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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.
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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.