Patent ID: 8460091

Claim:
A gaming machine comprising: a cabinet including a secure enclosure; an AC power source, disposed within the secure enclosure, configured to provide power to the gaming machine; a game controller, disposed within the secure enclosure, for controlling a wager-based game played on the gaming machine, communicatively coupled to a plurality of peripheral devices; a manual switch, disposed within the secure enclosure, and coupled to the AC power source wherein the manual switch is configured to interrupt or allow power to the gaming machine including the game controller and the plurality of peripheral devices and wherein after the gaming machine is operational for wager-based game play, access to the manual switch requires unlocking the secure enclosure; a power switching device, disposed within the secure enclosure and retrofitted to the gaming machine, configured to receive AC power from the AC power source and to output AC power including 1) a switch configured to change positions such that received AC power is transmitted or blocked from being output to the gaming machine including the game controller and the plurality of peripheral devices and 2) control circuitry configured to receive a control signal from a controller in a gaming platform enhancement module and in response to the control signal generate a second signal to open the switch and block the AC power from being output wherein the switch is configured to default to a closed position allowing AC power to be transmitted in the absence of the second signal; the gaming platform enhancement module (GPEM), said GPEM retrofitted to the gaming machine such that it can receive AC power from the from AC power source when the switch is open and the power is interrupted to the game controller and the plurality of peripheral devices, including: a first communication interface for receiving information from the game controller; a second communication interface for wirelessly communicating with one or remote devices; a third communication interface for sending the control signal to change a position of the switch via the one or more control inputs; the controller, including a processor and a memory, separate from the game controller and the circuitry in the power switching device, configured to 1) receive information related to a status of the gaming machine via the first communication interface from the game controller, 2) wirelessly communicate with the one or more remote devices via the second communication interface and 3) send the control signal to the circuitry in the power switching device via the third communication interface to cycle the AC power for the gaming machine including the game controller and plurality of peripheral devices while the secure enclosure is locked wherein the GPEM is configured to remain operational while the power is cycled to the gaming machine.