BNET Industries

Market Cap:$1.0B
Last Fiscal Year Sales:$1.0B
  • Public
  • US
Dow Jones Description

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. is a leadingLas Vegas-based gaming and entertainment company known for its premier properties characterized by innovative architecture, state-of-the-art casino floors and superior dining, lodging and entertainment offerings. Ameristar's focus on the total entertainment experience and the highest quality guest service has earned it leading market share positions in the markets in which it operates. Founded in 1954 inJackpot, Nevada, Ameristar has been a public company since November 1993. The Company has a portfolio of eight casinos in seven markets: Ameristar St. Charles (greaterSt. Louis); Ameristar Kansas City; Ameristar Council Bluffs (Omaha, Nebraska and southwesternIowa); Ameristar Vicksburg (Jackson, Mississippi andMonroe, Louisiana); Ameristar Black Hawk (Denver metropolitan area); Cactus Petes and The Horseshu inJackpot, Nevada (Idaho and the Pacific Northwest); and Resorts East Chicago (Chicagoland area), which was acquired Sept. 18, 2007.

Chief Executive Officer
Gordon R. Kanofsky
Number of Employees 7,700
Contact Information

3773 Howard Hughes Pkwy Ste 490 S

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

www.ameristarca...

(702) 567-7000

NAICS Code Casinos (except Casino Hotels): 713210

Recent Events

  • Melco Crown fails to halt losses

    11/24/09 - Financial Announcement - View Story

  • Ameristar Casinos Names Pete Savage SVPand General Manager Of Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago -...

    11/17/09 - Mgmt. Change Entering - General Manager - View Story

  • Ameristar Casinos ASCA Declares $0.105 Quarterly Dividend; 2.4% Yield

    11/17/09 - Stock Split / Dividend - View Story

  • Earnings stay flat for Ameristar (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

    11/06/09 - Financial Announcement - View Story

  • JCM Global and Ameristar Casinos Sign Multi-Year Agreement

    10/22/09 - Joint Venture / Alliance - View Story

  • Casino Industry Insider news bites - 09-15-2009

    9/18/09 - Bond / Stock Rating - View Story

  • Brean Murray Carret & Co. LLC reiterates Ameristar Casinos Inc. at 'buy'

    9/15/09 - Bond / Stock Rating - View Story

  • Casino Industry Insider news bites

    9/15/09 - Bond / Stock Rating - View Story

  • Betting on Death

    8/10/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • While Ameristar Casinos Strengthened its Balance Sheet, Profits Still Fall 16 Percent

    8/07/09 - Financial Announcement - View Story

  • Ameristar Casinos, Inc.: Richard J. Darder Appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ameristar...

    7/22/09 - Mgmt. Change Entering - Other - View Story

  • STOCKS NEWS US-S&P turns negative for year in broad sell-off

    6/22/09 - Bond / Stock Rating - View Story

News & Analysis

ameristar casinos inc. and finance - All News and Analysis

Decision Makers

Name (plus bio) Position
Gordon R. Kanofsky Chief Executive Officer
Larry A. Hodges President and Chief Operating Officer
Peter C. Walsh Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer
Thomas M. Steinbauer Senior Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer
Ursula Conway CIO
Alan R. Rose Senior Vice President, Construction
Michelle Shriver Senior Vice President, Operations
Richard L. deFlon Senior Vice President, Design
Karen J. Lynn Vice President, Comm
Matthew A. Miele Vice President, Procurement
Paul Eagleton Vice President, Marketing
Robert Sobczyk Vice President of Slot Operations
Craig Neilsen Founder
Kim Carpenter Director, Sales, Hotel & Catering

Board of Directors

Name (plus bio) Position
Ray H. Neilsen Chairman
Carl Brooks Board of Directors
J. William Richardson Board of Directors
Leslie Nathanson Juris Board of Directors
Luther P. Cochrane Board of Directors
W. Bruce Turner Board of Directors

Gordy Kanofsky was named Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ameristar in May 2008. He joined Ameristar in September 1999 and was Executive Vice President from March 2002 to May 2008, after initially serving as Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs. He was elected Co-Chairman of the Board in November 2006. Prior to joining Ameristar, he was in private law practice in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, California, primarily focused on corporate and securities matters, and represented Ameristar beginning in 1993. Gordy is a Co-Trustee and a member of the Board of Directors of The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of the American Gaming Association and the Association's Task Force on Diversity. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Gordy is a graduate of the Duke University School of Law with honors and holds an undergraduate degree in History, magna cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis. He was a member of the Duke Law Journal.

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Vice Chairman Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Co-Chairman & Executive Vice President Former
Washington University Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude Former

Larry Hodges was named President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company in May 2008. He is responsible for gaming, hotel, food and beverage, marketing, design and construction and information technology. He has also been on the Board of Directors of Ameristar since March 1994. Prior to assuming his executive positions with Ameristar, Larry was a Managing Director of CRG Partners Group LLC, a privately held business management firm. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Mrs. Fields Original Cookies, Inc. from April 1994 to May 2003, after serving as President of Food Barn Stores, Inc. from July 1991 to March 1994. From February 1990 to October 1991, Larry served as president of his own company, Branshan Inc., which engaged in the business of providing management consulting services to food makers and retailers. Earlier, he was with American Stores Company for 25 years, where he rose to the position of President of two substantial subsidiary corporations. Larry's first management position was Vice President of Marketing for Alpha Beta Co., a major operator of grocery stores in the West. Larry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, San Bernardino and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development.

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Board of Directors Current

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Cares Foundation, Inc. Senior Vice President and General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer Current
Ameristar Cares Foundation, Inc. General Counsel Current
Sklar-Law Current
Ameristar Cares Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors Current
MGM Mirage, Inc. Vice President Former
Mirage Resorts Incorporated Vice President Former
MGM Mirage, Inc. Assistant General Counsel Former
Mirage Resorts Incorporated Assistant General Counsel Former
Ucla Law Review Board of Directors Former
Loyola Marymount University Undergraduate Degree Former
University of California, Los Angeles School of Law Former
Ucla Law Review Member Former
University of California, Los Angeles Member Former

Tom Steinbauer joined Ameristar in 1991 as the Company was transitioning from a privately held entity into a public corporation. As Chief Financial Officer, he oversees corporate accounting functions and financial relations, as well as financial executives at each property. He has also served on the Company's Board of Directors since its inception in 1993. Prior to joining Ameristar, Tom was Vice President of Finance for the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas where he led the Human Resources and Management Information Services departments and worked closely with Security and Surveillance. His 30-year career in the gaming industry also includes executive posts with Bally's Reno and the Flamingo Hilton. Educated at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Tom holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Accounting.

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Senior Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Board of Directors Current
University of Nebraska Business Administration Former

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. CIO Current

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Senior Vice President, Construction Current

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Senior Vice President, Operations Current

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Senior Vice President, Design Current

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Vice President, Comm Current

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Vice President, Procurement Current

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Vice President, Marketing Current

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Vice President of Slot Operations Current
Gaming Standards Association Treasurer Current
Southern Illinois University Bachelor of Science Degree In Electronics Management Former
Southern Illinois University Bachelor of Science Degree In Electronics Management Former

Craig Neilsen founded Ameristar Casinos, Inc. and served as the Company's principal officer from its public inception in 1993 until his death in November 2006. Prior to that time, Craig led the privately held casino hotel organization, consisting of Cactus Petes Resort Casino and the Horseshu. These two original properties, with a nearly 50-year history, created the foundation for the current Ameristar business. Under Craig's guidance, the Company grew to seven properties in Nevada, Mississippi, Iowa, Missouri and Colorado, and became recognized for its high quality products and diverse range of gaming, dining and entertainment options that provide a total entertainment experience. Craig was an executive in gaming, real estate development and construction for more than 25 years. In 2002, he was honored as "Best Performing CEO" by the American Gaming Association, and in 2005, he was inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was named Outstanding Business Leader by the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. Craig served on the Board of the American Gaming Association. His desire to help others living with a spinal cord injury led to his establishing The Craig H. Neilsen Foundationin 2003. The foundation continues today as his philanthropic legacy.

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Founder Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Former
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. President Former
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Principal Officer Former
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Chairman Former
University of Utah Master of Business Administration Former

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Director, Sales, Hotel & Catering Current

Ray Neilsen was named Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ameristar in May 2008. He previously served as Senior Vice President and Co-Chairman of the Board. He has held various management positions with Ameristar and its subsidiaries since 1991. Neilsen was Vice President of Operations and Special Projects for Ameristar from February 2006 to January 2007. Prior to that post, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg from June 2000 to February 2006, and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs from October 1997 to January 2000. Neilsen is involved in Companywide operations and design and has an active leadership role in the overall strategic direction of the Company. He plays an integral part in shaping the Company's culture and the evolving legacy of Ameristar Casinos. Ray Neilsen is the son of Ameristar's late founder, Craig H. Neilsen, and is the third generation in the family's gaming tradition. Neilsen serves as Co-Trustee and a member of the Board of Directors of The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, which is primarily dedicated to spinal cord injury research and treatment. He has been actively involved as an Advisory Board Member of the Foundation since its inception. Neilsen's primary residence is in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Readers of The Vicksburg Post, the Vicksburg community's daily newspaper, voted Neilsen “Man of the Year” in 2004. He is actively committed to public service and promoting the Vicksburg community. Neilsen has served on a variety of civic and philanthropic boards, including the United Way of West Central Mississippi, the Riverfest Committee and the Alliance of Vicksburg-Warren County. Neilsen is also a personal advocate of the city's Riverfront Mural Project, donating both time and money to the effort. Neilsen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in History from the Albertson College of Idaho and a Master in Business Administration degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Edwards, Mississippi. They have four children and four grandchildren.

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Chairman Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Co-Chairman, Senior Vice President-Operations & Special Projects Former
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. General Manager, Vicksburg Former
Monterey Institute of International Studies MBA Former
Albertson College of Idaho Bachelor of Science Degree In History Former

Carl Brooks was elected to Ameristar's Board of Directors in October 2006. He is a member of the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee of the Board. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Executive Leadership Council and The Executive Leadership Foundation in Washington, D.C., the nation's premier leadership organization of African-American senior executives in Fortune 500 companies. During a distinguished career of 25 years in the utility industry, Carl served as Vice President, Human & Technical Resources of GPU Energy in Reading, Pennsylvania, one of the nation's largest publicly traded electric utilities, and as Chief Financial Officer of GENCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of GPU Energy. Carl is a cum laude graduate of Hampton Institute and holds a Master in Business Administration degree from Southern Illinois University, with honors. He is a graduate of the Tuck Executive Program (President Program) at Dartmouth College. Carl serves on the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Financial Services Diversity Council. He is Vice Chair of both the board of directors of Howard University's School of Business and Hampton Institute's board of advisers. He previously served on the GPU Energy/GENCO board of directors. In addition, he was Chairman of the GPU Diversity Action Council, winning the Edison Electric Institute Award for Diversity. Carl is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, the National Black MBA Association and the National Urban League's Best Diversity Practices Study Advisory Council. He also served as the Honorary Chair of the 35th Anniversary of the School of Business at Howard University and was a 2004 recipient of the EEOC's Spirit of Partnership Award.

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Board of Directors Current

Organization Position Status
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Chief Financial Officer Current
Ameristar Cares Foundation, Inc. Director and Chair of The Audit Committee Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Vice President Former
Stormont and Company, Inc. vice president Former
Stormont and Company, Inc. partner Former
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Corporate Controller Former
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Vice Chairman Former
University of Kentucky Bachelor of Arts Degree In Business, Finance Former
University of Kentucky degree in business, finance Former

Leslie Nathanson Juris was elected as a Director in May 2003. She is Chair of the Compensation Committee of the Board. As President of Nathanson/Juris Consulting, she advises executives of publicly and privately held companies in a broad range of industries on issues of strategy, structure, succession, culture and practices to improve organizational performance. From 1994 to 1999, Leslie was Managing Partner of Roberts, Nathanson & Wolfson Consulting, Inc. (now known as RNW Consulting), a management consulting firm. She has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of strategy implementation and the management of complex organizational change. She has also been a lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago for more than 20 years. Leslie holds a Bachelor's degree from Tufts University, as well as a Master's degree with emphasis in management and education and a Doctorate degree specializing in organizational behavior, both from Northwestern University.

Organization Position Status
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Lecturer Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Ameristar Cares Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Northwestern University Doctorate Degree Former
Northwestern University Master's Degree Former
Tufts University Bachelor's Degree Former

Organization Position Status
Be&K Building Group Chairman Current
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Be&K Building Group Chief Executive Officer Former
Bovis Lend Lease, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Former
The University of North Carolina Juris Doctorate degree Former

Organization Position Status
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Board of Directors Current

Executive News

  • Betting on Death

    Motley Fool - 8/10/09 - View Story

  • While Ameristar Casinos Strengthened its Balance Sheet, Profits Still Fall 16 Percent

    Hotel Online - 8/07/09 - View Story

  • Ameristar profits fall 16 percent (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

    Hotel Online - 8/07/09 - View Story

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     ASCA $17.75 +0.09 (0.51% )
Average Volume 454,156
Shares Outstanding 57.68M
Market Cap 1.0B
Year High 23
Year Low 6.86
Earnings Per Share -0.74
P/E Ratio -23.99
Dividend 0.42
Yield 2.37
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