Gaming machine

#The invention relates to a gaming machine having reels, such as a slot machine or a skilled-stop type gaming machine.

#Gaming machines having reels, such as slot machines and skilled-stop gaming machines, are classified into reel-type gaming machines having mechanical spinning reels, and video-type gaming machines for variably displaying symbols on a display. On the basis of image data stored in a ROM or the like, the video-type gaming machine displays symbols on the display. Hence, the size and color of a symbol to be displayed can be changed freely. Accordingly, the video-type gaming machine provides a variety of presentation effects. Further, moving animations can also be displayed on the video-type gaming machine.

#The reel-type gaming machine usually comprises three reels, three reel stop buttons associated with the respective reels, and a start lever to be used for starting a game. When a player actuates the start lever, all reels start spinning simultaneously. When the player presses the respective reel stop buttons, the corresponding reels come to a halt. When specific symbols have come to a halt along a valid pay line, a winning combination is established, whereby a win arises. As a result, the player can acquire tokens equal in number to the thus-established winning combination.

#The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a slot machine;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a reel housing;

#Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinbelow by reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, an explanation is given of a case where the invention is applied to a slot machine.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a slot machine 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. A housing of the slot machine 1 has a main unit 2, and a front door 3 attached to the front of the main unit 2. A liquid-crystal display device 9 for providing a player with predetermined information is arranged at an upper portion of the front door 3. A panel display section D disposed at a middle portion of the front door 3 has three horizontally-oriented rectangular display windows 4a, 4b, and 4c. Three horizontal pay lines L1 through L3 and two sloped pay lines L4 and L5 are provided across the display windows 4a, 4b, and 4c. Three reels, on whose outer peripheral faces a plurality of kinds of symbols are drawn; that is, a left reel R1, a center reel R2, and a right reel R3, are rotatably disposed at the inside of the panel display section D. The display windows 4a, 4b, and 4c are formed from transparent material; e.g., acrylic resin. Accordingly, the player can observe symbols appearing on the respective left, center, and right reels R1, R2, and R3 through the display windows 4a, 4b, and 4c.

#FIG. 2 shows a reel housing 20 from which a right reel R3 has been removed and which is provided with only a left reel R1 and a center reel R2. The reel housing 20 is provided at a position away from the display windows 4a, 4b, and 4c shown in FIG. 1; that is, a position located slightly higher than the inner center of the main body 2. The three reels R1, R2, and R3 are arranged at positions in the reel housing 20 where the reels share a common axis. The reels R1, R2, and R3 are rotated and stopped by stepping motors attached to the respective reels (FIG. 2 shows only a center reel stepping motor S2 for driving the center reel R2).