Exhibit 5.1
[Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Letterhead]
November 21, 2014
Scientific Games Corporation
750 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Re: Scientific Games Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Scientific Games Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has requested our opinion in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), to be issued under the Scientific Games Corporation 2003 Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “Plan”).
We have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such corporate records of the Company and such other instruments and other certificates of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and such other persons, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below. We have further received a letter dated November 21, 2014 from Jack B. Sarno, Vice President — Worldwide Legal Affairs of the Company, representing to us that the Company has available a sufficient number of shares authorized and available for issuance, together with shares authorized and issued but not outstanding, to deliver the Shares under the Plan, and are relying on such representation.
In rendering the opinion expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, at prices not less than the par value thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial
decisions interpreting the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware).
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are “experts” within the meaning of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this exhibit.
| Sincerely, | |
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| CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP | |
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| By: | /s/ Arthur H. Kohn |
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| Arthur H. Kohn, a Partner |