LAS VEGAS, April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASCA) today announced that Steve Eisner has been named Vice President of Development. The company also announced it has hired Greg Cooper as Vice President of Legal Affairs.

In his new position, Eisner will focus on pursuing domestic and international development opportunities to expand and diversify the Company's portfolio of properties. He will also assist on governmental affairs, which will enhance the Company's depth in this critical area. He will continue to be based at Ameristar's office in Encino, Calif.

Eisner joined Ameristar in 1999 as Vice President of Legal Affairs. Since that time, he has played a substantial role in the Company's debt and equity financing transactions; assisted in completing Ameristar's acquisition of the Missouri properties and their integration into the Company's operations; and supported Ameristar's construction and development groups, including providing legal support for the Company's development and construction of the new Ameristar Casino St. Charles. During his tenure with Ameristar, Eisner has also been responsible for negotiating a variety of real estate transactions, SEC reporting and compliance, and providing legal support for the Company's Finance Department.

Eisner began his career with O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles, where he handled a variety of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, bank financings, joint ventures and corporate start-ups. Eisner earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from The University of California, Berkeley, with high honors, and a Juris Doctorate from The University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

"The transition to Vice President of Development will be a natural one for Steve," said Gordon R. Kanofsky, Ameristar's Executive Vice President. "He has been involved with many development opportunities at Ameristar and has strong analytical and negotiating skills. His background in transactional law will also serve him well as we evaluate and pursue potential new opportunities to grow our company."

As Vice President of Legal Affairs, Cooper will assume many of Eisner's prior responsibilities. These include providing legal support on real estate and construction contracts, financing transactions, SEC reporting and compliance, employee benefit plans and ERISA matters. Cooper joins Ameristar from Los Angeles, after practicing law at two top-tier national law firms: Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld; and Sullivan & Cromwell. His background includes general corporate and transactional law, securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He also served as a law clerk in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Cooper earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from Princeton University, with summa cum laude honors. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School; while at Yale he was lead article editor for the Yale Journal on Regulation. Cooper will be located at Ameristar's Corporate office in Las Vegas.

Peter C. Walsh, Ameristar's Senior Vice President and General Counsel, noted: "We are very pleased to have Greg join our department. His experience as a transactional attorney, combined with his stellar educational and professional credentials, will be valuable assets to our Corporate legal team."

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASCA) is an innovative, Las Vegas-based gaming and entertainment company known for its distinctive, quality conscious hotel-casinos and value orientation. Led by President and Chief Executive Officer Craig H. Neilsen, the organization's roots go back nearly five decades to a tiny roadside casino in the high plateau country that borders Idaho and Nevada. Publicly held since November 1993, the corporation owns and operates six properties in Nevada, Missouri, Iowa and Mississippi, two of which carry the prestigious American Automobile Association's Four Diamond designation. Ameristar's Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol: ASCA.

Source: Ameristar Casinos, Inc.