Empire Resorts Announces Approval of Enhanced Marketing Program for Monticello Casino & Raceway

Empire Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: NYNY) announced today that the company will significantly expand its use of “free play” credits for players at Monticello Casino & Raceway. The credits can be used by customers at the more than 1300 slot machines at the Catskill-based casino. It is expected that this program will substantially bolster its marketing program and competitive position in response to the expansion of new casinos and aggressive marketing programs in Pennsylvania.

Empire Resorts Executive Vice President Charles Degliomini said, “The primary purpose of the enhanced free play marketing program is to gain market share back from Pennsylvania casinos. Free play is a potent marketing tool, along with other programs such as advertising and promotion. Players will begin to see a much larger use of coupons and credits to keep them coming back to Monticello. Pennsylvania has a different legal and regulatory structure for its casinos and these differences have given Pennsylvania casinos an advantage in their use of free play.”

Monticello Casino & Raceway President and General Manager Cliff Ehrlich concluded, “We look forward to rewarding our customers with extra playing time and an improved gaming experience. With our new management and marketing input from Delaware North Companies, this enhanced marketing program will help us level the playing field.”

As approved by the New York State Lottery, the free play program will have an initial pilot period of 12 months, with a performance evaluation after six months. Video Gaming in New York is regulated by the New York Lottery, with individual facility operators earning commissions based on revenues. In fiscal 2008-09, the New York Lottery contributed $498.6 million from its Video Gaming business to education in New York State.

About Empire Resorts, Inc.

Empire Resorts owns and operates Monticello Casino & Raceway, a 230-acre harness racing and slot machine casino located in Sullivan County, NY, 90 miles from midtown Manhattan. For additional information, go to www.empireresorts.com

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 and contractual 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 Company’s agreement with Concord Associates is not closed; (ii) the risk that financing necessary for the proposed project may not be able to be obtained because of credit factors, market conditions or other contingencies, (iii) the risk that regulatory or contractual approvals are not obtained, (iv) the risk of non-compliance by various counterparties of the related agreements, and (iv) 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.