Pinnacle Entertainment Announces August 29 Opening Date for L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge

Pinnacle Entertainment Announces August 29 Opening Date for L'Auberge Casino &
Hotel Baton Rouge

Fireworks, Festivities to Herald $368 Million Casino Hotel Opening

BATON ROUGE, La. and LAS VEGAS, July 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pinnacle
Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:PNK) will unveil L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton
Rouge when the property officially opens to the public on Wednesday, August
29, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, pending the receipt of applicable
regulatory approvals. Grand opening of the premier property will feature
memorable entertainment, dining experiences and an unveiling ceremony capped
off with a stunning fireworks display.

"We are excited to open the doors to L'Auberge Baton Rouge and to welcome our
guests for the very first time," said Mickey Parenton, Vice President and
General Manager of L'Auberge Baton Rouge. "We are so proud of our talented
team members' hard work to date and are thrilled to share the premier casino
in the region with our guests and the Baton Rouge community; including its
vibrant casino, breathtaking riverfront views and distinct dining
experiences."   

L'Auberge Baton Rouge will provide a best-in-market casino entertainment
complex featuring an expansive single-level, 74,000 square foot casino; nearly
1,500 slot machines; 50 table games, including a poker room; a 12-story hotel
with 205 guest rooms and a rooftop pool; four dining outlets; a unique casino
bar with breathtaking views of the Mississippi River; 2,400 total parking
spaces, including 800 in a covered parking garage; a multi-purpose event
center with concert seating for up to 1,550 people or banquet seating for up
to 800 people; and outdoor festival grounds with capacity for up to 2,500. 

A complete project fact sheet can be found at www.mylauberge.com .

About Pinnacle Entertainment

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates six casinos, located in
Louisiana, Missouri, and Indiana, and a racetrack in Ohio. In addition,
Pinnacle is developing L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge, and holds a 26%
ownership stake in Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd. (ACDL), an
international development and real estate company currently developing
Vietnam's first large-scale integrated resort on the Ho Tram Strip.

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the ticker symbol PNK.  To learn more about Pinnacle Entertainment,
please visit www.pnkinc.com.

The Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13121

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 the budget and the completion and
opening schedule of L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge; the facilities,
features and amenities of L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge; potential job
creation of L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge; are based on management's
current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in
circumstances that could significantly affect future results. Accordingly, the
Company 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 will have to meet the conditions for
receipt or maintenance of gaming licensing approvals for the L'Auberge Casino
& Hotel Baton Rouge, some of which are beyond its control; (b) many factors,
including the escalation of construction costs beyond increments anticipated
in its construction budget and unexpected construction delays, could prevent
the Company from completing L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge within budget
and on time and as required by the conditions of the Louisiana Gaming Control
Board; 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 is a registered trademark of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. All rights
reserved

CONTACT: Investor Relations
         Vincent Zahn
         VP, Finance & Investor Relations
         702/541-7777 or investors@pnkmail.com
        
         Media Relations
         Kerry Andersen
         Director, Media Relations & Public Affairs
         337/395-7631 or kandersen@pnkmail.com

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