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                                                                      EXHIBIT 5




                                October 28, 1998




Casino Data Systems
3300 Bircher Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89118

        RE:    REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 (THE "REGISTRATION STATEMENT")

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Casino Data Systems (the "Company") in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act") of 750,000 shares of the Company's common stock, no par
value (the "Common Stock") issuable under the Company's 1993 Stock Option and
Compensation Plan (the "Plan") and, subject to adjustment as provided therein,
under the Registration Statement on Form S-8 proposed to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

         We have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries,
including an examination of originals, or copies certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction as being true reproductions of originals, of all
such corporate records of the Company, agreements and other instruments,
certificates of public officials and officers and representatives of the
Company, and such other documents as have deemed necessary as a basis for the
opinions hereafter expressed.

         Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in our examination,
we have assumed without independent verification, that (i) each of the parties
thereto has duly and validly executed and delivered each instrument, document
and agreement to which such party is a signatory, and such party's obligations
set forth therein are its legal, valid, and binding obligations, enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms, (ii) each natural person executing any
such instrument, document or agreement is legally competent to do so, and (iii)
all corporate records made available to us by the Company and all public records
reviewed are accurate and complete.

         Based upon the foregoing and having regard to legal considerations that
we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that, when the shares of Common Stock
have been registered under the Securities Act, and when the Company has received
the consideration to be received for said shares in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan and said shares of Common Stock have been issued by the
Company as provided under the Plan, said shares of Common Stock will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.













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         We are qualified to practice law in the State of Minnesota. The
opinions set forth herein are expressly limited to the laws of the State of
Minnesota and we do not purport to be experts on, or express any opinion herein
concerning any laws other than the laws of the State of Minnesota. We express no
opinion concerning, and we assume no responsibility as to laws or judicial
decisions related to, or any orders, consents, or other authorizations or
approvals as may be required by, any federal law, including any federal
securities law, or any state securities or blue sky laws.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm therein.

                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP