Patent Publication Number: US-2009239598-A1

Title: Gaming system enabling to bet on any team formed with a predetermined number of characters appeared in a racing game in which a predetermined number of races are played as a set, gaming machine, and game control method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/034,375, filed Mar. 6, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a gaming system, a gaming machine and a game control method that forms a team of a predetermined number of characters on which a player can bet, in a racing game in which a plurality of races in a set is performed. 
     2. Related Art 
     Conventionally, racing games are known in which a plurality of characters races, a player bets by predicting the finishing order, and the player is awarded based on the rank of the bet character and an odds announced before the start of the race. A representative example of such racing games is a game in which the racing character is a horse, such as a horse racing game disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,351. The racing character can be a car, other animals and the like; however, the player bets similarly by predicting the finishing order thereof. 
     The target of a bet can be, in a horse racing game such as the one illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,991: a horse of first place; horses of first and second places; a group of a predetermined number of horses including horses of first and second places; and the like. Thus, in almost all the horse racing games, being the same as horse racing of the real world. 
     In such a case, the ability of a certain character often determines winning and losing, as well as a bet result. For example, an individual configured to be “strong” likely wins the race. Betting on the “strong” individual character can make the probability of winning high; however, the odds thereof becomes low due to a high number of bets thereon, which results in a low payout. Therefore, to earn a high payout, a player must bet on an individual character having a lower probability of winning, and wait for it to win. On the contrary, in a case where all the characters are configured to have the same ability, it is extremely difficult to predict and win the bet due to a lack of clues, which may deter the players. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problem, the present invention provides a gaming system, a gaming machine and a game control method as a racing game in which a predetermined number of races in a set takes place and a player can, in addition to bet based on a certain individual among a plurality of characters participating in a race, bet on a team constituted of a predetermined number of characters, thus providing a various betting options and increasing the chance to win the bet, to arouse interest and excitement of the player. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a set of a predetermined number of races is executed; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters which participates in at least any one of the predetermined number of races and is a target of a bet; a plurality of terminals comprising an input device for accepting at least any one of: a first bet which is a bet on any one of a plurality of the teams; a second bet which is a bet on characters in each of the predetermined number of races; and a third bet which is a bet on a series of the plurality of teams, designating finishing places thereof after the predetermined number of races, and input a bet amount; second memory for storing, for each of the plurality of terminals, at least any one of the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet, and the bet amount; third memory for storing, for each of a plurality of the teams, a score provided to each member of each of a plurality of the teams; a controller for executing the predetermined number of racing games; a communication network device for allowing intercommunication between the plurality of terminals and the controller, in which the controller executes the following processing of: (a) receiving at least any one of the first bet, the second bet and the third bet, and the bet amount from the plurality of terminals and storing thereof in the second memory; (b) after the end of each of the predetermined number of races, determining a score corresponding to a finishing order of the plurality of characters participating in the race, and storing the score in the third memory for each of the plurality of teams; (c) after the predetermined number of races, determining ranking of the teams based on a total score for each of the plurality of teams stored by the processing (b); and (d) providing an award based on: a ranking of the plurality of characters; a ranking of the teams determined in the processing (c); and a bet type and the bet amount of each of the plurality of terminals. 
     In the first aspect of the present invention, a controller of the gaming system executes a racing game in which a predetermined number of races in a set take place. Teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters participating in at least any one of the predetermined number of races are stored in the first memory, which can be selected as a target of a bet by a player using the input device. In other words, a player can bet on a team expected to be a final winner of a plurality of races in a set. A bet can be selected from: a first bet which is a bet on any one of the plurality of team; a second bet which is a bet on characters in each of the predetermined number of races; and a third bet which is a bet on a series of the teams, designating finishing places thereof after the predetermined number of races. After receiving the bets from the plurality of terminals, the controller stores the bet kind and the bet amount in the second memory. Then the controller executes a race and tallies the result thereof. In other words, the controller provides score to each of the plurality of characters corresponding to the ranking thereof, and accumulates score for each of the teams. Then, the controller determines the ranking of the teams based on the accumulated score for each race after a set of races, and provides award depending on the bet kind and the bet amount made by each of the plurality of terminals, based on at least any one of the ranking of each of the plurality of characters in each race and the ranking of each of the plurality of teams. 
     In a second aspect of the present invention, a gaming system is provided, including: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a set of a predetermined number of races is executed; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters which participate in at least any one of the predetermined number of races and is a target of a bet; a plurality of terminals comprising an input device for accepting at least any one of: a first bet which is a bet on any one of the plurality of the teams; a second bet which is a bet on characters in each of the predetermined number of races; and a third bet which is a bet on a series of the teams, designating finishing places thereof after the predetermined number of races, and input a bet amount; second memory for storing, for each of the plurality of terminals, at least any one of the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet, and the bet amount; third memory for storing, for each of a plurality of the teams, a score provided to the plurality of the teams; a controller for executing the predetermined number of racing games; a communication network device for allowing intercommunication between the plurality of terminals and the controller, in which the controller executes the following processing of: (a) selecting a plurality of teams from the plurality of teams stored in the first memory, to show as options in the racing game; (b) displaying the plurality of characters and the plurality of the teams selected in the processing (a) on the display; (c) receiving at least any one of the first bet, the second bet and the third bet, and the bet amount from the plurality of terminals and storing the same in the second memory; (d) after the end of each of the predetermined number of races, determining a score corresponding to a finishing order of the plurality of characters participating in the race, and storing the score in the third memory for each of the plurality of the teams; (e) after the predetermined number of races, determining ranking of the teams based on the total score for each of the plurality of the teams stored by the processing (d); and (f) providing an award based on: a ranking of the plurality of characters; a ranking of a plurality of the teams determined in the processing (e); and a bet type and the bet amount of each of the plurality of terminals. 
     In the second aspect of the present invention, a controller of the gaming system executes a racing game in which a predetermined number of races in a set take place. Teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters participating in at least any one of the predetermined number of races are stored in the first memory in advance, which can be selected as options for betting, before a player makes a bet, and shown on a display. A player can select a team as target of a bet, using the input device. In other words, a player can bet on a team expected to be a final winner of a plurality of races in a set. A bet can be selected from: a first bet which is a bet on any one of the plurality of team; a second bet which is a bet on characters in each of the predetermined number of races; and a third bet which is a bet on a series of the teams, designating finishing places thereof after the predetermined number of races. After receiving the bets from the plurality of terminals, the controller stores the bet kind and the bet amount in the second memory. Then the controller executes a race and tallies the result thereof. In other words, the controller provides score to each of the plurality of characters corresponding to the ranking thereof, and accumulates score for each of the teams. Then, the controller determines the ranking of the teams based on the accumulated score for each race after a set of races, and provides award depending on the bet kind and the bet amount made by each of the plurality of terminals, based on at least any one of the ranking of each of the plurality of characters in each race and the ranking of each of the plurality of teams. 
     In a third aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided including: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a set of a predetermined number of races is executed; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters which participates in at least any one of the predetermined number of races and being a target of a bet; an input device for accepting at least any one of: a first bet which is a bet on any one of the plurality of the teams; a second bet which is a bet on characters in each of the predetermined number of races; and a third bet which is a bet on a series of the teams, designating finishing places thereof after the predetermined number of races, and input a bet amount; second memory for storing, for each of the plurality of terminals, at least any one of the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet, and the bet amount; third memory for storing, for each of a plurality of the teams, a score provided to a plurality of the teams; and a controller for executing the predetermined number of racing games; in which the controller executes the following processing of: (a) storing at least any one of the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet, and the bet amount in the second memory; (b) after the end of each of the predetermined number of races, determining a score corresponding to a finishing order of the plurality of characters participating in the race, and storing the score in the third memory for each of the plurality of the teams; (c) after the predetermined number of races, determining a ranking of the teams based on a total score for each of the plurality of teams stored in the processing (b); and (d) providing an award based on: a ranking of the plurality of characters; a ranking of the teams determined in the processing (c); and a bet type and the bet amount stored in the second memory. 
     In the third aspect of the present invention, the controller can handle the similar processing as described in the first aspect. 
     In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided including: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a set of a predetermined number of races is executed; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters which participate in at least any one of the predetermined number of races and is a target of a bet; an input device for accepting at least any one of: a first bet which is a bet on any one of a plurality of the teams; a second bet which is a bet on characters in each of the predetermined number of races; and a third bet which is a bet on a series of the teams, designating finishing places thereof after the predetermined number of races, and input a bet amount; second memory for storing, for each of a plurality of terminals, at least any one of the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet, and the bet amount; third memory for storing, for each of the plurality of the teams, a score provided to the plurality of the teams; and a controller for executing the predetermined number of racing games; in which the controller executes the following processing of: (a) selecting a plurality of teams from the plurality of teams stored in the first memory, to show as options in the racing game; (b) displaying the plurality of characters and the plurality of the teams selected in the processing (a) on the display; (c) storing at least any one of the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet, and the bet amount in the second memory; (d) after the end of each of the predetermined number of races, determining a score corresponding to a finishing order of the plurality of characters participating in the race, and storing the score in the third memory for each of a plurality of the teams; (e) after the end of the predetermined number of races, determining a ranking of the teams based on the total score for each of the plurality of the teams stored in the processing (d); and 
     (f) providing an award based on: a ranking of the plurality of characters; a ranking of the teams determined in the processing (e); and a bet type and the bet amount stored in the second memory. 
     In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the controller can handle the similar processing as the second aspect. 
     In a fifth aspect of the present invention, a game control method is provided with a composition including: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a set of a predetermined number of races is executed; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters which participate in at least any one of the predetermined number of races and is a target of a bet; a plurality of terminal including an input device for accepting at least any one of: a first bet which is a bet on any one of a plurality of the teams; a second bet which is a bet on characters in each of the predetermined number of races; and a third bet which is a bet on a series of the teams, designating finishing places thereof after the predetermined number of races, and input a bet amount; second memory for storing, for each of a plurality of terminals, at least any one of the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet, and the bet amount; third memory for storing, for each of the plurality of the teams, a score provided to the plurality of the teams; a controller for executing the predetermined number of racing games; a communication network device for allowing intercommunication between the plurality of terminals and the controller, in which the method executed by the controller includes steps of: (a) receiving at least any one of the first bet, the second bet and the third bet, and the bet amount from the plurality of terminals and storing thereof in the second memory; (b) after the end of each of the predetermined number of races, determining a score corresponding to a finishing order of the plurality of characters participating in the race, and storing the score in the third memory for each of the teams; (c) after the end of the predetermined number of races, determining ranking of the teams based on a total score for each of the plurality of the teams stored in the processing (b); and (d) providing an award based on: a ranking of the plurality of characters; a ranking of the teams determined in the processing (c); and a bet type and the bet amount of each of the plurality of terminals. 
     In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the controller can handle the similar processing as described in the first aspect. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a flow chart showing the main part of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the gaming system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the configuration of a gaming system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a main controller of the gaming system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the terminal device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing an outline of the terminal device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the main flow chart of a gaming system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a score table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing bet target team determination processing of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing bet target team determination table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing team result processing of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram showing a display example of the sub display device of the terminal device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing a display example of the main display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram showing a display example of the main display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram showing a display example of the main display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The main part of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 1 . A main control unit  112 , of a main controller  20  that performs the overall control the gaming system  1  according to the present invention, determines a plurality of characters participating in each of a set of races and a plurality of teams as a target of a bet (Step S 101 ). In Step S 102 , the main control unit  112  displays the plurality of characters participating in a race and a plurality of the teams on a main display device  21  and/or a sub display device  34 . In Step S 103 , the main control unit  112  receives from a plurality of terminal devices  30  bet and bet amount accepted thereby, and stores the same, for each terminal device  30 , in a predetermined storage region in RAM  142  being second memory. In Step S 104 , the main control unit  112  determines whether a bet accepting period has elapsed or not. In the case of a YES determination, processing is advanced to Step S 105 , and in the case of a NO determination, processing is advanced to Step S 103 . In Step S 105 , a racing game is executed, and then processing advances to Step S 106 . In Step S 106 , the main control unit  112  determines whether the predetermined number of races in a set is executed or not. In the case of a YES determination, processing is advanced to Step S 107 , and in the case of a NO determination, processing is advanced to Step S 103  for accepting bet for next race. In Step S 107 , the main control unit  112  calculates award for each of the plurality of characters and score for each team based on a result of the racing game, and provides award to each terminal device  30 . 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an appearance of a gaming system  1  including a plurality of terminal devices  30 . The gaming system  1  is a multi-player gaming system for a multi-player-type horse racing game, in which a plurality of players can participate, including a plurality of terminal devices  30  and a main controller  20 , which is a controller having a large main display device  21 . 
     The main controller  20  includes and controls the main display device  21  and speakers  22  installed on both sides of the main display device  21 . 
     The main display device  21  is a large projector display device. The main display device  21  displays an image of a plurality of racehorses racing, a result of a race, and the like, in response to commands by the main controller  20 . On the other hand, a sub display device  34  included in each terminal device  30  displays odds information for each racehorse, information related to a bet made by the player himself, and the like. It should be noted that a large projector display device as the main display device  21  is used in the present embodiment; however, the present invention is not limited thereto and any large monitor can be used. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a network of the gaming system  1 . 
     In the gaming system  1 , the main controller  20  and the plurality of terminal devices  30  can communicate with each other via a communication line and form a network  40 . The main display device  21  is configured to be controlled by the main controller  20 . The communication line can provide a wired or wireless connection. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main control unit  112  included in the main controller  20 . Basically, the main control unit  112  is constituted mainly of a microcomputer  145  constituted of a CPU  141 , RAM  142 , ROM  143 , and a bus  144  for data transfer therebetween. The RAM  142  and the ROM  143  are connected to the CPU  141  via the bus  144 . The RAM  142  is memory for temporarily storing various data computed by the CPU  141 . The ROM  143  stores various programs for the operations required for the control of the gaming system  1 , data tables, and the like. 
     An image processing circuit  131  is connected to the microcomputer  145  via an I/O interface  146 . The image processing circuit  131  is connected to the main display device  21  and controls the operation thereof. 
     The image processing circuit  131  is constituted of: program ROM; image ROM; an image control CPU; work RAM; a video display processor (VDP); video RAM; and the like (Not shown). The program ROM stores an image control program and various selection tables related to the display on the main display device  21 . The image ROM stores pixel data for forming an image, such as pixel data for forming an image on the main display device  21 . The image control CPU determines an image to be displayed on the main display device  21  from pixel data prestored in the image ROM based on a parameter defined by the microcomputer  145  and in accordance with an image control program prestored in the program ROM. The work RAM functions as a temporary storage device for executing the image control program by the image control CPU. The VDP generates image data according to the display content determined by the image control CPU, and outputs the same to the main display device  21 . The video RAM functions as a temporary storage device to be used for forming an image by the VDP. 
     A sound circuit  132  is connected to the microcomputer  145  via the I/O interface  146 . A speaker  22  is connected to the sound circuit  132 . The speaker  22  generates various sound effects, BGM and the like for implementing various effects, based on a driving signal from the CPU  141  and with an output control by the sound circuit  132 . 
     An external storage device  125  is connected to the microcomputer  145  via the I/O interface  146 . The external storage device  125  operates similarly to the image ROM in the image processing circuit  131 , and pixel data for forming an image, such as pixel data for forming an image on the main display device  21 , is stored therein. Therefore, the image control CPU in the image processing circuit  131  selects an image to be displayed on the main display device  21  also from pixel data prestored in the external storage device  125 . 
     A communication interface  136  is connected to the microcomputer  145  via the I/O interface  146 . A sub control unit  202  of each terminal device  30  is connected to the communication interface  136 . This allows two-way communication between the CPU  141  and each terminal device  30 . The CPU  141  can transmit and receive instructions, requests, data and the like with respect to each terminal device  30  via the communication interface  136 . Therefore, the main controller  20  of the gaming system  1  controls the progress of a horse racing game, in cooperation with each terminal device  30 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing an appearance of each terminal device  30 . The terminal device  30  includes: a seat  31  on which a player can sit; an opening  32  formed on one of four lateral faces of the terminal device  30 ; a seat encircling portion  33  that covers three of four lateral faces of the terminal device  30  except for the lateral face having the opening  32 ; and a sub display device  34  installed on the seat encircling portion  33 , in the front portion of the terminal device  30 , that displays images related to the game. 
     The seat  31  includes: a seating surface  311  on which a player sits; a backrest  312  supporting the back of a player; a headrest  313  installed on top of the backrest  312 ; armrests  314  installed on both sides of the backrest  312 ; and a leg portion  315  fixed to the base portion  35 . 
     The seat encircling portion  33  includes: a side unit  331  installed on an opposite face to the lateral face having the opening  32 ; a front unit  332  installed in the front portion of the terminal device  30 ; and a back unit  333  installed in the rear portion of the terminal device  30 . This allows a player to sit on and get out of the seat  31  through the opening  32 , in which the seat encircling portion  33  is not formed. 
     A medal slot into which medals corresponding to credits are inserted, a medal payout opening that pays out medals corresponding to credits, and the like are fixed on the side unit  331  (not shown). It should be noted that the gaming medium used in the present embodiment is medals; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Examples of the gaming medium include coins, tokens, electronic money, or any equivalent valuable information such as electronic credit. In this case, credit can be paid out by a ticket printed out from a ticket printer  216  (described later). 
     The front unit  332  is a table having the base portion  35  and a substantially horizontal level surface, which is movably supported on the side unit  331 , in the front portion of the terminal device  30 . A player sitting on the seat  31  can put his legs into a space under the front unit  332 . 
     The back unit  333  is integrated with the side unit  331  and constitutes a part of the seat encircling portion  33 . 
     The sub display device  34  includes a supporting arm  341  supported by the front unit  332  and a rectangular liquid crystal monitor  342  for displaying, fixed at the distal end of the supporting arm  341 . The liquid crystal monitor  342  is a so-called touch panel, and is provided at a position facing the chest of a player sitting on the seat  31 . The liquid crystal monitor  342 , which is a touch panel, serves as an input device used by a player to bet. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a sub control unit  202  included in the terminal device  30 . The sub control unit  202  controls the terminal device  30  and basically is constituted mainly of a microcomputer  235  constituted of a CPU  231 , RAM  232 , ROM  233 , and a bus  234  for data transfer therebetween. The RAM  232  and the ROM  233  are connected to the CPU  231  via the bus  234 . The RAM  232  is memory for temporarily storing various data computed by the CPU  231 . The ROM  233  stores various programs for the operations required for the control of the terminal device  30 , data tables, and the like. 
     A sub monitor driving circuit  221  is connected to the microcomputer  235  via the I/O interface  236 . A liquid crystal monitor  342  is connected to the sub monitor driving circuit  221 . The sub monitor driving circuit  221  controls the operation of the liquid crystal monitor  342  based on a driving signal from the main controller  20 . 
     A touch panel driving circuit  222  is connected to the microcomputer  235  via the I/o interface  146 . A liquid crystal monitor  342  as a touch panel is connected to the touch panel driving circuit  222 . An instruction, by a touching operation by a user, to the surface of the liquid crystal monitor  342  (touched position) is input to the CPU  231  based on a coordinate signal from the touch panel driving circuit  222 . 
     A bill validator driving circuit  223  is connected to the microcomputer  235  via the I/O interface  236 . A bill validator  215  is connected to the bill validator driving circuit  223 . The bill validator  215  determines whether a bill or a bar coded ticket is valid or not. Upon reception of a valid bill, the bill validator  215  inputs the value thereof to the CPU  231  based upon the validating signal from the bill validator driving circuit  223 . In addition, upon reception of a valid bar coded ticket, the bill validator  215  inputs the amount of credit and the like recorded therein to the CPU  231  based upon the validating signal from the bill validator driving circuit  223 . 
     A ticket printer driving circuit  224  is connected to the microcomputer  235  via the I/O interface  146 . A ticket printer  216  is connected to the ticket printer driving circuit  224 . With an output control by the ticket printer driving circuit  224  based on a driving signal output from the CPU  231 , the ticket printer  216  prints a bar code on a ticket, on which the data such as the credit amount stored in the RAM  232  are coded, and then prints out a bar coded ticket. 
     The communication interface  225  is connected to the microcomputer  235  via the I/O interface  236 . The main control unit  112  of the main controller  20  is connected to the communication interface  225 . This allows for two-way communication between the CPU  231  and the main control unit  112 . The CPU  231  can transmit and receive instructions, requests, data and the like with respect to the main control unit  112  via the communication interface  225 . Therefore, each terminal device  30  of the gaming system  1  controls the progress of a horse racing game, in cooperation with the main controller  20 . 
     A flow of the operation of the gaming system  1  is explained hereinafter with reference to the flow chart shown in  FIG. 7 . It should be noted that all the terminal devices  30  similarly perform a game in cooperation with the main controller  20 , although a single terminal device  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     The main controller  20  executes processing of Steps S 1  to S 14 . Firstly, in Step S 1 , the main control unit  112  performs initialization processing, and then processing advances to Step S 2 . In this processing, the CPU  141  determines courses of a plurality of races in a set, characters participating in each race, starting time of each race and the like of the horse racing game, and reads data thereof from the ROM  143 . 
     In Step S 2 , the main control unit  112  performs bet target team determination processing, and then processing advances to Step S 3 . In the bet target team determination processing, a team as a target of a bet is determined based on the characters participating in each race, which are determined in Step S 1 . In this processing, teams are determined for each set of races. In other words, all the characters participating in each race are members of different teams. After a set of races, ranking of teams is determined according to the result of the set of races. Details are described hereinafter. 
     In Step S 3 , the main control unit  112  sets a set counter, and then processing advances to Step S 4 . The set counter is a counter for determining if a set of races is performed. This processing sets a number of races as a value to the set counter. The number of races in one set is 3 in the present embodiment, thus a value “3” is set to the set counter. 
     In Step S 4 , the main control unit  112  transmits race information to each of the terminal devices  30 , and then processing advances to Step S 5 . In this process, the CPU  141  transmits data regarding: courses for a set of races and a course for the present race; characters participating in each race; bet target teams and members thereof; starting time of each race; and the like, to each terminal device  30 . 
     In Step S 5 , the main control unit  112  determines whether it is the time for starting the race. In a case where this determination is YES, processing advances to Step S 6 , and in a case where this determination is NO, Step S 5  is repeated. More specifically, the CPU  141  repeatedly checks the clock time until the time for starting the race comes, and, at the time for starting the race, advances to Step S 6 . 
     In Step S 6 , the main control unit  112  performs race displaying processing, and then processing advances to Step S 7 . In this processing, the CPU  141  displays a race image on the main display device  21  and outputs sound effects and a voice from the speakers  22 , based on data that is read from the ROM  143  in Step S 1 . 
     In Step S 7 , 1 is subtracted from the value of the set counter and then processing advances to Step S 8 . This processing means that a race is performed once. 
     In Step S 8 , the main control unit  112  performs race result processing, and then processing advances to Step S 9 . In this processing, the CPU  141  computes the payout for each terminal device  30  based on the finishing order of the characters that participated in the race, data regarding bet information received from each terminal device  30 , and the like. 
     In Step S 9 , the main control unit  112  performs processing of providing a score to the characters participating in the race corresponding to the finishing order, and then processing advances to Step S 10 . This processing is to determine the ranking of teams, in the following Step S 13 . More specifically, a score corresponding to the finishing order is provided to the characters participating in the race based on the point table, later described in  FIG. 8 , and is stored for each team and for each character, in RAM  142  as the third memory. 
     In Step S 11 , the main control unit  112  performs payout information transmission processing, and then processing advances to Step S 12 . This processing transmits data regarding payout and the like, computed by the CPU  141  in Step S 10 , to the corresponding terminal device  30 . 
     In Step S 12 , the main control unit  112  determines if the value of the set counter is 0. In the case of a YES determination, processing is advanced to Step S 13 , and in the case of a NO determination, processing is advanced to Step S 5 . This processing determines if all of the plurality of races in a set has been performed. 
     In Step S 13 , the main control unit  112  performs team result processing, and then processing advances to Step S 14 . In this processing, a ranking of teams is determined based on the score provided to the characters participating in the race. Details are to be hereinafter described. 
     In Step S 14 , the main control unit  112  performs payout information transmission processing, and then processing advances to Step S 1 . This processing transmits data regarding payout and the like, computed for each bet on teams by the CPU  141 , to the corresponding terminal device  30 . 
     On the other hand, each terminal device  30  executes processing of Steps S 21  to S 26 . Firstly, in Step S 21 , the sub control unit  202  performs bet image display processing, and then processing advances to Step S 22 . In this processing, the CPU  231  displays the odds for each racehorse, past records thereof and the like on the liquid crystal monitor  342 , based on the data sent from the main controller  20  in Step S 4 . 
     In Step S 22 , the sub control unit  202  performs bet operation accepting processing, and then processing advances to Step S 23 . In this processing, the CPU  231  enables touch operation by a player on the surface of the liquid crystal monitor  342  as a touch panel, starts accepting bet operation by the player, and changes images displayed thereon in accordance with the bet operation. 
     In Step S 23 , the sub control unit  202  determines whether a bet accepting period has elapsed or not. If the determination is YES, the flow advances to Step S 24 , and if NO, the flow advances to Step S 22 . More specifically, the CPU  231  repeatedly checks the clock time until a predetermined period is elapsed since the bet operation accepting processing is started in Step S 22 , and, once the predetermined period has elapsed, stop accepting the bet operation by the player and advances the flow to Step S 24 . 
     In Step S 24 , the sub control unit  202  determines whether a bet operation has been performed or not. If the determination is YES, the flow advances to Step S 25 , and if NO, the flow advances to Step S 21 . In this processing, the CPU  231  determines whether a bet operation has been performed in the abovementioned period in which the bet operation has been accepted. 
     In Step S 25 , the sub control unit  202  performs bet information transmission processing, and then processing advances to Step S 26 . In this processing, the CPU  231  transmits data regarding the performed bet operation to the main controller  20 . After receiving data regarding bet operation from a plurality of terminal device  30 , the main controller  20  stores each data, for each terminal device  30 , in a predetermined storage region in RAM  142  as second memory. 
     In Step S 26 , the sub control unit  202  performs payout processing, and then processing advances to Step S 21 . In this processing, the CPU  231  pays out medals from the medal payout opening, based on the data regarding payout and the like sent from the main controller  20  in Step S 8 . In other words, the processing performed on the terminal device  30  is repeated for each race in the main controller  20 . 
     The score table is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 8 . The score table is a table referenced in Step S 31  of  FIG. 10 . 
     In the score table, predetermined scores are associated with ranks. For example, the score for the first place is 15. The score is thus provided to characters participating in the race according to the finishing order thereof. 
     Bet target team determination processing is described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     In the bet target team determination processing, teams as a target of a bet are determined based on the characters participating in the race, which are determined in Step S 2  of  FIG. 7 . 
     In Step S 31 , the main control unit  112  of the main controller  20  reads bet target team determination table (later described in  FIG. 10 ) from a predetermined storage region in the ROM  143 , which is a first memory, and then advances to Step S 32 . 
     In Step S 32 , the main control unit  112  sets a target flag, in the bet target team determination table, to teams including only characters participating in a set of races, and then processing advances to Step S 33 . The target flag is used for determining if the team is an option for bet target teams or not, in the processing of Step S 33  (described later). Teams with the target flag are target of processing in Step S 33 . 
     In Step S 33 , the main control unit  112  determines bet target teams by generating random number, and then processing advances to Step S 34 . In the processing of Step  33 , a predetermined number of bet target teams are determined based on the bet target team determination table read in Step S 31  and the generated random numbers. More specifically, the main control unit  112  generates the same number of random numbers as the number of bet target teams, and assigns a bet target team for each random number from the teams with the target flag set in Step S 32 . 
     In Step S 34 , the main control unit  112  stores the bet target team being determined to the RAM  142 , and then processing advances to Step S 35 . 
     In Step S 35 , the main control unit  112  clears the target flag set in Step S 32 , and then processing advances to Step S 3  of  FIG. 7 . 
     The bet target team determination table read in Step S 31  and referenced in Steps S 32  and S 33  is described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     In the bet target team determination table, a team number, a member number and a value are correlated to each other. The team number is a serial number for each of the teams that can be bet target. The member number is a number of each character participating in the race. The member numbers in the same column belong to the same team. A team is formed of an arbitral number of characters. In the present embodiment, three characters comprise a team. A “Target flag” column shows the target flags set in Step  32  of  FIG. 9 . For example, teams having “x” in the “Target flag” column in the bet target team determination table are target of the processing of Step S 33 . 
     It should be noted that a team does not have duplicate characters. In other words, multiple identical characters cannot be members of the same team. 
     Identical characters can belong to different teams in a set of races. In other words, different teams can have the same character at once. For example, team numbers  2  and  4  in the bet target team determination table can be selected as a bet target in the same set of races. The team number  2  has characters of  1 ,  2 , and  4  as members and the team number  4  has characters of  1 ,  2 , and  6  as members. In this case, the characters  1  and  2  are members of different teams in the same set of races. 
     To select a team, the main control unit  112  generates the same number of random numbers as the number of teams as a bet target. In the present embodiment, the number of bet target teams is 6. In this case, the main control unit  112  generates 6 random numbers. 
     Subsequently, the main control unit  112  subtracts the value associated with the team, sequentially from smaller team number, from the generated random number. In a case where the result is smaller than 0, the team having the value becomes a bet target team. 
     After the bet target team is thus determined for the first random number, a value is subtracted from the second random number, sequentially from the next team number having the target flag, until a negative number is obtained. The main control unit  112  thus determines bet target teams for the 6 random numbers. 
     For example, in a case where one of the generated random numbers is “5”, the main control unit  112  subtracts the number associated with a team, having the smallest team number and the target flag, therefrom. In the present embodiment, team number  2  and  3  have the target flag set. In this case, “4”, a value associated with the team number  2 , is subtracted from the random number. The result is “1”, which is a positive number. Subsequently, the main control unit  112  subtracts “6”, a value associated with the next team having the target flag (team number  3 ), from the result of the subtraction “1”. In this case, a negative number is obtained and the team number  3  becomes a bet target team for the random number “5”. Next, the main control unit  112  subtracts a value associated with the team number  5 , the next row having the target flag, from the second random number. 
     Team result processing is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 11 . The team result processing corresponds to Step S 13  in  FIG. 7 . 
     In Step S 41 , the main control unit  112  reads the score provided to each character in Step S 9 , and then processing advances to Step S 42 . 
     In Step S 42 , the main control unit  112  sums the score provided to characters that are members of each bet target team in a set of races, and then processing advances to Step S 43 . More specifically, ranking of the teams is determined based on the total score of each team. For example, in a case where the team number  2  is one of the bet target teams, the main control unit  112  sums the score of characters  1 ,  2 , and  4 , which are the members of the team number  2 . For example, in cases where the character  1  is in the first place, the character  2  is in the fifth place and the character  4  is in the tenth place, the score provided thereto is 15, 8, and 2, respectively. The sum total of the score is thus  25 . 
     In Step S 43 , the main control unit  112  determines the ranking of teams based on the sum total of the score for each team calculated in Step S 42 , and then processing advances to Step S 14  of  FIG. 7 . In the present embodiment, the team having the higher sum total of score is ranked higher. 
     A display example of the bet window shown on the liquid crystal monitor  342  of the terminal device  30  is hereinafter described with reference to  FIG. 12 . The liquid crystal monitor  342  can be used as a touch panel, thus allowing a player to perform a bet operation by touching the touch panel according to the display thereon. In other words, the liquid crystal monitor and the touch panel are an input device of the terminal device  30 . 
     The bet window is divided into 5 areas in the display example of  FIG. 12 . The first area  61  displays the character number, the post position, the character name and the like of the characters participating in the race. A player can select the character to bet on with reference thereto. 
     The second area  62  is an area for performing the second bet, betting on characters. An input area is provided for each bet type that can be chosen in the racing game. The bet types can include any bet type that can be chosen in the normal horse racing games, such as Win (to predict a character for the first place) and Quinella (to predict a combination of characters for the first and the second places). To input, a player touches a bet type to make the bet type be in a selected state. Subsequently, a player touches a character number or a character name displayed on the first area  61  to bet thereon. For example, to make a Win bet, a player first touches an item  622  “Win”, and then touches a character number or a character name displayed on the first area. This inputs the character number touched by a player in a column  623 . 
     The third area  63  is an area for performing the first bet, betting on teams. Bet target teams and character number of members thereof are displayed on the third area  63 . For example, a team  1  has character numbers  1 ,  3  and  5  as members. 6 bet target teams are thus displayed in the present embodiment. In a case of betting on a team, a player can specify a bet target by touching an area  631 , in which a team to bet on is displayed. A player can input a bet amount by touching an ante input area  71 , and then each number key  651  displayed in a numerical pad area  65 . 
     A team order input area  633 , used for betting on finishing order of teams, is provided in the third area  63 . This area is used for making a bet on teams finishing in the first and the second places after a set of races. A player touches first the team order input area  633  and then the area  631  showing a team to bet on, to input the team number thereof in the team order input area. Alternatively, a player can also input the team number using the number keys  651  shown in the numerical pad area  65 . 
     The fourth area  64  displays a list of bets made by a player. A player can check the number of races left in the set, the bets made, the credits remaining and the like, by looking at the fourth area  64 . 
     The fifth area  65  is the numerical pad area. A player inputs bet amount in the fifth area  65 . A player can input a bet amount by touching an ante input area  71 , and then each number key  651  displayed in a numerical pad area  65 . A player can confirm the input numerical value by touching an input key  652 . 
     A display example of the main display device  21  is described with reference to  FIGS. 13 to 15 . 
       FIG. 13  is a display example of the main display device  21  before the first race of a set of races. According to  FIG. 13 , the main display device  21  displays a team table  81 , which shows teams to be selected as bet target, and order of appearance of characters thereof in the race. The order of appearance in the race is shown by character numbers in each column for a team. More specifically, the leftmost number is the character appears in the first race; the number in the center is the character appears in the second race; and the rightmost number is the character appears in the third race. 
     To the left of the team table  81 , a team odds table is displayed. 
       FIG. 14  is a display example of the main display device  21  before the second race of the set of races. According to  FIG. 14 , the main display device  21  displays a team table  81  and a team odds table  82  as in  FIG. 13 , and additionally a finishing order table  83  which shows the result of the first race. The finishing order table  83  shows the finishing order of each character in the first race. 
       FIG. 15  is a display example of the main display device  21  before the third race of the set of races. According to  FIG. 15 , the main display device  21  displays a team table  81 , an odds table  82  and a finishing order table  83 , as in  FIG. 14 . In addition to the result of the first race, the finishing order table  83  also shows the result of the second race. This can help the player to predict the final winner team, and, give a player, who has already made a bet, an expectation that the team he bet on may win. 
     The present invention provides a gaming system, a gaming machine and a game control method as a racing game in which a predetermined number of races in a set takes place and a player can, in addition to betting based on a certain character among a plurality of characters participating in the race, bet on a team constituted of a plurality of characters. Thus, a relay-like racing game can be provided. This can provide a gaming system, a gaming machine and a game control method with various bet types and a higher chance of being rewarded, thus arousing interest and excitement of the player. In addition, racing game with various winning patterns can be provided, since only one strong character cannot make a team win. 
     In the present embodiment, a player can bet on teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters, in addition to a ranking of characters; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration allowing only betting on teams is also possible. In addition, the number of members of a team is 3 in the present embodiment; however, the present invention is not limited thereto and a team can have less or more members. 
     In the present embodiment, a higher score is provided to a character of a higher rank, and the team having the higher sum total of score is ranked higher; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a lower score can be assigned to a character of a higher rank, and the team having the lower sum total of score can be ranked higher. 
     In the present embodiment, a bet can be made on a team of the first place and to teams of the first and the second places; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, an embodiment is possible in which bet types such as Place and Quinella are provided, as in the bet on characters. 
     It should be noted that the gaming medium used in the present embodiment is medals; however, the present invention are not limited thereto. Examples of the gaming medium include coins, tokens, electronic money, or any equivalent valuable information such as electronic credit. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it is apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims appended to this specification.