Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Stockholders’ Equity Authorized Capital On November 1, 2016, Empire filed the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Restated Charter”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Pursuant to Restated Charter, Empire’s authorized capital stock consists of 155 million shares, of which 150 million shares are common stock and five million shares are preferred stock. Common Stock Our common stock is transferable only subject to the provisions of Section 303 of the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law, so long as we hold directly or indirectly, a license issued by the NYSGC, and may be subject to compliance with the requirements of other laws pertaining to licenses held directly or indirectly by us. The owners of common stock issued by us may be required by regulatory authorities to possess certain qualifications and may be required to dispose of their common stock if the owner does not possess such qualifications. January 2016 Rights Offering On January 4, 2016, we commenced a rights offering (the "January 2016 Rights Offering") of transferable subscription rights to holders of record of our common stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of January 4, 2016 to purchase up to 20,138,888 shares of our common stock. In connection with the January 2016 Rights Offering, on December 31, 2015, the Company and Kien Huat entered into a standby purchase agreement (the "January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement"). Pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement, Kien Huat agreed to (i) exercise its basic subscription rights to acquire approximately $30 million of our common stock within 10 days of the commencement of the January 2016 Rights Offering with a closing proximate thereto and (ii) to exercise the remainder of its basic subscription rights prior to the expiration date of the January 2016 Rights Offering. In addition, Kien Huat agreed it would exercise all rights not otherwise exercised by the other holders in the January 2016 Rights Offering in an aggregate amount not to exceed $290 million. The January 2016 Rights Offering closed on February 17, 2016. The Company issued a total of 20,138,888 shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $290 million. This includes 176,086 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their basic subscription and over-subscription rights and 13,136,817 shares issued to Kien Huat upon exercise of its basic subscription rights. Kien Huat also acquired the remaining 6,825,985 shares not sold in the January 2016 Rights Offering pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement. The net proceeds of the January 2016 Rights Offering were approximately $286.0 million, which were used (i) to pay the pre-opening expenses relating to the construction of the Casino, (ii) to redeem the outstanding shares of the Series E Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement on March 7, 2016 and (iii) for the working capital needs of the Company. Pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement, we paid Kien Huat a commitment fee of $1.5 million which is equal to 0.5% of the maximum amount of the January 2016 Rights Offering, and reimbursed Kien Huat for expenses in the amount of $50,000. Bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement On November 14, 2018, the Company entered into a sportsbook and digital gaming collaboration agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) with Hillside (New York) LLC, an affiliate of bet365 Group Limited (“bet365”). In connection with entering into the Collaboration Agreement, Hillside (New Media Holdings) Limited, an affiliate of bet365 ("bet365 Investor"), and the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which bet365 Investor agreed to purchase up to 2.5 million shares of common stock of the Company at a purchase price of $20.00 per share, for an aggregate investment of $50 million. Upon execution of the bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the bet365 Investor purchased 1,685,759 shares of common stock. The offer and sale of these shares was made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-214119), which became effective on November 17, 2016, pursuant to a base prospectus dated as of November 17, 2016 contained in such registration statement and a prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2018. The Company received net proceeds of $29.6 million from the offering. Pursuant to the bet 365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the bet365 Investor will be obligated to purchase the remaining 814,241 shares of common stock at $20.00 per share so long as the following closing conditions are met: (i) 30 days have passed following the receipt of approval from the NYSGC of bet365 Investor’s ownership of the Shares and the enactment of laws by New York State allowing the offering of the bet365 Online Sportsbook Services; (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company are true and correct in all material respects and the Company has complied with its obligations under the bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement; (iii) the Collaboration Agreement is in full force and effect and there is no material breach of the Collaboration Agreement by the Company outstanding; (iv) the common stock of the Company continues to be listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market; (v) the Company continues to own 100% of the equity interests in the Casino; and (vi) the Gaming Facility License is still valid. After all gaming taxes have been paid and the parties have recouped their costs and expenses, bet365 may receive a distribution (the “Preferred Distribution”) equal to 50% of the positive difference, if any (the “delta”), between $20 and the value of the Company’s common stock measured on a given date (such date, the “Trigger Date”), multiplied by the number of shares of common stock then held by bet365 Investor. The Trigger Date is 30 days after the Company’s first filing of an annual or quarterly report with the Securities and Exchange Commission after bet365 recoups its costs incurred pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement. The delta will be the positive difference between $20 and the 30-day volume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock on the Trigger Date. If the Company is no longer a reporting company, or if the Company’s common stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, the delta will be the positive difference between $20 and the fair market value of the Company’s common stock as determined by an investment bank retained by the parties. If a change of control (as such term is defined in the Collaboration Agreement) of the Company occurs before the Trigger Date, the delta will be the positive difference between $20 and the per share value paid by a third party in a change of control transaction. The Preferred Distribution, if any, will be payable on a monthly basis over a period of three years. If bet365 Investor sells any shares of common stock prior to the Trigger Date, the Preferred Distribution will be deemed to be $0. The Company concluded that the Preferred Distribution (an initial put option) is an embedded derivative liability because the right to receive the Preferred Distribution will not transfer with any shares of common stock sold by the bet365 Investor. The fair value of the derivative liability associated with shares already sold to the investor was $0.9 million at December 31, 2018. The Company also concluded the ability to purchase the remaining shares under the bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement is a freestanding contingent forward instrument. The fair value of this instrument was approximately $1.9 million at December 31, 2018, net of the derivative liability (contingent put option) of approximately $0.4 million for the right associated with the remaining shares to also receive the Preferred Distribution. The derivative liability and the contingent forward asset were recorded at fair value upon the effective date of the Collaboration Agreement and will be subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date. Changes in the fair value of the derivative liabilities and long-term asset will be recognized as a component of "other income (expense), net" in the consolidated statement of operations. Restriction on Ability to Pay Dividends Pursuant to the terms of the Bangkok Bank Loan Agreement, neither Empire nor any of its subsidiaries is permitted to declare or pay any dividends or make other payments to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire any capital stock of the Company. Such restriction will lapse upon the payment in full of any amounts outstanding under the Bangkok Bank Loan Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no event of default has occurred, subsidiaries of Empire are permitted to pay dividends to Empire and Empire may pay dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock and for withholding taxes payable in connection with equity compensation programs. Preferred Stock and Dividends Series F Preferred Stock, redeemable On November 6, 2018, the Company and Kien Huat entered into a letter agreement (as amended and restated on November 9, 2018, the "KH 2018 Preferred Stock Commitment Letter") pursuant to which Kien Huat committed to provide additional equity financing in support of the general corporate and working capital requirements of the Company and its subsidiaries. Pursuant to the KH 2018 Preferred Stock Commitment Letter, Kien Huat agreed to purchase up to $126 million (the "Commitment Amount") of Series F Preferred Stock on the terms set forth in the KH 2018 Preferred Stock Commitment Letter and in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series F Preferred Stock, which the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 5, 2018 and amended and restated on November 9, 2018 (as amended and restated, the “Series F Certificate of Designation”). Kien Huat committed to purchase the Commitment Amount of the Series F Preferred Stock pursuant to the following schedule: (i) up to $12 million no earlier than November 9, 2018, (ii) up to $20 million no earlier than February 15, 2019, (iii) up to $20 million no earlier than May 15, 2019, (iv) up to $15 million no earlier than August 15, 2019, (v) up to $37 million no earlier than November 15, 2019 and (vi) up to $22 million no earlier than March 15, 2020. The Company agreed to use its reasonable efforts to secure third-party financing in an amount equal to the Commitment Amount, and the Commitment Amount will be reduced by the amount of any third-party financing raised by the Company. However, any equity financing raised by the Company from any person entering into a commercial agreement relating to online gaming and sports betting at the Casino in an amount up to $29 million will not reduce the Commitment Amount. Kien Huat will be entitled to a funding fee in the amount of 1% of the portion of the Commitment Amount funded by Kien Huat. Unless earlier terminated by mutual agreement, the KH 2018 Preferred Stock Commitment Letter will terminate upon the earlier of (a) the Company's receipt of third-party financing in the Commitment Amount or (b) April 15, 2020. The Company has recorded the fair value of this commitment as a non-derivative financial asset in the amount of $31.1 million on the consolidated balance sheet in "Other Assets" and "Paid in Capital" at December 31, 2018. The Company is amortizing this asset into equity as the commitment is drawn. On November 13, 2018, under the terms of the KH Series F Preferred Stock Commitment, the Company and KH entered into a subscription agreement, pursuant to which KH purchased 120 shares of the Company's Series F Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $12 million and net proceeds to the Company (after deducting approximately $120,000 funding fee due to KH) of $11.9 million. Series B Preferred Stock The Company’s Series B Preferred Stock has voting rights of 0.054 votes per share and each share is convertible into 0.054 shares of common stock. It has a liquidation value of $29 per share and is entitled to annual cumulative dividends of $2.90 per share payable quarterly in cash. The Company has the right to pay the dividends on an annual basis by issuing shares of its common stock at the rate of $3.77 per share. The value of common shares issued as payment is based upon the average closing price for the common shares for the 20 trading days preceding January 30 of the year following that for which the dividends are due. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were 44,258 shares of Series B Preferred Shares outstanding. The Board authorized the cash payment of the Series B Preferred Stock dividends on March 8, 2016. Quarterly payments in the amount of $32,087 were made on April 2, 2018, July 2, 2018, October 1, 2018 and January 2, 2019 for the 2018 period. Quarterly payments in the amount of $32,087 were made on April 3, 2017, July 3, 2017, October 2, 2017 and January 2, 2018 for the 2017 period. Bryanston Settlement Agreement Effective as of June 30, 2013, the Company and its affiliates consummated the closing of a Settlement Agreement and Release (as amended, the “Bryanston Settlement Agreement”) with Bryanston Group, Inc. and its affiliates (the “Bryanston Parties”). Pursuant to ASC 480, the Series E Preferred Stock held by the Bryanston Parties became contractually redeemable subject to the terms and conditions of the Bryanston Settlement Agreement and was recorded as a liability on the December 31, 2015 balance sheet. On March 7, 2016, the Company redeemed the outstanding Series E Preferred Stock held by the Bryanston Group for approximately $30.7 million pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement. Because the event that caused the entire liability to become due occurred during 2016, the liability was recorded pursuant to the payment terms in place at December 31, 2015.

Stockholders’ Equity

Authorized Capital

On November 1, 2016, Empire filed the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Restated Charter”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Pursuant to Restated Charter, Empire’s authorized capital stock consists of 155 million shares, of which 150 million shares are common stock and five million shares are preferred stock.

Common Stock

Our common stock is transferable only subject to the provisions of Section 303 of the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law, so long as we hold directly or indirectly, a license issued by the NYSGC, and may be subject to compliance with the requirements of other laws pertaining to licenses held directly or indirectly by us. The owners of common stock issued by us may be required by regulatory authorities to possess certain qualifications and may be required to dispose of their common stock if the owner does not possess such qualifications.

January 2016 Rights Offering

On January 4, 2016, we commenced a rights offering (the "January 2016 Rights Offering") of transferable subscription rights to holders of record of our common stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of January 4, 2016 to purchase up to 20,138,888 shares of our common stock. In connection with the January 2016 Rights Offering, on December 31, 2015, the Company and Kien Huat entered into a standby purchase agreement (the "January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement"). Pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement, Kien Huat agreed to (i) exercise its basic subscription rights to acquire approximately $30 million of our common stock within 10 days of the commencement of the January 2016 Rights Offering with a closing proximate thereto and (ii) to exercise the remainder of its basic subscription rights prior to the expiration date of the January 2016 Rights Offering. In addition, Kien Huat agreed it would exercise all rights not otherwise exercised by the other holders in the January 2016 Rights Offering in an aggregate amount not to exceed $290 million.

The January 2016 Rights Offering closed on February 17, 2016. The Company issued a total of 20,138,888 shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $290 million. This includes 176,086 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their basic subscription and over-subscription rights and 13,136,817 shares issued to Kien Huat upon exercise of its basic subscription rights. Kien Huat also acquired the remaining 6,825,985 shares not sold in the January 2016 Rights Offering pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement. The net proceeds of the January 2016 Rights Offering were approximately $286.0 million, which were used (i) to pay the pre-opening expenses relating to the construction of the Casino, (ii) to redeem the outstanding shares of the Series E Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement on March 7, 2016 and (iii) for the working capital needs of the Company. Pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement, we paid Kien Huat a commitment fee of $1.5 million which is equal to 0.5% of the maximum amount of the January 2016 Rights Offering, and reimbursed Kien Huat for expenses in the amount of $50,000.

Bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement

On November 14, 2018, the Company entered into a sportsbook and digital gaming collaboration agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) with Hillside (New York) LLC, an affiliate of bet365 Group Limited (“bet365”). In connection with entering into the Collaboration Agreement, Hillside (New Media Holdings) Limited, an affiliate of bet365 ("bet365 Investor"), and the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which bet365 Investor agreed to purchase up to 2.5 million shares of common stock of the Company at a purchase price of $20.00 per share, for an aggregate investment of $50 million.

Upon execution of the bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the bet365 Investor purchased 1,685,759 shares of common stock. The offer and sale of these shares was made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-214119), which became effective on November 17, 2016, pursuant to a base prospectus dated as of November 17, 2016 contained in such registration statement and a prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2018. The Company received net proceeds of $29.6 million from the offering.

Pursuant to the bet 365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the bet365 Investor will be obligated to purchase the remaining 814,241 shares of common stock at $20.00 per share so long as the following closing conditions are met: (i) 30 days have passed following the receipt of approval from the NYSGC of bet365 Investor’s ownership of the Shares and the enactment of laws by New York State allowing the offering of the bet365 Online Sportsbook Services; (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company are true and correct in all material respects and the Company has complied with its obligations under the bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement; (iii) the Collaboration Agreement is in full force and effect and there is no material breach of the Collaboration Agreement by the Company outstanding; (iv) the common stock of the Company continues to be listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market; (v) the Company continues to own 100% of the equity interests in the Casino; and (vi) the Gaming Facility License is still valid.

After all gaming taxes have been paid and the parties have recouped their costs and expenses, bet365 may receive a distribution (the “Preferred Distribution”) equal to 50% of the positive difference, if any (the “delta”), between $20 and the value of the Company’s common stock measured on a given date (such date, the “Trigger Date”), multiplied by the number of shares of common stock then held by bet365 Investor. The Trigger Date is 30 days after the Company’s first filing of an annual or quarterly report with the Securities and Exchange Commission after bet365 recoups its costs incurred pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement. The delta will be the positive difference between $20 and the 30-day volume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock on the Trigger Date. If the Company is no longer a reporting company, or if the Company’s common stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, the delta will be the positive difference between $20 and the fair market value of the Company’s common stock as determined by an investment bank retained by the parties. If a change of control (as such term is defined in the Collaboration Agreement) of the Company occurs before the Trigger Date, the delta will be the positive difference between $20 and the per share value paid by a third party in a change of control transaction. The Preferred Distribution, if any, will be payable on a monthly basis over a period of three years. If bet365 Investor sells any shares of common stock prior to the Trigger Date, the Preferred Distribution will be deemed to be $0.

The Company concluded that the Preferred Distribution (an initial put option) is an embedded derivative liability because the right to receive the Preferred Distribution will not transfer with any shares of common stock sold by the bet365 Investor. The fair value of the derivative liability associated with shares already sold to the investor was $0.9 million at December 31, 2018.

The Company also concluded the ability to purchase the remaining shares under the bet365 Common Stock Purchase Agreement is a freestanding contingent forward instrument. The fair value of this instrument was approximately $1.9 million at December 31, 2018, net of the derivative liability (contingent put option) of approximately $0.4 million for the right associated with the remaining shares to also receive the Preferred Distribution.

The derivative liability and the contingent forward asset were recorded at fair value upon the effective date of the Collaboration Agreement and will be subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date. Changes in the fair value of the derivative liabilities and long-term asset will be recognized as a component of "other income (expense), net" in the consolidated statement of operations.

Restriction on Ability to Pay Dividends

Pursuant to the terms of the Bangkok Bank Loan Agreement, neither Empire nor any of its subsidiaries is permitted to declare or pay any dividends or make other payments to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire any capital stock of the Company. Such restriction will lapse upon the payment in full of any amounts outstanding under the Bangkok Bank Loan Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no event of default has occurred, subsidiaries of Empire are permitted to pay dividends to Empire and Empire may pay dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock and for withholding taxes payable in connection with equity compensation programs.

Preferred Stock and Dividends

Series F Preferred Stock, redeemable

On November 6, 2018, the Company and Kien Huat entered into a letter agreement (as amended and restated on November 9, 2018, the "KH 2018 Preferred Stock Commitment Letter") pursuant to which Kien Huat committed to provide additional equity financing in support of the general corporate and working capital requirements of the Company and its subsidiaries. Pursuant to the KH 2018 Preferred Stock Commitment Letter, Kien Huat agreed to purchase up to $126 million (the "Commitment Amount") of Series F Preferred Stock on the terms set forth in the KH 2018 Preferred Stock Commitment Letter and in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series F Preferred Stock, which the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 5, 2018 and amended and restated on November 9, 2018 (as amended and restated, the “Series F Certificate of Designation”). Kien Huat committed to purchase the Commitment Amount of the Series F Preferred Stock pursuant to the following schedule: (i) up to $12 million no earlier than November 9, 2018, (ii) up to $20 million no earlier than February 15, 2019, (iii) up to $20 million no earlier than May 15, 2019, (iv) up to $15 million no earlier than August 15, 2019, (v) up to $37 million no earlier than November 15, 2019 and (vi) up to $22 million no earlier than March 15, 2020. The Company agreed to use its reasonable efforts to secure third-party financing in an amount equal to the Commitment Amount, and the Commitment Amount will be reduced by the amount of any third-party financing raised by the Company. However, any equity financing raised by the Company from any person entering into a commercial agreement relating to online gaming and sports betting at the Casino in an amount up to $29 million will not reduce the Commitment Amount. Kien Huat will be entitled to a funding fee in the amount of 1% of the portion of the Commitment Amount funded by Kien Huat. Unless earlier terminated by mutual agreement, the KH 2018 Preferred Stock Commitment Letter will terminate upon the earlier of (a) the Company's receipt of third-party financing in the Commitment Amount or (b) April 15, 2020. The Company has recorded the fair value of this commitment as a non-derivative financial asset in the amount of $31.1 million on the consolidated balance sheet in "Other Assets" and "Paid in Capital" at December 31, 2018. The Company is amortizing this asset into equity as the commitment is drawn.

On November 13, 2018, under the terms of the KH Series F Preferred Stock Commitment, the Company and KH entered into a subscription agreement, pursuant to which KH purchased 120 shares of the Company's Series F Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $12 million and net proceeds to the Company (after deducting approximately $120,000 funding fee due to KH) of $11.9 million.

Series B Preferred Stock

The Company’s Series B Preferred Stock has voting rights of 0.054 votes per share and each share is convertible into 0.054 shares of common stock. It has a liquidation value of $29 per share and is entitled to annual cumulative dividends of $2.90 per share payable quarterly in cash. The Company has the right to pay the dividends on an annual basis by issuing shares of its common stock at the rate of $3.77 per share. The value of common shares issued as payment is based upon the average closing price for the common shares for the 20 trading days preceding January 30 of the year following that for which the dividends are due. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were 44,258 shares of Series B Preferred Shares outstanding.

The Board authorized the cash payment of the Series B Preferred Stock dividends on March 8, 2016. Quarterly payments in the amount of $32,087 were made on April 2, 2018, July 2, 2018, October 1, 2018 and January 2, 2019 for the 2018 period. Quarterly payments in the amount of $32,087 were made on April 3, 2017, July 3, 2017, October 2, 2017 and January 2, 2018 for the 2017 period.

Bryanston Settlement Agreement

Effective as of June 30, 2013, the Company and its affiliates consummated the closing of a Settlement Agreement and Release (as amended, the “Bryanston Settlement Agreement”) with Bryanston Group, Inc. and its affiliates (the “Bryanston Parties”). Pursuant to ASC 480, the Series E Preferred Stock held by the Bryanston Parties became contractually redeemable subject to the terms and conditions of the Bryanston Settlement Agreement and was recorded as a liability on the December 31, 2015 balance sheet.

On March 7, 2016, the Company redeemed the outstanding Series E Preferred Stock held by the Bryanston Group for approximately $30.7 million pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement. Because the event that caused the entire liability to become due occurred during 2016, the liability was recorded pursuant to the payment terms in place at December 31, 2015.