Configuration of gaming machines

• US 20040166940A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Wayne H.
• Application Number:
  US10/375,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20040166940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system

Abstract

A system and method of configuring gaming machines includes one or more databases, an electronic trend analyzer, and a host computer system. The databases collect and store data associated with a plurality of variables. The plurality of variables include a dependent variable and a plurality of independent variables. The dependent variable is indicative of performance of the gaming machines. The trend analyzer uses inferential statistics to identify a previously unknown relationship between the dependent variable and one or more of the independent variables. The host computer system is linked to the gaming machines and is adapted to configure the gaming machines based on the identified relationship.

Claims

1. A method of configuring gaming machines, comprising:

collecting, in at least one database, data associated with a plurality of variables, the plurality of variables including a dependent variable and a plurality of independent variables, the dependent variable being indicative of performance of the gaming machines;

analyzing the data with an electronic trend analyzer that uses inferential statistics to analyze the data;

identifying a previously unknown relationship between the dependent variable and one or more of the independent variables; and

configuring the gaming machines based on the identified relationship.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variables including a plurality of player tracking variables specific to individual players who play the gaming machines.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of player tracking variables are selected from a group consisting of player background, player preferences, tracked casino/hotel usage, and tracked game usage.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of collecting data includes collecting player tracking data, associated with the player tracking variables, from the players.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dependent variable is selected from a group consisting of profit, utilization, credits in, credits out, credits played, credits won, number of games played, average number of credits wagered, and median number of credits wagered.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming machines are linked to a host computer system over a network, and wherein the step of configuring the gaming machines includes transmitting configuration commands from the host computer system to the machines.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the gaming machines occurs automatically without operator intervention.

8. The method of claim 1, further including receiving a personal identifier from a player at one of the gaming machines, and wherein the step of configuring the gaming machines includes automatically configuring the one of the gaming machines in response to the step of receiving a personal identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using inferential statistics includes regressing the dependent variable onto the one or more of the independent variables.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of using inferential statistics includes specifying a regression model for regressing the dependent variable onto the one or more of the independent variables.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of using inferential statistics includes executing stepwise regression prior to the step of specifying the regression model.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the regression model is a multiple regression model, and wherein the step of using inferential statistics includes regressing the dependent variable onto two or more of the independent variables.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the regression model includes logarithms of the dependent variable and the one or more of the independent variables.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the regression model includes a product of two of the independent variables as a new independent variable onto which the dependent variable is regressed.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the regression model includes a square of at least one of the one or more of the independent variables as a new independent variable onto which the dependent variable is regressed.

16. A system of configuring gaming machines, comprising:

one or more databases for storing data associated with a plurality of variables, the plurality of variables including a dependent variable and a plurality of independent variables, the dependent variable being indicative of performance of the gaming machines;

an electronic trend analyzer for using inferential statistics to identify a previously unknown relationship between the dependent variable and one or more of the independent variables; and

a host computer system, linked to the gaming machines, for configuring the gaming machines based on the identified relationship.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of variables including a plurality of player tracking variables specific to individual players who play the gaming machines.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the player tracking variables are selected from a group consisting of player background, player preferences, tracked casino/hotel usage, and tracked game usage.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more databases store player tracking data associated with the player tracking variables, the player tracking data being collected from the players.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the dependent variable is selected from a group consisting of profit, utilization, credits in, credits out, credits played, credits won, number of games played, average number of credits wagered, and median number of credits wagered.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the host computer configures the gaming machines by transmitting configuration commands to the machines.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the host computer configures the gaming machines automatically without input from an operator.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the host computer automatically configures one of the gaming machines in response to receiving a personal identifier from a player at the one of the gaming machines.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the trend analyzer regresses the dependent variable onto the one or more of the independent variables.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the trend analyzer specifies a regression model for regressing the dependent variable onto the one or more of the independent variables.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the trend analyzer executes stepwise regression to aid the trend analyzer in specifying the regression model.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the regression model is a multiple regression model, the trend analyzer regressing the dependent variable onto two or more of the independent variables.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the regression model includes logarithms of the dependent variable and the one or more of the independent variables.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the regression model includes a product of two of the independent variables as a new independent variable onto which the dependent variable is regressed.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the regression model includes a square of at least one of the one or more of the independent variables as a new independent variable onto which the dependent variable is regressed.

31. A method of configuring a network of gaming machines, comprising:

collecting, in at least one database, data associated with a plurality of variables, the plurality of variables including a dependent variable and a plurality of independent variables, the dependent variable being indicative of performance of wagering games conducted via the gaming machines;

analyzing the data with an electronic trend analyzer that uses inferential statistics to analyze the data;

identifying a previously unknown relationship between the dependent variable and one or more of the independent variables; and

configuring the network of gaming machines based on the identified relationship.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of configuring the network of gaming machines includes configuring which of the wagering games are available for play on which of the gaming machines.