LUTHER P. COCHRANE
	 LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR
	SECTION 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

      Know all by these presents, that the undersigned
hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Peter C.
Walsh and Gregory H. Cooper, each acting individually, as
the undersigned's true and lawful Attorney-in-Fact, with
full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf
of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:

      (1)	prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file
Forms 3, 4, and 5 (including any amendments thereto) with
respect to the securities of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., a
Nevada corporation (the "Company"), with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission, any national securities
exchanges, the Nasdaq Stock Market, gaming regulatory
authorities and the Company, as considered necessary or
advisable under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, as amended from time to time (the "Exchange
Act");

      (2)	seek or obtain, as the undersigned's
representative and on the undersigned's behalf, information
on transactions in the Company's securities from any third
party, including brokers, employee benefit plan
administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby
authorizes any such person to release any such information
to the undersigned and approves and ratifies any such
release of information; and

      (3)	perform any and all other acts which in the
discretion of such Attorney-in-Fact are necessary or
desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in
connection with the foregoing.

      The undersigned acknowledges that:

      (1)	this Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not
require, each such Attorney-in-Fact to act in his
discretion on information provided to such Attorney-in-Fact
without independent verification of such information;

      (2)	any documents prepared and/or executed by either
such Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant
to this Power of Attorney will be in such form and will
contain such information and disclosure as such Attorney-
in-Fact, in his discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

      (3)	neither the Company nor either of such Attorneys-
in-Fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned's
responsibility to comply with the requirement of the
Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any
failure to comply with such requirements, or (iii) any
obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit
disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and

      (4)	this Power of Attorney does not relieve the
undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the
undersigned's obligations under the Exchange Act, including
without limitation the reporting requirements under Section
16 of the Exchange Act.

      The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the
foregoing Attorneys-in-Fact full power and authority to do
and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever
requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about
the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby
ratifying all that each such Attorney-in-Fact of, for and
on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue of this Limited Power of Attorney.

      This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and
effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to each such Attorney-in-Fact.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this
Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 26th day of
January, 2006.


			/s/ Luther P. Cochrane
			Luther P. Cochrane




STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA	)
			)
COUNTY OF UNION		)

      On this 26th day of January, 2006, Luther P. Cochrane
personally appeared before me, and acknowledged that s/he
executed the foregoing instrument for the purposes therein
contained.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and
official seal.

			/s/ Ann H. Fox

			Notary Public

			My Commission Expires: 6/10/2009

			[Seal]