Patent ID: 7892098

Claim:
A gaming machine adapted for accepting wagers and granting monetary awards, comprising: a master gaming controller adapted to control game play and authorize payouts and other awards on said gaming machine, said master gaming controller located in a main cabinet of said gaming machine, said main cabinet having a first communications interface having a first configuration or arrangement; a top box that contains a plurality of peripheral devices and a second communications interface having a second configuration or arrangement, said top box adapted to be removable from said gaming machine and interchangeable with other top boxes also so adapted; and a modular universal gaming engine located outside said main cabinet and said top box, said modular universal gaming engine having at least one dedicated processing unit, at least one associated storage device, a third communications interface adapted to connect with said first communications interface, and a fourth communications interface adapted to connect with said second communications interface, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is adapted to control a substantial portion of said plurality of peripheral devices contained by said top box, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is located substantially behind said main cabinet, said top box, or said main cabinet and said top box.