This invention provides automated systems and methods for configuring and reconfiguring gaming machines and games playable on a gaming
machine. The automated systems and methods employ a complementary gaming
machine configuration device, such as a paper-based
ticket, and interface operably associated with a gaming
machine, such as a note
acceptor or bill
validator that receives and reads the paper-based
ticket. The gaming machine configuration device stores game parameter configuration information in the form of configuration indicia. The indicia may contain the content required to effect configuration directly or may do so indirectly by containing a reference to a location where a set of configuration parameters have been stored. This location may reside within the gaming machine or external to it, but accessible via. a communications link. The interface reads the indicia from the configuration device, and provides a
signal to a processor responsible for managing the gaming machine. The processor has access to
software or memory that stores associations between the configuration indicia and configuration and reconfiguration commands for the parameters. The processor and
software are then designed or configured to convert the
signal provided by the interface to commands that act on appropriate mechanisms of the gaming machine to configure or reconfigure the games and / or gaming machine components responsible for expression of the affected game parameters.