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Empire Resorts Appoints New Senior VP

MONTICELLO, New York -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Empire Resorts, Inc. ("Empire") (NASDAQ:NYNY) announced today that former federal Bureau of Indian Affairs deputy commissioner Hilda A. Manuel has been appointed to the new post of senior vice president for Native American Affairs, effective immediately. Additionally, Ms. Manuel will serve as the chief compliance officer for the company.

Ms. Manuel will be responsible for Native American affairs and regulatory matters concerning the Company's work with its partners, the Cayuga Nation of New York and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma. Empire has agreements for the proposed development and management of separate major Native American resort-casinos in Sullivan County, NY with both the Cayuga Nation of New York and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma. In her role as chief compliance officer, she will evaluate, review and supervise the compliance of the Company with legal and regulatory requirements.

Empire CEO Robert Berman commented, "We are delighted that Hilda has agreed to join our company. As a policy maker, regulator, tribal advocate and highly skilled Native American lawyer -- her experience, expertise and unparalleled reputation will be valuable resources for the company to draw upon as we continue to move forward towards our goal of developing two world class resort-casinos just 90 miles from New York City."

Before joining Empire, Manuel served for six years at the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), where she was the Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs. During her decade long career at the BIA, she also held positions as gaming management officer, tribal government services officer and judicial services specialist. After leaving the BIA as Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs, she was special counsel at the Washington, DC law firm of Steptoe and Johnson. At Steptoe and Johnson, she was responsible for Indian tribes and Indian organizations and also provided legal and policy advice on Federal laws and policies affecting tribal governments.

Manuel said, "I'm happy to have the opportunity to join the Empire Resorts team at this very exciting point in time. This is a dynamic company that is standing at the forefront of Indian Gaming in North America. An incredibly large and lucrative new market is about to become available to two very deserving Indian communities. I am pleased that I will be there to play a role in helping to make it all happen."

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