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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-11-000024.txt : 20110105
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-11-000024.hdr.sgml : 20110105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110105144047
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-11-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIMON JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001410543

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12522
		FILM NUMBER:		11510301

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		701 N. GREEN VALLEY PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			HENDERSON
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89074

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMPIRE RESORTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906780
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING & DRINKING PLACES [5810]
		IRS NUMBER:				133714474
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RT 17B
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 5013
		CITY:			MONTICELLO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(845) 807-0001

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RT 17B
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 5013
		CITY:			MONTICELLO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12701

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALPHA HOSPITALITY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930614
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form405558001a_01042011.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906780</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMPIRE RESORTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYNY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001410543</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMON JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MONTICELLO CASINO AND RACEWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ROUTE 17B, P.O. BOX 5013</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTICELLO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38270</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.99</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-01-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Consists of a grant of 10,000 shares of restricted stock which shall vest on January 3, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This grant consists of a 5 year term option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock which shall vest as follows: 1/4 upon grant, 1/4 on April 3, 2011, 1/4 on July 3, 2011 and 1/4 on October 3, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ James Simon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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