Patent ID: 8510545

Claim:
A method for importing existing configuration data used by a server that supports electronic gaming machines (EGMs) that permit wagering on games, comprising: using the server to cause the wagering games to be displayed on corresponding displays of the EGMs according to the existing configuration data; storing the existing configuration data used by first operational software of the server in non-volatile storage, the server supporting the EGMs in a server-client relationship, where the existing configuration data is stored in accord with a first data structure template that defines first records having first fields and identifies for each of the first records a category of the corresponding existing configuration data stored in the associated first record and a location of the corresponding first field in the associated first record, the configuration data including information of the configuration of each of the respective EGMs, wherein the first operational software controls execution of a first set of ongoing functions of the server; automatically transferring, by migration software operating on the server, at least some of the existing configuration data stored in the first fields of the first records of the first data structure template from the non-volatile storage to corresponding second fields of second records of a second data structure template used by second operational software of the server, where the second operational software differs from the first operational software, where the migration software reconfigures or reloads the existing configuration data to be utilized by the second operational software, wherein the second operational software controls execution of a second set of ongoing functions of the server, where a position of at least one of the first fields in the first data structure template for storing first information of the configuration data differs from a position of a corresponding one of the second fields in the second data structure template for storing the first information; and storing the existing configuration data in accord with the second data structure template for use by the second operational software.