Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Boudreaux Daniel P
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
10/18/2011		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT INC. [PNK]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC., 8918 SPANISH RIDGE AVENUE		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP & CAO
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

LAS VEGAS, NV 89148		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 3,100
D
 
Common Stock 4,049
I
By 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to Buy)   (1) 01/15/2018 Common Stock 15,000 $ 16.87 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy)   (2) 05/20/2018 Common Stock 7,000 $ 14.68 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy)   (3) 07/20/2017 Common Stock 25,000 $ 10.13 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy)   (4) 05/24/2018 Common Stock 24,000 $ 14.25 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) 09/12/2012(5) 04/20/2017 Common Stock 19,546 $ 11.25 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Boudreaux Daniel P
C/O PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
8918 SPANISH RIDGE AVENUE
LAS VEGAS, NV 89148		       SVP & CAO  

Signatures

/s/ Elliot D. Hoops, Attorney-in-Fact for Daniel P. Boudreaux 10/21/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The option vests and is exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning on January 15, 2009. The option became exercisable as to 3,000 shares on January 15, 2009, 3,000 shares on January 15, 2010, and 3,000 shares on January 15, 2011. The option becomes exercisable as to 3,000 shares on January 15, 2012 and 3,000 shares on January 15, 2013.
(2) The option vests and is exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on May 20, 2009. The option became exercisable as to 1,750 shares on May 20, 2009, 1,750 shares on May 20, 2010, and 1,750 shares on May 20, 2011. The option becomes exercisable as to the remaining 1,750 shares on May 20, 2012.
(3) The option vests and is exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on July 20, 2011. The option became exercisable as to 6,250 shares on July 20, 2011. The option becomes exercisable as to 6,250 shares on July 20, 2012, 6,250 shares on July 20, 2013, and 6,250 shares on July 20, 2014.
(4) The option vests and is exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on May 24, 2012. The option becomes exercisable as to 6,000 shares on May 24, 2012, 6,000 shares on May 24, 2013, 6,000 shares on May 24, 2014, and 6,000 shares on May 24, 2015.
(5) All of the options vest and become exercisable on September 9, 2012.
 
Remarks:
Exhibit List: Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney

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