Crown not interested in Ameristar

Gaming firm Crown Ltd denied that it was interested in acquiring United States "local" casino operator Ameristar.

"Crown Ltd has had no discussions with Ameristar or any other party in relation to any matters pertaining to Ameristar," the company said in a statement.

"Crown has not undertaken or commissioned any evaluation of Ameristar and nor is it proposing to do so.

"Crown is unaware of any basis for the recent media and analyst speculation relating to this issue."

Ameristar has eight casinos in the US.

Financial services firm UBS said in a recent research note that an industry journal had cited Crown as a potential acquirer of Ameristar and that Ameristar's casinos would add scale to Crown's $1.84 billion acquisition announced in December last year, of US casino operator Cannery Casino Resorts.

Crown shares were nine cents lower at $8.51 at 1120 AEST.