An apparatus and method for cashless gaming wherein a player can access credits via a pin activated keypad located on the gaming machine. Real-time accounting allows the player to redeem credits and secure perquisites as a function of patronage. A player account is created which has an account balance amount. A player can remove a quantity of credits from a credit meter of the gaming machine in accordance with a selected amount and uploaded the selected amount to the player account to increase the account balance amount.