Methods for generating and validating gaming machine subscription keys and securing subscription parameter data and jurisdiction files

Abstract

Generating and validating a subscription key based on subscription parameters associated with a jurisdiction file stored in a NVRAM, the subscription key having characters based on a subscription start date, a subscription term, a key generation date, and a cyclical redundancy check value. Parameters are extracted from the subscription key including the subscription start date, the subscription term, the key generation date, and the cyclical redundancy check value and are stored in a memory of the gaming machine. The key is checked by generating a local cyclical redundancy check value based on a MAC address of the gaming machine and one or more of the extracted parameters, and is validated when the local cyclical redundancy check value matches the cyclical redundancy check value extracted from the subscription key. The jurisdiction file may be updated during a RAM clear function during installation of the gaming machine.