Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for deterring gaming machine theft and fraud by weighing the number of coins accumulated in a gaming machine hopper assembly (9). In one preferred embodiment, a coin weighing apparatus (12) consisting of a load cell (13) and internal strain gauge (18) is constructed integrally with the coin hopper assembly and fits between the coin hopper (10) and its base plate (14). In other preferred embodiments, the coin weighing apparatus (22, 43, 50) is constructed separately from the coin hopper assembly. In these other preferred embodiments, the weighing apparatus includes upper (24, 46, 52) and lower plates (26, 48, 60) which are separated by one or more load cell weighing instruments (28, 45, 56). In operation, the lower plate of this stand-alone weighing apparatus is typically placed against the bottom (8) of the slot machine and the hopper is then simply placed on top of the weighing apparatus' upper plate.