A method and apparatus for collecting data in read-only manner from a gaming system is disclosed. In one embodiment, during gaming machine use, operation data regarding any aspect of a gaming machine is provided to a record-only data collection device configured to temporarily interface with a gaming machine that has or is suspected of a malfunction. Media may be associated with the data collection device. Upon malfunction of the gaming machine, the media or the data collection device and the operation data stored thereon may be retrieved from the gaming machine. The operation data may then be provided to any location or device and analyzed to determine the malfunction's cause. In various other configurations, the data collection device may be remote from the gaming system and collect data over a radio or network link. The operation data may comprise information collected for purposes other than gaming machine malfunction monitoring.