Political Illusions of the Cajun Mafia

1310064
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS:
Edith Ramirez, Chairwoman
Julie Brill
Maureen K. Ohlhausen
Joshua D. Wright
___________________________________________
)
In the Matter of )
)
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., ) Docket No. 9355
a corporation, )
) PUBLIC
and )
)
Ameristar Casinos, Inc., )
a corporation. )
)
___________________________________________)
COMPLAINT
Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”), and by
virtue of the authority vested in it by the Act, the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”),
having reason to believe that Respondents Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (“Pinnacle”) and
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (“Ameristar”), having entered into an agreement and plan of merger
pursuant to which Pinnacle will acquire the capital stock of Ameristar, in violation of Section 5
of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, which if consummated may substantially lessen competition in
violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18, and Section 5 of the FTC Act, and it
appearing to the Commission that a proceeding by it in respect thereof would be in the public
interest, hereby issues its complaint pursuant to Section 5(b) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(b),
and Section 11(b) of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 21(b), stating its charges as follows:
I.
NATURE OF THE CASE
1. Pinnacle’s acquisition of Ameristar (the “Acquisition”) will substantially lessen
competition for casino services in the St. Louis, Missouri and Lake Charles, Louisiana
areas, leading to higher prices and lower quality and levels of service for casino consumers.
1
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