Gaming machine

1. A method of conducting a software update of a gaming machine, comprising:

starting a boot process of the gaming machine, wherein a central processing unit (CPU) initiates reading of a basic input/output system (BIOS) loader stored in a BIOS;

monitoring reading of the BIOS loader via a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device contains a duplicate copy of the BIOS loader;

reading, by the CPU, the BIOS loader and validating, by the CPU, that the BIOS loader read by the CPU matches the duplicate copy of the BIOS loader contained within the monitoring device;

determining, by the BIOS loader, during the boot process that a memory device is in data communication with the gaming machine;

determining, by the BIOS loader, that the memory device in data communication with the gaming machine contains at least one authentic second software component more recent than a corresponding first software component currently stored in gaming machine memory; and

updating by the BIOS loader, gaming machine memory with each of the at least one authentic second software component that is more recent than the corresponding first software component.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein updating the gaming machine comprises replacing each corresponding software component with each of the at least one authentic second software component that is more recent than the corresponding first software component.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic second software component which is more recent than a corresponding first software component currently stored in a memory of the gaming machine comprises:

authenticating each software component stored on the memory device; and

determining that a version number of each authenticated software component stored on the memory device is indicative of a more recent version of the software component than a corresponding first software component stored in the memory of the gaming machine.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , comprising authenticating each software component stored on the memory device by using a public key stored at the gaming machine to verify that the software component has been signed with the corresponding public key.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 , comprising determining that the version number is more recent if it is higher than a version of the corresponding software component.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that a main door of the gaming machine is open prior to updating with each of the least one authentic second software component that is more recent than the corresponding first software component.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that a logic door of the gaming machine is open prior to updating with each of the least one authentic second software component that is more recent than the corresponding first software component.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising restarting the boot process subsequent to completion of the update.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising continuing the boot process subsequent to completion of the update.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that the memory device is connected to a USB port of the gaming machine.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conduct of the boot process is caused by a processor of the gaming machine executing instructions stored in gaming machine memory.

12. A gaming machine comprising:

a processor;

gaming machine memory storing updateable software components and storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform:

monitoring a reading of a BIOS loader via a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device contains a duplicate copy of the BIOS loader;

reading, by the CPU, the BIOS loader and validating, by the CPU, that the BIOS loader read by the processor matches the duplicate copy of the BIOS loader contained within the monitoring device;

determining, by the BIOS loader, during the boot process that a memory device is in data communication with the gaming machine;

determining, by the BIOS loader, that the memory device in data communication with the gaming machine contains at least one authentic second software component more recent than a corresponding first software component currently stored in gaming machine memory; and

updating by the BIOS loader the gaming machine memory in respect of each of the at least one authentic second software component that is more recent than the corresponding first software component.

13. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 comprising at least one USB port, the gaming machine arranged to determine that a memory device in the form of a USB compatible drive is connected to the USB port.

14. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 , comprising a main door and arranged to determine that the main door is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component.

15. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 comprising a logic door and arranged to determine that the logic door is open prior to updating with each of the least one authentic second software component that is more recent than the corresponding first software component.

16. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 13 , arranged to only mount the USB drive for the duration of the boot process.

17. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 , arranged to update the gaming machine by replacing each corresponding software component with each more recent software component.

18. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 , arranged to determine that the memory device contains at least one authentic second software component which is more recent than a corresponding first software component currently stored in a memory of the gaming machine by:

authenticating each software component stored on the memory device; and

determining that a version number of each authenticated second software component stored on the memory device is indicative of a more recent version of the software component than a corresponding first software component stored in the memory of the gaming machine.

19. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 18 , arranged to authenticate each software component stored on the memory device by using a public key stored at the gaming machine to verify that the software component has been signed with the corresponding public key.

20. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 18 , arranged to determine that the version number is more recent if it is higher than a version of the corresponding software component.