SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

WALSH PETER

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

16633 VENTURA BOULEVARD

SUITE 1050

(Street)

ENCINO

91436

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERISTAR CASINOS INC [ ASCA ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	SVP, GC, Chief Admin Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/05/2012

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	03/05/2012		M		10,000	A	$13.18	52,636	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		100	D	$19.265	52,536	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		200	D	$19.27	52,336	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		100	D	$19.295	52,236	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		500	D	$19.3	51,736	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		100	D	$19.305	51,636	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		500	D	$19.31	51,136	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		1,100	D	$19.32	50,036	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		100	D	$19.325	49,936	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		1,100	D	$19.33	48,836	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		500	D	$19.332	48,336	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		1,600	D	$19.34	46,736	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		400	D	$19.35	46,336	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		600	D	$19.36	45,736	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		200	D	$19.365	45,536	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		400	D	$19.38	45,136	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		100	D	$19.39	45,036	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		890	D	$19.4	44,146	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		100	D	$19.405	44,046	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		300	D	$19.41	43,746	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		200	D	$19.415	43,546	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		300	D	$19.42	43,246	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		400	D	$19.43	42,846	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		110	D	$19.44	42,736	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	03/05/2012		S		100	D	$19.45	42,636	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾
Common Stock								92,424⁽²⁾	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$13.18	03/05/2012		M			10,000	04/02/2003⁽³⁾	03/08/2012	Common Stock	10,000	$0	0	I	Family Trust⁽¹⁾

Explanation of Responses:

1. Securities owned by the Walsh Family Trust dated 9-11-03, of which Mr. Walsh and his spouse are co-trustees.

2. Balance includes previously reported restricted stock units, each of which constitutes the right to receive one share of common stock in the future.

3. Option vested in five equal annual installments commencing on April 2, 2003.

	/s/ Peter C. Walsh	03/05/2012
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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