Pinnacle Entertainment Names Geno M. Iafrate Senior VP & General Manager at L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort

LAKE CHARLES, La. and LAS VEGAS, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK) today announced that Geno M. Iafrate, 41, has been named senior vice president and general manager of L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort ("L'Auberge"), the company's premier hotel and casino resort located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, effective immediately.  Iafrate will manage all operations at the property, which includes a 26-story hotel complex with approximately 1,000 rooms and suites, championship golf course, full service spa, extensive meeting space and a casino featuring 63 table games and 1,600 slot machines.  He replaces Paul Hutchens, who has served as interim general manager since March 30, 2010 and will continue as L'Auberge's senior director of finance.  Iafrate will report directly to Anthony Sanfilippo, president and chief executive officer of Pinnacle Entertainment.

Iafrate is an accomplished industry executive who has served in a variety of gaming and hospitality management positions across several regional and major gaming markets over the past twelve years.  Most recently he served as the senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Entertainment's northwest Louisiana operations, including the Horseshoe Casino & Hotel and Louisiana Downs, both located in Bossier City, Louisiana.  Previous positions include vice president and assistant general manager at Harrah's Entertainment's Flamingo Las Vegas and Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Grand Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Mr. Iafrate also held positions at Harrah's in Tunica, Mississippi and as a member of the Harrah's Entertainment Central Division team.

"Geno possesses the ideal skill set to lead our efforts to extend L'Auberge's position as a premier hotel and casino resort with extraordinary guest service," said Mr. Sanfilippo.  "Geno's passion for the casino entertainment business, his many accomplishments in the industry and his commitment to working closely with local community and civic leaders will drive further operational excellence and enhance the guest experience at L'Auberge while advancing our initiatives to generate economic growth in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana as we develop opportunities to attract new business to L'Auberge du Lac and the local communities."

"I am excited to be joining a world-class team at the spectacular L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort.  Together, we will focus on furthering the unparalleled guest experience that L'Auberge is known for, while working with Anthony and all of the Pinnacle team members to accomplish our goal of creating the best casino entertainment company in the world," said Geno Iafrate. "I am looking forward to expanding our already strong involvement with the local community and partnering with Southwest Louisiana business leaders to grow the market as a destination of choice."

Mr. Sanfilippo added, "I would like to thank Paul Hutchens for his steady leadership as interim general manager.  The dedication and expertise of the team at L'Auberge is remarkable and a valuable asset for Pinnacle Entertainment."

Iafrate holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from West Virginia University.

L'Auberge is located on 242 acres of land in Lake Charles, La., two hours from the Houston metropolitan area.  This premier facility is ideal for the business traveler or guest looking for the ultimate in hospitality and dining experiences, plus non-stop gaming action.  The property includes a 26-story hotel complex with approximately 1,000 spacious rooms and suites; an 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio; 26,000 gross square feet of meeting space, including a business center and conference registration area; two resort swimming pools, lazy river and private cabana courtyard; full-service salon and spa and cardio fitness center; retail stores; ten innovative dining outlets; and top-name entertainment.  The casino features 30,000 square feet of Vegas-like gaming action with 63 table games and more than 1,600 ticket-in ticket-out slot machines.

About Pinnacle Entertainment

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates casinos in Louisiana, Missouri, Indiana, Nevada and Argentina.  In March 2010, Pinnacle opened its newest casino, River City, in south St. Louis County, Missouri and is developing 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 operational improvements at L'Auberge du Lac, extending L'Auberge du Lac's position in its local market, and the growth of the Southwest Louisiana gaming market, 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) significant competition in the gaming industry in all of the Company's markets could adversely affect the Company's profitability; and (c) 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.

L'Auberge du Lac, Lumiere Place and River City are registered trademarks of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.  All rights reserved.

SOURCE Pinnacle Entertainment