a releasably connected non-volatile data storage device having an exterior housing, first and a second connector sockets each having a recessed area featuring a plurality of connector pins, and electronic data storage operatively connected to a write-protection controller, the first connector socket on the data storage device being configured to receive a data connector and the second connector socket on the data storage device being configured to receive a power connector separate from the data connector, the controller having a control element, associated circuitry and control logic stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium for activating a write-protected state and a write-permitting state, in the write-protected state electronic write commands being blocked from being received by the electronic data storage by the controller and in the write-permitting state electronic write commands being able to be received by the electronic data storage, the control element being programmable to receive an electronic two-state bit represented by electrical voltage on a write-protection pin, the write-protection pin being one of the plurality of connector pins, a first state of the electronic bit being a first voltage corresponding to the write-protected state and a second state of the electronic bit being a second voltage corresponding to the write-permitting state;

an interface device electrically connecting the data storage device to a power supply and control circuitry of the gaming machine, the interface device being a controller separate from the releasable storage device and integrated with circuitry of the gaming machine, the electronic data storage device being detachably connected to the interface device through the controller and plurality of connector pins of the first and second connector sockets, the detachable connection being a non-configurable configuration of the interface device where all write commands are entirely routed through the controller on the releasable storage device before reaching the electronic data storage, the voltage of the electronic bit corresponding to the write-protection state being set by the interface device through transmission of a signal to the write-protection pin, the signal being carried by a permanent voltage through the non-configurable interface, and

the write-protection pin connecting the controller and the interface device, the write-protection pin carrying a voltage generated by the power supply, wherein voltage generated by the power supply and carried by the write-protection pin is determinative of whether all of the write commands are blocked.