Thousands Gather in Anticipation of River City Casino Opening

ST. LOUIS, March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hours before the highly anticipated opening of River City Casino in south St. Louis County, Missouri, thousands of enthusiastic guests gathered to be the first to experience the new gaming and entertainment venue. When the doors opened to the public at 2 p.m., the crowds rushed in, quickly filling every seat in the 90,000 sq. ft. casino.  By the end of its first day of operation, the casino welcomed more than 20,000 guests.  

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"It was overwhelming to see thousands of smiling faces waiting outside and the enthusiasm throughout the property when we opened," said Todd George, regional vice president-St. Louis and general manager of River City Casino. "We believe we have created a magnificent property that will bring excitement and entertainment to the St. Louis community and add another attraction for the region's tourism industry."

Owned by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK), River City Casino is the first casino complex in south St. Louis County and has introduced a new class of gaming and nightlife to the region, while sending a surge of adrenaline through the state's economy.

The new casino represents an investment of approximately $380 million, one of the largest private investments in the St. Louis region. The project created 1,200 new permanent jobs and will contribute millions in tax dollars to the state each year.  

In addition to the expansive gaming floor with 2,100 of the most popular slot machines and table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker, River City Casino boasts a number of superior dining options, and a vibrant nightlife. In every way, River City Casino is larger than life — a sensory tour de force with a surprise around every corner.

During the opening ceremony, a festive procession of vintage cars and the world-famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale horses led the way along River City Casino Boulevard to the main entrance. The thousands of guests and local dignitaries were welcomed by Richard Goeglein, Pinnacle's interim chairman of the board; John Giovenco, Pinnacle's interim chief executive officer; and Todd George.  

River City Casino marks Pinnacle Entertainment's second venture in the St. Louis area, where the company introduced Lumiere Place in 2007.  The $495 million project, consisting of  Lumiere Place Casino, Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and HoteLumiere, opened in late 2007 and sits just north of the famous St. Louis Gateway Arch.

River City's expansive casino offers guests the latest in comfort and amenities. Slots and table games feature adjustable, ergonomic chairs and extra-wide aisles provide easy access around the gaming floor. While smoking is permitted on the casino floor, state-of-the-art "smoke curtains" use constant streams of air to quickly pull smoke away from guests and employees.

At River City's distinctive restaurants and lounges, diners enjoyed a range of cuisines and libations in unique settings.

• Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse offers an incomparable selection of USDA Prime dry-aged steaks, a fresh sushi/raw bar, and a wine list featuring more than 500 different selections from around the world in a visually stunning atmosphere.
• The 1904 Beerhouse features more than 100 beers by the bottle and 32 on tap, including River City's own 1904 Brewhouse Ale, custom-blended by the brewmasters at Anheuser-Busch.  
• Burger Brothers is River City's spin on the classic "burger joint," with each specialty burger cooked to order using the highest-quality, freshest ingredients.
• The Great Food Exposition offers buffet dining on a grand scale, featuring an abundant menu of Italian, American, Asian and seafood favorites along with rotisserie-grilled meats carved fresh on an authentic Brazilian-style Rodizio Grill.
• Lewy Nine's Cafe presents café classics in a setting that offers an irreverent retro-twist to the classic '50s diner, with a decidedly playful nod to King Louis IX of France.
• Judy's Velvet Lounge is the epicenter of River City's nightlife scene, offering a menu of bar food with signature drinks, live entertainment, special events and DJs.
• BarCentral, at the heart of the casino floor, mixes hot bar-top slots and cool drinks to create a lively social centerpiece.    

River City Casino, located on approximately 56 acres in the community of Lemay, sits just to the south of the confluence of the Mississippi River and the River des Peres. The complex sits on the site of the long-abandoned National Lead facility, which was environmentally remediated to accommodate the new casino complex. As part of the development, Pinnacle invested nearly $24 million to build the new River City Casino Boulevard, which provides a vital east-west link between the I-55 and South Broadway corridors. River City provides parking for more than 3,000 vehicles, as well as convenient valet parking service.  

To learn more bout River City Casino, call (314)8 88-7777 or visit www.rivercity.com for information.

About Pinnacle Entertainment

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates casinos in Nevada, Louisiana, Indiana, Missouri and Argentina. In March 2010, Pinnacle opened its newest casino, River City, in south St. Louis County, Missouri. Pinnacle is also developing a second casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to be called Sugarcane Bay at L'Auberge du Lac, and a casino in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

All statements included in this press release, other than historical information or statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's River City casino, the potential job creation and potential economic benefits of River City casino for the Company's shareholders, the local community and the State of Missouri, are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could significantly affect future results. Accordingly, Pinnacle cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (a) the Company's business may be sensitive to reductions in consumers' discretionary spending as a result of downtowns in the economy; (b) the global financial crisis may have an impact on the Company's business and financial condition in ways that the Company currently cannot accurately predict; (c) insufficient or lower-than-expected results generated from the Company's new developments and acquired properties may negatively affect the market for the Company's securities; (d) significant competition in the gaming industry in all of the Company's markets could adversely affect the Company's profitability; and (e) other risks, including those as may be detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). For more information on the potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results and business, review the Company's filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K.

SOURCE Pinnacle Entertainment