7.15.2008 - 12:43pm ET

(CSRwire) LAS VEGAS, July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASCA), which has a long legacy of corporate giving in the communities it serves, announced it will donate a new, fully outfitted cargo van to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana during a celebration marking the rebranding of its East Chicago, Ind., property on Sunday, July 20. The donation will be followed by a free concert featuring music icon Lionel Richie. (Because of strong demand, all general admission tickets for the free concert have been distributed.)

"Ameristar has a long-standing commitment to giving back to every community in which we operate," said Pete Longi, Assistant General Manager of Ameristar Casino Hotel. "As we celebrate Ameristar's arrival in East Chicago and the rebranding of our property to 'Ameristar Casino Hotel,' we're proud to continue this tradition by making this donation to our deserving neighbor, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana."

An affiliate of America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest food bank network, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana provides food to hungry people in Lake and Porter counties through a network of 90 charities. Its service area is home to about 100,000 people who live significantly below the poverty level. With only one vehicle in its current fleet in good operational condition, the new cargo van will significantly improve the food bank's delivery capabilities.

"So much of our operating budget goes directly to purchasing food that our biggest organizational challenge is transportation," said Angelina Williams, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. "This van will help us in numerous ways and will directly help many, many people in our community. We deeply appreciate Ameristar making a donation that will improve our entire distribution efforts."

Through its charitable giving program, Ameristar Cares, the Company and its Team Members donate millions of dollars annually to charitable organizations in markets in which Ameristar serves. Team Members are active volunteers in their hometowns, each year giving their time and energy to a variety of causes. Ameristar Casino Hotel plans to partner with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana on future Team Member philanthropic and volunteer efforts.

The van will be awarded to the food bank in an on-stage presentation at 5:35. p.m. The free, "sold-out" Lionel Richie concert will follow at 6 p.m. It is the first of three free concerts Ameristar is hosting in a temporary amphitheater created especially for the series. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Smokey Robinson will perform Aug. 17 and country music and television star Reba McEntire will take the stage Sept. 13.

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, Nev., Ameristar has been a public company since November 1993. The Company has a portfolio of eight casinos in seven markets: Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles (greater St. Louis); Ameristar Casino Hotel in East Chicago (Chicagoland area); Ameristar Kansas City; Ameristar Council Bluffs (Omaha, Neb., and southwestern Iowa); Ameristar Vicksburg (Jackson, Miss., and Monroe, La.); Ameristar Black Hawk (Denver metropolitan area); and Cactus Petes and The Horseshu in Jackpot, Nev. (Idaho and the Pacific Northwest).

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