1. A method of providing application data to a gaming machine, said gaming machine having a fixed media for storing application data and a main memory into which application data is loaded from the fixed media at one or more times, comprising: providing to said gaming machine said application data and first authentication data; generating second authentication data from said application data; comparing said first and second authentication data; determining if said first authentication data is identical to said second authentication data, and if so, authenticating said application data; storing said authenticated application data at said fixed media if said comparing determines that said first authentication data is identical to said second authentication data; and transferring at one or more times to said main memory said authenticated application data for use in presenting a game.