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Press Release: Empire Resorts, Inc.
March 22, 2005
MONTICELLO, NY -- Empire Resorts, Inc. ("Empire") (NASDAQ:NYNY) announced yesterday 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."
About Empire Resorts:
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. The facility features 1,743 video gaming machines
and amenities such as a 350 seat buffet and live nightly entertainment. Together with the Cayuga Nation, Empire
has announced plans to develop a $500 million "Class III" Native American casino and resort on a site
adjacent to the Raceway. In addition, Empire has recently announced plans to develop a second casino and resort
in the Catskills with the Seneca Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma.
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.
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Contact:
Empire Resorts, Inc.
Charles A. Degliomini, 845-807-0001
cdegliomini@empireresorts.com
Source: Empire Resorts, Inc.