Pinnacle Entertainment appoints Anthony Sanfilippo to additional role of Chairman of the Board alongside Chuck Atwood as Lead Director

– USA, NV – Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PNK) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Anthony M. Sanfilippo as Chairman of the Board, succeeding James L. Martineau in this role. Mr. Sanfilippo will continue in his position as Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle and Mr. Martineau will continue as an independent director on the Company’s Board. Charles L. Atwood has been appointed to the newly created position of Lead Independent Director.

The Board elected Mr. Sanfilippo to the additional post of Chairman based upon his impactful leadership as Chief Executive Officer. Since joining the Company in 2010, Mr. Sanfilippo has built and led an outstanding management team while developing a companywide culture that is centered on operational excellence, delivering memorable experiences for the guests of its gaming entertainment businesses and driving positive financial outcomes for its shareholders. During this time, the Company has gone through multiple strategic transactions, including the acquisition of Ameristar Casinos in 2013, the sale of the Company’s real estate assets in 2016 and most recently the acquisition of The Meadows Racetrack and Casino. The improvement in the Company’s financial performance and the positive results produced by the Company’s strategic actions have created significant value for Pinnacle shareholders.

Mr. Sanfilippo, commented, “I am honored to have the privilege of serving as Chairman of the Pinnacle Entertainment Board. We appreciate Jim’s prior leadership as Chairman and his service to the stockholders of our Company. Jim has contributed to the many significant milestones in our Company’s history including the acquisition of Ameristar Casinos in 2013, the sale of our real estate assets in 2016, and the successful development of numerous casino resorts over his 18 year tenure as a member of our Board. We look forward to his continued contributions.

“We congratulate Chuck Atwood on his appointment to the newly created position of Lead Independent Director, as well as being appointed as Chairman of our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. With an extensive career, including as a Chief Financial Officer and director for a large international gaming company and as lead trustee of a real estate investment trust, Chuck is uniquely qualified for these roles. Chuck’s expertise in operations, accounting, real estate investment trusts, corporate finance, corporate governance, regulatory matters and risk assessment issues have been a great addition to the Pinnacle Board. Chuck’s appointment will enhance our already strong corporate governance and solidifies the independent shareholder representation of our Board, which consists of six independent directors.

“We also welcome Ron Huberman as a newly elected member of the Pinnacle Board, who, with his extensive experience in the public and private sectors, provides significant insight and expertise in technology, management, operations and government relations,” concluded Mr. Sanfilippo.

Pinnacle’s Board of Directors consists of eight members, including six independent directors. Board members bring a variety of functional and industry backgrounds, as well as geographic, racial, gender and generational diversity. Below are summaries of the backgrounds of the members of the Company’s Board:

About Charles L. Atwood, Lead Independent Director and Chairman of the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee

Charles L. Atwood has been a director since April 2016 and served as a director of Former Pinnacle from March 2015 to April 2016. Since March 2009, he has served as lead trustee of Equity Residential, a public real estate investment trust. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (now known as Caesars Entertainment Corporation), a private gaming and hospitality company, until retiring from Harrah’s in December 2008. Mr. Atwood had been Vice Chairman of Harrah’s public predecessor company until its sale in January 2008, a member of its Board since 2005, its Chief Financial Officer from 2001 to 2006, and had been with Harrah’s and its predecessors since 1979. During his tenure at Harrah’s, Mr. Atwood led that company’s merger, acquisition and divestiture activities, new development, and design and construction projects, representing tens of billions of dollars of transactions. Mr. Atwood served as a director of Gala Coral, a private United Kingdom gaming-industry company until November 2016 when it merged with Ladbrokes Coral Group PLC, and served as a director of ALST Casino Holdco, LLC, a private company in the casino and hospitality industry, until September 2016. Mr. Atwood’s extensive career, including as a Chief Financial Officer and director for a large international gaming company and as lead trustee of a real estate investment trust, brings to the Board expertise in operations, accounting, real estate investment trusts, corporate finance, corporate governance, regulatory matters, risk assessment issues and other functions. Mr. Atwood serves as the Lead Independent Director of the Board, as well as the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

About James L. Martineau, Independent Director

James L. Martineau has been a director since April 2016, and served as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board from April 2016 to May 2017. In addition, Mr. Martineau was one of Former Pinnacle’s directors from 1999 to April 2016 and served as Former Pinnacle’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board from May 2014 to April 2016. From May 2012 to May 2014, he served as Former Pinnacle’s Vice Chairman of the Board. He is also a business advisor and private investor. In addition, Mr. Martineau was Chairman, Genesis Portfolio Partners, LLC (start-up company development) from 1998 to 2009; Director, Apogee Enterprises, Inc. from 1973 to June 2010; Director, Borgen Systems from 1994 to 2005; Director, Northstar Photonics (telecommunications business) from 1998 to 2002; Executive Vice President, Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (a glass design and development corporation that acquired Viracon, Inc. in 1973) from 1996 to 1998; President and Founder, Viracon, Inc. (flat glass fabricator) from 1970 to 1996; and Trustee, Owatonna Foundation since 1973. Mr. Martineau’s background as an entrepreneur and as a businessman provides the Board with valuable experience both in an operational context and in terms of evaluating its various development projects. Mr. Martineau’s service on several other boards of directors provides him with insights that are valuable to the Board in the areas of compensation, corporate governance and other Board functions.

About Anthony M. Sanfilippo, Director and Chief Executive Officer

Anthony M. Sanfilippo has been the Chairman of the Board since May 2017 and the Chief Executive Officer and one of the directors since April 2016. In addition, he served as Former Pinnacle’s Chief Executive Officer and one of Former Pinnacle’s directors from March 2010 to April 2016. He was also Former Pinnacle’s President from March 2010 to May 2013. Prior to joining Former Pinnacle, Mr. Sanfilippo was the President, Chief Executive Officer and director of Multimedia Games, Inc., a slot machine manufacturer (which is now known as Everi Holdings Inc.), from June 2008 until March 2010. Before joining Multimedia Games, he was employed with Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (now known as Caesars Entertainment Corporation), the world’s largest casino company and a provider of branded casino entertainment. While at Harrah’s, Mr. Sanfilippo served as President of both the Western Division (2003-2004) and the Central Division (1997-2002 and 2004-2007), overseeing the operations of more than two dozen casino and casino-hotel destinations. Mr. Sanfilippo was also part of the senior management team that led the successful integration of numerous gaming companies acquired by Harrah’s, including Jack Binion’s Horseshoe Casinos, the Grand Casino & Hotel brand, Players International, and Louisiana Downs Racetrack. In addition to his duties as divisional President, Mr. Sanfilippo was also President and Chief Operating Officer for Harrah’s New Orleans and a member of the Board of Directors of Jazz Casino Corporation prior to its acquisition by Harrah’s. He has directed tribal gaming operations in Arizona, California and Kansas, and has held gaming licenses in most states that offer legalized gambling. Mr. Sanfilippo brings to us and the Board more than 35 years of industry experience, including managing and developing gaming operations in diverse jurisdictions, including Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Mr. Sanfilippo’s extensive experience as a senior executive in the gaming industry and gaming manufacturing industry provides the Board with valuable expertise in these areas.

About Pinnacle Entertainment

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates 16 gaming entertainment businesses, located in Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In addition, Pinnacle holds a majority interest in the racing license owner, as well as a management contract, for Retama Park Racetrack outside of San Antonio, Texas.

For more information : http://www.pnkinc.com

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