1
                         [DYKEMA GOSSETT LETTERHEAD]



                                                                     EXHIBIT 5




                                August 29, 1996





The Majestic Star Casino, LLC
c/o Barden Development, Inc.
400 Renaissance Center
Suite 2400
Detroit, Michigan  48243

               Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-4 in Connection
                        With the Exchange Offer of 12-3/4% Senior Exchange
                        Secured Notes due 2003 With Contingent Interest for
                        12-3/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2003 With Contingent
                        Interest


Ladies and Gentlemen:

               We have acted as counsel for The Majestic Star Casino, LLC, an
Indiana limited liability company (the "Company"), in connection with the
preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of a Registration Statement on
Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the Exchange Offer by the
Company of $105,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 12-3/4% Senior Exchange
Secured Notes due 2003 With Contingent Interest (the "Notes") for $105,000,000
aggregate principal amount of 12-3/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2003 With
Contingent Interest.  The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the
"Indenture") by and among the Company and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as
Trustee.

               In so acting, we have examined and relied upon the originals, or
copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such company
records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are
necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below.

               Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

               1.       The Company has been duly organized and is validly
                        existing as a limited liability company in good
                        standing under the laws of the State of Indiana.
   2
                         [DYKEMA GOSSETT LETTERHEAD]




The Majestic Star Casino, LLC
August 29, 1996
Page 2




               2.       The Notes, when executed and authenticated in
                        accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and upon
                        issuance in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
                        Offer in the Prospectus constituting a part of the
                        Registration Statement, will be valid and binding
                        obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
                        Company in accordance with their terms, except as (a)
                        the enforceability thereof may be limited by or subject
                        to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
                        reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or
                        hereafter affecting creditors' rights generally and (b)
                        rights of acceleration and the availability of
                        equitable remedies may be limited by equitable
                        principles of general applicability.

               In rendering the opinion set forth in paragraph 2 above, we have
assumed that the laws of the State of New York as to the enforceability of the
Notes are not different from the laws of the State of Michigan (excluding the
choice of law rules).

               We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 of
the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus constituting a part of the Registration
Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not concede that we are experts
within the meaning of the Act or the rules or regulations thereunder or that
this consent is required by Section 7 of the Act.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC



                                          Carol H. Rodriguez