US20050032570A1

US20050032570A1 - Roulette game machine

Info

Publication number: US20050032570A1
Application number: US10/636,335
Authority: US
Inventors: Teruo Ohira
Original assignee: OHIRAGIKEN INDUSTRY Co Ltd
Current assignee: OHIRAGIKEN INDUSTRY Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-05-09
Filing date: 2003-08-06
Publication date: 2005-02-10
Also published as: JP2003325726A

Abstract

A roulette game machine includes a single monitor display displaying a betting board capable of having a plurality of players betting at the same time, a plurality of playing areas arranged around the monitor display, first display means provided every playing area to display an amount of chips, designation means provided every playing area to designate a predetermined sum of chips for betting, betting means provided every playing area to bet a designated sum of chips, selection means provided every playing area to select an optional identification symbol on the betting board, second display means provided in juxtaposition with the respective selection means to display a marking image to the effect that betting is made on an optional identification symbol as selected, and judgment means for judging whether an optional identification symbol as betted corresponds to a hit identification symbol.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a roulette game machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Conventionally, medal game machines are installed as game machines in game centers and casinos. Such game machines include horse racing game machines, cards game machines, roulette game machines, and so on.
With, for example, roulette game machines, medals (coins) are thrown into a machine, numeral selection buttons provided at respective play corners are operated, and a numeral button or buttons corresponding to a prize-prospective numeral or numerals are pushed. Then a roulette disc rotates and a ball rolls in the roulette disc. And when the roulette disc rotates slowly and the ball is received and held in one of grooves in the roulette disc, it is determined whether a numeral betted by a player corresponds to that numeral, in which the ball is received. Here, when it is determined that the both numerals correspond to each other, a hit is made and medals are repaid to the player at a predetermined hit ratio.
However, a roulette game is inherently one, in which a plurality of players use a single betting board to bet on desired numerals. Therefore, when only a player concerned makes a hit, a game is not so much fevered. That is, in the case where that numeral, on which a certain player bets, corresponds to that numeral, in which a ball is received, such state can be seen by other players, and the player having won can feel a sense of superiority whereby a game is still more fevered.
With such conventional roulette game machines, however, it is hard to know how other players play. For example, even when a player wins, other players do not know how much the player having made a hit has betted on a game at this time, and conversely, even when a player loses, other players do not know how much the player has lost. That is, such conventional roulette game machines involve a problem that a roulette game lacks an inherent fun and players are not so much fevered even when a game is won.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

That is, it is an object of the invention to provide a roulette game machine capable of giving an inherent fun to a roulette game.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a roulette game machine. The roulette game machine includes a roulette disc having a whirl, on which a multiplicity of different identification symbols are displayed circumferentially, and making a predetermined identification symbol, which is selected from the identification symbols, a hit identification symbol, and a betting board, on which identification symbols corresponding to the identification symbols are displayed, and wherein predetermined chips are given in the case where that predetermined identification symbol on the betting board, on which a player bets chips, corresponds to a hit identification symbol decided on the roulette disc.
The roulette game machine further includes a single monitor display displaying a betting board capable of having a plurality of players betting at the same time, a plurality of playing areas arranged around the monitor display, first display means provided every playing area to display an amount of chips, which can be bet by a player, designation means provided every playing area to designate a predetermined sum of chips for betting, from a total sum of chips, betting means provided every playing area to bet a designated sum of chips, selection means provided every playing area to select an optional identification symbol on the betting board, second display means provided in juxtaposition with the respective selection means to display a marking image to the effect that betting is made on an optional identification symbol as selected, and judgment means for judging whether an optional identification symbol as betted corresponds to a hit identification symbol.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a roulette game machine according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a roulette game disc;
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a monitor display, on which a betting board and chip stock areas are displayed;
FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a chip stock area and its surrounding region in a state, in which a hand cursor is in a home position, and FIG. 4B is a plan view showing a chip stock area, its surrounding region, and the relationship between chip icons and a hand cursor immediately before the chip icons are grasped;
FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a chip stock area, its surrounding region, and the relationship between chip icons and a hand cursor in a state, in which the hand cursor grasps the chip icons, and FIG. 5B is a plan view showing a play corner in the surrounding region of a chip stock area, and the relationship between a hand cursor having been moved onto chip icons of an adjacent digit from the state in FIG. 5A, and chip icons;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a chip stock area, its surrounding region, and the relationship between a hand cursor grasping chip icons of a different digit from the digit in FIG. 5A and chip icons;
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a monitor display in a state, in which a hand cursor grasping chip icons is displayed on a betting board, and respective operating systems;
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a monitor display around a first play corner and operating members;
FIG. 9A is a schematic, plan view showing an internal construction of a track ball, and FIG. 9B is a schematic, side view showing the internal construction of the track ball;
FIG. 10A shows chip marks at a first play corner, FIG. 10B showing chip marks at a second play corner, FIG. 10C showing chip marks at a third play corner, and FIG. 10D showing chip marks at a fourth play corner;
FIG. 11 is a block diagram indicating an electrical constitution;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart indicating contents of processings in a controller; and
FIG. 13A is a schematic, side view showing a joy stick in a further embodiment, FIG. 13B being a plan view showing the relationship between microswitches and a ring in a state, in which a lever of the joy stick is in a neutral position, FIG. 13C being a plan view showing the relationship between the microswitches and the ring in a state, in which the lever of the joy stick is inclined downward, and FIG. 13D being a plan view showing the relationship between the microswitches and the ring in a state, in which the lever of the joy stick is inclined obliquely rightward and forward.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a housing 11 constituting a roulette game machine is provided on an upper surface thereof with a roulette disc 12. Also, provided on the upper surface of housing 11 is a large-sized, rectangular monitor display 13. Arranged at four corners lengthwise and crosswise of the monitor display 13 are a first play corner P1, second play corner P2, third play corner P3, and a fourth play corner P4. Provided at the respective play corners P1 to P4 on the upper surface of the housing 11 are medal slots 15, track balls 16, which constitute operation means and selection means, hold buttons 17, which constitute designation means, put buttons 18, which constitute bet means, and repayment buttons 19 for repayment of medals. Also, medal repayment ports 20, respectively, are provided at the respective play corners P1 to P4 on sides of the housing 11.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a whirl 23 is rotatably received in a frame body 12 a of the roulette disc 12. A multiplicity of concave-shaped ball receiving grooves 24 are formed on an upper surface of the whirl 23. The whirl 23 is driven by a motor (not shown). A display section 25, on which numerals N1 including “0”, “00”, “1” to “36” are displayed in a manner to correspond to the respective ball receiving grooves 24, is formed on the upper surface of the whirl 23 externally of the respective ball receiving grooves 24. A ball throw-in port 29 is formed in the frame body 12 a. Connected to the ball throw-in port 29 is a ball throw-in device (not shown). As the ball throw-in device is driven, a ball B is thrown onto the whirl 23 from the ball throw-in port 29.
A hit judgment device (not shown) is installed in a position below the roulette disc 12 within the housing 11. The hit judgment device serves to judge which ball receiving groove 24 the ball B is received in. The hit judgment device will be described in detail in connection with an electric constitution. A ball recovery device (not shown) is mounted on a back surface of the whirl 23. The ball recovery device serves to recover the ball B on the whirl 23 after a game is terminated. Since the ball throw-in device, the hit judgment device, and the ball recovery device are well known, a detailed explanation thereof is omitted (see JP-A-8-229190, JP-A-8-229191, JP-A-9-140857, and JP-A-9-276477, which were filed by the applicant of the present application).
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the monitor display 13 is composed of a liquid crystal monitor. A betting board 26 is displayed on the monitor display 13. A plurality of numerals N2 including the same numerals as the numerals N1 displayed on the whirl 23 are arranged and displayed on the betting board 26 in a lattice manner.
Chip stock areas TH1, TH2, TH3, TH4 corresponding to the respective play corners P1 to P4 are displayed on the monitor display 13 to be directed outward at the four corners of the betting board 26.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, displayed on the respective chip stock areas TH1, TH2, TH3, TH4 are bet counters BC, win counters WC, and credit counters CC, which constitute first display means, respectively. Displayed on the bet counters BC are numerals corresponding to the number of medals betted in a single game. Displayed on the win counters WC are numerals corresponding to the number of medals paid back when a game is played and a hit is made. Displayed on the credit counters CC are numerals corresponding to the number of medals, which can be repaid from a medal repayment device described later.
Disposed on the right of the respective counters BC, WC, and CC are chip counter areas TC, which constitute first display means. Displayed below the chip counter areas TC are “the units digit”, “the tens digit”, “the hundreds digit”, and “the thousands digit”. Tip icons TI in a stacked state are displayed above display sections of the respective digits (“the units digit” to “the thousands digit”). For example, in the case where eight chip icons TI are displayed on the display section of “the tens digit” and three chip icons TI are displayed on the display section of “the hundreds digit”, it is indicated thereby that 380 repayable medals accumulate in a concerned play corner ((3×100)+(8×10)). That is, the numeral displayed on the credit counter CC corresponds to the number of chip icons TI displayed in the chip counter area TC.
As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the track balls 16 comprise a support base 41, a ball 43 rotatably received in a recess 42 of the support base 41, a X-direction detector 45×, a Y-direction detector 45Y, and so on. Shafts 47 constituting parts of the X-direction detector 45× and the Y-direction detector 45Y are rotatably supported by bearings 46. Fixed to a base end of the shaft 47 is a disk 48 rotatable together with the shaft 47. An axis of the shaft 47 of the X-direction detector 45X extends lengthwise (a vertical direction in FIG. 9A). Meanwhile, an axis of the shaft 47 of the Y-direction detector 45Y extends crosswise. The shafts 47 of the both direction detectors 45X, 45Y, respectively, contact with the ball 43. With such constitution, external forces are exerted to rotate the balls 43 whereby the respective shafts 47 rotate sliding on the balls 43. That is, when the ball 43 is rotated lengthwise, the shaft 47 of the Y-direction detector 45Y rotates, and when the ball 43 is rotated crosswise, the shaft 47 of the X-direction detector 45×rotates. Also, when the ball 43 is rotated slantwise (rightwardly slantwise and leftwardly slantwise), both the shafts 47 of the both direction detector 45X, 45Y rotate.
The disks 48 of the both direction detector 45X, 45Y are formed with a plurality of slits 51 at regular intervals. As shown in FIG. 9B, a floodlight 49 and an optical receiver 50 are arranged in positions, between which each disk 48 is interposed. The respective optical receivers 50 can receive light from the floodlights 49 through the slits 51. That is, when the shaft 47 rotates, the optical receiver 50 intermittently receives light from the floodlight 49. A signal of the optical receiver 50 is output to a controller C described later. The controller C judges a quantity of rotation of the respective shafts 47, that is, direction and quantity of rotation of the ball 43 on the basis of signals from the two optical receivers 50. That is, the track ball 16 in the embodiment detects direction and quantity of rotation of the ball 43 by means of a rotary encoder system.
As shown in FIG. 3, displayed on the monitor display 13 are hand cursors HC corresponding to the respective play corners P1 to P4. The hand cursors HC assume a configuration of a human hand. The respective hand cursors HC are different in display color by the respective play corners P1 to P4 (in the embodiment, for example, the hand cursor HC at the first play corner P1 is red-colored, the hand cursor HC at the second play corner P2 is green-colored, the hand cursor HC at the third play corner P3 is blue-colored, and the hand cursor HC at the fourth play corner P4 is white-colored). In actual games, respective players identify their hand cursors HC by the help of color.
The balls 43 of the track balls 16 are operated to cause the respective hand cursors HC to be freely moved on the monitor display 13. That is, when the ball 43 is rotated rightward, the hand cursor HC is also moved rightward, and when the ball 43 is rotated forward, the hand cursor HC is also moved forward.
Subsequently, the electric constitution of the roulette game machine will be described.
As shown in FIG. 11, the track balls 16, hold buttons 17, put buttons 18, repayment buttons 19, medal repayment devices 30, and detection devices 33, which detect the number of medals thrown in, at the respective play corners P1 to P4 are connected to the controller C, which constitutes a part of the first display means, a part of the second display means, a part of the designation means, a part of the bet means, and the judgment means.
Also, connected to the controller C are the monitor display 13 and a hit judgment device 31. The controller C causes the monitor display 13 to display the betting board 26, the chip stock areas TH1, TH2, TH3, TH4, and the hand cursors HC.
The hit judgment device 31 detects a position of the ball B received in the ball receiving groove 24 of the whirl 23, that is, a numeral N1 to output the same to the controller C. The controller C judges a hit number (the numeral N1 of that ball B receiving groove, in which the ball is received) on the basis of a signal from the hit judgment device 31.
The controller C judges direction and quantity of rotation of the ball 43 on the basis of an input signal from the receivers 50 of the track ball 16. And the controller C moves an image of the displayed hand cursor HC on the basis of judged direction and quantity of rotation of the judged ball 43.
As shown in, for example, FIG. 4B, the controller C causes an image of the hand cursor HC to be displayed in a state, in which the hand cursor HC grasps chip icons TI having been displayed just therebelow, when the controller receives an ON signal from the hold button 17 in a state, in which an image of the hand cursor HC is displayed in the chip counter area TC (a state, in which a player pushes the hold button 17).
That is, the controller C calculates direction and quantity of rotation of the ball 43 to judge that an image of the hand cursor HC is present in a predetermined area within the chip counter area TC, and further makes a selected object of those chip icons TI of a predetermined digit, which are disposed in a position below the image of the hand cursor HC in the predetermined area. When an ON signal from the hold button 17 is input, the controller C displays an image composed of those chip icons TI, which have a predetermined digit selected according to a position of the hand cursor HC. The controller C displays an image composed of an image of chips of the number corresponding to times (times, at which a player pushes the hold button 17), at which an ON signal from the hold button 17 is input, and an image of the hand cursor HC, in a state, in which the chips are grasped (see FIGS. 5 and 6). At this time, the controller C displays a total sum of chips in a position, in which an image of the grasped chips is displayed. The controller C displays an image, in which the hand cursor HC grasps chip icons TI, and correspondingly modifies images of chip icons TI of the respective digits into images of subtracted chip icons TI to display the same.
The controller C moves an image of the hand cursor HC in a state of grasping chips according to rotation of the ball 43 of the track ball 16. And when an image of the hand cursor HC moves onto the betting board 26 (see FIG. 7), in which state an ON signal from the put button 18 is input (a player pushes the put button 18), the controller C erases the grasped chip icons TI from the hand cursor HC and marks an image of a chip mark TM, which serve as a mark to correspond to the image of the hand cursor HC, on the betting board 26 (see FIG. 8). At this time, the controller C displays a sum of chips in a position of the marked chip image.
With the embodiment, the controller C displays images of chip marks TM for the respective play corners P1 to P4 in different configurations. FIGS. 10A to 10D are views showing patterns of chip marks TM for the respective play corners P1 to P4, FIG. 10A showing a chip mark TM for the first play corner P1, FIG. 10B showing a chip mark TM for the second play corner P2, FIG. 10C showing a chip mark TM for the third play corner P3, and FIG. 10D showing a chip mark TM for the fourth play corner P4.
The controller C serving as judgment means judges whether a hit numeral N1 output as a result of a game from the hit judgment device 31 corresponds to a numeral N2, marked by a player, on the betting board 26.
The controller C displays predetermined numerical values in the bet counters BC, win counters WC, and the credit counters CC on the chip stock areas TH1, TH2, TH3, TH4 in accordance with a numeric data input as a game proceeds.
Subsequently, a main processing operation of the controller C will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 12.
First, the controller C starts inputting of bets in STEP 101. In the next STEP 102, the ball B is thrown onto the whirl 23. In STEP 103, it is determined whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and when it is determined that a predetermined period of time has elapsed, inputting of bets is closed in STEP 104 and a hit numeral is determined in STEP 105 on the basis of an output signal from the hit judgment device 31. Also, when a player bets, it is determined whether the hit numeral corresponds to a numeral thus betted. Then, in STEP 106, in the case where a numeral N2 betted onto the betting board 26 corresponds to the hit numeral N1, chips conformed to a bet rate are given, and in the case of non-correspondency, chips are recovered. That is, display on the respective counters BC, WC, and CC in the respective chip stock areas TH1 to TH4 is modified according to a sum of chips. Then the controller C ends the processing once and returns again to STEP 101.
Subsequently, an explanation will be given to an operation when the roulette game machine is played.
First, a player throws medals into a medal slot 15. Then a numeral conformed to the number of thrown medals is displayed in the credit counter CC. Here, it is assumed that the number of medals thrown at this time is 1235. Accordingly, “1235” is displayed in the credit counter CC as shown in FIG. 4A. In addition, the hand cursor HC stands by to be displayed in an upper portion of the chip stock area TH1 (the same is for the chip stock areas TH2 to TH4), as a home position, in the figure prior to the start of a game.
Subsequently, the ball 43 of the track ball 16 is rotated downward to move the hand cursor HC downward, that is, toward the chip icons TI. Then the hand cursor HC is moved above desired chip icons TI and the put button 18 is pushed. At this time, it is assumed that the hand cursor HC is moved above the chip icons TI of “the tens digit” in FIG. 4B. When the hold button 17 is pushed in this state, display of the hand cursor HC is changed to a state to grasp the chip icons TI (see FIG. 5A). At this time, the number of chip icons TI grasped by the hand cursor HC is changed corresponding to those times, at which the hold button 17 is pushed. Here, it is assumed that the hold button 17 is pushed twice.
Accordingly, the hand cursor HC changes to a state to grasp two chip icons TI of “the tens digit” as shown in FIG. 5A. A numeral equal to the number of grasped medals is displayed on the chip icons TI grasped by the hand cursor HC. Here, since two chip icons TI of “the tens digit” are grasped, “20” is displayed on the chip icons TI grasped by the hand cursor HC. Also, at the same time when the hand cursor HC grasps chip icons TI, the chip icons TI having been displayed in a state of being stacked in the tip counter area TC and the credit counter CC are subjected to subtraction to be displayed.
Further, in the case where it is desirable to bet many medals, for example, in the case where it is desirable to bet additional 100 medals, the ball 43 is rotated leftward and the hand cursor HC is moved leftward, that is, onto chip icons TI of “the hundreds digit” as shown in FIG. 5B. Then the hold button 17 is pushed once to cause the hand cursor HC to grasp chip icons TI of “the hundreds digit”. At this time, “120” is displayed on the chip icons TI grasped by the hand cursor HC, and the chip icons TI of “the hundreds digit” having been displayed in a state of being stacked in the tip counter area TC and the credit counter CC are subjected to subtraction to be displayed, as shown in FIG. 6.
Subsequently, the ball 43 is rotated forward to move the hand cursor HC onto the betting board 26 from the chip stock area TH1 as shown in FIG. 7. Then the chip icons TI grasped by the hand cursor HC are moved onto a numeral N2, which is believed to possibly make a hit. Here, the chip icons are moved onto four numerals, that is, “5”, “6”, “8”, and “9”. When prospective numerals have been decided, the put button 18 is pushed whereby a chip mark TM of a predetermined pattern is marked centrally of “5”, “6”, “8”, and “9” as shown in FIG. 8. Here, displayed on the marked chip mark TM is the same numeral (120) as the numeral displayed on the chip icons TI. Also, simultaneously with marking of the chip mark TM, the chip icons TI are erased from the hand cursor HC, and the same numeral as the numeral displayed on the chip mark TM is displayed on the bet counter BC.
At this time, in the case where a numeral is still displayed on the credit counter CC, that is, in the case where the remainder of medals is present, the above-mentioned operation is repeated whereby betting (marking) can be made in a plurality of places in the same chip stock area TH1 (TH2 to TH4). In this case, a numeral displayed on the bet counter BC makes a total of numerals displayed on the chip marks TM. Thereby, a player can judge, at a glance, how many medals are betted in a game at this time even when the player makes betting in a plurality of places. Here, in the case where different play corners (here, the second play corner P2 and the fourth play corner P4) make a bet on the same numeral, a pattern of the chip mark TM is divided into two sections to be displayed as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 8. That is, an upper half of the chip mark TM is displayed to represent a pattern for the second play corner P2 and a lower half of the chip mark TM is displayed to represent a pattern for the fourth play corner P4. Also, in the case where three play corners make a bet on the same numeral, a pattern of the chip mark TM is divided into three sections to be displayed, and in the case where four play corners make a bet on the same numeral, a pattern of the chip mark TM is divided into four equal sections to be displayed. Of course, patterns corresponding to the respective play corners P1 to P4 are displayed on the divided surface sections also in this case.
In addition, when chip marks TM are displayed on the betting board 26 and then positions, in which the chip marks are displayed, are to be modified, the hand cursor HC is moved to that chip mark TM, which is desired to be modified, and the put button 18 is pushed, whereby the chip mark TM is erased from the betting board 26. Then the erased chip mark TM is returned to a state, in which it is grasped by the hand cursor HC.
Subsequently, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the ball B is thrown onto the whirl 23. And when a judgment for a hit is made, display on the respective counters BC, WC, and CC in the chip stock areas TH1 to TH4 of the respective play corners P1 to P4 is modified, and the chip marks TM marked on the betting board 26 are erased. Thereafter, the hand cursor HC is moved to a position of a new numeral N2, and the put button 18 is pushed in the same manner as that described above, whereby positions, in which the chip marks TM are displayed, can be modified.
As described above in detail, the embodiment constitutes a roulette game machine in the above-mentioned manner to thereby be able to produce the following effects.
According to the embodiment, the betting board 26 is displayed on a single monitor display 13 and the respective track balls 16 provided for the respective play corners P1 to P4 are operated to move the hand cursors HC on the betting board 26, thereby enabling making a bet on a prospective numeral or numerals.
That is, according to the embodiment, the plurality of play corners P1 to P4 own and use a single monitor display 13 in common. As a result, players at the respective play corners P1 to P4 can show to other players and a surrounding gallery what numeral N2 or numerals N2 are betted by them and can also see where other players make a bet. Thereby, players are uplifted by a sense of competition with other players to be able to play a game more pleasantly than playing on a roulette game machine of the prior art.
The hand cursors HC of the respective play corners P1 to P4 are made different in color from one another to be displayed on the monitor display 13. Thereby, respective players and a surrounding gallery can discriminate what numeral N2 or numerals N2 are betted by other players, so that tactics among players is improved prior to the start of a game to be able to play a roulette game more pleasantly.
After a numeral N2 or numerals N2 are decided, a chip mark or chip marks TM are marked on the numeral N2 or numerals N2. Thereby, even when the hand cursors HC are moved to other positions after the decision of the numeral or numerals, players and a surrounding gallery can discriminate, at a glance, where betting is made, so that it is possible to play a roulette game more pleasantly and more amusingly.
Patterns of chip marks TM displayed on the monitor display 13 are changed for the respective play corners P1 to P4 to afford discrimination from outside. Thereby, which player bets and what numeral N2 or numerals N2 are betted can be quickly confirmed by respective players and a surrounding gallery, so that it is possible to play a roulette game more pleasantly and more amusingly.
In addition, the invention may be embodied in the following manner.
While the roulette disc 12 in the embodiment is of a type, in which the ball B is actually thrown in, it may be of a type, in which instead of throwing an actual ball B in, a roulette disc is displayed as an image on the monitor display. In this case, it does not matter if display is such that the whirl 23 itself does not rotate.
While the play corners P1 to P4 are provided at four corners in the embodiment, the number of play corners may be two or more. Of course, also in this case, the track ball 16 and the respective buttons 17, 18, 19 are provided at respective play corners.
While the embodiment is materialized as a roulette game machine making use of exclusive medals for a game, it may be materialized as a roulette game machine of a type, in which coins are used for a game and a premium such as cake, toy, or the like is repaid.
While the track ball 16 having a rotary encoder is used in the embodiment to materialize cursor moving means, it suffices that cursor moving means assume other configurations. For example, a joy stick 51 shown in FIG. 13 may be used to constitute cursor moving means.
A support 52 constituting the joy stick 51 is supported on a housing 11. A lever 53 is supported on the support 52 to be inclinable lengthwise and crosswise. Mounted on an upper end of the lever 53 is a grip 54 projecting from the housing 11. A ring 55 is supported on a lower end of the lever 53. Also, microswitches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4 are mounted lengthwise and crosswise on the support 52 in a manner to surround the grip 54.
As shown in FIG. 13B, when the lever 53 is in a neutral position, the ring 55 does not contact with any one of the microswitches SW1 to SW4 and any ON signal is not output from the microswitches SW1 to SW4. In this state, a controller (not shown) does not move the hand cursor HC. For example, when the lever 53 is inclined rearward, the ring 55 contacts with the microswitch SW1 as shown in FIG. 13C to have the microswitch SW1 outputting an ON signal to the controller. When an ON signal is input into the controller C from only the microswitch SW1, the controller moves the hand cursor HC rearward. Also, when the lever 53 is inclined obliquely rightward and forward, the ring 55 contacts with the microswitches SW2, SW3 as shown in FIG. 13D and ON signals are output to the controller from the microswitches SW2, SW3. When ON signals are input into the controller C from the microswitches SW2, SW3, the controller moves the hand cursor HC obliquely rightward and forward.
In this manner, even when the joy stick 51 provided with the lever 53 and the microswitches SW1 to SW4 is used, the same effect as that in the embodiment can be produced. In addition, other joy sticks provided with a flood switch and a light receiving switch may be used.
While the hand cursors HC in the embodiment are made different in color from one another for the respective play corners P1 to P4 to afford discrimination from outside, all the hand cursors HC may be embodied in configuration to be displayed in the same manner.
While the hand cursors HC in the embodiment are made different in color from one another for the respective play corners P1 to P4 to afford discrimination from outside, they may be embodied to be identical to one another in color and different in shape from one another for the respective play corners P1 to P4. For example, numbers (numerals) of the play corners may be displayed on the respective hand cursors HC to afford discrimination of the respective hand cursors from outside.
While the chip marks TM in the embodiment are displayed to be changed in pattern for the respective play corners P1 to P4 to afford discrimination from outside, the chip marks TM in all the play corners P1 to P4 may be identical in pattern to one another but different in color to afford discrimination of the chip marks TM in the respective play corners P1 to P4. Also, the chip marks TM may be embodied to be changed in shape.
While the numerals N1, N2 are displayed as discriminating characters on the roulette disc 12 and the betting board 26 in the embodiment, mascot characters, alphabets, or the like may be embodied instead of the numerals N1, N2 to be displayed.
The present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A roulette game machine comprising a roulette disc having a whirl, on which a multiplicity of different identification symbols are displayed circumferentially, and making a predetermined identification symbol, which is selected from the identification symbols, a hit identification symbol, and a betting board, on which identification symbols corresponding to the identification symbols are displayed, and wherein predetermined chips are given in the case where that predetermined identification symbol on the betting board, on which a player bets chips, corresponds to a hit identification symbol decided on the roulette disc, the roulette game machine further comprising

a single monitor display displaying a betting board capable of having a plurality of players betting at the same time,

a plurality of playing areas arranged around the monitor display,

first display means provided every playing area to display an amount of chips, which can be bet by a player,

designation means provided every playing area to designate a predetermined sum of chips for betting, from a total sum of chips,

betting means provided every playing area to bet a designated sum of chips,

selection means provided every playing area to select an optional identification symbol on the betting board,

second display means provided in juxtaposition with the respective selection means to display a marking image to the effect that betting is made on an optional identification symbol as selected, and

judgment means for judging whether an optional identification symbol as betted corresponds to a hit identification symbol.

2. The roulette game machine according to claim 1, wherein the selection means comprises operation means and a cursor image displayed on the monitor display, and the operation means is operated to freely move the cursor image on the monitor display to specify the marking image.

3. The roulette game machine according to claim 2, wherein the respective cursor images are different in configuration from one another.

4. The roulette game machine according to claim 3, wherein the respective marking images are different in configuration from one another.

5. The roulette game machine according to claim 4, wherein the first display means displays a total sum of chips, which a player can bet, as a virtual chip image on the monitor display.

6. The roulette game machine according to claim 5, wherein the operation means is operated to operate the designation means in a state, in which a cursor image is caused to approach or intersect the virtual chip image, to designate a predetermined sum of chips to display a cursor image, on which an image of the predetermined sum of chips is combined with the cursor image.

7. The roulette game machine according to claim 6, wherein the operation means is operated to move that cursor image, with which the image of the predetermined sum of chips is combined, to a betting position to operate the betting means to cause betting, thus having the image of the predetermined sum of chips disappearing and instead displaying a marking image.

8. The roulette game machine according to claim 7, wherein the cursor image is displayed to assume a shape of a hand and combined with the image of the predetermined sum of chips in a manner to grasp the same.

9. The roulette game machine according to claim 8, wherein a betting sum is displayed in the marking image.

10. The roulette game machine according to claim 9, wherein when a plurality of players make a bet on the same place, bet sums of the plurality of players, respectively, are displayed in the marking image.

11. The roulette game machine according to claim 9, wherein the virtual chip image is displayed such that a total chip sum is separated every figure of numeric value, and the virtual chip images of respective figures are different in configuration from one another.

12. The roulette game machine according to claim 7, wherein a betting sum is displayed in the marking image.

13. The roulette game machine according to claim 12, wherein when a plurality of players make a bet on the same place, bet sums of the plurality of players, respectively, are displayed in the marking image.

14. The roulette game machine according to claim 13, wherein the virtual chip image is displayed such that a total chip sum is separated every figure of numeric value, and the virtual chip images of respective figures are different in configuration from one another.