FORM 4UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

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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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
HODGES LARRY

(Last)(First)(Middle)
3773 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY, SUITE 490S

(Street)
LAS VEGASNV89169

(City)(State)(Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERISTAR CASINOS INC [ASCA]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
XDirector10% Owner
XOfficer (give title below)Other (specify below)
President, COO
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
07/25/2008
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

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)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
Common Stock (1) 07/25/2008 A  41,775 (1) A$ 0 45,975 (2) D  

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 Security3. 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)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 12.57 07/25/2008 A  41,775  07/24/2009(3)07/25/2018 Common Stock 41,775 $ 0 41,775 I Family Trust (4)
Explanation of Responses:
4. Securities owned by The Larry Hodges Family Trust, of which Mr. Hodges is the sole trustee.
1. Constitutes a grant of restricted stock units, each of which represents a right to receive one share of common stock. The restricted stock units vest in four equal, annual installments commencing on July 24, 2009.
2. Since the date of the reporting person's last report of ownership of common stock, he transferred 600 shares of common stock, acquired upon exercise of a stock option, to the estate of his ex-wife pursuant to a domestic relations order. The reporting person does not report as beneficially owned any securities owned by the estate of his ex-wife.
3. Option vests in four equal, annual installments commencing on July 24, 2009.
Peter C. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact07/29/2008
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* 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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.



 
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