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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5
                     [Letterhead of Katten Muchin & Zavis]

                                August 21, 1998


Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation
2701 North Kildare Avenue
Chicago, Illinois  60639

Ladies and Gentlemen::

         We have acted as counsel for Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation, an
Illinois corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and
filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"). The Registration Statement relates to 600,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par value (the "Common Stock"), issuable upon
exercise of awards granted under the Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation 1998
Incentive Stock Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan has been approved by the Board of
Directors and the Shareholders of the Company. 

         In connection with this opinion, we have relied as to matters of fact,
without investigation, upon certificates of public officials and others and
upon affidavits, certificates and written statements of directors, officers and
employees of, and the accountants for, the Company. We have also examined
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
such instruments, documents and records as we have deemed relevant and
necessary to examine for the purpose of this opinion, including the following:

             1.   The Registration Statement;

             2.   The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as 
                  amended;

             3.   The Bylaws of the Company;

             4.   Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company;
                  and

             5.   Resolutions adopted by the Shareholders of the Company;    

             6.   Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement; and

             7.   The Plan.



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Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation
August 12, 1998
Page 2

         In connection with this opinion, we have assumed the accuracy and
completeness of all documents and records that we have reviewed, the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of the documents submitted to
us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or reproduced copies.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
600,000 shares of Common Stock covered by the Registration Statement, when
issued and delivered by the Company  in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common
Stock.

         Our opinion expressed above is limited to the laws of the State of
Illinois, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other laws.
This opinion is solely for the information of the addressee hereof and is not
to be quoted in full or in part or otherwise referred to, nor is it to be filed
with any governmental agency or any other person without our prior written
consent. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and we assume no
obligation to advise you of changes that may hereafter be brought to our
attention.

         We hereby consent to the use of this opinion for filing as Exhibit 5 to
the Registration Statement.  In giving this consent we do not admit that we are
included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Act or the related rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                             Very truly yours,


                                             /s/ Katten Muchin & Zavis
                                             ---------------------------
                                             KATTEN MUCHIN & ZAVIS