Game play media lending machine and gaming machine system each having a charge collection function, and charge collection method in a gaming house

A game play media lending machine which comprises an operation section which calculates based on the number of game play media read from a recording medium (C) and a predetermined lending unit price of a game play medium, a lending equivalent amount which is an amount of money required to receive dispensing of as many game play media as the number read from the recording medium from a game play media lending machine (20). The operation section also calculates a conversion amount that can be used for a player to borrow game play media based on the calculated lending equivalent amount and an exchange rate preset to collect a game play charge in proportion to the number of game play media won by the player. The operation section also calculates a difference between the calculated lending equivalent amount and the calculated conversion amount. The operation section then finds means for finding a remaining amount from the amount indicated by amount information output from a bill validator (22) and the conversion amount as an input amount and the amount indicated by amount specification information output from an amount selection switch (31) as a used amount. The operation section then outputs a dispensing instruction to a dispensing mechanism (34) based on the amount specification information output from the amount selection switch (31).

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to a game play media lending machine and a gaming 
machine system each having a charge collection function and a charge 
collection method in a gaming house and in particular to a game play media 
lending machine and a gaming machine system which can collect an 
additional charge when a player again uses previously won game play media 
to play a new game at a gaming machine and a charge collection method in a 
gaming house. 
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
A first collection method of game play charges in a gaming house containing 
gaming machines such as pinball machines or slot machines is to rent game 
play media to players. 
By the way, when a player satisfies a given condition such as causing a 
game play medium (pinball) to enter a specific hole while playing a game 
at a gaming machine such as a pinball machine, a predetermined number of 
game play media are paid out to the player for a winning game play from 
the gaming machine. Therefore, as the player wins game plays, he or she 
holds an increasing number of game play media. 
If the player quits playing when he or she holds a reasonable quantity of 
game play media, the player inputs the held game play media to a game play 
media counter for counting the number of game play media, and receives a 
receipt on which the count result is recorded. The player passes the 
receipt to a person at a prize exchange counter or window for exchanging 
it for a proper prize. At this time, exchangeable prizes are selected in 
the range of the conversion amount found by multiplying the lending 
amount, which in turn found by multiplying the number of game play media 
by the lending unit price, by a predetermined exchange rate allowing for a 
profit. 
Therefore, when the player exchanges the won game play media for prizes, 
the gaming house can collect the charge corresponding to the number of the 
game play media. 
By the way, some players might want to use the won game play media again to 
play a game at a gaming machine later, rather than to exchange them for 
prizes. 
Then, for the convenience of such players, the gaming house can pay out 
game play media in exchange for a receipt on which the number of game play 
media is recorded so that the player can use the game play media to play a 
new game. 
In this case, however, the following problems arise: First, it takes time 
and labor and is undesirable for personnel in the gaming house to receive 
the receipt and pay out as many game play media as the number recorded on 
the receipt manually, as a count error may occur. Second, if as many game 
play media as the number entered on the receipt are paid out as they are, 
the play charge cannot be collected from the player, which does not make 
for profitable business in the gaming house. In this case, personnel in 
the gaming house can also make a manual calculation to find the lending 
equivalent amount of game play media described above and multiply it by 
the exchange rate to find the conversion amount and pay out as many game 
play media as the number equivalent to the amount found manually. In this 
case, however, it takes more time and labor and is undesirable. Moreover, 
a calculation error may occur. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a game play media 
lending machine, a gaming machine system, and a charge collection method 
in a gaming house, whereby when a player uses a recording medium on which 
the number of won game play media is recorded to receive dispensed game 
play media and use them for playing a game, the game play media can be 
automatically dispensed using the recording medium on which the number of 
game play media is recorded and at that time, a necessary charge can also 
be automatically collected. 
To this end, according to one form of the invention, there is provided a 
game play media lending machine being placed in a gaming house containing 
a gaming machine into which game play media are loaded for game execution 
and a game play media counter for counting game play media dispensed at 
the gaming machine and issuing a recording medium on which the number of 
game play media is recorded, for lending game play media used at the 
gaming machine, the game play media lending machine comprising: 
a recording medium reader for reading the number of game play media from 
information recorded on a recording medium inserted from outside; 
a controller having a memory, an operation section, and an output section 
for outputting the operation result to outside; 
a display for displaying amount information output from the controller; 
an amount selection switch for accepting specification of an amount of 
money for a player to borrow game play media and outputting information 
indicating the amount of money; and 
a mechanism for dispensing as many game play media as the number indicated 
from the controller, 
the operation section comprising: 
first operation means for calculating, based on the number of game play 
media read from the recording medium and a predetermined lending unit 
price of a game play medium, a lending equivalent amount which is an 
amount of money required to receive dispensing of as many game play media 
as the number read from the recording medium from the game play media 
lending machine; 
second operation means for calculating a conversion amount that can be used 
for a player to borrow game play media based on the calculated lending 
equivalent amount and an exchange rate preset to collect a game play 
charge in proportion to the number of game play media won by the player; 
third operation means for finding the remaining amount from the conversion 
amount as an input amount and the amount indicated by the amount 
specification information output from the amount selection switch as a 
used amount; 
means for causing the display to display an input amount before the 
remaining amount is calculated and the remaining amount after it is 
calculated; and 
dispensing control means for outputting a dispensing instruction to the 
dispensing mechanism based on the amount specification information output 
from the amount selection switch. 
The game play media lending machine of the form can further include a bill 
validator for determining validity and denomination of a bill inserted 
from outside and outputting amount information. The third operation means 
can add the amount indicated by the amount information output from the 
bill validator and the conversion amount together to find an input amount 
and can find the remaining amount from the input amount and the amount 
indicated by the amount specification information output from the amount 
selection switch as a used amount. 
The game play media lending machine can further include an adjustment 
switch for accepting an adjustment request when a game play ends, and a 
recording medium writer for issuing a recording medium onto which the 
remaining amount is written as record information when the adjustment 
switch is pressed. 
In this case, the recording medium reader can further read the information 
indicating the remaining amount recorded on the recording medium. 
The third operation means of the operation section can further add the 
remaining amount read from the recording medium as an input amount. 
The game play media lending machine of the form can further include fourth 
operation means for calculating a difference between the lending 
equivalent amount and the conversion amount calculated by the second 
operation means. In this case, the output section can output the 
calculated difference to outside. 
According to another form of the invention, there is provided a gaming 
machine system comprising a gaming machine into which game play media are 
loaded for game execution and a game play media lending machine for 
lending game play media used at the gaming machine, characterized in that 
the gaming machine comprises: 
a game execution section for taking in a necessary number of game play 
media and executing a game play; 
a game play media holding section for holding game play media used at the 
game execution section; and 
a dispensing mechanism responsive to a dispensing instruction from outside 
for counting a specified number of game play media supplied from outside 
and dispensing the game play media to the game play media holding section, 
and that 
the game play media lending machine comprises: 
a bill validator for determining validity and denomination of a bill 
inserted from outside and outputting amount information; 
a recording medium reader for reading the number of game play media from 
information recorded on a recording medium inserted from outside; 
a controller having a memory, an operation section, and an output section 
for outputting the operation result to outside; 
a mechanism for dispensing as many game play media as the number indicated 
from the controller; and 
a display for displaying amount information output from the controller; 
an amount selection switch for accepting specification of an amount of 
money for a player to borrow game play media and outputting information 
indicating the amount of money; and 
the operation section comprising: 
first operation means for calculating based on the number of game play 
media read from the recording medium and a predetermined lending unit 
price of a game play medium, a lending equivalent amount which is an 
amount of money required to receive dispensing of as many game play media 
as the number read from the recording medium from the game play media 
lending machine; 
second operation means for calculating a conversion amount that can be used 
for a player to borrow game play media based on the calculated lending 
equivalent amount and an exchange rate preset to collect a game play 
charge in proportion to the number of game play media obtained by a player 
for winning game plays; 
third operation means for finding the remaining amount from the conversion 
amount as an input amount and the amount indicated by the amount 
specification information output from the amount selection switch as a 
used amount; 
means for causing the display to display an input amount before the 
remaining amount is calculated and the remaining amount after it is 
calculated; and 
dispensing control means for outputting a dispensing instruction to the 
dispensing mechanism based on the amount specification information output 
from the amount selection switch. 
The gaming machine can further include a game play media collection and 
count section for taking in game play media held in the game play media 
holding section while counting the number of game play media upon receipt 
of an adjustment instruction. The game play media lending machine can 
further include an adjustment switch for accepting an adjustment request 
when game play is ended and outputting an adjustment instruction. 
The operation section can further include game play media collection and 
count control means for outputting an instruction to the game play media 
collection and count section for commanding the collection and count 
section to collect and count game play media when the adjustment 
instruction is output. The invention can further include a recording 
medium writer for issuing a recording medium on which data is written. 
In this case, after the adjustment instruction is output, the operation 
section can read the number of game play media from the game play media 
collection and count section and send the number of game play media and 
the remaining amount calculated by the third operation means to the 
recording medium writer as record information. 
The recording medium reader can further read the information indicating the 
remaining amount recorded on the inserted recording medium. 
The game play media lending machine of the form can further include fourth 
operation means for calculating a difference between the lending 
equivalent amount and the conversion amount calculated by the second 
operation means. In this case, the output section can output the 
calculated difference to outside. 
According to another form of the invention, there is provided a charge 
collection method in a gaming house containing a gaming machine into which 
game play media are loaded for game execution, a game play media lending 
machine for lending game play media used at the gaming machine, and a game 
play media counter for counting game play media dispensed at the gaming 
machine and issuing a recording medium on which the number of game play 
media is recorded, the method comprising the steps of: 
counting game play media won by a player at the gaming machine and 
recording information indicating the number of the game play media on a 
recording medium; 
when the player again plays a game, reading the number of game play media 
recorded on the recording medium and multiplying the number by a lending 
unit price of a game play media to find a lending equivalent amount which 
is an amount of money required to receive as many game play media as the 
number read from the recording medium from the game play media lending 
machine; 
calculating a conversion amount that can be used for the player to borrow 
game play media based on the found lending equivalent amount and an 
exchange rate preset to collect a game play charge in proportion to the 
number of game play media won by the player; and 
using the conversion amount as a part of the input amount when game play 
media are lent, thereby collecting the difference between the lending 
equivalent amount and the conversion amount as a charge. 
The player receives a recording medium such as a card on which the number 
of game play media is recorded, for example, from the game play media 
counter for counting the game play media such as pinballs or medals won by 
the player. The player can play a game as if he or she used the won game 
play media by inserting the recording medium into the read section of the 
game play media lending machine. 
At that time, the operation section of the game play media lending machine 
calculates the conversion amount based on the number of game play media, 
the lending unit price, and the exchange rate for the gaming house to 
automatically collect a charge, and an available amount of money is 
displayed on the display section as the remaining amount for the player. 
At that time, if another amount of money is input, it is added to the 
available amount of money to find the remaining amount. That is, the 
remaining amount indicates the amount of money that the player has input 
to the game play media lending machine. 
To play a game, the player can handle the amount selection switch to 
receive game play media equivalent to any amount of money in the range of 
the amount displayed on the remaining amount display section. That is, 
when the player handles the amount selection switch, the counting section 
is instructed to dispense a predetermined number of game play media 
corresponding to the selected amount. At this time, the difference 
resulting from subtracting the selected amount from the amount displayed 
on the remaining amount display section is displayed on the remaining 
amount display section.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there are shown embodiments of 
the invention. 
A first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 is an example applied 
to a gaming house containing a plurality of gaming machines 11 and a 
plurality of game play media lending machines 20. 
Two rows of gaming machines 11 and game play media lending machines 20 
placed alternately in a row face each other in opposite directions, making 
up a group. Such a group is called a game island. In FIG. 2, only the 
gaming machines 11 and the game play media lending machines 20 belonging 
to one row are shown. The gaming house contains a plurality of the game 
islands 10. 
In the embodiment, the gaming machines 11 and the game play media lending 
machines 20 are separated from each other, but are assumed to be used in 
pairs. That is, one gaming machine 11 and one game play media lending 
machine 20 contiguous to each other make up one gaming machine system. 
The game island 10 is provided with a game play media transport and 
replenishment mechanism 60 for supplying game play media to the gaming 
machines 11 and the game play media lending machines 20 and collecting the 
game play media input to the gaming machines 11 for reuse, as shown in 
FIG. 4. 
The gaming machine 11 has a game execution section 110, a game play media 
holding section 120, and a counting section 130 functioning as a 
dispensing mechanism for counting game play media replenished from the 
game play media transport and replenishment mechanism 60 and paying them 
out to the game play media holding section 120. The counting section 130 
pays out a necessary number of game play media as instructed from outside. 
In the embodiment, a predetermined number of game play media are paid out 
based on a signal indicating a win, sent from the game execution section 
110. 
Game play media required to play a game are taken into the gaming machine 
11 via a passage member 65 from the game play media holding section 120. 
The game play media used to play a game are collected by the game play 
media transport and replenishment mechanism 60 via passage members 67 and 
68. 
For example, pinball machines, slot machines, etc., can be placed as the 
gaming machines 11. In the embodiment, pinball machines are placed. 
Therefore, pinballs are used as game play media. Of course, if other game 
machines are installed, game play media appropriate for the gaming 
machines, for example, medals are used. 
The gaming house contains a prize exchange counter F, for example, as shown 
in FIG. 2. The prize exchange counter F is provided with a reader 70 for 
reading the number of game play media and the remaining amount information 
recorded on a card C described below. The reader includes a display 71 
having front and rear display surfaces, for example. 
A game play media counter 12 is disposed substantially at the center of the 
game island 10. The game play media counter 12 counts the game play media 
input through a game play media slot 13 and outputs the number of the game 
play media as information indicating the game play result. The game play 
media counter 12 has a card issuing section 14 for recording the game play 
result information on a card, which is a recording medium, and issuing the 
card. In the embodiment, the number of game play media is used as the game 
play result information. When a player inserts a card, the card issuing 
section 14 can also write the number of game play media onto the card. 
The card C has, as areas for indicating the number of game play media, an 
area C1 containing digits indicating the number and an area C2 containing 
a bar code indicating the number and, as areas for recording remaining 
amount information indicating the remaining amount to be adjusted at the 
time of game end, an area C3 containing digits indicating the amount and 
an area C4 containing a bar code indicating the number, as shown in FIG. 
1; these indication entries can be rewritten. 
The game play media lending machine 20 is a device for paying out game play 
media equivalent to the amount inserted by a player. As shown in FIG. 4, 
it comprises a bill validator 22 for determining the validity of bills 
inserted from the outside, a read section 25 and a write section 26 for 
reading and writing information from and onto a card C when the card C is 
inserted, a card stacker 27 for taking in, holding, and supplying cards C, 
a remaining amount display 30 for indicating the remaining amount of the 
input amount, an amount selection switch 31 for accepting selection of an 
amount for a player to borrow game play media from the gaming house, 
within the input amount, an adjustment switch 32 for accepting an 
instruction of adjusting the remaining amount, etc., at the time of game 
end, a counting section 34 functioning as a dispensing mechanism for 
counting the number of game play media to be lent and dispensing them, and 
a controller 40 for transferring information to and from the components 
and controlling them. These are provided in a machine body 20a or on the 
front thereof. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a bill slot 21 is opened at the top of the front of the 
machine body 20a of the game play media lending machine 20. The bill slot 
21 enables players to input one or more denominations of bills, such as 
1000-yen, 5000-yen, and 10000-yen bills. 
The bill (coin) validator 22 for determining the validity and denomination 
of an inserted bill is provided in the inside of the machine body 20a from 
the bill slot 21. The bill validator 22 sends a signal concerning the 
determined bill denomination to the controller 40. 
A bill outlet 23 projecting backward from the machine body 20a is provided 
at the termination of the bill validator 22. The bill outlet 23 is 
connected to a bill transporter (not shown) contained in the game island 
10. Bills discharged from the bill outlet 23 are transported to a bill 
storage stacker 16 (see FIG. 2) installed on one end of the game island 10 
by the bill transporter. The bill storage stacker 16 can group bills into 
the three denominations for storage. 
The game play media lending machine 20 is formed with a card inlet and 
outlet 24a below the bill slot 21 for taking a card C issued by the game 
play media counter 12 into the machine body 20a. Placed in the inside of 
the machine body 20a from the card inlet and outlet 24a is a card 
reader/writer 24 which has the read section 25 for reading the game play 
result information and remaining amount information recorded on the 
inserted card, the write section 26 for newly writing the number of game 
play media, the remaining amount information, and other necessary items 
onto one of the cards taken into the machine body 20a, and the card 
stacker 27 for stacking and storing the cards taken into the machine body 
20a. The read section 25 comprises a scanner, for example, for reading bar 
codes. On the other hand, the write section 26 comprises a thermal head, 
for example, for thermally writing and erasing bar codes, etc., for 
recording them. 
Cards formed with a magnetic recording section can also be used. In this 
case, the read section 25 is provided with a read head and the write 
section 26 is provided with a write head. 
The read section 25 and the write section 26 may be separate devices, 
namely, a recording medium reader 25 and a recording medium writer 26. In 
this case, the card inlet and outlet 24a can be provided separately for 
each of the reader and the writer rather than being common to them. In 
this case, the card stacker 27 is preferably placed between the recording 
medium reader 25 and the recording medium writer 26. 
The controller 40 has an operation section 28 comprising a CPU, etc., a 
memory 28a consisting of RAM, ROM, etc., an output section 29 for 
outputting information required for centralized management of the 
conversion result, etc., by the operation section 28, and an interface, 
not shown. The controller 40 is connected to a central information 
processor (hall computer) 50 for executing centralized management of the 
gaming machines 11 and the game play media lending machines 20 belonging 
to the game island 10. 
The operation section 28 performs operations and control. For example, when 
receiving a signal concerning the number of game play media recorded on a 
card C from the read section 25, the operation section 28 converts the 
recorded number of game play media into an amount of money based on a 
predetermined exchange rate. 
The memory 28a stores programs of the operation section 28, data required 
for operations, the operation results, etc. The output section 29 is 
connected to the operation section 28. It is adapted to transmit the 
difference calculated as a result of conversion by the operation section 
28 as a sales signal to the central information processor 50 which 
executes centralized management of the game island 10. A signal cable 36 
is attached to the controller 40 for connecting the controller 40 to the 
central information processor 50 to transfer signals therebetween. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the remaining amount display 30 is provided below the 
card inlet and outlet 24a. It visually displays the amount of money output 
from the operation section 28. For example, when the operation section 28 
converts the number of game play media recorded on a card C into an 
equivalent amount of money based on a predetermined exchange rate, the 
remaining amount display 30 displays the conversion amount as instructed 
from the operation section 28. It is made up of 7-segment LEDs, etc., for 
digital display of the amount of money into which the number of game play 
media is converted. 
The game play media lending machine 20 is provided with the amount 
selection switch 31 below the remaining amount display 30 for a player to 
select any desired amount to borrow game play media. The amount selection 
switch 31 has a plurality of switch elements 31a, 31b, and 31c (in the 
embodiment, three) functioning independently of each other. These switch 
elements 31a, 31b, and 31c can be related to predetermined denominations 
of bills (coins) for lending game play media to players, for example, 100 
yen, 500 yen, and 1000 yen. The switch element may be related to 200 or 
300 yen rather than 100 yen. The amount selection switch 31 may comprise a 
switch element only for 1000 yen or may be made up of two switch elements 
for 500 yen and 1000 yen. 
The switch elements 31a, 31b, and 31c, which are provided with an 
illuminating lamp, are controlled by the controller 40 so that when the 
switch elements can be selected, the corresponding lamps go on. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the amount selection switch 31 is connected to the 
controller 40 which is adapted to instruct the counting section 34 to 
dispense as many game play media as the number equivalent to the amount of 
money selected by a player based on a signal from the amount selection 
switch 31 and also to instruct the remaining amount display 30 to display 
the result of subtracting the amount selected by the player from the 
amount of money displayed on the remaining amount display 30. Thus, the 
switch elements 31a, 31b, and 31c are assigned proper addresses. A table 
in which the correspondences between the addresses and denominations are 
stored is provided in the memory 28a, whereby when any switch element is 
turned on, the operation section 28 can know the selected amount of money 
from the table based on the address of the switch element. 
The adjustment switch 32 for adjusting at the time of game end is provided 
below the money selection switch 31. The adjustment switch 32 outputs a 
game end signal to the controller 40. When receiving the signal, the 
controller 40 instructs the write section 26 to record the number of game 
play media equivalent to the amount of money displayed on the remaining 
money display 30 on a card C and to dispense the card C on which the 
information has been recorded. 
A game play media dispensing port 35 extending forward from the machine 
body 20a is provided below the adjustment switch 32. The dispensing port 
35 is connected to the counting section 34 by a passage member 63, and the 
counting section 34 is connected to a game play media replenishment 
reception port 33 protruding backward from the machine body 20a by a 
passage member 62. As shown in FIG. 4, the game play media transport and 
replenishment mechanism 60 is connected to the replenishment reception 
port 33 by a passage member 61. 
Next, the operation of the game play media lending machine 20 according to 
the embodiment will be discussed centering around FIGS. 5 and 6. 
When the game play media lending machine 20 is started or the adjustment 
process described below terminates, the operation section 28 checks to see 
if a card C is inserted into the read section 25 at step 501. Also, it 
checks to see if a bill is input to the bill validator 22 at step 502. 
When a player inserts a card C, the operation section 28 determines the 
validity of the card C and reads information recorded on the card C 
through the read section 22 and stores the information in the memory 28a 
at step 504. The operation section 28 erases the record contents by the 
write section 26 and instructs the card stacker 27 to take in the card at 
step 505. 
The operation section 28 finds the amount into which the number of game 
play media is converted according to the following expression based on the 
information representing the number of game play media in the game play 
result information stored in the memory 28a at step 506: 
Number of game play media.times.lending unit price=lending equivalent 
amount 
Lending equivalent amount.times.exchange rate=conversion amount 
where the lending equivalent amount means the amount of money required to 
receive dispensing of the game play media from the game play media lending 
machine, the lending unit price is the amount of money per game play 
medium, set to collect a game play charge in accordance with the number of 
lent game play media, and the exchange rate is set to collect a game play 
charge in proportion to the number of game play media won by the player. 
The exchange rate may be set whenever necessary by the gaming house and 
prestored in the memory 28a or may be described in a program. 
Further, the operation section 28 finds a difference between the lending 
equivalent money and the conversion amount. The result is transmitted to 
the central information processor (management computer) 50 as a part of 
the sales at step 507. On the other hand, the conversion amount is stored 
in a remaining amount storage area of the memory 28a. Then, control 
advances to step 508. 
On the other hand, when a bill is inserted into the bill slot 21 of the 
game play media lending machine 20, first the bill validator 22 determines 
the validity of the bill. If the bill is valid, the bill validator 22 also 
determines the denomination thereof. A signal indicating that the bill has 
been input is sent from the bill validator 22 to the operation section 28. 
When receiving the signal, the operation section 28 reads amount 
information from the bill validator 22 at step 503. If the bill is valid, 
it is discharged through the bill outlet 23 and is stored in the bill 
storage stacker 16 on the end of the game island 10 by the bill 
transporter (not shown) disposed in the game island 10. If the bill is not 
valid, the bill validator 22 returns it to the bill slot 21. 
Next, the operation section 28 reads the remaining amount information 
stored in the memory 28a and adds the conversion amount or the amount of 
the bill, the input amount from the outside to the remaining amount 
information. Then, the operation section 28 stores the found amount in the 
memory 28a as a new remaining amount and sends it to the remaining amount 
display 30 for displaying the amount at step 508. 
Next, the operation section 28 compares the remaining amount with the 
minimum lending amount of game play media at step 509. If the remaining 
amount is less than the minimum lending amount, the operation section 28 
checks whether or not the remaining amount is 0 at step 514 and if 0, it 
terminates the process. On the other hand, if the remaining amount is not 
0, the operation section 28 displays a bill input request for prompting 
the player to input a bill and returns to step 501 (Step 515). In the 
embodiment, the bill input request is displayed by blinking a display on 
the remaining amount display 30. 
On the other hand, if the remaining amount is equal to or greater than the 
minimum lending amount, the operation section 28 makes the switch elements 
31a, 31b, and 31c operatively stand by in the range of the remaining 
amount, and turns on the corresponding lamps indicating that the switch 
elements are operative at step 509. Then, the operation section 28 checks 
to see if the player turns on any of the operative switch elements at step 
510. 
When any switch element is turned on, the operation section 28 looks up in 
the table from the address assigned to the switch element to find the 
selected amount at step 512, and instructs the counting section 34 to 
dispense as many game play media as the number corresponding to the amount 
of money at step 513. In response to the instruction, the counting section 
34 takes in game play media from the game play media transport and 
replenishment mechanism and sends them to the dispensing port 35 while 
counting the number of game play media. 
The operation section 28 subtracts the selected amount, namely, the amount 
used for the game play media from the remaining amount to find a new 
remaining amount, then stores it in the memory 28a and causes the 
remaining amount display 30 to display the new remaining amount at step 
508. After this, similar operation is repeated. 
When game play media are dispensed, the player can start playing a game. 
The game is executed at the game execution section 110 of the gaming 
machine 11. For game execution, the game execution section 110 takes in a 
necessary number of game play media from the game play media holding 
section 120. For a pinball game, one game play medium is taken in. The 
taken-in game play media are used for game execution, then are returned 
via passage members 66, 67, and 68 to the game play media transport and 
replenishment mechanism 60. 
When the player meets a predetermined condition during the playing of a 
game at the game execution section 110, a signal (win signal) is sent to 
the counting section 130 for instructing a given number of game play media 
to be paid out to the player for a winning game play. When receiving the 
signal, the counting section 130 pays out the game play media to the game 
play media holding section 120. For the pinball machine shown in FIG. 3, 
the above-mentioned predetermined condition is that a pinball falls into 
any of holes 111a formed like pockets, and holes 111b, formed like petals 
at the game execution section 110. 
Next, the operation performed when the adjustment switch 32 is pressed will 
be discussed with reference to FIG. 6. 
In the embodiment, when the adjustment switch 32 is turned on, the 
operation section 28 is interrupted and upon completion of the current 
procedure being executed, starts an adjustment process. 
First, the operation section 28 checks a predetermined area of the memory 
28a to see if an amount remains at step 601. If the remaining amount of 
money is 0, the operation section 28 terminates the adjustment process. On 
the other hand, if an amount remains, the operation section 28 instructs 
the card stacker 27 to supply a card C to the write section 26 at step 
602. It transfers information indicating the remaining amount of money to 
the write section 26 and instructs the write section 26 to write it onto 
the card C at step 603. Then, the operation section 28 clears the 
remaining amount stored in the memory 28a at step 604. The write section 
26 writes the remaining amount onto the card C and discharges the card C 
to the card inlet and outlet 24a. 
The player receives the card C and if game play media are held in the game 
play media holding section 120, transfers them to a box (not shown) and 
inputs them to the game play media slot 13 of the game play media counter 
12 for counting the game play media. Then, the card C, on which the number 
of game play media as a result of the counting is indicated in digits and 
a bar code, is issued from the card issuing section 14. If the player has 
a card C discharged from the game play media lending machine 20, he or she 
may insert the card into the card issuing section 14 before inputting the 
game play media. Then, the counting result is indicated on the inserted 
card C. 
The player can use the card to again play a game, in which case processing 
is performed as described above. The player can also take the card to the 
prize exchange counter F for exchanging the card for a prize. In this 
case, personnel in the gaming house load the card into the reader 70 for 
reading the number of game play media and the remaining amount information 
recorded on the card. These pieces of information are displayed on the 
display 71. The game play media, the number of which is recorded on the 
card, are exchanged for one or more prizes at a price equivalent to the 
conversion amount of money described above. The remaining amount is 
returned to the player in cash or a prize equivalent to the amount. For 
the game play media, cash as much as the conversion amount may be paid out 
to the player, if it is not a legal regulation. 
Thus, according to the embodiment, after the game play media won by the 
player are counted by the game play media counter 12, the card issued from 
the game play media counter 12 can be used to exchange for a prize. If the 
player wants to again play a game, he or she can receive dispensing of 
game play media from the game play media lending machine 20. At this time, 
by multiplying an exchange rate, the gaming house can collect an 
additional game play charge from the player who wins games and continues 
playing another game. 
Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be discussed. 
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a part of the configuration of a game island 
to which the embodiment is applied. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the 
function of a game play media lending machine used with the embodiment and 
a flow of game play media in a gaming machine. 
In the embodiment, a game play media lending machine 20 and a gaming 
machine 11 operate in functional association with each other in a pair to 
make up a gaming machine system. Specifically, the embodiment is 
characterized by the fact that lent game play media are dispensed directly 
to the gaming machine 11 from the game play media lending machine 20 and 
that game play media held in a game play media holding section are 
automatically collected while they are counted at the game end. The second 
embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment in other points. 
In the second embodiment, a play dome 10 does not contain the game play 
media counter 12 in the first embodiment. A description will be given 
centering around the differences from the first embodiment. 
In the second embodiment, the game play media lending machine 20 comprises 
a bill validator 22, a read section 25, a write section 26, a card stacker 
27, a display section 30, an amount selection switch 31, an adjustment 
switch 32, and a controller 40 as components for providing various 
functions. These components are identical with those previously discussed 
in the first embodiment. 
The game play media lending machine 20 of the second embodiment does not 
contain the dispensing port 35 or the counting section 34 of the game play 
media lending machine 20 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 8, the game 
play media lending machine 20 used with the second embodiment does not 
dispense game play media directly from the machine itself. That is, in the 
embodiment, the game play media lending machine 20 only outputs a 
dispensing instruction to a counting section 130 of the gaming machine 11 
for commanding the counting section 130 to dispense game play media to the 
game play media holding section 120. 
In the embodiment, the gaming machine 11 has a game execution section 110, 
a counting section 130, a game play media holding section 120, and a game 
play media collection and calculation section 170. In the embodiment, game 
play media are supplied only to the gaming machine 11 and not to the game 
play media lending machine 20. 
The game play media collection and calculation section 170 automatically 
takes in the game play media remaining in the game play media holding 
section at the game end and counts them. The counting result is sent to 
the controller 40 of the game play media lending machine 20. 
Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. 
The operation of the game play media lending machine 20 is basically the 
same as in the first embodiment except that game play media are dispensed 
directly at the gaming machine 11 and for the adjustment operation. Here, 
a description will be given centering around the differences. 
The game play media lending procedure of the game play media lending 
machine 20 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 5 except 
that a dispensing instruction is output to the counting section 130 of the 
gaming machine 11 paired with the game play media lending machine 20 at 
step 513. When receiving the instruction, the counting section 130 
dispenses a specified number of game play media from a game play media 
transport and replenishment mechanism 60 to the game play media holding 
section 120. 
When the adjustment switch 32 is pressed, an operation section 28 executes 
an interrupt process and enters a process shown in FIG. 9. 
First, the operation section 28 instructs the game play media collection 
and calculation section 170 to collect and count the game play media held 
in the game play media holding section 120 at step 901. The operation 
section 28 waits for the counting to end at step 902 before reading the 
number of game play media from the game play media collection and 
calculation section 170 at step 903. 
Next, the operation section 28 checks whether or not the read number of 
game play media is 0 at step 904, and also checks whether or not the 
remaining amount stored in a predetermined area of a memory 28a is 0 at 
step 905. If both are 0, adjustment is not required and the process is 
terminated. 
If at least one of them is not 0, the operation section 28 instructs the 
card stacker 27 to supply a card at step 906. The operation section 28 
instructs the write section to write the number of game play media if not 
0 and the remaining amount if not 0 into the corresponding regions of the 
card C in a bar code and digits at step 907, and clears the corresponding 
area of the memory 28a at step 908. The adjustment process is now 
complete. 
In addition to rational game play charge collection as in the first 
embodiment, the second embodiment has the following effects: First, when 
game play media are lent from the game play media lending machine 20, they 
are dispensed directly to the game play media holding section 120 of the 
gaming machine 11, thus eliminating the need for a player to receive the 
game play media in a box at the dispensing port and transfer them to the 
game play media holding section 120. Second, a large number of game play 
media won by the player can be counted without carrying them to the game 
play media counter 12 in the first embodiment. Third, the first and second 
effects obviate the need for players to touch game play media, preventing 
the game play media from falling to the floor or becoming dirty. 
In the first and second embodiments, the gaming machine and the game play 
media lending machine are separated from each other, but they can also be 
formed integrally. 
In the embodiments, cards are held in the card stacker for reuse. However, 
the invention is not thus limited. For example, throwaway cards can also 
be used. If cards are reused, once used cards are not processed for reuse 
at the game play media lending machines and are gathered collectively for 
reuse processing, then may be again set in the card stacker 27.