Universal player tracking system

A method of designing a player tracking unit:

• selecting a gaming machine type;
• selecting one or more peripheral device types;
• consulting a table of standard dimensions and a table of standard layout types for designing a housing enclosing the player tracking unit that conforms to the gaming machine type and the peripheral device types;
• selecting housing dimensions and a housing layout type for said housing;
• consulting a table of standard dimensions and standard attachment means for mounting each peripheral device type to said housing;
• and
• selecting a standard dimension and standard attachment means for each peripheral device type.

A method of designing and producing a player tracking unit for installation in a gaming machine, the method comprising:

• identifying one or more components to be included in the player tracking unit;
• defining a housing for the player tracking unit, which housing is designed having dimensions conforming to dimensions specified in a standard for player tracking units in gaming machines;
• and
• producing the player tracking unit having the defined housing and one or more components.

A method of configuring a player tracking device, the method comprising:

• Loading initial player tracking software;
• establishing a communication connection with a remote server;
• downloading at least one of additional player tracking software or player tracking software settings from said remote server;
• and
• modifying the initial player tracking software using the additional player tracking software or the player tracking settings;
• performing one or more player tracking functions using said modified player tracking software.