1 EXHIBIT 99.5 Ameristar Casinos, Inc. 3773 Howard Hughes Parkway Suite 490 South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Ladies and Gentlemen: I hereby consent to being identified in the Form S-4 Registration Statement of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (the "Company") as a person who has agreed to accept future appointments to serve as a Director of the Company and as a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors of the Company. I further consent that this letter may be filed as an exhibit to such Registration Statement. Dated: October 29, 1997 Sincerely, /s/ WARREN E. McCAIN ------------------------------ Warren E. McCain