Automated remote configuration of wagering game machines
Systems and methods for providing configurations for one or more wagering game machines are described. The systems and methods receive performance data for the wagering game machine and analyze the performance data in accordance with a rule set. Based on the rule set and the performance data, new or modified configurations may be generated for one or more wagering game machines.
1. A method of operating a wagering game machine configuration system including one or more processors, the method comprising:
selecting, by at least one of the one or more processors, at least one first configuration for a plurality of wagering game machines operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered;
presenting a wagering game on each of the plurality of wagering game machines after receiving, at a value input device of each of the plurality, a wager of sufficient funds to initiate the wagering game, the wagering game including determining a game outcome based, at least in part, on a random selection, and directing an electronic display device to display the game outcome;
receiving, at the configuration system, periodic performance data from the plurality of wagering game machines, the periodic performance data including a current revenue during a data collection period for each wagering game machine of the plurality;
storing the periodic performance data in a database operably coupled to the configuration system;
analyzing, by at least one of the one or more processors, the periodic performance data in accordance with a rule set, the rule set including comparing revenue trends over time of each wagering game machine of the plurality with the current revenue during the collection period of the plurality of wagering game machines; and
instructing, by at least one of the one or more processors, the configuration system to determine, according to the rule set, a second configuration for one or more of the plurality of wagering game machines based, at least in part, on the comparison of the revenue trends over time of the one or more wagering game machines and the current revenue during the collection period of the plurality of wagering game machines; and
instructing, by at least one of the one or more processors, the configuration system to update the configuration of the one or more wagering game machines according to the second configuration.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting is responsive to a user input at a user interface, and wherein the selection is one of a plurality of templates, each of the templates providing a different predefined configuration for a wagering game machines.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rule set specifies applying the second configuration to a wagering game machine with a current revenue below a specified threshold when compared to the plurality of wagering game machines.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rule set specifies applying the second configuration to a wagering game machine with a current revenue less than the current revenue of the plurality of wagering game machines.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rule set specifies applying the second configuration to a wagering game machine with a current revenue in the 20 th percentile or lower when compared to the current revenue of the plurality of wagering game machines.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the configuration system, a configuration parameter value and wherein instructing the configuration system to determine a second configuration includes providing a recommended value for the configuration parameter value.
7. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine executable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:
selecting, from a plurality of templates, a first configuration for a wagering game machine, wherein each of the templates provides a different predefined configuration for the wagering game machine;
while the wagering game machine operates according to the first configuration, presenting a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered and maintaining performance data;
receiving periodic performance data from the wagering game machine, the periodic performance data including a current revenue during a data collection period for the wagering game machine;
storing the periodic performance data in a database;
analyzing the periodic performance data in accordance with a rule set, the rule set including comparing revenue trends over time of each of the plurality of wagering game machines with the current revenue during the collection period of the plurality of wagering game machines;
determining, according to the rule set, a second configuration for one or more of the plurality of wagering game machines based, at least in part, on the analyzed periodic performance data; and
sending the second configuration to the wagering game machine wherein subsequent operation of the wagering game machine is in accordance with the second configuration.
8. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the one of more processors communicate with the wagering game machine over a communications network.
9. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the second configuration is applied according to one or more rules in the rule set.
10. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the rule set specifies applying the second configuration to a wagering game machine with a current revenue less than the current revenue of the plurality of wagering game machines.
11. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the rule set specifies applying the second configuration to a wagering game machine with a current revenue in the 20 th percentile or lower of the current revenue of the plurality of wagering game machines.
12. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the rule set utilizes at least one of coin-in, theoretical win, and occupancy to determine wagering game performance in comparison to a specified threshold .
13. A system comprising:
a plurality of wagering game machines operating for periods of time to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered, and to maintain periodic performance data during the respective operating periods, the periodic performance data including a current revenue during a data collection period for each of the plurality of wagering game machines, each of the plurality of wagering game machines operating according to a respective configuration to randomly select a game outcome, and to direct an electronic display device to display the wagering game outcome;
a configuration system, including one or more processors, communicably coupled to the plurality of wagering game machines, wherein at least one of the one or more processors of the configuration system is operable to: receive the periodic performance data from the plurality of wagering game machines;
determine which of the machines in the plurality have periodic performance data in a lowest percentile of a predetermined value among the plurality of wagering game machines; and
modify the configuration of the machines in the plurality having the periodic performance data in the lowest percentile of the predetermined value.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the machines with the modified configurations are machines having periodic performance data in the lowest 20 th percentile of the predetermined value.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the periodic performance data further includes one or more configuration parameters and wherein modifying the machines includes providing a recommended value for at least one of the one or more configuration parameters.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system modifies the configuration of machines having periodic performance data below a specified threshold value.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system modifies the configuration of machines having periodic performance data above the lowest percentile and indicating the performance data is trending downward.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system retains a current configuration of a machine having periodic performance data in the lowest percentile and indicating the performance data is trending upward.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the periodic performance data used in the determination further includes one of coin-in, theoretical win, and occupancy.
20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the modified configurations are similar to the configuration of a machine having periodic performance data in the highest 20 th percentile of the predetermined value.