8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 10, 2005

PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware	001-13641	95-3667491
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

3800 Howard Hughes Parkway Las Vegas, Nevada	89109
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code: (702) 784-7777

N/A

(Former name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (7 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

The press releases filed herewith as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 are incorporated herein by this reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
Exhibit 99.1	Press release dated January 10, 2005, issued by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Exhibit 99.2	Press release dated January 11, 2005, issued by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.

- 2 -

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (Registrant)
Date: January 11, 2005	By:	/s/ Stephen H. Capp
		Stephen H. Capp
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

- 3 -

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
Exhibit 99.1	Press release dated January 10, 2005, issued by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Exhibit 99.2	Press release dated January 11, 2005, issued by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.

- 4 -

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 NYSE: PNK

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

At the Company – (702) 784-7777:

Dan Lee Chairman & CEO Steve Capp CFO Wade Hundley COO Chris Plant
Lewis Fanger
Investor Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2005

Pinnacle Entertainment Experiencing Severe

Weather Conditions at Two of Its Casino Properties

LAS VEGAS, January 10, 2005 — Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK - News) announced today that it is experiencing severe weather conditions at two of its casinos, Belterra Casino Resort and Boomtown Reno.

In southern Indiana, the recent flooding of the Ohio River resulted in the closure of the riverboat casino portion of Belterra at approximately 3:00 a.m. today. Belterra’s land-based facilities, including the hotel and several restaurants, remain open. The Company is offering discounted room rates of $29 per night in order to assist people who may have been displaced from their homes due to the flooding. Pending safe weather conditions, the Company expects Belterra’s riverboat casino to re-open Thursday morning.

In the Reno area, recent snowstorms have resulted in periodic closures, chain controls, or traffic delays along Interstate 80 for eight of the last ten days. While Boomtown Reno remains open, traffic counts on I-80 have declined significantly due to the inclement weather.

“Our overriding priority is the safety of our customers and our employees,” said Daniel R. Lee, Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment. “We encourage everyone to be safe during this period, and are hopeful for a quick passage of these storms.”

About Pinnacle Entertainment

Pinnacle Entertainment owns and operates casinos in Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana and Argentina, and receives lease income from two card club casinos, both in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Company is currently building a major casino resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana and has been selected for two casino development projects in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Each of these development projects is dependent upon final approval by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Missouri Gaming Commission, respectively.

All statements included in this press release, other than historical information or statements of historical fact, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s development plans, are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could significantly affect future results. Accordingly, Pinnacle Entertainment cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, construction-related factors that could prevent the Company from completing its construction and development projects within budget and on time. For more information on the potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results and business, review the Company’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K.

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 NYSE: PNK

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

At the Company – (702) 784-7777:

Dan Lee Chairman & CEO Steve Capp CFO Wade Hundley COO Chris Plant
Lewis Fanger
Investor Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 11, 2005

Pinnacle Entertainment Announces Re-Opening of Belterra Casino Resort

LAS VEGAS, January 11, 2005 — Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK - News) announced today that, after receiving approval from the Coast Guard, the Company re-opened the riverboat casino portion of Belterra Casino Resort at 1:00 p.m. EST. Minor modifications were made to the riverboat’s main entrance to enable the casino to re-open sooner than expected. As previously announced, the hotel and restaurant portions of the property remained open, as there has been no flooding at or around the property.

About Pinnacle Entertainment

Pinnacle Entertainment owns and operates casinos in Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana and Argentina, and receives lease income from two card club casinos, both in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Company is currently building a major casino resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana and has been selected for two casino development projects in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Each of these development projects is dependent upon final approval by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Missouri Gaming Commission, respectively.

All statements included in this press release, other than historical information or statements of historical fact, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s development plans, are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could significantly affect future results. Accordingly, Pinnacle Entertainment cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, construction-related factors that could prevent the Company from completing its construction and development projects within budget and on time. For more information on the potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results and business, review the Company’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K.