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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 FORM 11-K
 
 þ
    
    Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
 or
 o
    
    Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 For the transition period from  to
 Commission file number 001-13641
 
 A.
    
    Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer
named below:
 PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 401(k) INVESTMENT PLAN
 B.
    
    Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal
executive office:
 Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
8918 Spanish Ridge Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89148




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Required Information
    2




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##### 



PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 401(k) INVESTMENT PLAN
 Index
 PageReport of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    
    
    4Financial Statements:Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
    
    
    5Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
    
    
    6Notes to Financial Statements
    
    
    7Supplemental Schedules:Schedule H, Line 4i- Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) December 31, 2010
    
    
    14All other schedules have been omitted as not applicableExhibits:Exhibit Index
    
    
    16Exhibit 23.1  Consent of RubinBrown LLP
    
    
    17EX-23.1
   3




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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
      
  4




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PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 401(k) INVESTMENT PLAN
 
 STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
 DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND 2009
 2010
    
    
    2009Assets:Participant-directed investments, at fair value
    
    $
    51,721,520
    
    
    $
    46,331,977Receivables:Participants loans
    
    
    4,675,452
    
    
    
    3,889,775Employer contributions
    
    
    22,347
    
    
    
    17,025Participants contributions
    
    
    113,469
    
    
    
    92,281Interest, dividend and capital gains receivable
    
    
    
    
    
    
    51,2934,811,268
    
    
    
    4,050,37456,532,788
    
    
    
    50,382,351Liabilities:Excess contribution refunds
    
    
    
    
    
    
    139,55156,532,788
    
    
    
    50,242,800Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully
benefit-responsive investment contracts
    
    
    
    
    
    
    (152,438
    )Net assets available for benefits
    
    $
    56,532,788
    
    
    $
    50,090,362
   5




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##### Table of Contents



PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 401(k) INVESTMENT PLAN
 
 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
 FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
 2010Investment income:Dividends
    
    $
    639,639Net appreciation in fair value of investments
    
    
    6,236,442Total investment income
    
    
    6,876,081Interest on
participants loans
    
    
    213,907Contributions:Participants contributions
    
    
    7,842,164Employer discretionary matching contributions
    
    
    1,503,456Participants rollover contributions
    
    
    540,295Total contributions
    
    
    9,885,915Total Additions
    
    
    16,975,903Deductions:Benefits paid to participants
    
    
    9,832,007Administration and trust fees
    
    
    162,817Deemed
distribution of participants loans
    
    
    538,653Total deductions
    
    
    10,533,477Net increase
in assets available for benefits
    
    
    6,442,426Net assets available for benefits:Beginning of year
    
    
    50,090,362End of year
    
    $
    56,532,788
   6




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PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 401(k) INVESTMENT PLAN
 
 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 NOTE 1. PLAN DESCRIPTION
  General
   Significant Plan Amendments
     Eligibility
 Contributions
  7




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Participant Accounts
 Vesting
 Years of Service
    
    Vested Percentage0
    
    
    0
    %1
    
    
    20
    %2
    
    
    40
    %3
    
    
    60
    %4
    
    
    80
    %5
    
    
    100
    %
  Forfeitures
 Participant Loans
 Payment of Benefits 1 2
  8




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##### Table of Contents



1 2 1 2
 Administrative Expenses
 Trust and Recordkeeping Services
 NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 Basis of Accounting
  Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
  Estimates
 Concentration of Risk
  9




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NOTE 3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
  
    
    Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities.
 
    
    Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are
corroborated by market data.
 
    
    Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
  Balance
    
    
    Level 1
    
    
    Level 2
    
    
    Level 3Investments:Mutual funds:Asset allocation/ lifecycle
    
    $
    11,794,912
    
    
    $
    11,794,912
    
    
    $
    
    
    
    $
    Growth funds
    
    
    7,626,217
    
    
    
    7,626,217
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Equity investment  large cap
    
    
    7,471,785
    
    
    
    7,471,785
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Intermediate term bond funds
    
    
    4,438,997
    
    
    
    4,438,997
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    International equity funds
    
    
    3,308,231
    
    
    
    3,308,231
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Equity investment  small cap
    
    
    2,744,937
    
    
    
    2,744,937
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Multi cap core
    
    
    1,722,906
    
    
    
    1,722,906
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Equity investment  mid cap
    
    
    402,766
    
    
    
    402,766
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Total mutual funds
    
    $
    39,510,751
    
    
    $
    39,510,751
    
    
    $
    
    
    
    $
    Stable value interest fund
    
    
    7,342,421
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    7,342,421
    
    
    
    Pinnacle common stock
    
    
    4,868,317
    
    
    
    4,868,317
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Other
    
    
    31
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    31
    
    
    
    Total investments at fair value
    
    $
    51,721,520
    
    
    $
    44,379,068
    
    
    $
    7,342,452
    
    
    $
    
  Balance
    
    
    Level 1
    
    
    Level 2
    
    
    Level 3Investments:Mutual funds:Balanced-Specialty
    
    $
    9,684,602
    
    
    $
    9,684,602
    
    
    $
    
    
    
    $
    Equity investment  large cap
    
    
    7,421,069
    
    
    
    7,421,069
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Fixed income
    
    
    7,186,766
    
    
    
    7,186,766
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Growth funds
    
    
    4,809,931
    
    
    
    4,809,931
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    International equity funds
    
    
    3,711,330
    
    
    
    3,711,330
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Equity investment  small cap
    
    
    3,644,729
    
    
    
    3,644,729
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Equity investment  mid cap
    
    
    1,388,725
    
    
    
    1,388,725
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Total mutual funds
    
    $
    37,847,152
    
    
    $
    37,847,152
    
    
    $
    
    
    
    $
    Common collective interest fund
    
    
    5,472,856
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    5,472,856
    
    
    
    Pinnacle common stock
    
    
    3,011,966
    
    
    
    3,011,966
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Other
    
    
    3
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    3
    
    
    
    Total investments at fair value
    
    $
    46,331,977
    
    
    $
    40,859,118
    
    
    $
    5,472,859
    
    
    $
    
  10




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NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS
  December 31,2010MassMutual Diversified SAGIC
    
    $
    7,342,421American Funds Growth Fund America
    
    
    5,199,005Selected Focus Value Fund
    
    
    4,912,384Pinnacle Common Stock
    
    
    4,868,317PIMCO Real Return Fund
    
    
    4,438,997T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 Fund
    
    
    3,615,280American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund
    
    
    3,277,402T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Fund
    
    
    2,792,535
 December 31,2009UBOC Stable Value A Fund
    
    $
    5,472,856Davis New York Venture Fund
    
    
    5,173,154Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Fund
    
    
    4,809,931PIMCO Real Return Bond A Fund
    
    
    4,051,769High Mark Diversified Money Market
    
    
    3,134,997MFS Research International Fund
    
    
    3,711,330Pinnacle Common Stock
    
    
    3,011,966Blackrock Life-path Retirement Fund
    
    
    2,789,917
  December 31,2010Mutual funds
    
    $
    6,294,549Pinnacle common stock
    
    
    19,611Other (loss)
    
    
    (77,718
    )$
    6,236,442
 NOTE 5. INVESTMENT CONTRACTS
 MassMutual Diversified SAGIC
    11




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UBOC Stable Value A Fund
      Average yields:
    
    2009Based on actual earnings
    
    
    3.88
    %Based on interest rate credited to participants
    
    
    3.66
    %
  12




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NOTE 6. PLAN TERMINATION
  NOTE 7. TAX STATUS
    NOTE 8. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES
  NOTE 9. RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO FORM 5500
  December 31,
    
    
    December 31,2010
    
    
    2009Net assets available for benefits per financial statements
    
    $
    56,532,788
    
    
    $
    50,090,362Adjustment from contract value to fair value for
fully-benefit responsive investment contracts
    
    
    
    
    
    
    152,438Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500
    
    $
    56,532,788
    
    
    $
    50,242,800
  December 31,
    
    
    December 31,2010
    
    
    2009Total investment income per financial statements
    
    $
    6,876,081
    
    
    $
    7,866,426Adjustment from contract value to fair value
for fully-benefit responsive investment
contracts
    
    
    (152,438
    )
    
    
    156,902Total investment income per Form 5500
    
    $
    6,723,643
    
    
    $
    8,023,328
  13




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PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 401(k) INVESTMENT PLAN
 EIN # 95-3667491 Plan #003
 
 SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i  SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
 DECEMBER 31, 2010
 (c) Description of investmentincluding maturity date, rateof interest, collateral, par, or(a)
    
    (b) Identity of issue, borrower, lessor, or similar party
    
    maturity value
    
    (e) Current Value*
    
    MassMutual Diversified SAGIC
    
    Stable Value interest fund
    
    $
    7,342,422American Funds Growth Fund of America
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    5,199,005Selected Focus Value Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    4,912,384*
    
    Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. Common Stock
    
    Common Stock, 332,794
    
    
    4,868,317Participant Loans
    
    Interest at 4.25% to 9.25%, due through 2040
    
    
    4,675,452PIMCO Real Return Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    4,438,997T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    3,615,280American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    3,277,402T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    2,792,535T. Rowe Price Retirement Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    2,691,247T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    2,648,442Allianz NFJ Small Value Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    2,454,981Select Fundamental Value Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    2,396,305T. Rowe Price New Horizon Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    2,147,461Invesco Endeavor Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    1,722,906Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    268,827Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    218,908Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    183,858Vanguard Small Cap Growth Index Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    167,296Vanguard 500 Index Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    139,322Vanguard Growth Index Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    112,455American Beacon International Index
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    30,828T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055 fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    27,074Vanguard Value Index Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    23,774Vanguard Small Cap Value Index Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    21,129T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    6,911T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    4,575T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    3,520T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    2,191T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    1,703T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    1,306T. Rowe Price Retirement Fund
    
    Mutual Fund
    
    
    128Miscellaneous
    
    Holding account
    
    
    31$
    56,396,972
 
 *
    
    Identifies a party-in-interest to the Plan.   14




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SIGNATURES
 The Plan.
 PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 401(K) INVESTMENT PLANDated: June 27, 2011
    By:
    /s/ Carlos A. RuisanchezCarlos RuisanchezPlan Administrator
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial OfficerDated: June 27, 2011
    By:

/s/
Daniel BoudreauxDaniel BoudreauxPlan Administrator
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer  15




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EXHIBIT INDEX
 ExhibitNumber
    
    Description23.1
    
    
    Consent of RubinBrown LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
  16