In a system and method for a payout in the form of paper tokens from a gaming machine, the system includes a hopper for dispensing the paper tokens, a cassette for containing the paper tokens, and software for controlling the operations of the payout of the paper tokens from the gaming machine. The cassette and hopper are located in the gaming machine in plain view of a player, and are locked for security purposes. Each paper token is transported through a payout path by mechanisms in the cassette and the hopper which interact to dispense a paper token. A plurality of sensors sense the transport of the paper token through the payout path, the operation of the transport mechanism, and the status of the paper token supply. An escrow area is provided in the cassette for rejected paper tokens, as sensed by sensors and diverted by a diverting mechanism into the escrow area. A memory element in the cassette stores operational information regarding dispensing of the paper tokens. A communicating device in the gaming machine sends messages to a central monitoring system regarding the gaming machine operations. Monitoring devices monitor security and accounting functions of the gaming machines, including security cameras which monitor the payout of the paper tokens from a gaming machine after being signalled by the system that the payout is about to begin.