Chairman and CEO, Founder of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. The only child of Ray L. and Gwen Hart Neilsen. Father of Ray Neilsen. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ameristar since the Company's inception in 1993. Prior to that time, he led the privately held casino hotel organization consisting of Cactus Petes Resort Casino and The Horseshu in Jackpot, NV. These two original properties, with a 50-year history, created the foundation for the current Ameristar business. Mr. Neilsen was an executive in gaming, real estate development and construction for more than four decades. Prior to focusing his efforts on Ameristar, his real estate development and construction firm, Neilsen & Company, was the largest and most successful in Southern Idaho. That company was responsible for the construction of many of Twin Falls' major buildings, and Canyon Park lifestyle center. In early November, 1985, driving from Jackpot back to Twin Falls, he was involved in a serious car accident that left him a quadriplegic. He founded The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation in 2003, which focuses on spinal cord injury research and treatment. In 2002, he was honored as "Best Performing CEO" by the American Gaming Association, and in 2005 he was inducted into the American Gaming Association's Gaming Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was named Outstanding Business Leader by the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. Mr. Neilsen served on the Board of the American Gaming Association.
Chairman and CEO, Founder of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. The only child of Ray L. and Gwen Hart Neilsen. Father of Ray Neilsen. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ameristar since the Company's inception in 1993. Prior to that time, he led the privately held casino hotel organization consisting of Cactus Petes Resort Casino and The Horseshu in Jackpot, NV. These two original properties, with a 50-year history, created the foundation for the current Ameristar business. Mr. Neilsen was an executive in gaming, real estate development and construction for more than four decades. Prior to focusing his efforts on Ameristar, his real estate development and construction firm, Neilsen & Company, was the largest and most successful in Southern Idaho. That company was responsible for the construction of many of Twin Falls' major buildings, and Canyon Park lifestyle center. In early November, 1985, driving from Jackpot back to Twin Falls, he was involved in a serious car accident that left him a quadriplegic. He founded The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation in 2003, which focuses on spinal cord injury research and treatment. In 2002, he was honored as "Best Performing CEO" by the American Gaming Association, and in 2005 he was inducted into the American Gaming Association's Gaming Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was named Outstanding Business Leader by the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. Mr. Neilsen served on the Board of the American Gaming Association.
