Sec Form 4 Filing - KANOFSKY GORDON @ AMERISTAR CASINOS INC - 2012-06-07

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

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, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person KANOFSKY GORDON 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AMERISTAR CASINOS INC [ ASCA] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) 16633 VENTURA BOULEVARD, SUITE 1050 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 06/07/2012 (Street) ENCINO, CA91436 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 06/07/2012 M 27,660 A $ 6.9675 118,697 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 500 D $ 19.03 118,197 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 3,400 D $ 19.0301 114,797 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 500 D $ 19.036 114,297 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 500 D $ 19.0364 113,797 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 2,300 D $ 19.04 111,497 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 200 D $ 19.05 111,297 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 500 D $ 19.0501 110,797 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 100 D $ 19.0621 110,697 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 1,682 D $ 19.07 109,015 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 1,418 D $ 19.09 107,597 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 800 D $ 19.091 106,797 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 100 D $ 19.0947 106,697 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 4,600 D $ 19.13 102,097 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 100 D $ 19.15 101,997 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 100 D $ 19.16 101,897 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 1,819 D $ 19.17 100,078 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 100 D $ 19.175 99,978 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 324 D $ 19.18 99,654 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 624 D $ 19.2 99,030 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 100 D $ 19.205 98,930 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 300 D $ 19.225 98,630 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 200 D $ 19.23 98,430 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 5,060 D $ 19.25 93,370 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 400 D $ 19.26 92,970 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 163 D $ 19.27 92,807 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 37 D $ 19.28 92,770 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 1,433 D $ 19.3 91,337 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 06/07/2012 S 100 D $ 19.32 91,237 I Family Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 248,155 ( 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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (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 of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 6.9675 06/07/2012 M 27,660 12/19/2003( 3 ) 12/20/2012 Common Stock 27,660 $ 0 0 I Family Trust ( 1 )

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other KANOFSKY GORDON 16633 VENTURA BOULEVARD, SUITE 1050 ENCINO, CA91436 X CEO Signatures /s/ Peter C. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact 06/11/2012 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Securities owned by the Kanofsky Family Trust dated 1-27-98, of which Mr. Kanofsky 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 )Options vested in five equal, annual installments commencing on December 19, 2003.

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).

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