In a gaming machine (1) comprising a variable display device (5a to 5c) for variably displaying a plurality of kinds of symbols necessary for gaming, a starting device (20) for starting variable display of the symbols, and a stopping device (21), disposed so as to be operable by a player, for stopping the symbols being variably displayed, wherein, on condition that a combination of symbols displayed when the symbols are stopped constitutes a predetermined special winning mode, the player is allowed to start playing a special game which is more advantageous to the player than is a normal game; an image display (13) for displaying special game information in the special game to the player is provided.