Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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 *
  NEILSEN RAY H
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
11/19/2006		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERISTAR CASINOS INC [ASCA]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O AMERISTAR CASINOS INC., 3773 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY SUITE 490S		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

LAS VEGAS, NV 89169		 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 Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 141,600
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to Buy)   (1) 12/20/2012 Common Stock 9,384 $ 6.9675 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) 12/10/2004(2) 12/11/2013 Common Stock 17,940 $ 11.5275 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) 12/15/2005(3) 12/16/2011 Common Stock 32,000 $ 21.3 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) 12/14/2006(4) 12/15/2012 Common Stock 29,570 $ 22.87 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
NEILSEN RAY H
C/O AMERISTAR CASINOS INC.
3773 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY SUITE 490S
LAS VEGAS, NV 89169		   X      

Signatures

/s/ Peter C. Walsh, Attorney-in-Fact 11/27/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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 to purchase 1,192 shares of Common Stock are currently exercisable. Options to purchase 4,096 shares of Common Stock will vest on each of December 19, 2006 and December 19, 2007.
(2) Option vests in five equal annual installments commencing on December 10, 2004. Options to purchase 7,176 shares of Common Stock are currently exercisable.
(3) Option vests in five equal annual installments commencing on December 15, 2005. Options to purchase 6,400 shares of Common Stock are currently exercisable.
(4) Option vests in five equal annual installments commencing on December 14, 2006.
 
Remarks:
Exhibit List:
Exhibit 24 Limited Power of Attorney for Section 16 Reporting Obligations

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