Exhibit 5.1

                       Opinion of Gardere & Wynne, L.L.P.







FORM S-8



214-999-3000
                                              August 25, 2000

Ace Cash Express, Inc.
1231 Greenway Drive, Suite 800
Irving, Texas 75038

Gentlemen:

         We  have  served  as  counsel  for  Ace  Cash  Express,  Inc.,  a Texas
corporation  (the "Company"),  in connection with the Registration  Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement"),  filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  with respect to the
additional  814,635 shares of the Common Stock,  $0.01 par value, of the Company
(the "Shares") underlying options granted under the Ace Cash Express,  Inc. 1997
Stock Option Plan, as amended to-date, the Ace Cash Express,  Inc.  Non-Employee
Directors Stock Option Plan, as amended to-date, and the Ace Cash Express,  Inc.
1987  Stock  Option  Plan,  as  amended  and in  effect  on  December  17,  1997
(collectively, the "Option Plans").

         With  respect  to the  foregoing,  we have  examined  the  Registration
Statement and such other  documents,  and such legal matters,  as we have deemed
necessary to render the opinion expressed herein. Based on the foregoing, we are
of the  opinion  that the Shares  underlying  options  granted  under the Option
Plans,  when  issued and sold in  accordance  with the  respective  terms of the
Option Plans and the corresponding option agreements entered into by the Company
for consideration equal to at least the par value per Share, are or will be duly
authorized, validly issued, and fully paid and nonassessable.

         We consent  to the use of this  opinion  letter as  Exhibit  5.1 to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement

                                             Very truly yours,

                                            GARDERE & WYNNE, L.L.P.



                                            By: /s/ Richard A. Tulli
                                                   Richard A. Tulli, Partner