Gaming Machine and Gaming System

Abstract

An accumulate (increment) according to an amount of predetermined ratio of the number of bets made with respect to a game is repeated with respect to an award amount of a plurality of progressive jackpots, respectively. An award amount of a progressive jackpot which is the object of the increment increases towards an upper limit based on a predetermined sequence. More specifically, when the award amount of the progressive jackpot that is the object of increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is the object of increment is set to the upper limit. Further, an award amount of a progressive jackpot with a following sequence number is set as the object of subsequent increment. If a progressive jackpot is won, an award amount of any one of a plurality of progressive jackpots is selected based on its sequence number. The award amount of the progressive jackpot that was the object of the selection is awarded.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a plurality of progressive jackpots, each having an award amount restricted to an upper limit and being assigned a sequence number;   an operating unit for carrying out a bet operation with respect to a game; and   a processor programmed to carry out operations of:
 (a) when an increment is repeated in accordance with a number of bets that are made through the operating unit until any one of award amounts of the plurality of progressive jackpots reaches the upper limit, and the award amount of a progressive jackpot which is object of the increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, 
 (a-1) setting the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is object of the increment to the upper limit; 
 (a-2) in the event of an excessive amount that exceeds the upper limit, including the excessive amount in an award amount of a progressive jackpot with a following sequence number; 
 (a-3) subjecting the award amount of the progressive jackpot with the following sequence number to a subsequent increment; further 
 (b) if a player has won a progressive jackpot, 
 (b-1) selecting any one of award amounts of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with the sequence number; and 
 (b-2) awarding the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is the object of selection to the player. 
   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a setting device for setting a desired amount,   wherein, in carrying out the operations at (a), if the desired amount is set in the setting device, the processor handles the desired amount as the upper limit.   
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the processor is programmed to carry out operations of:
 (a′) when an increment is repeated in accordance with a number of bets that are made through the operating unit until an award amount of a last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment reaches the upper limit, and the award amount of the last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, on the condition that at least one award amount of a progressive jackpot is reserved, excluding the award amount of the last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment, 
   (a′-1) setting an award amount of a special progressive jackpot to which the upper limit restriction does not apply;   (a′-2) handling all award amounts of the progressive jackpots as the award amount of the special progressive jackpot;
 (a′-3) subjecting the award amount of the special progressive jackpot to a subsequent increment; further 
 (b′) in carrying out the operations at (a′), if a player has won a progressive jackpot, 
 (b′-1) awarding the award amount of the special progressive jackpot to the player. 
   
   
   
       4 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a plurality of progressive jackpots, each having an award amount restricted to an upper limit and being assigned a sequence number;   an operating unit for carrying out a bet operation with respect to a game;   a setting device for setting a desired amount; and   a processor programmed to carry out operations of:
 (a) when an increment is repeated in accordance with a number of bets that are made through the operating unit until any one of award amounts of the plurality of progressive jackpots reaches the upper limit, and the award amount of a progressive jackpot which is object of the increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, 
 (a-1) setting the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is object of the increment to the upper limit; 
 (a-2) in the event of an excessive amount that exceeds the upper limit, including the excessive amount in an award amount of a progressive jackpot with a following sequence number; 
 (a-3) subjecting the award amount of the progressive jackpot with the following sequence number to a subsequent increment; further 
 (b) if a player has won a progressive jackpot, 
 (b-1) selecting any one of award amounts of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with the sequence number; 
 (b-2) awarding the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is the object of selection to the player; further
 (a′) when an increment is repeated in accordance with a number of bets that are made through the operating unit until an award amount of a last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment reaches the upper limit, and the award amount of the last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, on the condition that at least one award amount of a progressive jackpot is reserved, excluding the award amount of the last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment, 
 
 (a′-1) setting an award amount of a special progressive jackpot to which the upper limit restriction does not apply; 
 (a′-2) handling all award amounts of the progressive jackpots as the award amount of the special progressive jackpot; 
 (a′-3) subjecting the award amount of the special progressive jackpot to a subsequent increment; further 
 (b′) in carrying out the operations at (a′), if a player has won a progressive jackpot, 
 (b′-1) awarding the award amount of the special progressive jackpot to the player; and 
 (c) in carrying out the operations at (a) or (a′), if the desired amount is set in the setting device, handling the desired amount as the upper limit. 
   
   
   
       5 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming machines, each having an operating unit for carrying out a bet operation with respect to a game; and   a server that shares a plurality of progressive jackpots among the plurality of gaming machines, the plurality of progressive jackpots each having an award amount restricted to an upper limit and being assigned a sequence number,   wherein the server is programmed to carry out the operations of:
 (a) when an increment is repeated in accordance with a number of bets that are made through the operating unit provided in each of the plurality of gaming machines until any one of award amounts of the plurality of progressive jackpots reaches the upper limit, and the award amount of a progressive jackpot which is object of the increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, 
 (a-1) setting the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is the object of the increment to the upper limit; 
 (a-2) in the event of an excessive amount that exceeds the upper limit, including the excessive amount in an award amount of a progressive jackpot with a following sequence number; 
 (a-3) subjecting the award amount of the progressive jackpot with the following sequence number to a subsequent increment; further 
 (b) if any one of the plurality of gaming machines has won a progressive jackpot, 
 (b-1) selecting any one of award amounts of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with the sequence number; and 
 (b-2) awarding the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is the object of selection to the gaming machine that won. 
   
   
   
       6 . The gaming system according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the server comprises a setting device for setting a desired amount, and   wherein, in carrying out the operations at (a), if the desired amount is set in the setting device, the server handles the desired amount as the upper limit.   
   
   
       7 . The gaming system according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the server is programmed to carry out operations of
 (a′) when an increment is repeated in accordance with a number of bets that are made through the operating unit provided in each one of the plurality of gaming machines until an award amount of a last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment reaches the upper limit, and the award amount of the last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, on the condition that at least one award amount of a progressive jackpot is reserved, excluding the award amount of the last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment, 
 (a′-1) setting an award amount of a special progressive jackpot to which the upper limit restriction does not apply; 
 (a′-2) handling all award amounts of the progressive jackpots as the award amount of the special progressive jackpot; 
 (a′-3) subjecting the award amount of the special progressive jackpot to a subsequent increment; further 
 (b′) in carrying out the operations at (a′), if any one of the plurality of gaming machines has won a progressive jackpot, 
 (b′-1) awarding the award amount of the special progressive jackpot to the gaming machine that won. 
   
   
   
       8 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming machines, each having an operating unit for carrying out a bet operation with respect to a game; and   a server that shares a plurality of progressive jackpots among the plurality of gaming machines, the plurality of progressive jackpots each having an award amount restricted to an upper limit and being assigned a sequence number,   wherein the server comprises a setting device for setting a desired amount, and   wherein the server is programmed to carry out the operations of:
 (a) when an increment is repeated in accordance with a number of bets that are made through the operating unit provided in each of the plurality of gaming machines until any one of award amounts of the plurality of progressive jackpots reaches the upper limit, and the award amount of a progressive jackpot which is object of the increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, 
 (a-1) setting the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is the object of the increment to the upper limit; 
 (a-2) in the event of an excessive amount that exceeds the upper limit, including the excessive amount in an award amount of a progressive jackpot with a following sequence number; 
 (a-3) subjecting the award amount of the progressive jackpot with the following sequence number to a subsequent increment; further 
 (b) if any one of the plurality of gaming machines has won a progressive jackpot, 
 (b-1) selecting any one of award amounts of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with the sequence number; 
 (b-2) awarding the award amount of the progressive jackpot which is the object of selection to the gaming machine that won; further 
 (a′) when an increment is repeated in accordance with a number of bets that are made through the operating unit provided in each one of the plurality of gaming machines until an award amount of a last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment reaches the upper limit, and the award amount of the last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment is about to reach or become higher than the upper limit, on the condition that at least one award amount of a progressive jackpot is reserved, excluding the award amount of the last progressive jackpot which is the object of increment, 
 (a′-1) setting an award amount of a special progressive jackpot to which the upper limit restriction does not apply; 
 (a′-2) handling all award amounts of the progressive jackpots as the award amount of the special progressive jackpot; 
 (a′-3) subjecting the award amount of the special progressive jackpot to a subsequent increment; further 
 (b′) in carrying out the operations at (a′), if any one of the plurality of gaming machines has won a progressive jackpot, 
 (b′-1) awarding the award amount of the special progressive jackpot to the gaming machine that won; and 
 (c) in carrying out the operations at (a) or (a′), if the desired amount is set in the setting device, handling the desired amount as the upper limit.