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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Snnab0R53HIfjr7UiPxkn/fV5UhEb4ZFX2z67qVhqFFeUAeF7IQfvYP6SttjKH9+
 9ppkdZyLlZOm3ci74FNJuA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001253698-03-000007.txt : 20030721
<SEC-HEADER>0001253698-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20030721
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030721150931
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001253698-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030718
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030721

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RICHARDSON J WILLIAM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253698

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22494
		FILM NUMBER:		03794498

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3773 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 490S
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7025677000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERISTAR CASINOS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912145
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENT & RECREATION [7990]
		IRS NUMBER:				880304799
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3773 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 490 SOUTH
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7025677000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3773 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 490 SOUTH
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001253698d20030718f4s1f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-18</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000912145</issuerCik><issuerName>AMERISTAR CASINOS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASCA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001253698</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>RICHARDSON J WILLIAM</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><
conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-07-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D
</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Peter C. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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