8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 5, 2002


                          PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


          Delaware                     0-10619              95-3667491
(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission           (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)               File Number)        Identification No.)


         330 N. Brand Boulevard, Suite 1100, Glendale, California 91203
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (818) 662-5900




Item 5. Other Events.

On August 5, 2002, Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. issued a press release, a copy
of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by
reference.


Item 7. Exhibits.

99.1  Press Release dated August 5, 2002.


                                      -2-



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                    PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Date:  August 6, 2002               By: /s/ Bruce C. Hinckley
                                    ---------------------------------
                                            Bruce C. Hinckley
                                            Chief Financial Officer

                                      -3-







                           Exhibit Index

Exhibit  Description
- -------  -----------

99.1     Press Release dated August 5, 2002.

                                      -4-

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS BULLETIN
                                                     RE:

                                                     PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT

                                                     330 North Brand Boulevard,
                                                     Suite 1100
                                                     Glendale, California 91203
                                                     TRADED:  NYSE: PNK


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
  At The Company:                                                       At Coffin Communications Group:
  Dan Lee                   Wade Hundley         Bruce Hinckley         Sean Collins
  Chairman & CEO            COO                  CFO                    Partner
  (818) 662-5900            (818) 662-5900       (818) 662-5900         (818) 789-0100
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2002

                  PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE INDIANA GAMING
                       COMMISSION AGREE TO SETTLEMENT

Glendale, California - August 5, 2002 - Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK)
today announced it executed a settlement with the Indiana Gaming Commission in
connection with the previously announced investigation into events surrounding,
and claims underlying, lawsuits filed by two former employees. At the Indiana
Gaming Commission meeting held July 29, 2002, the Company agreed, among other
things, to pay a fine of $2.26 million, suspend gaming operations at Belterra
Casino Resort for a 3-day period beginning at 6:00 p.m. on October 6 to 12:01
p.m. on October 9, 2002, build a new 300 guest-room tower within two years and
establish a new compliance committee of the Company's Board of Directors.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor"
for forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information involves important
risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect future results and
accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in forward-looking
statements made by or on behalf of Pinnacle Entertainment. Pinnacle
Entertainment cautions that these statements are qualified by important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the
forward-looking statements contained herein. Such statements and factors
include, but are not limited to: (a) estimated expenses at Belterra Casino
Resort for the period October 6-9, 2002; (b) final investigative, legal and
other settlement costs; (c) completion of a 300 guest-room tower at Belterra
Casino Resort within two years; and (d) other risks, including those as may be
detailed from time to time in Pinnacle Entertainment's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). For more information on the
potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results, review the
Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K.

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