Accomplished Gaming and Hotel Executive Larry Lepinski Named Vice President and General Manager of L 'Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino

International gaming operations veteran, Larry Lepinski has been named vice president and general manager of L 'Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino, a $365 million Texas Hill Country-themed property which opened the evening of May 26, 2005 in Lake Charles, LA. In his position, Lepinski will direct the casino resorts grand opening and manage all operations of the 227-acre resort. He replaces Alain Uboldi, who was recently promoted to the position of chief operating officer with L 'Auberge parent company Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.

In an accomplished career spanning more than 27 years, Lepinski has opened and managed casino, hotel and convention facilities in Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, the Caribbean, Malaysia, Mississippi and Louisiana.

"Larry brings to L 'Auberge the highest levels of industry knowledge and expertise," said Daniel R. Lee, chairman and chief executive officer of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of L 'Auberge. "Under Larry's direction, I'm confident L'Auberge is headed for a grand start, maintaining the philosophy of offering guests experiences unlike any other."

Additionally, Lepinski has key crucial knowledge of operating a casino property in the Louisiana market; he spent 10 years as senior vice president and general manager for Horseshoe Entertainment in Bossier City, La., running what has been considered the most successful casino operation in the state. Prior to that, he held a similar position at Bally's Saloon and Gaming Hall in Tunica, Miss., where he directed the property's launch. The launch was recognized by both the Mississippi Gaming Commission and Mississippi Tax Commission as the smoothest and most professional opening of any casino statewide.

In a five year span in the late 1980s and early I990s, Lepinski handled casino and resort operations in the Bahamas and Malaysia. As vice president of casino operations for Genting Highlands Resort Casino, he oversaw a multi-million dollar facility expansion for one of the largest casinos outside the United States.

Lepinski began his career at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel Casino in Stateline, Nev. and spent more than 10 years working for various Harrah's properties throughout Lake Tahoe, NV, and Atlantic City, NJ. Lepinski studied business administration and marketing at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND He enjoys horse racing and owns a horse farm in Shreveport, LA.