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 *
Rollo Heather A
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERISTAR CASINOS INC [ASCA] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP of Accounting
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
3773 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY, SUITE 490S		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/01/2012
(Street)

LAS VEGAS, NV 89169		 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
Common Stock 03/01/2012   M   9,750 A $ 8.63 45,652 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   M   1,450 A $ 18.62 47,102 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   M   2,920 A $ 15.62 50,022 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   8,420 D $ 19.8769 41,602 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   500 D $ 19.88 41,102 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   500 D $ 19.89 40,602 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   2,300 D $ 19.9 38,302 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   400 D $ 19.91 37,902 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   100 D $ 19.9116 37,802 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   100 D $ 19.912 37,702 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   100 D $ 19.92 37,602 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   200 D $ 19.95 37,402 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   1,000 D $ 19.96 36,402 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   300 D $ 19.97 36,102 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2012   S   200 D $ 19.98 35,902 D  
Common Stock 03/02/2012   S   1,254 D $ 19.571 34,648 D  
Common Stock 03/02/2012   S   100 D $ 19.575 34,548 D  
Common Stock 03/02/2012   S   600 D $ 19.62 33,948 D  
Common Stock 03/02/2012   S   100 D $ 19.622 33,848 D  
Common Stock 03/02/2012   S   100 D $ 19.6226 33,748 D  
Common Stock 03/02/2012   S   100 D $ 19.63 33,648 D  

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
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 8.63 03/01/2012   M     9,750 01/11/2010(1) 02/20/2019 Common Stock 9,750 $ 0 3,250 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 18.62 03/01/2012   M     1,450 07/30/2010(2) 07/31/2019 Common Stock 1,450 $ 0 1,450 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 15.62 03/01/2012   M     2,920 07/29/2011(3) 07/30/2020 Common Stock 2,920 $ 0 8,760 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Rollo Heather A
3773 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY
SUITE 490S
LAS VEGAS, NV 89169		       SVP of Accounting  

Signatures

 /s/ Heather A. Rollo   03/05/2012
**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) Options vest in four equal, annual installments commencing on January 11, 2010.
(2) Options vest in four equal, annual installments commencing on July 30, 2010.
(3) Options vest in four equal, annual installments commencing on July 29, 2011.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

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