Company Press Release: Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
February 23, 2000
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- For the second consecutive year, Ameristar Casino, the area's most accommodating hotel
and entertainment complex, has earned the American Automobile Association's coveted Four Diamond Award. ``This
is a tremendous honor for the Ameristar team,'' says General Manager Tony Taeubel. ``The Four Diamond award formally
recognizes our commitment to excellence in quality and service.'' Ameristar is the only riverboat facility in the
nation to have achieved this prestigious designation.
By renewing the Four Diamond rating, Ameristar remains part of an elite circle within the hospitality industry.
Only three percent of the estimated 25,000 AAA-rated lodgings, and four percent of the organization's 11,000 restaurants,
attain this excellence level. The award is the result of a rigorous physical inspection that encompasses the areas
of exterior and grounds, public areas, room decor and ambiance, guest room amenities, bathrooms, housekeeping,
property operations and guest services. Participating establishments are then compared to rating criteria and given
Diamond status. Four Diamond properties are considered excellent, and ``reflect an exceptional degree of hospitality,
service and attention to detail, while offering upscale facilities and a variety of amenities.''
AAA is a not-for-profit organization of some 100 motor clubs serving more than 40 million members in the United
States and Canada. Its charter is to provide safety, security and peace of mind to its members. Among its primary
services is a customized inspection process that evaluates hotel properties, restaurants, campgrounds and tourist
attractions in order to award quality ratings. AAA diamond ratings represent the overall quality of a property,
and help people in choosing lodgings that meet their needs and expectations.
Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., opened in January 1996.
Featuring architecture reminiscent of a gateway river town, the resort complements the region with a distinctive
presence and offers AAA Four-Diamond lodging services.
Four restaurants provide a variety of dining experiences from the casual comforts of the Amerisports Bar &
Cabaret to the elegant Waterfront Grill specializing in steaks and seafood. The hotel provides a full range of
accommodations with 160 rooms, many boasting panoramic views of the Missouri River and the Ameristar II Riverboat.
A full 37,000 square feet of casino space provides guests with the choice of 1,446 slot machines, the area's largest
variety. Fifty-one table games include blackjack, roulette, craps, Caribbean Stud, Caribbean Draw, Spanish 21,
Pai Gow, 3-Card Poker and Let It Ride Bonus.
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASCA - news), is an innovative, small-cap gaming company known for its distinctive,
quality conscious hotel casinos and good food values. Led by President and Chief Executive Officer Craig H. Neilsen,
the organization's roots go back nearly five decades to a tiny roadside casino in the high plateau country that
borders Nevada and Idaho. Publicly held since November 1993, the Las Vegas-based corporation operates five properties
in Nevada, Mississippi and Iowa, two of which hold the prestigious Four Diamond designation awarded by the American
Automobile Association.
Visit Ameristar Casinos' Web site at www.ameristars.com
SOURCE: Ameristar Casinos, Inc.