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                                                                     Exhibit 5.1


Shipman & Goodwin LLP                                         One American Row
  Counselors at Law                                           Hartford, CT 06103
                                                              Tel (860) 251-5000

                                                        November 7, 2000

TransAct Technologies Incorporated
7 Laser Lane
Wallingford, CT 06492

         Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8 Relating to Shares
              of Common Stock of TransAct Technologies Incorporated
              Issuable under its 1996 Stock Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    As counsel for TransAct Technologies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), we are furnishing you with this opinion in connection with the
issuance of an additional 250,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the
"Shares") pursuant to the above-referenced Plan (the "Plan"), to which the
above-referenced Registration Statement relates.

    As counsel to the Company, we have examined the Registration Statement and
such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order to
express the opinion set forth below. In connection with our opinion hereinafter
given, we have examined and relied upon originals, or copies, certified or
otherwise, identified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents,
certificates and other statements of government officials, corporate officers
and representatives, and such other documents as we have deemed relevant and
necessary as a basis for such opinion. In such examination, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to
us as originals and the conformity with the original documents of documents
submitted to us as copies.

    Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued
as contemplated by the Plan and the Registration Statement, will be duly
authorized and legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

    We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Shipman & Goodwin LLP