Wagering Game Content Approval and Dissemination System

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for implementing a digital vault in a wagering game system are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for implementing a digital vault in a wagering game system includes transmitting an indication of locally stored wagering game content for a determination about whether the wagering game content complies with regulatory or licensing rules, the indication destined for an auditor The method can also include transmitting authentication information associated with the wagering game content, the authentication information destined for the auditor. The method can also include receiving a message indicating whether the wagering game content complies with the regulatory or licensing rules.

1 . A method comprising:
 transmitting an indication of locally stored wagering game content for a determination about whether the wagering game content complies with regulatory or licensing rules, the indication destined for an auditor;   transmitting authentication information associated with the wagering game content, the authentication information destined for the auditor; and   receiving a message indicating whether the wagering game content complies with the regulatory or licensing rules.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a wager associated with a wagering game.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving the authentication information and the wagering game content from a digital vault, wherein the digital vault received the authentication information from an approval entity after the approval entity determined the wagering game content complies with regulatory rules.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message indicates that the wagering game content does not comply with the regulatory rules, the method further comprising:
 discontinuing use of the wagering game content.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wagering game content includes operating system code, configuration information, game code, audio content, or video content. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auditor is selected from the group consisting of a government regulatory authority, a wagering game content manufacturer, a wagering game machine owner, and a wagering game machine operator. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an audit is performed in response to an auditor request from the auditor or an audit schedule. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an audit is performed in response to a large prize being awarded or an irregularly large number of prizes being awarded. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wagering game content is selected from the group consisting of executable content, image content, audio content, video content, and configuration content. 
   
   
       10 . A machine-readable medium including instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting wagering game content for approval by an approval entity, the approval based at least in part on regulatory or licensing rules;   receiving verification information indicating that the approval entity approved the wagering game content based at least in part on the regulatory or licensing rules.   
   
   
       11 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
 transmitting a copy of the verification information for use in an audit.   
   
   
       12 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitting and receiving are performed by a digital vault, and wherein the verification information includes information used for auditing a wagering game machine. 
   
   
       13 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the verification information includes a digital certificate. 
   
   
       14 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the wagering game content includes executable code, image content, audio content, video content, or configuration information. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a wagering game content store operable to receive wagering game content;   a verification unit to receive verification information indicating that the wagering game content has been approved by an approval entity; and   an authentication unit operable to authenticate the wagering game content.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the wagering game content includes executable code, image content, audio content, video content, or configuration information. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the verification information includes a digital certificate. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus includes an audit unit operable to transmit the verification information to an auditor. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the audit unit operable to transmit a list indicating the wagering game content which is stored in the wagering game content store. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the authentication unit authenticates the wagering game content using a public key and a hash function.