UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 27,
1999
AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada 0-22494 88-0304799
(State or other (Commission File (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification
incorporation or Number)
organization)
3773 Howard Hughes Parkway
Suite 490 South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)
(702) 567-7000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
<PAGE>ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On October 29, 1999, the Registrant issued a press release
(the "Press Release") announcing a verdict against the Company by
a jury in the Circuit Court of Pike County, Mississippi in the
case of E. L. Pennebaker et al. v. Harrah's Vicksburg Corporation
et al. The Registrant is a named defendant in this case. The
Press Release is filed herewith as an exhibit to this Report.
The Press Release is hereby incorporated by reference into this
Report.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(a) and (b) Financial Statements and Pro Forma Financial
Information.
None.
(c) Exhibits.
20.1 Press Release of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. dated
October 29, 1999
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the undersigned registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: November 2, 1999
By: /s/Thomas M. Steinbauer
Thomas M. Steinbauer,
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibit Method of Filing
20.1 Press Release of Ameristar Filed electronically
Casinos, Inc. dated October 29, herewith.
1999
<PAGE>EXHIBIT 20.1
CONTACT: Gillian Silver, Vice President
Corporate Communications
Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
702/567-7053
AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC. RESPONDS TO JURY VERDICT
IN PIKE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI LITIGATION
LAS VEGAS, NEV., OCT. 29, 1999-Ameristar Casinos, Inc. today
reacted to a jury verdict rendered against Ameristar and other
defendants on the evening of Oct. 27, 1999 in Pike County, Miss.
The jury in the matter of E.L. Pennebaker, et al. vs. Harrah's
Vicksburg Corporation, et al., rendered a verdict against
defendants Ameristar, Harrah's Vicksburg Corporation and Deposit
Guaranty National Bank. The jury awarded $1,042,000 to plaintiff
E. L. Pennebaker, Jr. and $2,950,000 to plaintiff Multi Gaming
Management, Inc. The defendants will be jointly and severally
liable for the damages awarded by the jury. The plaintiffs
originally sought damages of $238 million from these three
defendants and a fourth defendant which settled with the
plaintiffs prior to trial. The amount paid in settlement will be
credited against the verdict amount.
In the suit, the plaintiffs alleged that Ameristar and the
co-defendants acted illegally to restrain trade and violate
provisions of the Mississippi Gaming Control Act. The plaintiffs
also alleged that the defendants conspired to prevent
-MORE-
<PAGE>AMERISTAR RESPONDS TO VERDICT
ADD ONE
the location of a casino on the Big Black River (between
Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss.) by engaging in an extensive media
and public relations campaign to attempt to influence the
Mississippi Gaming Commission's decision. The complaint also
alleged that the defendants' actions constituted tortious
interference with certain contracts of the plaintiffs.
Ameristar will appeal the judgement in this case. Chairman
and CEO Craig Neilsen stated, "Ameristar did nothing wrong and
the company merely expressed its views that a proposed casino
site was neither legal, nor suitable, under the Mississippi
gaming laws. The Mississippi Gaming Commission later found the
site to be unsuitable. We intend to ask the Mississippi Supreme
Court to reverse the jury's award as an unconstitutional
restraint on Ameristar's free speech rights."
Ameristar Casinos, Inc., is an innovative, small-cap gaming
company known for its distinctive, quality-conscious hotel
casinos and good food values. Led by President and Chief
Executive Officer Craig H. Neilsen, the organization's roots go
back nearly five decades to a tiny roadside casino in the high
plateau country that borders Nevada and Idaho. Publicly held
since November 1993, the Las Vegas-based corporation operates
five properties in Nevada, Mississippi and Iowa.
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