EXHIBIT 5.01

                   Opinion of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw


April 1, 2002


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

RE: Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. 1993 Employee  Stock Option Plan
    Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     As counsel to Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the
"Company"), we are rendering this opinion in connection with the registration
by the Company of 100,000 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $0.01 par
value, of the Company and the proposed sale thereof.  The Shares are to be
issued and sold in connection with the Company's 1993 Employee Stock Option
Plan.

     We have examined all instruments, documents and records which we deemed
relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed.  In
such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity
to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.

     Based on such examination and subject to the limitations hereinabove
provided, we are of the opinion that the Company has the full power and
authority under the laws of the State of Nevada, and under the Company's
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended, to issue the Shares and that
such Shares are validly authorized shares of common stock of the Company, and
when issued, upon receipt of payment therefor, will be legally issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

     We hereby consent to the filing of the foregoing opinion as an exhibit to
the above-referenced registration statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to the
use of our name in such registration statement.

                                    Very truly yours,


                                     KUMMER KAEMPFER BONNER & RENSHAW










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