System and method for intelligent casino configuration

Abstract

Certain embodiments provide a system and method for adaptable control and configuration of a gaming environment. Certain embodiments provide a gaming environment configuration system including a plurality of gaming terminals capable of executing games for play by one or more players and a configuration manager configured to receive information regarding available games and the plurality of gaming terminals. The configuration manager generates one or more configurations for the plurality of gaming terminals. The configuration manager may be configured to pause reconfiguration of a gaming terminal based on gaming terminal status. In an embodiment, the system also includes a certificate manager for authenticating access to a game for play on a gaming terminal. Additionally, the system may include a game database server including a plurality of games for play at one or more of the plurality of gaming terminals.

1 . A gaming environment configuration system, said system comprising: 
 a plurality of gaming terminals capable of displaying games for play by one or more players;    a configuration manager configured to receive information regarding available games, game configuration and status of said plurality of gaming terminals; and    a device for providing an input to the configuration manager,    wherein said configuration manager generates one or more reconfiguration environments for said plurality of gaming terminals, said configuration manager configured to at least pause application of the reconfiguration environment for game play at a gaming terminal based on gaming terminal status.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration manager uses at least one of historical data and game information to determine said one or more reconfiguration environments for said plurality of gaming terminals.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration manager suggests said one or more reconfiguration environments to an operator.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration manager implements one of said one or more reconfiguration environments for said plurality of gaming terminals.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said configuration manager automatically implements one of said one or more reconfiguration environments for said plurality of gaming terminals.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a certificate manager for authenticating access to a game for play on a gaming terminal.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a player tracking system capable of collecting player information from said plurality of gaming terminals.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an external system configured to allow a player to at least one of retrieve and input information relating to at least one of a game and a gaming terminal.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said external system comprises a kiosk.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a game database server including a plurality of games available for play at one or more of said plurality of gaming terminals.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration manager generates said one or more reconfiguration environments using one or more templates.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of gaming terminals is capable of suggesting a game to a player.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration manager configures said plurality of gaming terminals for tournament play.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration manager schedules said one or more reconfiguration environments for implementation at one or more times.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration manager comprises a graphical user interface.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration manager modifies a display at a gaming terminal in conjunction with said reconfiguration environment at the gaming terminal.  
   
   
       17 . A method for automatic configuration of a gaming environment, said method comprising: 
 monitoring gaming activity in a gaming environment; and    automatically adjusting a configuration of said gaming environment based on at least one of predefined criteria and play patterns detected from said gaming activity in said gaming environment.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of automatically adjusting further comprises using historical data and information associated with available games to suggest a change in configuration.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of automatically adjusting further comprises using layout templates to automatically adjust configuration of a gaming environment.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of automatically adjusting further comprises suggesting at least one configuration to an operator for said gaming environment.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of automatically adjusting further comprises automatically adjusting a configuration of said gaming environment according to a schedule.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising dynamically allocating games from a pool of available games to a plurality of gaming terminals in said gaming environment.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising suggesting a game to a player at a gaming terminal in said gaming environment based on at least one of predefined criteria and play patterns.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising collecting player information from said plurality of gaming terminals to form a player profile.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising authenticating access to a game for play on a gaming terminal using a database of certificates.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising obtaining feedback regarding at least one of said gaming activity and said gaming environment.  
   
   
       27 . A method for allocating games from a set of games to a plurality of gaming terminals using a certificate database, wherein said certificate database includes a certificate for each game in said set of games and wherein a certificate from said certificate database is matched to a game selected at a gaming terminal to allow play of said game by a player in a gaming environment.  
   
   
       28 . A computer-readable medium including a set of instructions capable of execution by a computer, said set of instructions comprising: 
 a monitoring routine for monitoring gaming activity in a gaming environment; and    a configuration management routine for automatically adjusting configuration of said gaming environment based on at least one of predefined criteria and play patterns detected from said gaming activity in said gaming environment.    
   
   
       29 . The set of instructions of  claim 28 , wherein said at least one predefined criteria includes information regarding available games and gaming terminals in said gaming environment.  
   
   
       30 . The set of instructions of  claim 28 , wherein said configuration management routine generates one or more configurations for a plurality of gaming terminals in said gaming environment.  
   
   
       31 . The set of instructions of  claim 28 , further comprising a certificate management module for authenticating access to a game for play on a gaming terminal using one or more game certificates.  
   
   
       32 . The set of instructions of  claim 28 , further comprising a library of configuration templates for use by the configuration management routine to configure said gaming environment.  
   
   
       33 . A method for configuring gaming machine terminals on a floor of a casino, each terminal configurable in at least one of content, appearance, denomination and operational mode, said method comprising: 
 providing a floor controller configured to communicate with said gaming machine terminals; and    directing input to said controller from at least one of an operator, player, predetermined routine or dynamic routine, said input reconfiguring at least one terminal in response to said input.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising group mapping a location of gaming terminals to the controller, wherein said controller is adapted to reconfigure available game play at terminals in groups.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising determining a performance criterion for at least some of said terminals, using said criterion to determining a reconfiguration routine and implementing said routine at said controller to reconfigure at least a plurality of said terminals.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising determining said performance criteria in relation to gaming content and implementing a reconfiguration routine to reconfigure at least one terminal to include content to correspond to that of terminals obtaining a determined performance criterion.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising pausing reconfiguration of at least one terminal based upon predetermined pause events.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising pausing reconfiguration based upon a pause event selected from the group consisting of (a) ongoing play of the terminal by a player or (b) the terminal to be reconfigured being temporarily out of service or (c) the terminal to be reconfigured being in a tilt condition.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising initiating the reconfiguration upon termination of the pause event.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising pausing the reconfiguration of a terminal based upon ongoing play at the terminal by a player and reconfiguring the terminal after discontinuance of play or the terminal after a designated time delay.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising providing a display representing the floor of the casino and the arrangement of said terminals and for each of a plurality of reconfigurable terminals an icon in the display representing at least the content presently on said terminal.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising, for at least each reconfigurable terminal, information representing denomination.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising entering a prompt at any selected icon and in response thereto displaying at a display details of the terminal's present configuration.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising prompting a selected icon and entering a reconfiguration command to effectuate reconfiguration of said terminal.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising prompting at any selected icon and at a content menu selection to effect reconfiguration of the terminal.  
   
   
       46 . A system for reconfiguring configurable gaming terminals on a casino floor comprising: 
 a processor;    a communication network providing communication between the processor and each terminal;    a store of reconfiguration data to, when received by at least one of the processor or terminal, reconfigure the terminal by content, appearance, denomination or operational mode;    an input device to input a reconfiguration command to said processor in response to at least one of (1) player input, (2) operator input, (3) a predetermined routine and (4) a dynamically determined routine, said processor adapted to access said store and reconfigure at least one terminal in response to said command.    
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein said processor is configured to receive signals from said terminals corresponding to at least a determined operating condition defining a pause event and to withhold reconfiguration of said at least one terminal in response to a pause event.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein said processor is configured to receive signals from said terminals corresponding to a selected from the group consisting of (a) ongoing play of the terminal by a player or (b) the terminal to be reconfigured being temporarily out of service or (c) a tilt condition.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein said processor is configured to reconfigure at least one terminal in response to said command upon receipt of a signal from said terminal corresponding to termination of said pause event .  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 46 , further comprising a display, said processor configured to control the display to display a map corresponding to each of said configurable gaming terminals and data representing at least the present content configuration.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein said processor is configured to display for each configurable gaming terminal an icon representing at least the present content configuration.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 51 , further comprising an operator input device to input data into said processor, said processor configured to display an available menu of at least a plurality of contents and to reconfigure at least one terminal in response to data from said input device selecting a terminal and selecting a content from said menu.  
   
   
       53 . A graphical user interface system allowing an operator to configure a gaming environment, said system comprising: 
 a map representing a layout of a gaming floor in the gaming environment;    a game library including games available for play on a gaming terminal on the gaming floor; and    a configuration control capable of allowing the operator to provide a game from the game library to at least one gaming terminal on the gaming floor.    
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 53 , further comprising a layout editor enabling the operator to edit a layout of the gaming floor displayed on the map.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 53 , further comprising a profile manager for creating a gaming floor configuration and saving the configuration in a profile.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 53 , further comprising a tournament manager for configuring tournament play with gaming terminals on the gaming floor.  
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the configuration control allows the operator to change information displayed on at least one gaming terminal display on the gaming floor.