Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles
A riverboat-origin casino resort on the Missouri River in St. Charles, Missouri, operated by Boyd Gaming under the Ameristar brand.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles is an integrated casino resort on the Missouri River in St. Charles, Missouri, a northwestern suburb of St. Louis. The property combines casino gaming with hotel accommodation, restaurants, bars, entertainment, spa and pool facilities, an arcade, event space, and other leisure offerings. It serves the greater St. Louis regional market and is one of several casinos competing for visitors in the metropolitan area. The property opened on May 27, 1994, as Station Casino St. Charles. It was operated at the time by Station Casinos and was among the first two riverboat casinos in Missouri. Its original gaming operation occupied approximately 24,500 square feet and included table games and video poker machines. Missouri regulations initially required casino boats to cruise during gaming sessions, charged admission fees, limited sessions to two hours, and imposed a maximum loss per session. The original vessel had previously operated as Casino Belle in Dubuque, Iowa. A replacement vessel, the Station Casino Belle, entered service later in 1994. Missouri subsequently changed its rules to permit riverboat casinos to remain permanently moored, ending the requirement that the casino cruise while operating. Further regulatory changes removed boarding restrictions, and by 1999 the casino operation had been consolidated onto a barge. In October 2000, Station Casinos sold its Missouri properties, including the St. Charles facility, to Ameristar Casinos. The property subsequently adopted the Ameristar name. A major expansion completed in 2008 broadened the venue beyond its riverboat-casino origins by adding a hotel, pool, and spa. The current resort complex is described as having more than 130,000 square feet of gaming space, approximately 400 hotel rooms, seven restaurants, twelve bars, an entertainment venue, a spa, and about 20,000 square feet of event space. Gaming amenities include more than 2,000 slot machines, table games, and a poker room. Non-gaming attractions include a Topgolf Swing Suite and an arcade. Corporate ownership changed again when Ameristar Casinos was acquired by Pinnacle Entertainment in 2013. In 2018, Pinnacle was acquired by Penn National Gaming. To address regulatory concerns arising from that transaction, Penn National sold four former Pinnacle properties to Boyd Gaming: Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles, Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, Belterra Casino Resort and Spa, and Belterra Park. Boyd Gaming therefore became the current owner and operator of the St. Charles property. The resort remains an active regional casino destination and is reported as attracting more than 5.5 million visitors annually, making it one of Missouri's most visited tourist attractions.
History
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles began operations on May 27, 1994, as Station Casino St. Charles. Station Casinos operated the property, which was one of the first two riverboat casinos in Missouri. The original casino offered approximately 24,500 square feet of gaming space, with 52 blackjack and craps tables and 813 video poker machines. Its vessel had previously operated as Casino Belle in Dubuque, Iowa. The casino initially operated under Missouri rules that required riverboat casinos to cruise during gaming sessions. Customers paid admission fees, gaming sessions were limited to two hours, and losses were capped at $500 per session. Later in 1994, the operation moved to a replacement vessel named the Station Casino Belle. Regulatory reform subsequently permitted Missouri riverboat casinos to remain permanently moored. For a period, gaming activity was conducted on both a boat and a barge, but by 1999 the operation had been consolidated onto a barge after additional changes removed boarding restrictions. In October 2000, Station Casinos sold its Missouri properties to Ameristar Casinos. The St. Charles venue adopted the Ameristar identity and became part of Ameristar's regional casino portfolio. A substantial 2008 expansion added a hotel, pool, and spa, transforming the facility into a broader casino resort with overnight accommodation and non-gaming amenities. The property later passed through two major corporate transactions. Ameristar Casinos was acquired by Pinnacle Entertainment in 2013. Pinnacle was then acquired by Penn National Gaming in 2018. As a condition associated with regulatory approval of that acquisition, Penn National sold four former Pinnacle properties to Boyd Gaming, including Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles. Boyd Gaming is the current owner and operator. The modern resort is described as having more than 130,000 square feet of gaming space, approximately 400 hotel rooms, seven restaurants, twelve bars, an entertainment venue, a spa, a pool, and roughly 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The gaming operation includes more than 2,000 slot machines, table games, and a poker room. Additional leisure facilities include a Topgolf Swing Suite and an arcade. The casino operates around the clock except for a short Wednesday morning closure. The property is positioned as a major regional entertainment and tourism destination for the St. Louis metropolitan area and surrounding Missouri markets.
- 2018
Boyd Gaming becomes owner
[1]Penn National Gaming sold the St. Charles property to Boyd Gaming after acquiring Pinnacle Entertainment.
- 2013
Pinnacle Entertainment acquires Ameristar
[1]Ameristar Casinos was acquired by Pinnacle Entertainment.
- 2008
Integrated resort expansion
[1]A major expansion added a hotel, pool, and spa to the casino property.
- 2000
Ameristar Casinos takes ownership
[1]Station Casinos sold its Missouri properties to Ameristar Casinos, bringing the St. Charles venue into the Ameristar portfolio.
- 1999
Casino operation consolidated onto a barge
[1]The property's casino activity was consolidated onto a barge following regulatory changes that eliminated boarding restrictions.
- 1996
Permanent mooring becomes permissible
[1]A change in Missouri regulations allowed riverboat casinos to remain permanently moored instead of cruising during operations.
- 1994
Opening as Station Casino St. Charles
[1]The casino opened on May 27 as Station Casino St. Charles, one of Missouri's early riverboat casinos.
- 1994
Replacement vessel enters service
[1]The original casino boat was replaced later in the year by the Station Casino Belle.
Products and positioning
A large regional casino resort combining 24-hour gaming with hotel, dining, entertainment, leisure, and event facilities for the St. Louis market and visiting tourists.
Gaming · 1994
Casino gaming
The casino is the property's central offering. The gaming floor is reported to cover more than 130,000 square feet and includes more than 2,000 slot machines, table games, and a poker room. The original 1994 operation was considerably smaller and included blackjack and craps tables and video poker machines. The casino operates continuously except for a short Wednesday morning closure.
Hospitality · 2008
Hotel accommodation
The resort hotel was added during the major 2008 expansion. It provides approximately 400 rooms and supports the property's transition from a riverboat gaming venue into a destination resort where guests can stay overnight alongside gaming, dining, and leisure activities.
Food and beverage
Dining and nightlife
The resort includes seven restaurants and twelve bars, giving visitors food, beverage, and nightlife options within the casino complex. These venues complement the gaming floor and help position the property as an all-in-one regional entertainment destination.
Resort amenities · 2008
Spa, pool, and leisure facilities
Pool and spa facilities were introduced as part of the 2008 expansion. The property also offers an arcade and a Topgolf Swing Suite, extending the resort's appeal beyond casino gaming.
Entertainment and meetings
Entertainment and event space
The complex includes an entertainment venue and approximately 20,000 square feet of event space. These facilities support performances, meetings, celebrations, and other group activities in addition to the casino and hotel businesses.
Brand decisions
2018
Divestiture to Boyd GamingM&ABackground
Penn National Gaming acquired Pinnacle Entertainment, but regulatory approval required the divestiture of selected properties in overlapping or competitive markets.
Action taken
Penn National sold Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles and three other properties to Boyd Gaming.
Aftermath
Boyd Gaming became the property's owner and operator, placing it within Boyd's regional casino portfolio.
2008
Expansion into an integrated resortOtherBackground
The property sought to broaden its offer beyond riverboat casino gaming and provide more reasons for regional visitors to stay on site.
Action taken
A major expansion added a hotel, pool, and spa.
Aftermath
The venue developed into a fuller casino resort with lodging and non-gaming amenities.
1996
Transition from cruising riverboat operations to permanent mooringStrategyBackground
Missouri regulations initially required riverboat casinos to cruise while customers gambled, but a regulatory change later permitted permanent mooring.
Action taken
The property moved toward a permanently moored casino model, with its operation eventually consolidated onto a barge.
Aftermath
The change reduced the operational importance of cruising and helped establish the property as a fixed casino resort.
Recent events
- 2018
Boyd Gaming acquires Ameristar St. Charles from Penn National Gaming[1]
M&A · Regulation
After Penn National Gaming acquired Pinnacle Entertainment, it sold Ameristar St. Charles and three other properties to Boyd Gaming as part of the regulatory approval process.
- 2013
Pinnacle Entertainment acquires Ameristar Casinos[1]
M&A
Ameristar Casinos was acquired by Pinnacle Entertainment, placing the St. Charles property within Pinnacle's casino portfolio.
- 2008
Major resort expansion adds hotel, pool, and spa[1]
Product launch
A major expansion added hotel accommodation and pool and spa facilities, helping establish the property as an integrated resort rather than solely a riverboat casino.
- 2000
Ameristar Casinos acquires Station Casino St. Charles[1]
M&A
Station Casinos sold its Missouri properties, including the St. Charles casino, to Ameristar Casinos in October 2000.
- 1994
Station Casino St. Charles opens as a Missouri riverboat casino[1]
Product launch
The casino opened on May 27, 1994, under the Station Casino St. Charles name and was operated by Station Casinos.
Sources1 sources
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