Ameristar East Chicago Poker Room Guide

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago remains a destination for scheduled poker tournaments in Northwest Indiana, but players planning a visit need to know that the property no longer operates a permanent poker room. As of August 2026, regular cash games, daily poker-room hours and a permanent poker waitlist are not available at Ameristar East Chicago. Poker returns to the casino through scheduled tournament festivals, including Major Series of Poker: The Tour events.

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Current Status of the Ameristar East Chicago Poker Room

The former Ameristar East Chicago Poker Room is closed. PokerAtlas currently identifies the room as closed while noting that Ameristar continues to host MSPT events.

Because there is no active permanent poker room, players should not expect regular No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha or other cash games on an ordinary casino visit. There are also no current permanent poker-room hours or regular cash-game waitlists to check.

Older poker-room listings may still show games, promotions, rewards information or contact details from the room's operating years. Those details should not be treated as current.

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Poker Tournaments at Ameristar East Chicago

Ameristar East Chicago continues to have an active role in regional tournament poker through scheduled MSPT festivals.

The MSPT returned to the property in April 2026 for an 11-event festival. Its $1,110 Main Event attracted 386 entries, creating a $372,920 prize pool after surpassing the advertised $300,000 guarantee.

As of August 2026, the next scheduled stop is the 2026 MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship from August 25-30. MSPT lists 11 Gold Card events and a $300,000 guaranteed Main Event for the festival.

Players can review the official MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship schedule for the latest event times, buy-ins, structures and registration information. Angry Aces Poker also has a 2026 MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship Tournament Guide for players planning to attend the series.

Tournament details are time-sensitive. Players should confirm the current MSPT schedule before traveling rather than relying on schedules from previous Ameristar festivals.

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Cash Games and Poker Room Hours

Ameristar East Chicago does not currently spread regular poker cash games because the permanent poker room is closed.

There are consequently no regular poker-room operating hours, published cash-game stakes or permanent poker waitlist to rely on. Players traveling specifically for cash poker should confirm another active room before making the trip.

During an MSPT festival, tournament playing and registration hours are determined by that event's published schedule.

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Address and Getting to Ameristar East Chicago

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago is located at 777 Ameristar Boulevard, East Chicago, Indiana 46312.

The property is in Northwest Indiana on the Lake Michigan waterfront. Ameristar's official directions from Chicago route drivers east on the I-90 Skyway to Exit 10 for IN-912 North, followed by IN-912 West and Exit 5C for Jeorse Park, Pastrick Marina and Ameristar Casino.

Players can review Ameristar East Chicago's official location and driving information before leaving for the property.

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Parking and Tournament Arrival

Ameristar's current public information does not provide enough detail to promise poker players a specific tournament parking location or parking arrangement.

Players attending a large tournament series should allow enough time to park, enter the casino, locate the tournament area and complete registration before their event begins. Tournament-specific instructions should be checked with MSPT or Ameristar when provided.

The hotel's published policies advise guests who park at the property to leave vehicles in designated areas and keep them locked.

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Ameristar East Chicago Hotel

Ameristar operates a 288-room hotel at the casino, making an overnight stay possible without leaving the property during a multi-day tournament festival.

Available accommodations include deluxe king rooms, double queen rooms and accessible guest rooms. The property's current hotel information lists complimentary wireless internet, in-room safes and other guest-room amenities.

Hotel check-in begins at 4 p.m., check-out is at 11 a.m., and guests must be at least 21 years old to rent and stay in a room.

Players planning a tournament trip can review current Ameristar East Chicago hotel information. Tournament-specific room blocks or rates may also be offered by an organizer, but those offers should be treated as temporary and verified for the individual festival.

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Dining During a Poker Trip

Ameristar East Chicago has multiple dining and beverage options on the property, which can be useful during a multi-day tournament stop.

Current venues listed by Ameristar include:

• The Sportsbook

• Bugatti's Steak and Pasta

• Burger Brothers

• Red Lotus Asian Kitchen

• Club 38

• The Social Lounge

Restaurant schedules can change, and individual venues may not remain open throughout a late tournament session. Players can check current Ameristar East Chicago dining options and hours when planning meals around an event.

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PENN Play and Casino Benefits

Ameristar East Chicago participates in PENN Play, the current PENN Entertainment rewards program.

Ameristar lists benefits that can include PENN Slot Play, dining and accommodation discounts, comps, promotions and invitations to special events. Those are casino-wide rewards and should not be interpreted as a current poker-room comp program because Ameristar does not operate a permanent poker room.

Players interested in casino benefits can review PENN Play information through Ameristar's official property website. Rewards terms and eligibility can change.

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Casino Gaming Beyond Poker

Ameristar East Chicago continues to operate as a casino even though its permanent poker room is closed.

The casino currently advertises more than 900 slot machines along with table games and a sportsbook. Those casino offerings are separate from live player-versus-player poker.

For poker travelers, the distinction is important: Ameristar can be a destination during a scheduled MSPT festival without functioning as a year-round poker room between tournament stops.

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Contacting Ameristar East Chicago

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago lists 219-378-3000 as its main property telephone number.

Questions about hotel accommodations, property access, directions or general casino services can be directed to Ameristar. For tournament-specific questions such as event structures, registration periods and schedule changes, players should use the current information published by MSPT.

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Planning a Poker Trip to Ameristar East Chicago

Ameristar East Chicago should currently be approached as a scheduled tournament destination rather than a conventional year-round poker room.

Before traveling for poker:

• Confirm that an MSPT or other announced poker festival is taking place during the planned visit.

• Review the current official event schedule.

• Verify tournament registration and starting times.

• Check hotel availability if staying overnight.

• Review restaurant hours around longer tournament sessions.

• Allow extra time to locate the tournament area and register.

• Do not assume cash games will be available before, during or after the tournament series.

That distinction prevents one of the biggest potential problems for a poker traveler: arriving at Ameristar expecting an operating cash-game room based on outdated information.