Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a gaming machine through its audio jack. The audio jack is located behind a locked access door in a cabinet of the gaming machine. An external device connects to the audio jack through the access door and downloads an audio file to the gaming machine. The audio file is encoded with configuration information including configuration settings and corresponding values or parameters for the target gaming machine. When the file transfer is complete, an optional graphical user interface displayed on the gaming machine or on the external device allows the operator to accept a group of configuration settings or to selectively change user-selectable configuration settings. A group of default configuration settings embedded in the configuration information can be automatically applied to the affected hardware or software components of the gaming machine.