NYNY Empire Resorts Inc

Empire Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: NYNY) announced today that Governor David A. Paterson, in a letter dated April 29, 2009, addressed to newly appointed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, requested the withdrawal of a January 2008 Guidance Memorandum that abruptly derailed the St. Regis Mohawk $600 million casino project at the Monticello Raceway, which is owned by the Company, as well as dozens of other Native American land to trust applications for gaming projects across the United States. Empire Resorts commends the Governor for his initiative and strong support of Native American gaming in the Catskills and for his call for the Secretary of Interior to withdraw the �misguided policy issued by the former Administration.�

The application of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe for a gaming project to be located at the Monticello Raceway was previously approved by the Department of Interior in April 2000 as being in the best interest of the Tribe and local communities. Governor Spitzer concurred in that determination in February 2007, as required under federal law, but former Secretary Dirk Kempthorne derailed the project in January 2008 by issuing the Guidance Memorandum. Empire Resorts and the Tribe subsequently abandoned the project, but renewed their discussions in March 2009 based on expectations that the Obama Administration may withdraw the Guidance Memorandum or grandfather previously approved applications.

Charles Degliomini, Sr. Vice President of Empire Resorts, noted, �Governor Paterson confirmed in his letter to Secretary Salazar that the St. Regis Mohawk project was a �critical economic development� that would promote the Tribe�s economic self-sufficiency and breathe new life into Sullivan County�s extremely depressed economy. We believe the project will help rescue Sullivan County from economic distress at a time when President Obama and Governor Paterson are vigorously seeking to generate large-scale economic activity through various federal and state programs. The project should provide badly needed economic stimulus for the Mohawk people and citizens of Sullivan County, and enhance the State�s budget through revenue sharing under a compact negotiated by the State and the Tribe.�

About Empire Resorts, Inc.

Empire Resorts owns and operates Monticello Gaming & Raceway, a harness racing facility in Sullivan County with over 1,500 video gaming machines, as well as dining and other amenities. It is also involved with development of the Concord Hotel & Resort, a major destination resort in the Catskills. For additional information, go to www.empiresorts.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.

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