<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10(i)

                          CIRCUS CIRCUS ENTERPRISES, INC.
                   1999 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
              (Adopted by the Board of Directors on February 12, 1999)

1.   PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

     The purpose of this 1999 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (the 
"Plan") is to enable Circus Circus Enterprises, Inc. (the "Company") to 
provide stock options (in addition to the options awarded pursuant to the 
Company's 1991 Stock Incentive Plan) to those individuals, other than 
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, who are serving as members of 
the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") as additional compensation for 
their services as non-employee directors of the Company, and to motivate such 
persons to continue to serve as non-employee directors of the Company.

2.   GENERAL PROVISIONS

     2.1  Definitions As used in the Plan:

          (a)  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. 

          (b)  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including  any
and all amendments thereto. 

          (c)  "Committee" means a committee consisting of two (2) or more 
members of the Board who are also officers of the Company designated by the 
Board from time to time to serve as members of the Committee.  The initial 
members of the Committee shall be Michael S. Ensign and Glenn W. Schaeffer.  
In addition, the term "Committee" also includes the Board with respect to any 
actions taken by the Board with respect to Stock Options granted under the 
Plan. 

          (d)  "Common Stock" means the Company s Common Stock,  $.01-2/3 par
value.

          (e)  "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to a specific date, 
the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the NYSE  Composite Tape 
on the date such Fair Market Value is being  determined, and, in the absence 
of any sale on such day, the  Fair Market Value as determined in good faith 
by the Committee  on the basis of such quotations and other considerations as 
the Committee deems appropriate. 

          (f)  "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange. 



<PAGE>

          (g)  "Participant" means a person to whom a Stock Option has been
granted under the Plan. 

          (h)  "Stock Option" means a stock option granted under the Plan. 

     2.2  Administration of the Plan

          (a)  Except as provided in Section 2.2(d), the Plan shall be 
administered by the Committee.  The Committee shall select one of its members 
as Chairman, and shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may  
determine.

          (b)  The Committee shall have the full power, subject to and within 
the limits of the Plan, to: 

               (i)   interpret and administer the Plan,  and Stock Options
granted under it; 

               (ii)  make and interpret rules and regulations for the 
administration of the Plan and to make  changes in and revoke such rules and 
regulations (and in the  exercise of this power, shall generally determine 
all questions of  policy and expediency that may arise and may correct any  
defect, omission, or inconsistency in the Plan or any agreement  evidencing 
the grant of any Stock Option in a manner and to the  extent it shall deem 
necessary to make the Plan fully effective);  and

               (iii) generally, exercise such powers and perform such acts in 
connection with the Plan as are deemed necessary or expedient  to promote the 
best interests of the Company.  The interpretation and construction by the 
Committee of any  provisions of the Plan or of any Stock Option shall be 
final, binding and conclusive.

          (c)  The Committee may act only by a majority of its members then 
in office; however, the Committee may authorize any one (1) or  more of its 
members or any officer of the Company to execute and deliver documents on 
behalf of the Committee.

          (d)  The Board shall have exclusive authority under the Plan and in 
accordance with its terms to:

               (i)   determine those persons to whom Stock Options shall be 
granted and the number of Stock Options to be granted to any  person; and

               (ii)  determine the terms of Stock Options granted under  the 
Plan, consistent with the provisions of the Plan.

          (e)  No member of the Committee or the Board shall be liable for 
any action  taken or omitted to be taken or for any determination made by  
him or her in good faith with respect to the Plan, and the Company shall 
indemnify and hold harmless each member of the 


                                       2

<PAGE>

Committee and the Board against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) 
or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the 
approval of the Board of Directors) arising out of any act or  omission in 
connection with the administration or interpretation of the Plan, unless 
arising out of such person s own fraud or bad faith.

     2.3  Effective Date

          The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by the Board of 
Directors, and Stock Options may be granted upon such adoption and from time 
to time thereafter during the period the Plan remains in effect.

     2.4  Duration

          The Plan shall remain in effect for a period of ten (10) years 
following its adoption by the Board of Directors or until sooner terminated 
by the Board of Directors.

     2.5  Shares Subject to the Plan

          Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.1, the maximum 
number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to Stock 
Options granted under the Plan shall be [100,000].  The Stock Options shall 
be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.1, as appropriate. The 
shares to be issued upon exercise of Stock Options shall be authorized and 
issued shares of Common Stock purchased or acquired by the Company for any 
purpose and held by the Company as treasury shares.  If a Stock Option or 
portion thereof shall expire or is terminated, canceled or surrendered for 
any reason without being exercised in full, the unpurchased shares of Common 
Stock which were subject to such Stock Option or portion thereof shall be 
available for future grants of Stock Options under the Plan.

     2.6  Amendments

          The Plan may be suspended, terminated or reinstated, in whole or in 
part, at any time by the Board.  The Board may, from time to time, make such 
amendments to the Plan as it may deem advisable. Except as otherwise provided 
herein, termination or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent 
of a Participant, affect such Participant s rights under any Stock Option 
previously granted to such Participant.

     2.7  Participants and Grants

          Stock Options may be granted to any member of the Board who is not 
an employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.  The Board may 
grant Stock Options to purchase such number of shares of Common Stock 
(subject to the limitations of Section 2.5) as the Board may, in its sole 
discretion, determine; provided, however, the grant of any Stock Option under 
the Plan shall be made solely for the purpose of compensating the


                                       3

<PAGE>

Participant for services rendered in his or her capacity as a member of the 
Board (including service on one or more committees of the Board).  In 
granting Stock Options under the Plan, the Board, on an individual basis, may 
vary the number of Stock Options as between Participants and may grant Stock 
Options to a Participant in such amounts as the Board may determine in its 
sole discretion.

3.   STOCK OPTIONS

     3.1  General

          All Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by 
written agreements executed by the Company and the Participant to whom 
granted, which agreement shall state the number of shares of Common Stock 
which may be purchased upon the exercise thereof and shall contain such 
investment representations and other terms and conditions as the Committee 
may from time to time determine. The Stock Options which may be granted under 
the Plan are not intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 
422 of the Code.

     3.2  Price

          Subject to the provisions of Section 4.1, the purchase price per 
share of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option shall, in no case, be less 
than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common 
Stock on the date the Stock Option is granted.

     3.3  Period

          The duration or term of each Stock Option granted under the Plan 
shall be for such period as the Committee shall determine but in no event 
more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof,

     3.4  Exercise

          Subject to Section 4.4, Stock Options may be exercisable at such 
other time or times as the Board shall specify when granting the Stock 
Option, provided, however, that no Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan 
shall be exercisable during the first six (6) months following its date of 
grant. Once exercisable, a Stock Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in 
part, by delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Secretary of the 
Company at the principal office of the Company specifying the number of 
shares of Common Stock as to which the Stock Option is then being exercised 
together with payment of the full purchase price for the shares being 
purchased upon such exercise. Until the shares of Common Stock as to which a 
Stock Option is exercised are issued, the Participant shall have none of the 
rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect to such shares.


                                       4

<PAGE>

     3.5  Payment

          The purchase price for shares of Common Stock as to which a Stock 
Option has been exercised and any amount required to be withheld, as 
contemplated by Section 4.3, may be paid:

          (a)  In United States dollars in cash, or by check, bank draft or 
money order payable in United States dollars to the order of the Company; or

          (b)  By the delivery by the Participant to the Company of whole 
shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of 
payment equal to the aggregate of the purchase price of Common Stock as to 
which the Stock Option is then being exercised or by the withholding of 
whole shares of Common Stock having such Fair Market Value upon the  
exercise of such Stock Option; or

          (c)  By a combination of both (a) and (b) above.

          The Committee may, in its discretion, impose limitations, 
conditions and prohibitions on the use by a Participant of shares of Common 
Stock to pay the purchase price payable by such Participant upon the exercise 
of a Stock Option.

     3.6  Termination of Service

          (a)  In general, if a Participant's service as a member of the 
Board terminates, each Stock Option held by such Participant at the date of 
such termination (which has not previously lapsed or terminated) shall, 
unless otherwise  specified in the written agreement evidencing such Stock 
Option, continue to be exercisable by such Participant (but only to the  
extent exercisable at the time of such termination) for a period of three 
months after such termination, unless the Stock Option expires earlier by its 
terms.

          (b)  Notwithstanding the general provisions of Section 3.6(a), if a 
Participant's service as a member of the Board shall terminate as a result of 
such Participant's death or total disability, each Stock  Option held by such 
Participant at the date of such termination (which has not previously lapsed 
or terminated) shall immediately become fully exercisable as to the total 
number of shares of Common Stock subject thereto (whether or not exercisable 
to that extent at the time of such termination) and shall remain so 
exercisable by such Participant (or, following the death of the Participant, 
by the executor or administrator of the Participant's estate or by the 
person or persons to whom the deceased Participant's rights thereunder shall 
have passed by will or by the laws of descent or distribution) for a period 
of  twelve 12 months after such termination unless such Stock Option  expires 
earlier by its terms.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, total 
disability shall mean permanent mental or physical disability as determined 
by the Committee.


                                       5

<PAGE>


          (c)  Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Section 3.6 to 
the contrary, effective as of the date the Committee determines that a 
Participant has engaged in any act of disloyalty or dishonesty with respect 
to the Company, has made any disclosure of confidential information or trade 
secrets of the Company (other than as has been consented to by the Board or 
as may be required pursuant to any law or by action of any governmental 
agency), has become unable to continue as member of the Board under any law 
or governmental regulation, including any Nevada gaming law or regulation, or 
has engaged in any acts that constitute a breach of the Participant's 
fiduciary duties arising from his or her status as a member of the Board, any 
Stock Options then held by such Participant shall immediately terminate and 
become void.  The Committee may, pending its investigation into any 
circumstances that could reasonably lead to the applicability of this Section 
3.6(c), suspend the Participant's rights to exercise any Stock Options, 
notwithstanding the Participant's rights to exercise such Stock Options under 
any other provisions of the Plan or of the agreement specifying the terms of 
a Stock Option.

4.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     4.1  Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization

          In the event of changes to the outstanding shares of Common Stock 
of the Company through reorganization, merger, consolidation, 
recapitalization, reclassification, stock split-up, stock dividend, stock 
consolidation or otherwise, or in the event of a sale of all or substantially 
all of the assets of the Company, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment 
shall be made in the number and kind of shares as to which Stock Options may 
be granted. A corresponding adjustment changing the number or kind of shares 
and/or the purchase price per share of unexercised Stock Options or portions 
thereof which shall have been granted prior to any such change shall likewise 
be made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a reorganization, 
merger or consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of 
the Company, in lieu of adjustments as aforesaid, the Committee may in is 
discretion accelerate the date after which a Stock Option may or may not be 
exercised and/or the stated expiration date thereof. Adjustments or changes 
under this Section shall be made by the Committee, whose determination as to 
what adjustments or changes shall be made, and the extent thereof, shall be 
final, binding and conclusive.

     4.2  Non-Transferability

          No Stock Option shall be transferable except by will or the laws of 
descent and distribution, nor shall any Stock Option be exercisable during 
the Participant s lifetime by any person other than the Participant or his 
guardian or legal representative.


                                       6

<PAGE>


     4.3  Withholding

          The Company's obligations under this Plan shall be subject to 
applicable federal, state and local tax withholding requirements.  Federal, 
state and local withholding tax due at the time of a grant or upon the 
exercise of any Stock Option may, in the discretion of the Committee, be paid 
in shares of Common Stock already owned by the Participant or through the 
withholding of shares otherwise issuable to such Participant, upon such terms 
and conditions as the Committee shall determine. If the Participant shall 
fail to pay, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee for the 
payment, to the Company of all such federal, state and local taxes required 
to be withheld by the Company, then the Company shall, to the extent 
permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind 
otherwise due to such Participant an amount equal to any federal, state or 
local taxes of any kind required to be withheld by the Company.

     4.4  Compliance with Law and Approval of Regulatory Bodies

          No Stock Option shall be exercisable and no shares will be 
delivered under the Plan except in compliance with all applicable federal and 
state laws and regulations including, without limitation, compliance with all 
federal and state securities laws and withholding tax requirements and with 
the rules of the NYSE and of all other domestic stock exchanges on which the 
Common Stock may be listed. Any share certificate issued to evidence shares 
for which a Stock Option is exercised may bear legends and statements the 
Committee shall deem advisable to assure compliance with federal and state 
laws and regulations. No Stock Option shall be exercisable and no shares will 
be delivered under the Plan, until the Company has obtained consent or 
approval from regulatory bodies, federal or state, having jurisdiction over 
such matters as the Committee may deem advisable. In the case of the exercise 
of a Stock Option by a person or estate acquiring the right to exercise the 
Stock Option as a result of the death of the Participant, the Committee may 
require reasonable evidence as to the ownership of the Stock Option and may 
require consents and releases of taxing authorities that it may deem 
advisable.

     4.5  No Right to Continued Service on Board

          Neither the adoption of the Plan nor its operation, nor any 
document describing or referring to the Plan, or any part thereof, nor the 
granting of any Stock Options hereunder, shall confer upon any Participant 
under the Plan any right to continue as a member of the Board, or in any 
other relationship, or shall in any way affect the right and power of the 
Company to terminate the Company's relationship with a Participant at any 
time with or without assigning a reason therefor, to the same extent as might 
have been done if the Plan had not been adopted.


                                       7


<PAGE>


     4.6  Abandonment of Options

          A Participant may at any time abandon a Stock Option prior to its 
expiration date. The abandonment shall be evidenced in writing, in such form 
as the Committee may from time to time prescribe. A Participant shall have no 
further rights with respect to any Stock Option so abandoned.

     4.7  Severability

          If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan conflict with the 
requirements of law, then such terms or provisions shall be deemed 
inoperative to the extent they so conflict with such requirements of law.

     4.8  Interpretation of the Plan

          Headings are given to the Sections of the Plan solely as a 
convenience to facilitate reference, such headings, numbering and 
paragraphing shall not in any case be deemed in any way material or relevant 
to the construction of the Plan or any provision hereof. The use of the 
masculine gender shall also include within its meaning the feminine. The use 
of the singular shall also include within its meaning the plural and vice 
versa.

     4.9  Use of Proceeds

          Funds received by the Company upon the exercise of Stock Options 
shall be used for the general corporate purposes of the Company.

     4.10 Construction of Plan

          The place of administration of the Plan shall be in the State of 
Nevada, and the validity, construction, interpretation, administration and 
effect of the Plan and of its rules and regulations, and rights relating to 
the Plan, shall be determined solely in accordance with the laws of the State 
of Nevada.


                                       8