UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 22, 2005
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                              EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


    Delaware                         001-12522               13-3714474
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(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission             (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                    File Number)            Identification No.)

c/o Monticello Raceway, Route 17B, Monticello, NY                      12701
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(Address of principal executive offices)                              (zip code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (845) 807-0001
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                                       N/A
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         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (SEE General Instruction A.2. below):

      |_|   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

      |_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)

      |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

      |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
            Appointment of Principal Officers.
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            On July 22, 2005, the board of directors of the registrant appointed
Robert H. Friedman as a Class II director of the registrant to serve until the
2005 annual meeting of stockholders.





                                   SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                        EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.



Dated: July 27, 2005                    By: /s/ Ronald J. Radcliffe
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                                            Name: Ronald J. Radcliffe
                                            Title: Chief Financial Officer