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<P align="center"><FONT size="2">As filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 19, 2010
</FONT>


<DIV  align="right"><FONT size="2">Registration
No.&nbsp;333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT></DIV>

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<P align="center"><FONT size="4"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
</B></FONT>


<DIV align="center"><FONT size="3"><B>Washington, DC 20549</B>
</FONT></DIV>


<P align="center"><HR size="1" width="18%" noshade>


<P align="center"><FONT size="5"><B>FORM S-8
</B></FONT>


<DIV align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</FONT></DIV>


<P align="center"><FONT size="6"><B>AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC.
</B></FONT>


<DIV align="center"><FONT size="2">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
</FONT></DIV>

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<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="51%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="44%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2"><B>Nevada</B><BR>
(State or Other Jurisdiction<BR>
of Incorporation or Organization)</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
<B>88-0304799</B><BR>
(I.R.S. Employer<BR>
Identification Number)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>3773 Howard Hughes Parkway<BR>
Suite&nbsp;490 South<BR>
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169</B><BR>
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
</FONT>


<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>2009 Stock Incentive Plan</B><BR>
(Full Title of the Plan)
</FONT>


<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>PETER C. WALSH<BR>
Senior Vice President and General Counsel<BR>
Ameristar Casinos, Inc.<BR>
3773 Howard Hughes Parkway<BR>
Suite&nbsp;490 South<BR>
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169</B><BR>
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
</FONT>


<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>(702)&nbsp;567-7000</B><BR>
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
</FONT>


<P align="center"><FONT size="2">Copies to:<BR>
JONATHAN K. LAYNE, ESQ.<BR>
Gibson, Dunn &#038; Crutcher LLP<BR>
2029 Century Park East<BR>
Los Angeles, California 90067<BR>
(310)&nbsp;552-8500
</FONT>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting
company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="22%"></TD>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="22%"></TD>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="22%"></TD>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="22%"></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Large accelerated filer
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Accelerated filer
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" valign="top">Non-accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT><BR>
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">Smaller reporting company <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR style="font-size: 1pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="54%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Title of Securities</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Amount to Be</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Offering Price Per</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Aggregate Offering</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Registration</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>to Be Registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Registered (1)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Share(2)(3)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Price (2)(3)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2"><B>Fee (3)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock,
$0.01
par value</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" colspan="2" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">6,000,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" colspan="2" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$17.215</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" colspan="2" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$103,290,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" colspan="2" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$7,365</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(1)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416(a), this Registration Statement also covers
additional shares that may be offered as a result of stock splits, stock
dividends or similar transactions.</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(2)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(3)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">Calculated pursuant to Rule&nbsp;457(c) based upon the average of the high and
low sale prices of the Common Stock of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. on The Nasdaq
Global Select Market on March 15, 2010.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P>
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<P align="right"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>

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<!-- link1 "INTRODUCTION" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>INTRODUCTION</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This Registration Statement on Form S-8 relates to up to 6,000,000 shares of the common stock,
$0.01 par value (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;), of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the &#147;Company&#148; or the
&#147;Registrant&#148;), that are available for distribution under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan of
the Registrant (the &#147;Stock Incentive Plan&#148;). The Stock Incentive Plan provides for awards in the form of restricted
stock, stock options (including both incentive and non-qualified stock options), restricted stock
units and/or performance share units. The maximum number of shares available for distribution under
the Stock Incentive Plan is subject to adjustment as a result of certain anti-dilution provisions
in the Stock Incentive Plan.

</FONT>

<!-- link1 "PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>PART I</B>
</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B>
</FONT>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;1. Plan Information" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;1. Plan Information.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to Note to Part&nbsp;I of Form&nbsp;S-8.
</FONT>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to Note to Part&nbsp;I of Form&nbsp;S-8.
</FONT>

<!-- link1 "PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>PART II</B>
</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>
</FONT>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="005"></A></DIV>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents, which previously have been filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;), are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof:
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)&nbsp; The Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended
December&nbsp;31, 2009;
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)&nbsp; The Company&#146;s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, filed April&nbsp;29, 2009 under cover of
Schedule&nbsp;14A; and
</FONT>


<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)&nbsp; The
description of the Common Stock contained in
the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A filed pursuant to
Section&nbsp;12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
&#147;Exchange Act&#148;).
</FONT>


<P align="right"><FONT size="2">2</FONT>

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<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All
reports and other documents filed by the Company pursuant to
Section&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
hereto, which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For purposes of this Registration Statement, any document or any statement
contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a
subsequently filed document or a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated
herein by reference modifies or supersedes such document or such statement in
such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
Statement.
</FONT>

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<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Common
Stock is registered under Section&nbsp;12 of the Exchange Act.
</FONT>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" -->

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</FONT>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers" -->

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subsection 7 of Section&nbsp;78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the &#147;Nevada
Law&#148;) provides that, subject to certain very limited statutory exceptions, a
director or officer is not individually liable to the corporation or its
stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his or
her capacity as a director or officer, unless it is proven that the act or
failure to act constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a
director or officer and such breach of those duties involved intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law. The statutory standard of
liability established by Section&nbsp;78.138 controls even if
there is a provision in the corporation&#146;s articles of incorporation unless
a provision in the Registrant&#146;s Articles of Incorporation provides for greater individual liability.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subsection 1 of Section&nbsp;78.7502 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation
to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise (any such person, a &#147;Covered Person&#148;), against expenses (including attorneys&#146;
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by the Covered Person in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if the Covered Person is not liable pursuant to Section
78.138 of the Nevada Law or the Covered Person acted in good faith and in a
manner the Covered Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe the Covered Person&#146;s conduct
was unlawful.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subsection 2 of Section&nbsp;78.7502 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation
to indemnify any Covered Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in
the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of
the fact that such person acted in the capacity of a Covered Person against
expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys&#146; fees actually and
reasonably incurred by the Covered Person in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit, if the Covered Person is not liable pursuant to Section&nbsp;78.138
of the Nevada Law or the Covered Person acted in good faith and in a manner the Covered Person reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation. However, no indemnification may
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the Covered Person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after exhaustion of all appeals) to be liable to the
</FONT>
<P align="right"><FONT size="2">3</FONT>

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<P align="left"><FONT size="2"> corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation unless
and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought
or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances the
Covered Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses as the court deems proper.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;78.7502 of the Nevada Law further provides that to the extent a
Covered Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense
of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Subsection&nbsp;1 or 2,
as described above, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the
corporation shall indemnify the Covered Person against expenses (including
attorneys&#146; fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the Covered Person in
connection with the defense.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subsection 1 of Section&nbsp;78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that any
discretionary indemnification pursuant to Section&nbsp;78.7502 of the Nevada Law,
unless ordered by a court or advanced pursuant to Subsection 2 of Section
78.751, may be made by a corporation only as authorized in the specific case
upon a determination that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper
in the circumstances. Such determination must be made (a)&nbsp;by the stockholders,
(b)&nbsp;by the board of directors of the corporation by majority vote of a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding,
(c)&nbsp;if a majority vote of a quorum of such non-party directors so orders,
by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (d)&nbsp;by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion if a quorum of such non-party directors cannot
be obtained.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subsection 2 of Section&nbsp;78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that a
corporation&#146;s articles of incorporation or bylaws or an agreement made by the
corporation may require the corporation to pay as incurred and in advance of
the final disposition of a criminal or civil action, suit or proceeding, the
expenses of officers and directors in defending such action, suit or proceeding
upon receipt by the corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.
Subsection&nbsp;2 of Section&nbsp;78.751 further provides that its provisions do not
affect any rights to advancement of expenses to which corporate personnel other
than officers and directors may be entitled under contract or otherwise by law.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subsection 3 of Section&nbsp;78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that
indemnification pursuant to Section&nbsp;78.7502 of the Nevada Law and advancement
of expenses authorized in or ordered by a court pursuant to Section&nbsp;78.751 does
not exclude any other rights to which the Covered Person may be entitled
under the articles of incorporation or any bylaw, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, for either an action in
his or her official capacity or in another capacity while holding his or her
office. However, indemnification, unless ordered by a court pursuant to Section
78.7502 or for the advancement of expenses under Subsection 2 of Section&nbsp;78.751
of the Nevada Law, may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer
of the corporation if a final adjudication establishes that his or her acts or
omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the
law and were material to the cause of action. Additionally, the scope of such
indemnification and advancement of expenses shall continue for a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, and shall
inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;78.752 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation to purchase and
maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of a
Covered Person for any liability asserted against such person and
liabilities and expenses incurred by such person in his or her capacity as a
Covered Person or arising out of such person&#146;s status as a Covered Person whether or not the corporation has the authority to indemnify such person
against such liability and expenses.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant provide for indemnification of Covered Persons
substantially identical in scope to that permitted under the Nevada
Law. Such Bylaws provide that the expenses of directors and officers of the
Registrant incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, must be paid by the Registrant as
they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit
or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
</FONT>
<P align="right"><FONT size="2">4</FONT>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>


<P align="left"><FONT size="2"> behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it
is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the director
or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant has a contract for insurance coverage under which the
Registrant and certain Covered Persons (including the directors and
officers of the Registrant) are indemnified under certain circumstances with
respect to litigation and other costs and liabilities arising out of actual or
alleged misconduct of such Covered Persons. In addition, the Registrant has
entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that
require the Registrant to indemnify such directors and officers to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable provisions of Nevada law, subject to amounts
paid by insurance. The above-described provisions of the Nevada Law relating to the
indemnification of directors and officers do not prohibit the
indemnification of such persons in certain circumstances against liabilities
(including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities
Act of 1933.
</FONT>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</FONT>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits" -->

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference as
part of this Registration Statement:
</FONT>



<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="37%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description of Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Method of Filing</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1(a)
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Articles of Incorporation of Registrant.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to
Registration
Statement on Form
S-1 filed by
Registrant under
the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended
(File No.
33-68936).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1(b)
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Certificate of Amendment to Articles of
Incorporation of Registrant.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to
Registrant&#146;s
Quarterly Report on
Form&nbsp;10-Q for the
quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2002 (File No.&nbsp;000-22494).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1(c)
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3(i).1 to
Registrant&#146;s
Current Report on
Form&nbsp;8-K filed on
June&nbsp;8, 2005 (File No.&nbsp;000-22494).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant, effective <BR>
May 31, 2008.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to
Registrant&#146;s
Current Report on
Form&nbsp;8-K
filed on June 2, 2008
 (File No.&nbsp;000-22494).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to
Registrant&#146;s Current
Report on Form&nbsp;8-K

filed on June 4, 2009 (File No.&nbsp;000-22494).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Legal Opinion of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, LLP.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Filed electronically herewith.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, LLP.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Contained in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm &#151; Ernst &#038; Young LLP.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Filed electronically herewith.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Contained on signature page hereto.</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings" -->

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
</FONT>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="12%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(a)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="84%"><FONT size="2">To file, during any period in which offers or
sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
registration statement:</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
    <TD width="16%"></TD>
    <TD width="84%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)&nbsp;To include any prospectus required by section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
    <TD width="16%"></TD>
    <TD width="84%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)&nbsp;To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration
statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed
that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20&nbsp;percent change
in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
&#147;Calculation of Registration Fee&#148; table in the effective
registration statement; and</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P align="right"><FONT size="2">5</FONT>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
    <TD width="16%"></TD>
    <TD width="84%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)&nbsp;To include any material information with respect
to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2"><I>&nbsp;</I></FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2"><I>provided, however, </I>that paragraphs (1)(a)(i) and (1)(a)(ii) do not apply
if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section&nbsp;15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="12%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(b)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="84%"><FONT size="2">That, for the purpose of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(c)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="93%"><FONT size="2">To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being
registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="background: transparent">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="93%">That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of
1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>





<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;That, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) or Section&nbsp;15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp; Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
</FONT>

<P align="right"><FONT size="2">6</FONT>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B></DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada, on this 19th day of March, 2010.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">            /s/ Gordon R. Kanofsky
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Gordon R. Kanofsky&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left"> Chief Executive
Officer,<BR>

Vice Chairman of the Board and Director&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B></DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Gordon R. Kanofsky and Thomas
M. Steinbauer, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him or her and in his or her name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="14%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Gordon R. Kanofsky
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Gordon R. Kanofsky</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Chief Executive Officer, <BR>
Vice Chairman of the Board and Director<BR>
(Principal Executive Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Thomas M. Steinbauer
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Thomas M. Steinbauer</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Senior Vice President of Finance,<BR>
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer,<BR>
Secretary and Director<BR>

(Principal Financial Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Heather A. Rollo
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Heather A. Rollo</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">

Chief Accounting Officer<BR>
(Principal Accounting Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Ray H. Neilsen
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Ray H. Neilsen</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman of the Board and Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Larry A. Hodges
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Larry A. Hodges</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">President, Chief Operating Officer and
Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Carl Brooks
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Carl Brooks</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Luther P. Cochrane
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Luther P. Cochrane</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Leslie Nathanson Juris
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Leslie Nathanson Juris</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ J. William Richardson
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
J. William Richardson</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">March 19, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P align="right"><FONT size="2">7</FONT>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<!-- link1 "INDEX TO EXHIBITS" -->

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</B>
</FONT>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="37%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description of Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Method of Filing</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1(a)
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Articles of Incorporation of Registrant.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to
Registration
Statement on Form
S-1 filed by
Registrant under
the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended
(File No.&nbsp;33-68936).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1(b)
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Certificate of Amendment to Articles of
Incorporation of Registrant.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to
Registrant&#146;s
Quarterly Report on
Form&nbsp;10-Q for the
quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2002 (File No.&nbsp;000-22494).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1(c)
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3(i).1 to
Registrant&#146;s
Current Report on
Form&nbsp;8-K filed on
June&nbsp;8, 2005 (File No.&nbsp;000-22494).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to
Registrant&#146;s
Current Report on
Form&nbsp;8-K

filed on June 2, 2008 (File No.&nbsp;000-22494).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to
Registrant&#146;s Current
Report on Form&nbsp;8-K

filed on June 4, 2009 (File No.&nbsp;000-22494).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Legal Opinion of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, LLP.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Filed herewith.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, LLP.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm &#151; Ernst &#038; Young LLP.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Filed herewith.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Contained on signature page hereto.</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="right"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>

<P align="right"><FONT size="2">8</FONT>
</BODY>
</HTML>
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sv8
As filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 19, 2010
Registration
No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Nevada
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)
88-0304799
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
3773 Howard Hughes Parkway
Suite 490 South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
2009 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
PETER C. WALSH
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
3773 Howard Hughes Parkway
Suite 490 South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(702) 567-7000
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
JONATHAN K. LAYNE, ESQ.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
2029 Century Park East
Los Angeles, California 90067
(310) 552-8500
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting
company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
o
Accelerated filer
þ
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed Maximum
Proposed Maximum
Amount of
Title of Securities
Amount to Be
Offering Price Per
Aggregate Offering
Registration
to Be Registered
Registered (1)
Share(2)(3)
Price (2)(3)
Fee (3)
Common Stock,
$0.01
par value
6,000,000
$17.215
$103,290,000
$7,365
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this Registration Statement also covers
additional shares that may be offered as a result of stock splits, stock
dividends or similar transactions.
(2)
Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.
(3)
Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the high and
low sale prices of the Common Stock of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. on The Nasdaq
Global Select Market on March 15, 2010.
INTRODUCTION
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 relates to up to 6,000,000 shares of the common stock,
$0.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "Company" or the
"Registrant"), that are available for distribution under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan of
the Registrant (the "Stock Incentive Plan"). The Stock Incentive Plan provides for awards in the form of restricted
stock, stock options (including both incentive and non-qualified stock options), restricted stock
units and/or performance share units. The maximum number of shares available for distribution under
the Stock Incentive Plan is subject to adjustment as a result of certain anti-dilution provisions
in the Stock Incentive Plan.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. Plan Information.
Not filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to Note to Part I of Form S-8.
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
Not filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to Note to Part I of Form S-8.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which previously have been filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof:
(i)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009;
(ii)  The Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, filed April 29, 2009 under cover of
Schedule 14A; and
(iii)  The
description of the Common Stock contained in
the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act").
2
All
reports and other documents filed by the Company pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
hereto, which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents.
For purposes of this Registration Statement, any document or any statement
contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a
subsequently filed document or a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated
herein by reference modifies or supersedes such document or such statement in
such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
The Common
Stock is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Subsection 7 of Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the "Nevada
Law") provides that, subject to certain very limited statutory exceptions, a
director or officer is not individually liable to the corporation or its
stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his or
her capacity as a director or officer, unless it is proven that the act or
failure to act constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a
director or officer and such breach of those duties involved intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law. The statutory standard of
liability established by Section 78.138 controls even if
there is a provision in the corporation's articles of incorporation unless
a provision in the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation provides for greater individual liability.
Subsection 1 of Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation
to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise (any such person, a "Covered Person"), against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by the Covered Person in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if the Covered Person is not liable pursuant to Section
78.138 of the Nevada Law or the Covered Person acted in good faith and in a
manner the Covered Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe the Covered Person's conduct
was unlawful.
Subsection 2 of Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation
to indemnify any Covered Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in
the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of
the fact that such person acted in the capacity of a Covered Person against
expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys' fees actually and
reasonably incurred by the Covered Person in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit, if the Covered Person is not liable pursuant to Section 78.138
of the Nevada Law or the Covered Person acted in good faith and in a manner the Covered Person reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation. However, no indemnification may
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the Covered Person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after exhaustion of all appeals) to be liable to the
3
corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation unless
and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought
or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances the
Covered Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses as the court deems proper.
Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law further provides that to the extent a
Covered Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense
of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Subsection 1 or 2,
as described above, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the
corporation shall indemnify the Covered Person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the Covered Person in
connection with the defense.
Subsection 1 of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that any
discretionary indemnification pursuant to Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law,
unless ordered by a court or advanced pursuant to Subsection 2 of Section
78.751, may be made by a corporation only as authorized in the specific case
upon a determination that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper
in the circumstances. Such determination must be made (a) by the stockholders,
(b) by the board of directors of the corporation by majority vote of a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding,
(c) if a majority vote of a quorum of such non-party directors so orders,
by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (d) by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion if a quorum of such non-party directors cannot
be obtained.
Subsection 2 of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that a
corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws or an agreement made by the
corporation may require the corporation to pay as incurred and in advance of
the final disposition of a criminal or civil action, suit or proceeding, the
expenses of officers and directors in defending such action, suit or proceeding
upon receipt by the corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.
Subsection 2 of Section 78.751 further provides that its provisions do not
affect any rights to advancement of expenses to which corporate personnel other
than officers and directors may be entitled under contract or otherwise by law.
Subsection 3 of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that
indemnification pursuant to Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law and advancement
of expenses authorized in or ordered by a court pursuant to Section 78.751 does
not exclude any other rights to which the Covered Person may be entitled
under the articles of incorporation or any bylaw, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, for either an action in
his or her official capacity or in another capacity while holding his or her
office. However, indemnification, unless ordered by a court pursuant to Section
78.7502 or for the advancement of expenses under Subsection 2 of Section 78.751
of the Nevada Law, may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer
of the corporation if a final adjudication establishes that his or her acts or
omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the
law and were material to the cause of action. Additionally, the scope of such
indemnification and advancement of expenses shall continue for a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, and shall
inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 78.752 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation to purchase and
maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of a
Covered Person for any liability asserted against such person and
liabilities and expenses incurred by such person in his or her capacity as a
Covered Person or arising out of such person's status as a Covered Person whether or not the corporation has the authority to indemnify such person
against such liability and expenses.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant provide for indemnification of Covered Persons
substantially identical in scope to that permitted under the Nevada
Law. Such Bylaws provide that the expenses of directors and officers of the
Registrant incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, must be paid by the Registrant as
they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit
or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
4
behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it
is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the director
or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant.
The Registrant has a contract for insurance coverage under which the
Registrant and certain Covered Persons (including the directors and
officers of the Registrant) are indemnified under certain circumstances with
respect to litigation and other costs and liabilities arising out of actual or
alleged misconduct of such Covered Persons. In addition, the Registrant has
entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that
require the Registrant to indemnify such directors and officers to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable provisions of Nevada law, subject to amounts
paid by insurance. The above-described provisions of the Nevada Law relating to the
indemnification of directors and officers do not prohibit the
indemnification of such persons in certain circumstances against liabilities
(including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities
Act of 1933.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
The
following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference as
part of this Registration Statement:
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
Method of Filing
4.1(a)
Articles of Incorporation of Registrant.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to
Registration
Statement on Form
S-1 filed by
Registrant under
the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended
(File No.
33-68936).
4.1(b)
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of
Incorporation of Registrant.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to
Registrant's
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2002 (File No. 000-22494).
4.1(c)
Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 3(i).1 to
Registrant's
Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on
June 8, 2005 (File No. 000-22494).
4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant, effective
May 31, 2008.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to
Registrant's
Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on June 2, 2008
 (File No. 000-22494).
4.3
Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
2009 Stock Incentive Plan.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to
Registrant's Current
Report on Form 8-K

filed on June 4, 2009 (File No. 000-22494).
5.1
Legal Opinion of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, LLP.
Filed electronically herewith.
23.1
Consent of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, LLP.
Contained in Exhibit 5.1.
23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm — Ernst & Young LLP.
Filed electronically herewith.
24.1
Power of Attorney.
Contained on signature page hereto.
Item 9. Undertakings.
(1)       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(a)
To file, during any period in which offers or
sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration
statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed
that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change
in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
registration statement; and
5
(iii) To include any material information with respect
to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;
provided, however,
that paragraphs (1)(a)(i) and (1)(a)(ii) do not apply
if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.
(b)
That, for the purpose of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(c)
To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being
registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(d)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of
1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
(2) That, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(3)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada, on this 19th day of March, 2010.
By:
/s/ Gordon R. Kanofsky
Gordon R. Kanofsky
Chief Executive
Officer,
Vice Chairman of the Board and Director
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Gordon R. Kanofsky and Thomas
M. Steinbauer, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him or her and in his or her name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Gordon R. Kanofsky
Gordon R. Kanofsky
Chief Executive Officer,
Vice Chairman of the Board and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
March 19, 2010
/s/ Thomas M. Steinbauer
Thomas M. Steinbauer
Senior Vice President of Finance,
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer,
Secretary and Director
(Principal Financial Officer)
March 19, 2010
/s/ Heather A. Rollo
Heather A. Rollo
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
March 19, 2010
/s/ Ray H. Neilsen
Ray H. Neilsen
Chairman of the Board and Director
March 19, 2010
/s/ Larry A. Hodges
Larry A. Hodges
President, Chief Operating Officer and
Director
March 19, 2010
/s/ Carl Brooks
Carl Brooks
Director
March 19, 2010
/s/ Luther P. Cochrane
Luther P. Cochrane
Director
March 19, 2010
/s/ Leslie Nathanson Juris
Leslie Nathanson Juris
Director
March 19, 2010
/s/ J. William Richardson
J. William Richardson
Director
March 19, 2010
7
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
Method of Filing
4.1(a)
Articles of Incorporation of Registrant.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to
Registration
Statement on Form
S-1 filed by
Registrant under
the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended
(File No. 33-68936).
4.1(b)
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of
Incorporation of Registrant.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to
Registrant's
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2002 (File No. 000-22494).
4.1(c)
Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 3(i).1 to
Registrant's
Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on
June 8, 2005 (File No. 000-22494).
4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to
Registrant's
Current Report on
Form 8-K

filed on June 2, 2008 (File No. 000-22494).
4.3
Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
2009 Stock Incentive Plan.
Incorporated by
reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to
Registrant's Current
Report on Form 8-K

filed on June 4, 2009 (File No. 000-22494).
5.1
Legal Opinion of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, LLP.
Filed herewith.
23.1
Consent of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, LLP.
Included in Exhibit 5.1.
23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm — Ernst & Young LLP.
Filed herewith.
24.1
Power of Attorney.
Contained on signature page hereto.
8