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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


[The following text appears as letterhead:

Rogers & Hardin
Attorneys At Law
A Limited Liability Partnership
2700 International Tower, Peachtree Center
229 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia  30303
(404) 522-4700
FACSIMILE: (404) 525-2224]





   
                                January 15, 1998
    



Powerhouse Technologies, Inc.
2311 South Seventh Avenue
Bozeman, Montana 59715

Gentlemen:

       We have acted as counsel to Powerhouse Technologies, Inc. (the "Company")
in connection with the registration by the Company on Form S-3 (hereinafter
referred to, together with any amendments thereto, as the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of an aggregate of
1,688,230 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company, of
which (a) 1,468,026 shares will be purchased by certain underwriters (the
"Underwriters") from certain selling stockholders of the Company (the "Selling
Stockholders") and (b) up to 220,204 additional shares (the "Shares") will be
purchased by the Underwriters from the Company if the Underwriters exercise the
option granted to them by the Company solely to cover over-allotments, if any.

       In connection with this opinion, we have examined such corporate records
and documents and have made such examinations of law as we have deemed
necessary. In rendering this opinion, we have relied, without investigation,
upon various certificates of public officials and of officers and
representatives of the Company. In our examination of documents, we have assumed
the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted
to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents
submitted to us as copies.

       Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, qualifications,
limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the
Shares have been duly authorized and, if and when sold as contemplated in the
Registration Statement and in the Underwriting Agreement to be entered into
among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and Gerard Klauer Mattison & 


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Powerhouse Technologies, Inc.
January 15, 1998
Page 2
    



Co., Inc. and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., as representatives of the several
Underwriters, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

       We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and as an exhibit to applications to the securities
commissioners of the various states and other jurisdictions of the United States
for registration or qualification of the Shares in such states and other
jurisdictions. We further consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       /s/ Rogers & Hardin

                                       ROGERS & HARDIN



