Gaming system configuration change reporting

Abstract

Gaming machines may be remotely reconfigured and/or reprogrammed, data remotely collected, and a comparison performed between at least two different configurations. Such may be done to determine optimal configurations of gaming machines for various periods (e.g., days, times, months, Holidays). The reconfiguration and/or reprogramming may, for example, change a minimum or maximum wager limit, change a payout schedule, change an aspect of a bonus, progressive or other jackpot, and/or change allocation an of gaming machines between Class II and Class III. Reports may be produced indicative of the effects of the reconfiguration or reprogramming.

1 . A method of auditing gaming machines, the method comprising:
 receiving information indicative of a configuration change for a plurality of gaming machines;   automatically collecting data indicative of at least one performance parameter for the plurality of gaming machines while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information; and   generating a report indicative of the at least one performance parameter for the plurality of gaming machines.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating a report includes generating a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating a report includes generating a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines and indicative of at least one configuration parameter of at least some of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating a report includes generating a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines and indicative of at least one configuration parameter for at least two distinct groups of the gaming machines, where the gaming machines in each group share a respective operational parameter. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating a report includes generating a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines and indicative of at least one parameter indicative of receipts for at least some of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein automatically collecting data indicative of at least one performance parameter for the plurality of gaming machines while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information includes automatically collecting data indicative of an amount of use of the gaming machines by a plurality of patrons while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein automatically collecting data indicative of at least one performance parameter for the plurality of gaming machines while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information includes automatically collecting data indicative of an amount wagered at the gaming machines by a plurality of patrons while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating a report indicative of the at least one performance parameter for the plurality of gaming machines includes generating a report indicative of a change in a performance parameter between the gaming machines configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information and the gaming machines configured in accordance with a prior configuration. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein generating a report indicative of a change in a performance parameter includes generating a report indicative of a change in at least one of an amount of use and an amount wagered at the gaming machines by a plurality of patrons. 
   
   
       10 . A download and configuration management system to manage a plurality of gaming machines distributed through at least one casino property, the system comprising:
 at least one computer-readable memory that stores executable instructions; and   at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one computer-readable memory and operable to execute the executable instructions, the at least one processor configured to receive information indicative of a configuration change for a plurality of gaming machines, receive data indicative of at least one performance parameter for the plurality of gaming machines while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information, and generate a report indicative of the at least one performance parameter for the plurality of gaming machines.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to generate the report as a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to generate the report as a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines and indicative of at least one configuration parameter of at least some of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to generate the report as a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines and indicative of at least one configuration parameter for at least two distinct groups of the gaming machines, where the gaming machines in each group share a respective operational parameter. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to generate the report as a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines and indicative of at least one parameter indicative of receipts for at least some of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a plurality of sensors that automatically collect data indicative of the at least one performance parameter for the plurality of gaming machines while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the sensors automatically collect data indicative of an amount of use of the gaming machines by a plurality of patrons while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the sensors automatically collect data indicative of an amount of wagered at the gaming machines by a plurality of patrons while the gaming machines are configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to generate the report indicative of a change in at least one performance parameter between the gaming machines configured in accordance with the configuration change indicated by the information and the gaming machines configured in accordance with a prior configuration. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the processor is configured to generate the report indicative of a change in at least one of an amount of use and an amount wagered at the gaming machines by a plurality of patrons. 
   
   
       20 . A download and configuration management system to manage a plurality of gaming machines distributed through at least one casino property, the system comprising:
 at least one computer-readable memory that stores executable instructions; and   at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one computer-readable memory and operable to execute the executable instructions, the at least one processor configured to produce a graphical representation of a floor layout indicative of a position of each of the gaming machines relative to one another and at least one performance parameter indicative of a performance of at least some of the gaming machines while in one operational configuration.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the at least one performance parameter is indicative of at least one of an amount of usage of the gaming machines and an amount wagered at the gaming machines. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the at least one performance parameter is indicative of a difference in performance of the gaming machines between the one configuration and another configuration. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the at least one performance parameter is indicative of a difference in performance of the gaming machines between the one configuration in which the gaming machines have a first minimum bet amount and another configuration in which the gaming machines have a second minimum bet amount, different from the first minimum bet amount. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the at least one performance parameter is indicative of a difference in performance of the gaming machines as a group in the one configuration with respect a performance of the gaming machines as a group in another configuration, where the one configuration has a first distribution of minimum bet amounts between the gaming machines and the other configuration has a second distribution of minimum bet amounts between the gaming machines different from the first configuration. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the graphical representation of a floor layout produced by the at least one processor is animated.