8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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):June 18, 2010

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada	0-22088	88-0300760
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

3800 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada	89502
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (775) 335-4600

Not applicable.

(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:

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

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

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

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

Section 5 — Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02               Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On June 18, 2010, the Board of Directors of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Yvette E. Landau to serve as a director of the Company, filling the vacant seat on the Board previously held by Charles W. Scharer.  Ms. Landau was appointed to the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors and is expected to be appointed as the chairperson of an additional Committee in the near future.  As previously reported, Charles W. Scharer resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company on January 25, 2010, leaving the vacancy that has been filled by Ms. Landau.

As a non-employee director, Ms. Landau will receive an annual fee of $50,000.  As a participant in the Company’s Directors’ Stock Option Plan, Ms. Landau will also receive a stock option grant on June 18, 2010 to purchase 6,100 shares of common stock of the Company and additional stock option grants to purchase 6,100 shares of common stock of the Company each year on the date the Company’s annual stockholder meeting is held.  Each of the option grants vest on the six month anniversary of the grant date and have an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date.

The press release issued by the Company on June 18, 2010 is included in Exhibit 99.1.

Section 9 — Financial Statement and Exhibits

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits

99.1Press Release Issued June 18, 2010.

2

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.

	Monarch Casino and Resort, Inc.
Date: June 18, 2010	/s/ Ronald Rowan
	Ronald Rowan Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

3

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

YVETTE E. LANDAU JOINS MONARCH BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RENO, NV — June 18, 2010 — Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (Monarch) announced today that its board of directors elected Yvette E. Landau to serve as director for the company, subject to applicable regulatory approval.

Ms. Landau brings development and operational experience to the Monarch board as well as legal and regulatory knowledge.

Ms. Landau was general counsel and corporate secretary of Mandalay Resort Group from 1996 until 2005.  Since 2005, she has been co-owner of W.A. Richardson Builders, LLC, a construction services firm specializing in casino resort development.  She was also the President of the International Association of Gaming Advisors, a worldwide organization of legal, financial and regulatory professionals in the gaming industry, and remains active with the organization.

“Ms. Landau’s extensive experience in the gaming industry and her knowledge of the legal and regulatory requirements of a public gaming company is a welcome addition to the Monarch board,” said John Farahi, Monarch Co-Chairman and CEO.

Contacts:

Ron Rowan, CFO at (775) 825-4700 or RRowan@monarchcasino.com

John Farahi, CEO at (775) 825-4700 or JohnFarahi@monarchcasino.com

For additional information visit Monarch’s website at monarchcasino.com.

1