SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
                     Washington D.C.  20549 
  
 
                                FORM 11-K 
                              ANNUAL REPORT 
                     Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934




 
     [x] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
         For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996

                                    OR

     [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
         For the transition period from ________ to ________      
                                  
         Commission file number     1-8570                 
 
     A.  Full title of the plan and the address of the plan,
         if different from that of the issuer named below: 
 
 
             CIRCUS CIRCUS EMPLOYEES' PROFIT SHARING,
           INVESTMENT AND EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN 
 
 
     B.  Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the
         plan and the address of its principal executive office: 
 
 
                 CIRCUS CIRCUS ENTERPRISES, INC. 
                 2880 Las Vegas Boulevard South 
                 Las Vegas, Nevada  89109-1120
  

In accordance with General Instruction A to Form 11-K, the Plan, which
is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, will,
by amendment to this report, file the Financial Statements and schedules
required to be included herein within 180 days after the Plan's fiscal
year end.


                          SIGNATURES

The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the Plan Administrator has duly caused this Annual Report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 
 
 
                              Circus Circus Enterprises, Inc.,
                              as Plan Administrator of the
                              Circus Circus Employees' Profit 
                              Sharing, Investment and Employee
                              Stock Ownership Plan            
 
 
 
                           By GLENN SCHAEFFER                     
                              Glenn Schaeffer    
                              President, Chief Financial Officer 
                              and Treasurer           
                               
 
 
March  26, 1997