Patent Publication Number: US-2009227302-A1

Title: Gaming system enabling to bet on any team formed with a predetermined number of characters, gaming machine and game control method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/034,264, 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 gaming system 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 characters race for a finishing order. 
     2. Related Art 
     Conventionally, racing games are known in which a plurality of characters race, a player bets by predicting the finishing order, and the player is awarded based on the rank of the bet on character and odds announced before the start of the race. A representative example of such a racing game is a game in which the racing character is a horse, such as in the 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, almost all horse racing games are 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, in a case where an individual character is configured to be “strong”, the individual character is likely to win the race. Betting on the “strong” individual character can make the probability of winning high; however, the odds thereof become 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 gaming system control method in which 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 various betting options and increasing the chance to win a bet, to arouse the 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 plurality of characters, which is a target of a bet, races; first memory storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of the characters; a plurality of terminals including an input device accepting a designation of at least any one of: a character as a target of a bet from the plurality of characters; and a team as a target of a bet from the plurality of teams stored in the first memory, and a predetermined bet amount; second memory storing at least any one of the character and the team as a target of a bet, and the bet amount for each of the plurality of terminals; and a controller for executing the racing game; and 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 character and the team as a target of a bet, and the bet amount from the plurality of terminals and storing the same in the second memory; (b) after a race, determining a score corresponding to a ranking for each of the plurality of characters and accumulating a resulting score for each of the plurality of teams; (c) after the processing (b), determining ranking of the teams based on the accumulated score; and (d) providing an award based on: the ranking of the plurality of characters; the ranking of the teams; and the bet type and the bet amount of each of the plurality of terminals. 
     In the first aspect of the present invention, the controller of the gaming system receives at least any one of a character as a target of the bet and a team as a target of the bet, and the bet amount from a plurality of terminals. Then, for each of the plurality of terminals, the controller stores the received information in the second memory. Subsequently, the controller executes and displays a racing game on a display, determines a score for each of the plurality of characters corresponding to the ranking thereof, and accumulates the score for each of the plurality of teams. Then the controller determines the ranking of the teams based on the accumulated score and provides an award to the plurality of terminals based on: the ranking of the characters; the ranking of the teams; the bet type; and the bet amount. 
     In a second aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a plurality of characters, which is a target of a bet, races; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of the characters; a plurality of terminals including an input device accepting a designation of at least any one of: a character as a target of a bet from the plurality of characters; and a team as a target of a bet from the plurality of teams stored in the first memory, and a predetermined amount of bet; second memory for storing at least any one of the character and the team as the target of the bet, and the bet amount for each of the plurality of terminals; and a controller for executing the racing game; and 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 a team selected in processing (a) on the display; (c) receiving at least any one of the character and the team as the target of the bet, and the bet amount from the plurality of terminals and storing thereof in the second memory; 
     (d) after a race, determining a score corresponding to the ranking for each of the plurality of characters and accumulating the resulting score for each of the plurality of teams; (e) after the processing (d), determining a ranking of the teams based on the accumulated score; and (f) providing an award based on: the ranking of the plurality of characters; the ranking of the teams; and the 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 has stored teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of characters in the first memory, which can be selected as a target of a bet by a player using the input device. The controller determines teams as options for a target of the bet and displays thereof on the display, before betting by a player. Subsequently, the player bets on one of the plurality of characters or on one of the plurality of teams, using the input device. After receiving bets from the plurality of terminals, the controller stores the bet type and the bet amount for each of the plurality of terminals in the second memory. Then, the controller executes a race and tallies the result thereof. In other words, the controller provides a score to each of the plurality of characters corresponding to the ranking thereof, and accumulates a score for each of the teams shown as options on the display. Then, the controller determines the ranking of the teams based on the accumulated score, and provides an award depending on the bet type 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 and the ranking of each of the plurality of teams. 
     In a third aspect of the gaming system according to the second aspect of the present invention, a combination of the plurality of characters in the plurality of teams stored in the first memory is any combination in which members thereof do not include duplicate characters, and the same character can be a member of different teams at the same time. 
     In the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the gaming system described in the second aspect, a combination of the plurality of characters in the plurality of teams stored in the first memory is a combination in which members thereof do not include duplicate characters. In other words, a plurality of identical characters cannot exist in a team. However, identical characters can be a member of different teams at the same time. For example, in a case in which there are characters 1 to 5, there can be five teams of the choices: 1-2-3; 1-3-5; 2-4-5; 3-2-4; and 3-4-5, thus including identical characters. 
     In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is includes: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a plurality of characters, which is a target of a bet, races; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of the characters; an input device for accepting a designation of at least any one of: a character as a target of a bet from the plurality of characters; and a team as a target of the bet from the plurality of teams stored in the first memory, and a predetermined bet amount; second memory for storing at least any one of the character and the team as a target of the bet, and the bet amount; a controller for executing the racing game, in which the controller executes the following processing of: (a) storing at least any one of the character and the team as the target of the bet, and the bet amount for each of the plurality of terminals in the second memory; (b) after a race, determining a score corresponding to a ranking for each of the plurality of characters and accumulating a resulting score for each of the plurality of teams; (c) after the processing (b), determining the ranking of the teams based on the accumulated score; and (d) providing an award based on: the ranking of the plurality of characters; the ranking of the teams; and the bet type and the bet amount stored in the second memory. 
     In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the controller can handle similar processing as described in the first aspect. 
     In a fifth aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine includes: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a plurality of characters, which is a target of a bet, races; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of the characters; an input device for accepting a designation of at least any one of: a character as a target of the bet from the plurality of characters; and a team as a target of the bet from the plurality of teams stored in the first memory, and a predetermined bet amount; second memory for storing at least any one of the character and the team as the target of the bet, and the bet amount; a controller executing the racing game, 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 a team selected in the processing (a) on the display; (c) storing at least any one of the character and the team being target of a bet, and the amount of bet for each of the plurality of terminals in the second memory; (d) after a race, determining a score corresponding to a ranking for each of the plurality of characters and accumulating the resulting score for each of the plurality of teams; (e) after the processing (d), determining the ranking of the teams based on an accumulated score; and (f) providing an award based on: the ranking of the plurality of characters; the ranking of the teams; and the bet type and the bet amount stored in the second memory. 
     In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the controller can handle similar processing as the second aspect. 
     In a sixth aspect the gaming machine according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a combination of the plurality of characters in the plurality of teams stored in the first memory is any combination in which members thereof do not include duplicate characters, and the same character can be a member of different teams at the same time. 
     In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the same combination can be used as described in the third aspect. 
     In a seventh aspect of the present invention, a gaming system control method is provided for controlling a racing game executed by a gaming machine having: a display for displaying images related to a racing game in which a plurality of characters, which is a target of a bet, races; first memory for storing a plurality of teams constituted of a predetermined plurality of the characters; a plurality of terminals including an input device for accepting a designation of at least any one of: a character as a target of the bet from the plurality of characters; and a team as a target of the bet from the plurality of teams stored in the first memory, and a predetermined bet amount; second memory for storing at least any one of the character and the team as the target of the bet, and the bet amount for each of the plurality of terminals; and a controller for executing the racing game, including steps, executed by the controller, of: (a) receiving at least any one of the character and the team as the target of the bet, and the bet amount from the plurality of terminals and storing thereof in the second memory; (b) after a race, determining a score corresponding to a ranking for each of the plurality of characters and accumulating a resulting score for each of the plurality of teams; (c) after the processing (b), determining the ranking of the teams based on the accumulated score; and (d) providing an award based on: the ranking of the plurality of characters; the ranking of the teams; and the bet type and the bet amount of each of the plurality of terminals. 
     In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the controller can handle similar processing as described in the first aspect. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a flow chart showing a 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 flowchart showing bet target team determination processing of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing a bet target team determination table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing team result processing of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing a score table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         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. 
     
    
    
     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 , which is of a main controller  20  that performs the overall control of the gaming system  1  according to the present invention, determines a plurality of characters participating in a race 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 the plurality of 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  a bet and a bet amount accepted thereby, and stores the same, for each terminal device  30 , in a predetermined storage region in RAM  142  as 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 the processing advances to Step S 106 . In Step S 106 , the main control unit  112  determines an award for each of the plurality of characters based on a result of the racing game, calculates a score for each team, and provides an award to each of the plurality of terminal devices  30 . 
       FIG. 2  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 projection 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, 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 projection display device 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 to 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. 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 thereof 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 . Speaker devices  22  are connected to the sound circuit  132 . The speaker devices  22  generate 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 credits. In this case, credits 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 gaming system  1 , data tables, and the like. 
     A sub monitor driving circuit  221  is connected to the microcomputer  235  via an 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 an 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 the 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 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 gaming machine body  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 operations 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 7 . Firstly, in Step S 1 , the main control unit  112  performs initialization processing, and then the flow advances to Step S 2 . In this processing, the CPU  141  determines a course of the race, characters participating in the race, starting time and the like of the horse racing game, and reads data thereof from the ROM  143 . In the present embodiment, all of the registered characters participate in the race. 
     In Step S 2 , the main control unit  112  performs bet target team determination processing, and then the flow 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 the race, which are determined in Step S 1 . The team is a unit of a predetermined number of characters, which can be a target of a bet. Ranking of the teams is determined by ranking of the members thereof. Details are described hereinafter. 
     In Step S 3 , the main control unit  112  transmits race information to each terminal device  30 , and then the flow advances to Step S 4 . In this processing, the CPU  141  transmits a course of the race, characters participating in the race, bet target teams, the starting time and the like, to each terminal device  30 . 
     In Step S 4 , the main control unit  112  determines whether it is the starting time for the race. In a case where this determination is YES, the flow advances to Step S 5 , and in a case where this determination is NO, Step S 4  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 5 . It should be noted that, in a case where bet information is received, the bet information is stored in a predetermined storage region in the PAM  142  for each terminal device  30 . The bet information includes a bet for each character, a bet for a team, and information regarding the bet amount thereof. 
     In Step S 5 , the main control unit  112  performs race displaying processing, and then advances to Step S 6 . 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 6 , the main control unit  112  performs race result processing, and then advances to Step S 7 . 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 7 , the main control unit  112  performs team result processing, and then advances to Step S 8 . In this processing, a ranking of teams is determined based on the finishing order of the characters that participated in the race. Details are described hereinafter. 
     In Step S 8 , the main control unit  112  performs payout information transmission processing, and then advances to Step S 1 . In this processing, the CPU  141  transmits data regarding payout and the like computed in Steps S 6  and S 7  to the corresponding terminal device  30 . 
     On the other hand, each terminal device  30  executes processing of Steps S 11  to S 16 . Firstly, in Step S 11 , the sub control unit  202  performs bet image display processing, and then advances to Step S 12 . 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 2 . 
     In Step S 12 , the sub control unit  202  performs bet operation accepting processing, and then advances to Step S 13 . 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 a bet operation by the player, and changes images displayed thereon in accordance with the bet operation. 
     In Step S 13 , the sub control unit  202  determines whether a bet accepting period has elapsed or not. In a case where this determination is YES, the flow advances to Step S 14 , and in a case where this determination is NO, the flow advances to Step S 12 . More specifically, the CPU  231  repeatedly checks the clock time until a predetermined period has elapsed since the bet operation accepting processing is started in Step S 12 , and, once the predetermined period has elapsed, stop accepting bet operations by the player and advances to Step S 14 . 
     In Step S 14 , 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 15 , and if NO, the flow advances to Step S 11 . In this processing, the CPU  231  determines whether a bet operation has been performed in the abovementioned period in which the bet operation was accepted. 
     In Step S 15 , the sub control unit  202  performs bet information transmission processing, and then advances to Step S 16 . In this processing, the CPU  231  transmits data regarding the performed bet operation to the main controller  20 . 
     In Step S 16 , the sub control unit  202  performs payout processing, and then advances to Step S 11 . 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 . 
     Bet target team determination processing is described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     In the bet target team determination processing, teams as the target of a bet are determined based on the characters participating in the race, which are determined in Step S 1  of  FIG. 7 . 
     In Step S 21 , the main control unit  112  of the main controller  20  reads a bet target team determination table (later described in  FIG. 9 ) from a predetermined storage region in the ROM  143 , which is first memory, and then advances to Step S 22 . 
     In Step S 22 , the main control unit  112  determines bet target teams by generating random numbers, and then advances to Step S 23 . In the processing of Step  22 , a predetermined number of bet target teams are determined based on the bet target team determination table read in Step S 21  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. 
     In Step S 23 , the main control unit  112  stores the bet target team as determined to the RAM  142 , and then advances to Step S 3  of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the bet target team determination table read in Step S 21  and referenced in Step S 22 . 
     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 a plurality of teams. 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 a predetermined number of characters. In the present embodiment, three characters comprise a team. 
     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 one race. 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 race. 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 race. 
     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 team number  1 , from the generated random number. In a case where the result is smaller than 0 (a negative number), 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 row of the bet target team until a negative number is obtained. The main control unit  112  thus determines bet target teams for the 6 random numbers. In a case where a negative number is not obtained after subtracting a value of the last row, the subtraction is continued from the first row. 
     For example, in a case where one of the generated random numbers is “5”, the main control unit  112  subtracts “2”, associated with the team number  1 , therefrom. The result is “3”, which is a positive number. Subsequently, the main control unit  112  subtracts “4” in the next row from the result of the subtraction “3”. In this case, a negative number is obtained and the team number  2  becomes a bet target team for the random number “5”. Next, the main control unit  112  subtracts a value associated with the team number  3  in the next row from the second random number. The bet target teams are thus determined. 
     Team result processing is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 10 . The team result processing corresponds to Step S 7  in  FIG. 7 . 
     First, in Step S 31 , the main control unit  112  provides a score corresponding to the ranking of characters to each character, based on the ranking of the characters participating in the race and a score table (described later in  FIG. 11 ). Then, the flow advances to Step S 32 . 
     In Step S 32 , the main control unit  112  sums the score provided to characters that are members of each bet target team, and then advances to Step S 33 . 
     In Step S 33 , 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 33 , and then advances to Step S 8  of  FIG. 7 . In the present embodiment, the team having a higher sum total of a score is ranked higher. 
     The score table is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 11 . The score table is a table referenced in Step S 31  of  FIG. 10 . 
     In the score table, 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. 
     In Step S 32 , the main control unit  112  sums the scores for each team, and in Step S 33 , the ranking of teams is determined. 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 a case 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. 
     A display example of the bet window shown on the liquid crystal monitor  342  of the terminal device  30  is described hereinafter 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 4 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 betting. 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 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  622 . 
     The third area  63  is an area for 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 player can confirm the input numerical value by touching a confirm key  652 . 
     To input a numerical value in each area, a player can use the number keys  651  in the numerical pad area  65 . 
     The fourth area  64  displays a list of bets made by a player. A player can check the bets made and the credits remaining by looking at the fourth area  64 . 
     In the present embodiment, the bet target of the racing game includes teams, in addition to characters. In other words, even if one single character arrives early, a prize is not necessarily provided. Whether a prize is provided or not is determined in relation to the finishing order of other characters. This can provide a larger number of kinds of bets, whereby various bet types are provided having a higher chance of being rewarded, thus arousing interest and excitement of the player. 
     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, values to be subtracted from the random number generated by the main control unit  112  are defined in the bet target team determination table; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and ranges can be defined for random numbers generated. In other words, in a case where a certain random number is within a certain range, a team with a team number associated with the range is selected as a bet target team. 
     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, all of the registered characters participate in the race; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a larger number of characters can be registered than a number of characters participating in the race, and the characters participating in the race can be selected therefrom. In this case, in the processing of selecting bet target teams, teams including only characters participating in the race can be selected. In other words, for example, a flag can be set to teams including only characters participating in the race, and the bet target teams can be selected therefrom by random number lottery. 
     In the present embodiment, a bet can be made to a team of the first place; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as in the bet on characters, a bet can be made on a combination of teams in the first and second places, or a bet can be made by predicting the ranking of characters in a selected team. 
     It should be noted that the gaming system includes the main display device  21  that is installed so as to be visible from a plurality of the terminal devices  30 , in the present embodiment; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the network  40  can be expanded worldwide without providing the main display device  21 . In this case, in addition to information displayed on the sub display device, a race image and a race result image, displayed on the main display  21  in the present embodiment, should be displayed on each of the plurality of terminal devices  30 . 
     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 credits. 
     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.