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LOS ANGELES, June 11 /PRNewswire/ — The gaming industry’s premier newsletter and its leading executive search firm will conduct their eighth annual Internet-based national survey of casino executives to gauge how the casino industry attracts, retains and motivates its executive talent.
The eighth survey — produced by Bristol Associates, Inc., a Los Angeles-based executive search firm, and Michael Pollock’s Gaming Industry Observer, an award-winning newsletter — comes during a tremendous growth period in the gaming industry, both internationally and across the United States.
To participate in the survey, visit , go to the “Gaming Industry” page and click on the “Take the Executive Satisfaction Survey” button. Gaming Industry Observer will analyze the results and report them in a future issue of the prestigious newsletter. Participants can also find a link to the survey at .
Analyses of the first seven Annual Gaming Industry Observer/Bristol Associates Surveys of casino Executives results were published in Gaming Industry Observer. “As the gaming industry grows, this survey becomes an invaluable tool for companies searching for new talent and for new ways to reward experienced managers,” Publisher Michael Pollock said.
Bristol Associates President James J. Bright said: “This survey helps our clients maintain and develop the strong leadership needed in today’s competitive landscape.”
Participants in the survey again will receive a complimentary copy of the results.
Gaming Industry Observer, which has won four national awards for editorial excellence from the Newsletter and Electronic Publishers Foundation, analyzes significant economic, social, political, legal and technological trends that impact the gaming industry. It is a subsidiary of Spectrum Gaming Group, an international research and professional services firm serving private- and public-sector clients on five continents.
Bristol Associates has well-established, successful practices in gaming, hotel, restaurant, travel, healthcare, food processing, and direct marketing. Bristol maintains one of the largest databases of executive talent in the industry. Jim Bright joined Bristol in 1975 and works exclusively with gaming companies to locate executives for both corporate and key property level positions.
Gaming Industry Observer

LAS VEGAS, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Ameristar Casinos, Inc. today announced the appointment of Brent Willits as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ameristar Council Bluffs, effective June 16.
Willits replaces current Senior Vice President and General Manager Teresa Meyer, who will retire at the end of the month after 13 years with the company.
“We’re thrilled to have Brent join the Ameristar team,” said Ameristar Senior Vice President of Operations Michelle Shriver, to whom Willits will report. “Brent is an experienced casino executive who has worked in a variety of roles that give him a wonderful perspective on growing an already strong business and offering its guests unparalleled service. He’s been recognized for his ability to inspire teams to achieve significant goals in guest service, employee satisfaction and financial operations, which are all areas critical to Ameristar’s continuing success.”
Willits joins Ameristar from Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., where he served as Vice President of Operations at the company’s Horseshoe property in Bossier City, La. In that position, he was responsible for overall operations at the market-leading, full-service casino and hotel, which produced annual revenues in excess of $275 million. He was promoted to that position from the post of Regional Vice President of Slots for Harrah’s Northwest Louisiana operations.
He began his professional career as a Captain for the American River Transportation Company and worked for two other casino companies before joining Harrah’s in 1993.
“Ameristar Council Bluffs is a successful property in a competitive and vibrant gaming market,” Willits said. “I am excited to return to my native Iowa to help lead Ameristar Council Bluffs to an even stronger market position by building on the company’s legacy of fantastic guest service and product quality.”
Willits holds a master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University, and a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in Business Management from Mid-Continent University. He also holds a Commercial Pilot License and an Unlimited Masters License in the Merchant Marine, the highest level of professional qualification among mariners.
Willits is currently involved in many volunteer activities for the United Way, was a member of the United Way Pillar Society and is a volunteer aviator for LifeLine Pilots, which provides needy individuals with free air transportation on small aircraft to distant health care facilities. He and his family will be relocating to the Council Bluffs area.
Willits succeeds Meyer, a 30-year casino industry veteran who held the Senior Vice President and General Manager role since 2006 after being promoted through a number of management roles at the property. “Teresa led Ameristar Council Bluffs’ success with her strong business sense, attention to detail and commitment to accountability,” Shriver said. “Everyone at Ameristar has great appreciation for Teresa’s candor, energy, enthusiasm and passion for a job well done. She will be missed.”
About Ameristar
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. is a leading Las 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 in Jackpot, Nevada, Ameristar has been a public company since November 1993. The Company has a portfolio of eight casinos in seven markets: Ameristar St. Charles (greater St. Louis); Ameristar Kansas City; Ameristar Council Bluffs (Omaha, Nebraska and southwestern Iowa); Ameristar Vicksburg (Jackson, Mississippi and Monroe, Louisiana); Ameristar Black Hawk (Denver metropolitan area); Cactus Petes and The Horseshu in Jackpot, Nevada (Idaho and the Pacific Northwest); and Resorts East Chicago (Chicagoland area), which was acquired on Sept. 18, 2007.
Visit Ameristar Casinos’ web site at
(which shall not be deemed to be incorporated in or a part of this news
release).

Forward-Looking Information

This release contains certain forward-looking information that generally can be identified by the context of the statement or the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “believes,”"estimates,”"anticipates,”"intends,”"expects,”"plans,”"is confident that,”"should” or words of similar meaning, with reference to Ameristar or our management. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives, strategies, financial results or position, operational expectations or goals are forward-looking statements. It is possible that our expectations may not be met due to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, and we therefore cannot give any assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. For a discussion of relevant factors, risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our future results, attention is directed to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Ameristar Casinos, Inc.