Empire Resorts Announces Appointment of Frank Catania to Board; Formerly Led New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement

Empire Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: NYNY) today announced
that, effective November 16, 2005, Frank Catania has joined its board
of directors to fill one of two vacant seats. Mr. Catania, currently a
principal at Catania Consulting Group, a gaming consulting firm with
expertise in Native American affairs, was previously the director of
New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement, the agency charged with
regulating Atlantic City casinos. He also brings over 30 years of
legal experience with an emphasis on both gaming and litigation. Mr.
Catania will serve on the Empire board as an independent director.
   David P. Hanlon, CEO and president of Empire Resorts, stated, "We
are honored to have someone of Frank's caliber join our board of
directors. His regulatory background, gaming expertise, and work with
Native American tribes make him particularly suitable to Empire. I am
certain he will bring a fresh perspective to the company and make a
very substantial and long-lasting contribution. We welcome him during
this exciting time, as we prepare to make history in the Catskills and
explore new growth opportunities."

   Frank Catania, Esq.

   Frank Catania has been a principal at Catania Consulting Group and
a lawyer at Catania & Associates since January, 1999. Prior to this,
he was the assistant attorney general and director of New Jersey's
Division of Gaming Enforcement, a position he took in 1994. Mr.
Catania was a managing partner at the law offices of Catania &
Harrington up until that time and was engaged in all aspects of civil
and criminal litigation, real estate transactions, and corporate
representation. He was also elected and served as the assemblyman for
New Jersey's 35th Legislative District from 1990 through 1994. Mr.
Catania is currently a member of the International Masters of Gaming
Law association and was chairman of the International Association of
Gaming Regulators from 1998 to 1999. He has a J.D. from Seton Hall
University School of Law and a B.A. from Rutgers College.

   About Empire Resorts, Inc.

   Empire operates the Monticello Raceway and is involved in the
development of other legal gaming venues in New York. Empire opened
Mighty M Gaming at the Raceway site on June 30, 2004. This facility
features over 1,500 video gaming machines and amenities such as a
350-seat buffet and live entertainment. Empire is also working to
develop a $500 million "Class III" Native American casino and resort
on a site adjacent to the Raceway and other gaming and non-gaming
resort projects in the Catskills region and other areas.

   Statements in this press release regarding the company's business
that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that
involve risks and uncertainties, including the need for regulatory
approvals, financing and successful completion of construction. The
company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which statements are made pursuant to the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1994, and as such, speak
only as of the date made. To the extent the content of this press
release includes forward-looking statements, they involve various
risks and uncertainties including (i) the risk that the various
approvals necessary as described herein and other approvals required
to be obtained from the United States Congress, the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Commission, the
Governor of the State of New York and various other federal, State and
local governmental entities are not received, (ii) the risk that
financing necessary for the proposed programs or projects may not be
able to be obtained because of credit factors, market conditions or
other contingencies, (iii) the risk that sovereign Native American
governments may exercise certain broad rights with regard to
termination of its agreements with the company (iv) the risk of
non-compliance by various counterparties of the related agreements,
and (v) general risks affecting the company as described from time to
time in it's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. For a full discussion of such risks and uncertainties,
which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual
Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.