Patent ID: 8285646

Claim:
A licensing proxy for a gaming establishment controlled by a first entity, comprising: a network interface system including at least one network interface; at least one memory; and a logic system configured to do the following: receive, via the network interface system, a first request to enable a first electronic gaming machine (“EGM”) feature of a first EGM in the gaming establishment; communicate with a central licensing manager (“CLM”) controlled by a second entity via the network interface system, the second entity being a software provider; receive, from the CLM via the network interface system, CLM instructions, the CLM instructions including license payment timeliness data and a status level indicator to be used in determining whether to approve the first EGM feature or a lower-level EGM feature of the first EGM, wherein the status level indicator represents at least two of the following: an account status, a payment history, whether the gaming establishment has a license for the lower-level EGM feature and whether a license has expired; determine whether the first request should be granted or denied based, at least in part, on the CLM instructions, wherein if the first request is denied, determine whether the lower-level EGM feature should be enabled on the first EGM based on the license payment timeliness data and the status level indicator; and send an outcome of the determination to the first EGM.