Sec Form 4 Filing - WALSH PETER @ AMERISTAR CASINOS INC - 2012-03-05

Insider filing report for Changes in Beneficial Ownership
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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
WALSH PETER
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERISTAR CASINOS INC [ ASCA]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP, GC, Chief Admin Officer
(Last) (First) (Middle)
16633 VENTURA BOULEVARD, SUITE 1050
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY)
03/05/2012
(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 03/05/2012 M 10,000 A $ 13.18 52,636 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 100 D $ 19.265 52,536 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 200 D $ 19.27 52,336 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 100 D $ 19.295 52,236 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 500 D $ 19.3 51,736 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 100 D $ 19.305 51,636 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 500 D $ 19.31 51,136 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 1,100 D $ 19.32 50,036 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 100 D $ 19.325 49,936 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 1,100 D $ 19.33 48,836 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 500 D $ 19.332 48,336 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 1,600 D $ 19.34 46,736 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 400 D $ 19.35 46,336 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 600 D $ 19.36 45,736 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 200 D $ 19.365 45,536 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 400 D $ 19.38 45,136 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 100 D $ 19.39 45,036 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 890 D $ 19.4 44,146 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 100 D $ 19.405 44,046 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 300 D $ 19.41 43,746 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 200 D $ 19.415 43,546 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 300 D $ 19.42 43,246 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 400 D $ 19.43 42,846 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 110 D $ 19.44 42,736 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 03/05/2012 S 100 D $ 19.45 42,636 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Common Stock 92,424 ( 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
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 13.18 03/05/2012 M 10,000 04/02/2003( 3 ) 03/08/2012 Common Stock 10,000 $ 0 0 I Family Trust ( 1 )
Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
WALSH PETER
16633 VENTURA BOULEVARD
SUITE 1050
ENCINO, CA91436
SVP, GC, Chief Admin Officer
Signatures
/s/ Peter C. Walsh 03/05/2012
Signature of Reporting Person Date
Explanation of Responses:
( 1 )Securities owned by the Walsh Family Trust dated 9-11-03, of which Mr. Walsh 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 )Option vested in five equal annual installments commencing on April 2, 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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