In 2004, Ameristar acquired the Mountain High Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado. Charles, Missouri, from Station Casinos, Inc., and in 2001, sold The Reserve Hotel and Casino to Station Casinos, which renamed it Fiesta Henderson. In 2000, Ameristar purchased properties in Kansas City, Missouri, and St. The company was renamed Ameristar Casinos, Inc., and went public in 1993 on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol 'ASCA.' Company headquarters was moved from Twin Falls to Las Vegas in 1996. In 1998, the company opened the Reserve Hotel Casino in Henderson, Nevada. Ameristar opened the first of several riverboat casinos in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1996. The company subsequently constructed an adjoining hotel, and in 2008, completed a $100 million expansion of the facility. This property was opened in 1994 as Ameristar Casino Vicksburg. In 1992 the company made its first investment outside of Jackpot by acquiring a Vicksburg, Mississippi, property known as Delta Pointe. Expansion The Ameristar Resort Casino Spa, opened October 2009, in Black Hawk, Colorado The company had reportedly been 'on the sales block' since Craig Neilsen's death. In August 2013, Pinnacle Entertainment bought Ameristar for $869 million plus $1.9 billion in assumed debt. Boushy resigned in June 2008 and was succeeded by Gordon Kanofsky, who previously served as the company's executive vice president, and now holds the dual role of CEO and vice chairman. Neilsen succeeded his father, serving as co-chairman with John Boushy, who also was promoted from president to CEO at the time of Craig’s death. Neilsen remained chairman and CEO until his unexpected death on November 19, 2006. Neilsen was named “Best Performing CEO” by the American Gaming Association in 2002, and was inducted into the organization’s “Hall of Fame” in 2005. Neilsen a quadriplegic, but he continued to lead the company and expanded it. Ī November 1985 automobile accident left Craig H. Neilsen's son, Craig, assumed control of day-to-day operations upon the elder Neilsen's death in 1971.

Neilsen's construction company had built many of the structures at Cactus Pete's. Cactus Petes came under the partial control of Ray Neilsen of Twin Falls, Idaho, in 1967. The corporation took over management of the neighboring Horseshu Club in 1964. In 1956, Piersanti and others incorporated the property as Cactus Petes, Inc. The area would later become Jackpot, Nevada. Route 93 just south of the Idaho border in Elko County.

The roots of Ameristar Casinos date to 1954 when 'Cactus Pete' Piersanti opened Cactus Petes Desert Lodge on U.S. The company had eight properties in seven markets. It was acquired by Pinnacle Entertainment in 2013. was a casino operator based in Paradise, Nevada.

Jackpot nevada to salt lake city