719b, the sports relay corresponding to the selection operation unit 1719b is fixedly displayed on the sports relay display unit 1142. Although not shown, in the present embodiment, when the sports book bet by the user is relayed, the sports relay display unit 1719a is provided with only the sports book. For example, if there is one sports relay bet by the user, one sports relay display unit 1719a is provided, and if there are a plurality of sports relays, a plurality of sports relay display units 1719a are provided.

Further, the LCD 1719 of the PTS terminal 1700 is provided with a game information display unit 1719d at the bottom. The game information display unit 1719d displays the game result of the slot machine 1010, event information related to the game, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the management server A3 is an information processing device as a storage unit having a communication device A34, a storage device A33, and a management server controller A32. The storage device A33 of the management server A3 stores various data and various data tables in which various data and information are associated with each other.

FIG. 7 is a sportsbook bet history table that stores the sportsbook bet history associated with each member ID. As described above, the sportsbook bet history is the history information of bets on the sportsbook made by the member in the past. Specifically, the sportsbook bet history table has a member ID column, a sportsbook ID column, a holding period column, a bet date and time column, and a bet amount column. Identification information that identifies the user is stored in the member ID column. The sports book ID column stores identification information for identifying the sports book. In the holding period column, the period during which the sports broadcast of the sports book is delivered from the sports book server A4 is stored. In the bet date and time column, the date and time when the user bets on the sports book using the terminal for betting on the sports book is stored. In the bet amount column, the bet amount bet on the user sports book is stored.

The sportsbook bet history table is updated when a member places a bet on a sportsbook. That is, when a member places a bet on a sportsbook, bet information and data on information about the sportsbook are added to the sportsbook bet history table.

Further, the sportsbook bet history table is referred to when the user plays a game on the slot machine 1010. Specifically, when the user inserts the membership card into the PTS terminal 1700 in the slot machine 1010, the PTS terminal 1700 inquires to the management server A3 with the member ID obtained from the membership card. Then, the management server A3 refers to the sportsbook bet history table, and responds to the slot machine 1010 that inquired about the sportsbook bet history associated with the member ID together with the sportsbook candidate. Then, the PTS terminal 1700 preferentially relays any sportsbook bet by the user among the sportsbook candidates.

FIG. 8 is a sportsbook candidate table in which a list of sportsbook relay candidates acquired from each sportsbook server A4 is stored. Although not shown, the management server A3 acquires a list of sportsbooks that can be relayed from each sportsbook server A4 at a predetermined timing, and updates the sportsbook candidate table.

Specifically, the sportsbook candidate table has a sportsbook server column, an ID column, a consultation column, and a title column. In the sportsbook server column, information for identifying the sportsbook server A4 that manages the sportsbook is stored. In the ID column, identification information for identifying a sports book that can be relayed is stored. This identification information corresponds to the sportsbook ID in the sportsbook bet history table (see FIG. 7). Information indicating the competition in the sports book is stored in the competition column. Information indicating the contents of the sports book broadcast is stored in the title column. The information of the competition column and the title column is used for the sports relay display unit 1719a displayed on the LCD 1719. The sportsbook candidate table is acquired from the PTS terminal 1700 when selecting a sports broadcast to be displayed on the lower image display panel 1141.

Next, the operation of the management system A1 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a sportsbook execution process executed by the management server controller A32 of the management server A3 in the management system A1. The management server controller A32 executes the processing described below based on the betting operation on the sportsbook from the sportsbook terminal such as the slot machine 1010 or the sportsbook Kyosk (not shown) and the distribution from the sportsbook server A4. To do.

Specifically, when a user makes a bet on a sportsbook, he / she logs in to the casino server by reading a membership card or entering a member ID on the sportsbook terminal. That is, the sportsbook terminal executes a login process of transmitting the member information to the management server A3 and receiving authentication from the management server A3 (SQ12).

The sportsbook terminal executes a bet acceptance process (SQ13) that accepts the bet target and the bet amount from the user, and transmits the bet information including these information to the management server A3. When the bet completion information indicating that the bet has been officially completed is received from the management server A3, the sportsbook terminal executes the bet acceptance completion process (SQ14). That is, the sportsbook terminal displays information based on the bet completion information on the screen to notify that the bet has been officially made. After that, the sportsbook terminal executes a log-off process based on the input from the user (SQ15), and erases the temporarily stored member information and bet information from the storage area.

On the other hand, in the management server A3, the management server controller A32 executes a user authentication process (S11) based on the member information received from the sportsbook terminal, and responds to the sportsbook terminal with information indicating the authentication. Then, when the management server controller A32 receives the bet information from the sportsbook terminal, the management server controller A32 executes the bet acceptance process (S12). In the bet acceptance process, the management server controller A32 transmits the sportsbook user information associated with the member ID to the sportsbook server A4, and logs in to the sportsbook server A4. Then, the management server controller A32 transmits the received bet information to the sportsbook server A4, and executes a bet process for placing a bet on the sportsbook (S13). Then, the management server controller A32 acquires information such as a sportsbook ID from the bet sportsbook, and executes a bet history accumulation process of adding data to the sportsbook bet history table (see FIG. 7) (S14).

Further, the management server controller A32 refers to the sportsbook candidate table (FIG. 8) when the sportsbook server A4 distributes the sports relay list, and updates the sportsbook candidate table when there is a change. Do (S15). Specifically, a list extracted from the sportsbook of the sportsbook server A4 that has distributed the sports broadcast list from the sportsbook candidate table is generated, and if it is different from the distributed sports broadcast list, it is rewritten.

Further, the sportsbook server A4 executes a login process based on the sportsbook user information from the management server A3 and executes a login process for responding the authentication information (SR12). Then, based on the bet information from the management server A3, the bet acceptance process is executed (SR13), the bet acceptance completion process is executed (SR4), and the bet completion information is returned to the management server A3.

Further, when the sports book server A4 ends the sports broadcast or starts the sports broadcast, the sports book server A4 updates the sports broadcast list (SR15) and distributes the sports broadcast list to the management server A3 (SR16).

In this way, on the management server A3, the sportsbook betting history related to the member ID is updated, and the sports relay candidates that can be viewed on the slot machine 1010 are updated.

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, a flowchart of sportsbook relay processing executed by the PTS control unit 1700A of the PTS terminal 1700 will be described.

First, the PTS control unit 1700A determines whether or not the user has logged in (S51). That is, in the PTS control unit 1700A, the card unit 1741 reads the membership card, the IC card control unit 1763 accepts the member ID, and determines whether or not the management server A3 has authenticated. If the user is not logged in (S51: NO), the PTS control unit 1700A executes step S51 again to shift to a state of waiting for login.

On the other hand, when there is a login (S51: YES), the PTS control unit 1700A transmits the received member ID to the management server A3, and requests a sportsbook candidate and a sportsbook bet history associated with this member ID. (S52). Then, the PTS control unit 1700A determines whether or not the target sportsbook bet by the user exists in the sportsbook candidate (S53).

If there is no bet target in the sportsbook candidate (S53: NO), the PTS control unit 1700A selects one of the sportsbook candidates as a sportsbook for sports broadcasting (S54). The selection method is not limited, but for example, it may be random or may be selected from the one with the latest end time. Then, the PTS control unit 1700A sets the viewing time to 0 in the storage device 1770 (S55).

On the other hand, if there is a bet target in the sportsbook candidate (S53: YES), the PTS control unit 1700A selects the sportsbook that is the bet target as a sportsbook for sports relay (S54). Then, the PTS control unit 1700A sets the viewing time in the storage device 1770 to a predetermined time (S55). The predetermined time is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a predetermined time, or a time determined according to the time until the end of the distribution (for example, the time until the end time or the end time). It may be half the time). Further, when there are a plurality of betting targets in the sportsbook candidate, a predetermined time may be further added.

After that, the PTS control unit 1700A determines whether or not the bet-based game has started in the slot machine 1010 (S58). That is, the PTS control unit 1700A determines whether or not the bet number data has been received from the slot machine 1010. When the bet number data is received (S58: YES), the time calculated according to the bet number is added to the browsing time (S59). The method of calculating the time to be added is not limited, but the number of bets may be multiplied by a predetermined value.

After step S59, or when the game is not started (S58: NO), the PTS control unit 1700A determines whether or not there is remaining viewing time (S60). When there is no remaining time (S60: NO), the PTS control unit 1700A stops the sports relay when the sports relay has been stopped (S62), and shifts the process to step S58.

On the other hand, when there is remaining time (S60: YES), the PTS control unit 1700A starts the sports broadcast when the sports broadcast is stopped, and continues the sports broadcast as it is when the sports broadcast is started. (S61). Then, the PTS control unit 1700A determines whether or not there has been an operation on the selection operation unit 1719b (see FIG. 6) for changing the sports relay (S63). When there is a change operation (S63: YES), the PTS control unit 1700A switches the sports relay data to be sent to the mixing device 1790 to the requested one, and the sports relay display area 1142 of the lower image display panel 1141 (FIG. 6) is changed (see S64).

If there is no change operation (S63: NO), or after step S64, the PTS control unit 1700A determines whether or not any of the sports broadcasts has ended, or whether or not the sportsbook candidate has been changed. (S65). When any of these conditions is satisfied (S65: YES), the PTS control unit 1700A shifts the process to step S52, acquires a sportsbook candidate again, and selects a target for sports broadcasting.

On the other hand, in step S65, if none of the conditions are satisfied (S65: NO), the PTS control unit 1700A determines whether or not there is a log-off request from the user (S66). If the user does not request to log off, the PTS control unit 1700A shifts the process to step S58. When a log-off request is made (S66: YES), the PTS control unit 1700A erases a temporary file such as member information including the sportsbook bet history from the memory (S67), and ends this routine. ..

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they merely exemplify specific examples and do not particularly limit the present invention, and the specific configuration of each means and the like can be appropriately redesigned. In addition, the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention merely list the most preferable effects arising from the present invention, and the effects according to the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not it.

1010 Slot machine 1500 IC card 1700 PTS terminal A1 Management system A2 Gaming machine A21 Information management device A3 Management server A32 Management server controller A33 Storage device

Claims

It is attached to a gaming machine that starts a game based on a bet, is equipped with a reader that acquires a member ID, and is connected to a sportsbook server that accepts bets on sportsbooks and distributes sports broadcasts subject to the bets so that data communication is possible. Information management department,
Have,
The gaming machine transmits bet information regarding the bet of the executed game to the information management unit.
The information management department
The time calculated based on the bet information is added to the browsing time,
The sports relay data from the sports book server of the selected sports book is transmitted to the accompanying gaming machine and displayed on the display within the viewing time.
A management system characterized by that.
The management system according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit adds a predetermined time to the browsing time when the presence of a bet on the sportsbook is associated with the member ID.