The invention provides numerous methods and devices for enhancing the use of gaming machines. Some embodiments of the invention provide enhanced functionality for legacy gaming machines. Alternative embodiments of the invention may be implemented in an entirely new gaming machine and/or in gaming machines that are not yet in existence. Some such implementations are directed to the use of non-native gaming software in gaming machines that include (a) different peripheral devices and/or (b) a different CPU from that of the gaming machine for which the gaming software was written. These implementations may use software emulation and hardware abstraction methods and devices.