Gaming machine sharing source of dividend for special game with other gaming machines and playing method thereof

Abstract

A slot machine is configured to accumulate a portion of credits, which are bet on a unit game for rearranging arranged symbols, in an internal counter for counting resources for a progressive bonus. When the counted value of this counter reaches a predetermined value or more, the slot machine notifies a payout controller of the fact. When the payout controller receiving the notification judges that a progressive bonus payout condition is satisfied, the payout controller notifies the slot machine of the judgment result. Upon receipt of the notification, the slot machine provides a player with a payout for the progressive bonus accumulated in the internal counter.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a display configured to display a unit game causing a plurality of arranged symbols to be rearranged;   a counter configured to count a counted value for a progressive bonus; and   a controller configured to
 (a) receive a notification from a common display unit, the gaming machine and another gaming machine being connected together to the common display unit, the notification being for all the gaming machines connected to the common display unit and stating that a progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in a progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit; 
 (b) upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied, provide an award for the progressive bonus in an amount corresponding to the counted value. 
   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to increment the counted value in response to an amount bet on the unit game. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to,
 upon the counted value being equal to or above a predetermined value, notify the common display unit that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value, and   provide the award for the progressive bonus in the amount corresponding to the counted value upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in the progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit having received the notifications from all the gaming machines that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value.   
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine according to  claim 2 , wherein, the controller is configured to,
 upon the counted value being equal to or above a predetermined value, notify the common display unit that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value, and   provide the award for the progressive bonus in the amount corresponding to the counted value upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in the progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit having received the notifications from all the gaming machines that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value.   
   
   
       5 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a display configured to display a unit game causing a plurality of arranged symbols to be rearranged;   a counter configured to count a counted value for a progressive bonus; and   a controller configured to
 (a) determine a bet unit for betting on the unit game on the basis of player identification information provided from outside for identifying a player of the gaming machine; 
 (b) increment the counted value according to an amount bet on the unit game in the determined bet unit; 
 (c) receive a notification from a common display unit, the gaming machine and another gaming machine being connected together to the common display unit, the notification being for all the gaming machines connected to the common display unit and stating that a progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in a progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit; 
 (d) upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied, provide an award for the progressive bonus in an amount corresponding to the counted value. 
   
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine according to  claim 5 , wherein, the controller is configured to,
 upon the counted value being equal to or above a predetermined value depending on the bet unit, notify the common display unit that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value based on the bet unit, and   provide the award for the progressive bonus in the amount corresponding to the counted value upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in the progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit having received the notifications from all the gaming machines that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value.   
   
   
       7 . A method of playing a gaming machine configured to display on a display a unit game causing a plurality of arranged symbols to be rearranged:
 receiving a notification from a common display unit, the gaming machine and another gaming machine being connected together to the common display unit, the notification being for all the gaming machines connected to the common display unit and stating that a progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in a progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit; and   upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied, providing an award for the progressive bonus in an amount corresponding to a counted value of a counter being configured to count the counted value for a progressive bonus.   
   
   
       8 . The method of playing a gaming machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising: incrementing the counted value in response to an amount bet on the unit game 
   
   
       9 . The method of playing a gaming machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 upon the counted value being equal to or above a predetermined value, notifying the common display unit that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value; and   providing the award for the progressive bonus in the amount corresponding to the counted value upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in the progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit having received the notifications from all the gaming machines that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value.   
   
   
       10 . The method of playing a gaming machine according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 upon the counted value being equal to or above a predetermined value, notifying the common display unit that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value; and   providing the award for the progressive bonus in the amount corresponding to the counted value upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in the progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit having received the notifications from all the gaming machines that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value.   
   
   
       11 . A method of playing a gaming machine configured to display on a display a unit game causing a plurality of arranged symbols to be rearranged:
 determining a bet unit for betting on the unit game on the basis of player identification information provided from outside for identifying a player of the gaming machine;   incrementing a counted value of a counter according to an amount bet on the unit game in the determined bet unit, the counter being configured to count the counted value for a progressive bonus; and   receiving a notification from a common display unit, the gaming machine and another gaming machine being connected together to the common display unit, the notification being for all the gaming machines connected to the common display unit and stating that a progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in a progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit;   upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied, providing an award for the progressive bonus in an amount corresponding to the counted value.   
   
   
       12 . The method of playing a gaming machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 upon the counted value being equal to or above a predetermined value depending on the bet unit, notifying the common display unit that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value based on the bet unit; and   providing the award for the progressive bonus in the amount corresponding to the counted value upon receipt of the notification from the common display unit that the progressive bonus award condition is satisfied in the progressive bonus award determination game executed by the common display unit having received the notifications from all the gaming machines that the counted value is equal to or above the predetermined value.