Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
                       200 South Sixth Street, Suite 4000
                          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
                             Telephone: 612-492-7000
                                Fax: 612-492-7077

                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 April 22, 2004

Cash Systems, Inc.
3201 West County Road 42, Suite 106
Burnsville, MN  55306

         Re: EXHIBIT 5.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies/Gentlemen:

         We are acting as corporate counsel to Cash Systems, Inc. (the
"Company") in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") of
2,259,813 shares of the Company's common stock currently owned by selling
shareholders of the Company (the "Shares") and 412,670 shares of common stock
which may be acquired by selling shareholders upon the exercise of certain stock
purchase warrants and options (the "Warrant Shares") which may be offered for
sale by certain selling shareholders (the "Selling Shareholders").

         In acting as such counsel for the purpose of rendering this opinion, we
have reviewed copies of the following, as presented to us by the Company:

         1.       The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of of
                  Incorporation, as amended ("Articles").

         2.       The Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws.

         3.       Certain corporate resolutions of the Company's Board of
                  Directors pertaining to the issuance of the Shares and the
                  Warrant Shares by the Company.

         4.       The Registration Statement.

         Based on, and subject to, the foregoing and upon representations and
information provided by the Company or its officers or directors, it is our
opinion as of this date that:

         1.       The Company's Articles validly authorize the issuance of the
Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

         2.       The Shares to be sold by the selling shareholders named in the
Registration Statement are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         3.       Upon the delivery and payment therefor in accordance with the
terms of the warrants, the Warrant Shares to be issued and sold by the Company
upon exercise of the warrants will be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid
and nonassessable.



         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement.

                                                        Very truly yours,

                                                        FREDRIKSON & BYRON, P.A.

                                                        By /s/ John F. Wurm