Gaming system including slot machines and gaming control method thereof

Abstract

A gaming system includes: slot machines providing a basic game; a second gaming device, which executes a second game; second gaming terminals; and a central controller. The central controller receives a second game start signal from the slot machine. Also, the central controller receives data from the slot machine concerning a basic bet permitted under a predetermined condition. Furthermore, the central controller receives data from any one of the aforementioned slot machine, other slot machines that differ from the aforementioned slot machine, and the second game terminals concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet. The central controller increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game according to the data concerning the additional bets, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 slot machines each of which executes a basic game and, under a predetermined condition, transmits a signal for switching to a second game;   a second gaming device, which is a separate device from said slot machines, and which executes the second game;   second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for the second game; and   a central controller, which can communicate with said slot machines, said second gaming device, and said second gaming terminals, which transmits a start signal, according to a switching signal being received from any one of said slot machines, to start the second game on said second gaming device, which receives data from said slot machine concerning a basic bet permitted under the predetermined condition, which receives data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, and which increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game, according to the data being received concerning the additional bets, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein said central controller provides a greater payout amount for the second game based upon the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, than in the case in which only the basic bet has been placed. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein said central controller increases the credit amount bet on the second game according to the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, in addition to the credit amount for the basic bet. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein said central controller permits the player to specify additional betting methods according to the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, which differ from the betting methods permitted according to the basic bet, in addition to the betting methods that can be specified according to the basic bet. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein any one of said other slot machines and said second gaming terminals transmits the data concerning the additional bets in the form of credit data, and receives data from said central controller concerning the payout that corresponds to the result of the second game on which bets have been placed via said slot machine using the credit data thus being transmitted. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming system comprising:
 slot machines each of which executes a basic game and, under a predetermined condition, transmits a signal for switching to a second game;   a second gaming device, which is a separate device from said slot machines, and which executes the second game;   second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for the second game; and   a central controller, which can communicate with said slot machines, said second gaming device, and said second gaming terminals, which transmits a start signal, according to a switching signal being received from any one of said slot machines, to start the second game on said second gaming device, which receives data from said slot machine concerning a basic bet permitted under the predetermined condition, which receives data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, which increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game, according to the data being received concerning the additional bets, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet, which increases the credit amount bet on the second game according to the received data concerning the additional bets, in addition to the credit amount for the basic bet, and which provides a greater payout amount for the second game based upon the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, than in the case in which only the basic bet has been placed.   
   
   
       7 . A gaming system comprising:
 slot machines each of which executes a basic game and, under a predetermined condition, transmits a signal for switching to a second game;   a second gaming device, which is a separate device from said slot machines, and which executes the second game;   second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for the second game; and   a central controller, which can communicate with said slot machines, said second gaming device, and said second gaming terminals, which transmits a start signal, according to a switching signal being received from any one of said slot machines, to start the second game on said second gaming device, which receives data from said slot machine concerning a basic bet permitted under the predetermined condition, which receives data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, which increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game, according to the data being received concerning the additional bets, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet, which permits the player to specify additional betting methods according to the data concerning the additional bets thus being received, which differ from the betting methods permitted according to the basic bet, in addition to the betting methods that can be specified according to the basic bet, and which transmits data to said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, concerning the payout that corresponds to the result of the second game on which bets have been placed via said slot machine using the credit data that corresponds to the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any one of other slot machines that differ from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals.   
   
   
       8 . A gaming system comprising:
 slot machines each of which executes a basic game and, under a predetermined condition, transmits a signal for switching to a second game;   a second gaming device, which is a separate device from said slot machines, and which executes the second game;   second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for the second game; and   a central controller, which can communicate with said slot machines, said second gaming device, and said second gaming terminals, which transmits a start signal, according to a switching signal being received from any one of said slot machines, to start the second game on said second gaming device, which receives data from said slot machine concerning a basic bet permitted under the predetermined condition, which receives data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, which increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game, according to the data being received concerning the additional bets, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet, which increases the credit amount bet on the second game according to the received data concerning the additional bets, in addition to the credit amount for the basic bet, which permits the player to specify additional betting methods according to the data concerning the additional bets thus being received, which differ from the betting methods permitted according to the basic bet, in addition to the betting methods that can be specified according to the basic bet, which provides a greater payout amount for the second game based upon the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, than in the case in which only the basic bet has been placed, and which transmits data to said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, concerning the payout that corresponds to the result of the second game on which bets have been placed via said slot machine using the credit data that corresponds to the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals.   
   
   
       9 . A gaming control method, which employs a system including slot machines for executing a basic game, a second gaming device which is a separate device from said slot machines, and second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for a second game that differ from the basic game, said gaming control method comprising:
 a step in which, under a predetermined condition, a controller of one of said slot machines transmits a signal for switching to the second game executed by said second gaming device;   a step in which, a central controller transmits a start signal for the second game according to the switching signal being received from said slot machine;   a step in which said central controller starts the second game on said second gaming device;   a step in which the controller of said slot machine transmits data concerning a basic bet permitted under the predetermined condition;   a step in which said central controller receives the data concerning the basic bet from said slot machine;   a step in which the controller of said slot machine, a controller of any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or a controller of any one of said second gaming terminals transmits data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet; and   a step in which said central controller increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game, according to the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet.   
   
   
       10 . A gaming control method according to  claim 9 , further comprising a step in which said central controller provides a greater payout amount for the second game based upon the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, than in the case in which only the basic bet has been placed. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming control method according to  claim 9 , further comprising a step in which said central controller increases the credit amount bet on the second game according to the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, in addition to the credit amount for the basic bet. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming control method according to  claim 9 , further comprising a step in which said central controller permits the player to specify additional betting methods according to the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, which differ from the betting methods permitted according to the basic bet, in addition to the betting methods that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming control method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a step in which the controller of any one of said other slot machines and said second gaming terminals transmits the data concerning the additional bets in the form of credit data;   a step in which said central controller receives the credit data from any one of said other slot machines and said second gaming terminals;   a step in which said central controller transmits data concerning the payout that corresponds to the result of the second game on which bets have been placed via said slot machine using the credit data; and   a step in which the controller of any one of said other slot machines and said second gaming terminals receives the data concerning the payout from said central controller.   
   
   
       14 . A gaming control method, which employs a system including slot machines for executing a basic game, a second gaming device which is a separate device from said slot machines, and second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for a second game that differ from the basic game, said gaming control method comprising:
 a step in which, under a predetermined condition, a controller of one of said slot machines transmits a signal for switching to the second game executed by said second gaming device;   a step in which, a central controller transmits a start signal for the second game according to the switching signal being received from said slot machine;   a step in which said central controller starts the second game on said second gaming device;   a step in which the controller of said slot machine transmits data concerning a basic bet permitted under the predetermined condition;   a step in which said central controller receives the data concerning the basic bet from said slot machine;   a step in which the controller of said slot machine, a controller of any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine, or a controller of any one of said second gaming terminals transmits data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet;   a step in which said central controller increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game, according to the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet;   a step in which said central controller increases the credit amount bet on the second game according to the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, in addition to the credit amount for the basic bet; and   a step in which said central controller provides a greater payout amount for the second game based upon the data concerning the additional bets, being received from said slot machine, any other slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, than in the case in which only the basic bet has been placed.   
   
   
       15 . A gaming control method, which employs a system including slot machines for executing a basic game, a second gaming device which is a separate device from said slot machines, and second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for a second game that differ from the basic game, said gaming control method comprising:
 a step in which, under a predetermined condition, a controller of one of said slot machines transmits a signal for switching to the second game executed by said second gaming device;   a step in which, a central controller transmits a start signal for the second game according to the switching signal being received from said slot machine;   a step in which said central controller starts the second game on said second gaming device;   a step in which the controller of said slot machine transmits data concerning a basic bet permitted under the predetermined condition;   a step in which said central controller receives the data concerning the basic bet from said slot machine;   a step in which the controller of said slot machine transmits data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet, or a controller of any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine or a controller of any one of said second gaming terminals transmits credit data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet;   a step in which, upon reception of the data concerning the additional bets from said slot machine, or upon reception of the credit data concerning the additional bets from any other slot machine or any one of said second gaming terminals, said central controller increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game according to the data concerning the additional bets, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet;   a step in which, upon reception of the data concerning the additional bets from said slot machine, or upon reception of the credit data concerning the additional bets from any one of said other slot machines or any one of said second gaming terminals, said central controller permits the player to specify additional betting methods that differ from the betting methods permitted according to the basic bet, in addition to the betting methods that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet;   a step in which said central controller transmits data concerning the payout that corresponds to the result of the second game on which bets have been placed via said slot machine using the credit data; and   a step in which the controller of any one of said other slot machines and said second gaming terminals receives the data concerning the payout from said central controller.   
   
   
       16 . A gaming control method, which employs a system including slot machines for executing a basic game, a second gaming device which is a separate device from said slot machines, and second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for a second game that differ from the basic game, said gaming control method comprising:
 a step in which, under a predetermined condition, a controller of one of said slot machines transmits a signal for switching to the second game executed by said second gaming device;   a step in which, a central controller transmits a start signal for the second game according to the switching signal being received from said slot machine;   a step in which said central controller starts the second game on said second gaming device;   a step in which the controller of said slot machine transmits data concerning a basic bet permitted under the predetermined condition;   a step in which said central controller receives the data concerning the basic bet from said slot machine;   a step in which the controller of said slot machine transmits data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet, or a controller of any other slot machine that differs from said slot machine or a controller of any one of said second gaming terminals transmits credit data concerning additional bets that differs from the data concerning the basic bet;   a step in which, upon reception of the data concerning the additional bets from said slot machine, or upon reception of the credit data concerning the additional bets from any other slot machine or any one of said second gaming terminals, said central controller increases the number of bets that can be specified by a player in the second game according to the data concerning the additional bets, in addition to the number of bets that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet;   a step in which, upon reception of the data concerning the additional bets from said slot machine, or upon reception of the credit data concerning the additional bets from any other slot machine or any one of said second gaming terminals, said central controller increases the credit amount bet on the second game according to the data concerning the additional bets, in addition to the credit amount for the basic bet;   a step in which, upon reception of the data concerning the additional bets from said slot machine, or upon reception of the credit data concerning the additional bets from any one of said other slot machines or any one of said second gaming terminals, said central controller permits the player to specify additional betting methods that differ from the betting methods permitted according to the basic bet, in addition to the betting methods that can be specified by the player according to the basic bet;   a step in which said central controller provides a greater payout amount for the second game based upon the data concerning the additional bets being received from said slot machine, or the credit data concerning the additional bets being received from any other slot machine, or any one of said second gaming terminals, than in the case in which only the basic bet has been placed;   a step in which said central controller transmits data concerning the payout that corresponds to the result of the second game on which bets have been placed via said slot machine using the credit data; and   a step in which the controller of any one of said other slot machines and said second gaming terminals receives the data concerning the payout from said central controller.