An electronic gaming machine with a primary bill validator and a separate, auxiliary bill validator in case the primary bill validator either fails or performs less than optimally. The primary bill validator operates as the default bill validator to accept bills (e.g., paper currency and/or cashless ticket vouchers) to fund wagering activities of the EGM and the separate, auxiliary bill validator selectively operates to accept bills (e.g., paper currency and/or cashless ticket vouchers) to fund wagering activities of the EGM upon an occurrence of a bill validator switch event.