Ownership Submission
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 OF SECURITIES

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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(Print or Type Responses)
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 (Month/Day/Year)
10/28/2011
(Street)

ENCINO, CA 91436		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 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 (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 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

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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 (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 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
(Month/Day/Year)		 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) $ 21.3 10/28/2011   D(1)     73,744   (1)(2) 12/16/2011 Common Stock 73,744 (1) 10,056 I Family Trust (3)
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 22.87 10/28/2011   D(1)     67,866   (1)(4) 12/15/2012 Common Stock 67,866 (1) 9,254 I Family Trust (3)
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 31.675 10/28/2011   D(1)     74,650   (1)(5) 12/14/2013 Common Stock 74,650 (1) 10,180 I Family Trust (3)
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 21.3 10/28/2011   A(1)   73,744     (1)(2) 12/16/2014 Common Stock 73,744 (1) 73,744 I Family Trust (3)
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 22.87 10/28/2011   A(1)   67,866     (1)(4) 12/15/2015 Common Stock 67,866 (1) 67,866 I Family Trust (3)
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 31.675 10/28/2011   A(1)   74,650     (1)(5) 12/14/2016 Common Stock 74,650 (1) 74,650 I Family Trust (3)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
KANOFSKY GORDON
16633 VENTURA BOULEVARD, SUITE 1050
ENCINO, CA 91436		   X     CEO  

Signatures

 /s/ Peter C. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact   11/01/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* 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).
(1) The reported transactions involve the amendment of three outstanding options, each amendment resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" option to the extent of 88% of the number of shares for which it was exercisable and the grant of a replacement option exercisable for the same number of shares.
(2) The option being amended was originally granted on December 16, 2004, vested in installments, and fully vested prior to the date of the reported event.
(3) Securities owned by the Kanofsky Family Trust dated 1-27-98, of which Mr. Kanofsky and his spouse are co-trustees.
(4) The option being amended was originally granted on December 15, 2005, vested in installments, and fully vested prior to the date of the reported event.
(5) The option being amended was originally granted on December 14, 2006, and vested or will vest in five equal, annual installments on each December 13 from 2007 through 2011.

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