EXHIBIT 5.1


                   [LETTERHEAD OF MAYER BROWN ROWE & MAW LLP]



July 29, 2005                                       Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
                                                                   1675 Broadway
                                                   New York, New York 10019-5820

                                                         Main Tel (212) 506-2500
                                                         Main Fax (212) 262-1910
                                                          www.mayerbrownrowe.com

Peninsula Gaming, LLC
Diamond Jo, LLC
Peninsula Gaming Corp.
P.O. Box 90270
Lafayette, Louisiana 70509-0270

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Peninsula  Gaming,  LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company ("PGL"), Diamond Jo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
("DJL"),  and Peninsula Gaming Corp., a Delaware  corporation  ("PGC",  together
with PGL and DJL,  the  "Issuers"),  in  connection  with the  preparation  of a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the  "Securities  Act"),  relating  to the  proposed  exchange of 8 3/4% Senior
Secured  Notes due 2012 of the Issuers  (the "New Notes") for any and all issued
and  outstanding  8 3/4% Senior  Secured Notes due 2012 of the Issuers (the "Old
Notes").  The Old Notes were,  and the New Notes will be, issued  pursuant to an
indenture  (the  "Indenture")  dated April 16, 2004 between the Issuers and U.S.
Bank National  Association,  as trustee.  Capitalized terms used and not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

         In  rendering  the  opinions  set forth  below,  we have  examined  the
originals, or certified,  conformed or reproduction copies, of all such records,
agreements,   instruments   and  documents  as  we  have  deemed   necessary  or
appropriate.  In all such  examinations,  we have relied upon the genuineness of
all signatures,  the  authenticity  of all original or certified  copies and the
conformity  to original or  certified  copies of all copies  submitted  to us as
conformed or  reproduction  copies.  We also have  assumed,  with respect to all
parties to agreements or instruments  relevant hereto, (i) that such parties had
the requisite power and authority  (corporate or otherwise) to execute,  deliver
and  perform  such  agreements  or  instruments,  (ii) that such  agreements  or
instruments  have been duly  authorized  by all requisite  action  (corporate or
otherwise) and have been executed and delivered by such parties,  and (iii) that
such  agreements  or  instruments   are  the  valid,   binding  and  enforceable
obligations  of such parties (other than the Issuers and the  Guarantor).  As to
various  questions of fact relevant to such  opinions,  we have relied upon, and
have assumed the accuracy of,  certificates  and oral or written  statements and
other information of or from public officials,  officers or  representatives  of
the Issuers and others.



     BRUSSELS CHARLOTTE CHICAGO COLOGNE FRANKFURT HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES
              MANCHESTER NEW YORK PALO ALTO PARIS WASHINGTON, D.C.
INDEPENDENT MEXICO CITY CORRESPONDENT: JAUREGUI, NAVARRETE, NADER Y ROJAS, S.C.

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP operates in combination with our associated English
           limited liability partnership in the offices listed above.

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP

July 29, 2004
Page 2



         Based  upon  the  foregoing  and  subject  to  the  other  limitations,
qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

       1.   Upon  the due  execution  and  authentication  of the New  Notes  in
            accordance  with the terms of the Indenture and delivery  thereof in
            exchange for the Old Notes,  the New Notes will constitute valid and
            binding  obligations of the Issuers,  enforceable in accordance with
            their terms and entitled to the benefits of the  Indenture,  subject
            to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  fraudulent transfer,
            moratorium  or  other  laws now or  hereafter  in  effect  affecting
            creditors' rights generally,  and (ii) general  principles of equity
            (including,  without  limitation,  standards  of  materiality,  good
            faith,  fair dealing and  reasonableness)  whether  considered  in a
            proceeding in equity or at law.

       2.   Upon the due  execution  and delivery  thereof and the due execution
            and  authentication of the New Notes in accordance with the terms of
            the  Indenture  and delivery  thereof in exchange for the Old Notes,
            the Guaranty will constitute the valid and binding obligation of The
            Old  Evangeline  Downs,  L.L.C.  (the  "Guarantor"),  enforceable in
            accordance  with its  terms  and  entitled  to the  benefits  of the
            Indenture,  subject to (i) bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
            fraudulent  transfer,  moratorium  or other laws now or hereafter in
            effect  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally,  and (ii)  general
            principles of equity (including,  without  limitation,  standards of
            materiality,  good faith, fair dealing and  reasonableness)  whether
            considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration  Statement  and to the  reference  to this firm  under the  caption
"Legal  Matters"  in  the  Prospectus  that  is  included  in  the  Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are "experts," within
the  meaning  of  that  term  as used in the  Securities  Act or the  rules  and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission issued  thereunder,  with
respect to any part of the Registration Statement,  including this opinion as an
Exhibit or otherwise.

         The foregoing opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated herein,
and no other or more extensive  opinion is intended or implied or to be inferred
beyond the matters  expressly stated herein.  The foregoing  opinion is based on
and is limited to, as in effect on the date hereof, the General  Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware,  which includes those statutory  provisions as well as
all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial
decisions interpreting such laws, the internal laws of the State of New York and
the  relevant  Federal  law of the United  States of  America.  With  respect to
certain  matters of Louisiana  law, we have relied on the opinion of  McGlinchey
Stafford  PLLC of even date  herewith.  We render no opinion with respect to the
law of any  other  jurisdiction  or,  without  limiting  the  generality  of the
foregoing, the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP

July 29, 2004
Page 3



         It is  understood  that this  opinion is to be used only in  connection
with the exchange offer of the New Notes while the Registration  Statement is in
effect and may not be relied upon for any other  purpose.  This opinion is not a
guarantee or an opinion  respecting  matters of fact and should not be construed
or relied on as such.  Other  than as  expressly  stated  above,  we  express no
opinion on any issue relating to the Issuers or to any investment therein.


                                                   Sincerely,


                                                   MAYER, BROWN, ROWE & MAW LLP