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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 18, 2000

                             AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                                             
             Nevada                          0-22494                        88-0304799
(State or other jurisdiction of      (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer Identification
 incorporation or organization)                                              Number)


3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 490 South
Las Vegas, Nevada                                                              89109
(Address of principal executive offices)                                    (Zip Code)



                                 (702) 567-7000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

        On December 18, 2000, the Registrant issued a press release (the "Press
Release") announcing that it has extended the expiration date of its previously
announced tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for all of its 10 1/2% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2004, Series B (the "Notes") to noon, New York City time,
on Wednesday, December 20, 2000, unless further extended. The Press Release is
filed herewith as an exhibit to this Report and is incorporated herein by this
reference.

        This Report contains certain forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the context of the
statement or the use of words such as the Registrant or its management
"believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects," "plans," or words of similar
meaning. Similarly, statements that describe the Registrant's future plans,
objectives, strategies or goals are forward-looking statements. Although
management believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, these assumptions and the forward-looking statements
are subject to various factors, risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond the control of the Registrant, including but not limited to,
uncertainties concerning the consummation of the tender offer. Accordingly,
actual results could differ from those contemplated by the forward-looking
statements contained in this Report.



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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

        (a) - (b) Not applicable.

        (c)  Exhibits.

        20.1   December 18, 2000 press release of the Registrant.



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                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
undersigned registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                      AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC.


December 21, 2000                     By:  /s/ Gordon R. Kanofsky
(Date)                                    --------------------------------------
                                          Gordon R. Kanofsky
                                          Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs




Exhibit Number      Description of Exhibit         Method of Filing
                                             
20.1                Press Release of Ameristar     Filed electronically herewith
                    Casinos, Inc. dated November
                    December 18, 2000




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