RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves a number of risks. You should be able to bear the complete loss of your investment. You should carefully
consider, in consultation with your own financial and legal advisors, the following factors, in addition to the risks and investment considerations discussed elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying base prospectus or in any
document incorporated by reference herein, including the risk factors beginning on page 10 of our Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2017, and those contained in our quarterly and
current reports relating to periods thereafter, prior to deciding to purchase shares of our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that
we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. We also update risk factors from time to time in our periodic reports on Forms
10-K,
10-Q
and
8-K
which will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business could be harmed. In such case, the market
price of our common stock could decline and investors could lose all or a part of their investment.
Risks Relating to this Offering
and the Market Value of Our Common Stock
The market price of our common stock is volatile, leading to the possibility of its value being
depressed at a time when our stockholders want to sell their holdings.
The market price of our common stock has in the past been,
and may in the future continue to be, volatile. For instance, between January 1, 2018 and November 9, 2018, the closing price of our common stock has ranged between $6.42 and $30.90 per share. A variety of events may cause the market price
of our common stock to fluctuate significantly, including but not necessarily limited to:
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quarter to quarter variations in operating results;
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adverse or positive news reports or public announcements; and
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market conditions for the gaming industry.
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In addition, the stock market in recent years has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a substantial
effect on the market prices of companies, at times for reasons unrelated to their operating performance. These market fluctuations may adversely affect the price of our common stock and other interests in the Company at a time when our stockholders
want to sell their interest in us.
If we fail to meet the applicable continued listing requirements of NASDAQ Global Market, NASDAQ may delist our
common stock, in which case the liquidity and market price of our common stock could decline.
Our common stock is currently listed
on the NASDAQ Global Market. In order to maintain that listing, we must satisfy certain continued listing requirements. If we are deficient in maintaining the necessary listing requirements, our common stock may be delisted. If our stock is
delisted, an active trading market for our common stock may not be sustained and the market price of our common stock could decline.
We do not
anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
During the past three fiscal years, we did not declare or pay any
cash dividends with respect to our common stock and we do not anticipate declaring any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain all future earnings for use in the development of our business. In addition, the
Company and its subsidiaries are contractually prohibited from declaring or paying any dividends or making other payments to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire any capital stock of the Company, except for certain limited exceptions,
pursuant to the terms of a loan agreement between the Company and Bangkok Bank PCL. There can be no assurance that we will have, at any time, sufficient surplus under Delaware law to be able to pay any dividends or be contractually permitted to do
so.
Future sales of our common stock by our insiders may cause our stock price to decline.
A portion of our outstanding shares are held by directors and executive officers. Resales of a substantial number of shares of our stock by
these stockholders, announcements of the proposed resale of substantial amounts of our stock, or the perception that substantial resales may be made by such stockholders could adversely impact the market price of our stock. Some of our directors and
executive officers have entered into Rule
10b5-1
trading plans pursuant to which they have arranged to sell shares of our common stock from time to time in the future. Actual or potential sales by these
insiders, including those under a
pre-arranged
Rule
10b5-1
trading plan may adversely impact the market price of our stock.
S-9
Future sales of shares of our common stock in the public market could adversely affect the trading price of
shares of our common stock and our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings.
Future sales of substantial amounts of shares of
our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales or conversion are likely to occur could affect the market price of our common stock. In addition, the stock ownership of Kien Huat Realty III Limited, the Company’s
largest stockholder, may also discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over our stock
price.
There can be no assurance that the State of New York will enact regulations and/or laws allowing the offering of the bet365 Sportsbook
Services or the bet365 Gaming Services, in which case we may never sell Second Closing Shares or otherwise generate any Collaboration Revenues from the Collaboration Agreement.
The Upstate New York Gaming and Economic Development Act (“Gaming Act”) provides, among other things, that sports betting at the
gaming facilities such as the Casino shall be unlawful unless there has been a change in federal law authorizing such activity or upon ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction that such activity is lawful. In May 2018, the Supreme Court of the
United States decided that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which effectively outlawed sports betting nationwide, was unconstitutional. Therefore, upon the enactment of relevant regulations by the NYSGC, the Company may
implement sports betting as part of the gaming experience at the Casino. In addition, if the State of New York enacts laws during the Term of the Collaboration Agreement allowing the offering of the bet365 Online Gaming Services, the Company may
participate with bet365 in offering online sports betting and online casino games. We can provide no assurance that the NYSGC will enact such regulations enabling the bet365 Sportsbook Services, the State of New York will legalize the bet365 Gaming
Services or such regulations and legislation will be enacted during the Term of the Collaboration Agreement. Unless the State of New York promulgates the regulations enabling the Company to offer the bet365 Sportsbook Services or any of the bet365
Gaming Services during the Term of the Collaboration Agreement, the Company’s ability to generate revenues under the Collaboration Agreement will be materially adversely affected.
The NYSGC may deem bet365 a person unsuitable to offering any of the bet365 Sportsbook Services or bet365 Gaming Services pursuant to the Collaboration
Agreement or the Investor unsuitable to own equity interests in the Company, in which case we may never sell the Second Closing Shares, we may need to repurchase the Initial Closing Shares pursuant to the terms of applicable gaming laws and our
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and we may never generate any Collaboration Revenues from the Collaboration Agreement.
The ownership of equity interest in the Company and the management and operation of gaming services are subject to extensive state laws and
regulations administered by the NYSGC. These laws and regulations concern the responsibilities, financial stability and character of the owners and managers of gaming operations as well as persons financially interested or involved in gaming
operations, and require such parties to obtain certain licenses, permits and approvals. In addition, the licenses, permits and approvals generally expire after a relatively short period and thus require frequent renewals and reevaluations. Obtaining
these licenses, permits and approvals in the first place and the renewal process involves a subjective determination by the NYSGC. If bet365 or Investor do not obtain and maintain the required licenses, permits and approvals, we may never sell the
Second Closing Shares, we may need to repurchase the Initial Closing Shares and we may never generate any Collaboration Revenues from the Collaboration Agreement. If, after receipt of a license, permit or approval bet365 or Investor are required to
divest their interest in the Company or the operation of the bet365 Sportsbook Services or bet365 Gaming Services, we risk losing our Gaming Facility License unless such divestiture occurs.
Following the receipt of approval of Investor’s ownership of the Shares or the enactment of the regulations and/or laws necessary to enable the
offering of the bet365 Sportsbook Services and/or the bet365 Gaming Services, bet365 may determine the Collaboration Agreement is not commercially viable, in which case it may terminate the Collaboration Agreement. If bet365 terminates the
Collaboration Agreement pursuant to this right, the Company’s ability to offer commercially competitive sports betting and online gaming services may be materially adversely affected.
Following the enactment of the regulations and/or laws necessary to enable the offering of the bet365 Sportsbook Services and/or the bet365
Gaming Services, the parties will monitor and assess such applicable gaming laws that affect the transactions contemplated by the Collaboration Agreement. To the extent that bet365 has a good faith concern that, as a result of provisions of the
applicable gaming regulations and/or laws, the obligations of bet365 under the Collaboration Agreement will not be commercially viable, then the parties will discuss in good faith and engage in advocacy efforts to modify the applicable gaming laws.
If in bet365’s good faith opinion it will not be commercially viable to operate the bet365 Gaming Services, bet365 can terminate the Collaboration Agreement. If bet365 terminates the Collaboration Agreement, we may not be able to compete
successfully for gaming customers with established sports betting or online gaming service providers, which may have a significant adverse effect on our ability to generate any revenue from sports betting or online gaming services in the State of
New York.
S-10
In the event the market price or fair market value of the Company’s common stock is below $20 on the
Trigger Date, bet365 will receive the Preferred Distribution in the amount of the Common Stock Delta, which will reduce or delay the Company’s receipt of a share of profits from the Collaboration Revenue.
After all gaming taxes have been paid and the parties have recoupled their costs and expenses from the Collaboration Revenue, bet365 is entitled to receive
from the Collaboration Revenue a distribution equal to 50% of the positive difference, if any, between $20 and the value of the Company’s common stock (measured in accordance with the Collaboration Agreement) on the Trigger Date multiplied by
the number of shares of common stock bet365 then holds. The Preferred Distribution, if any, will be payable from the Collaboration Revenue on a monthly basis over a period of three years. The payment of a Preferred Distribution from the
Collaboration Revenue will defer and may materially adversely affect the amount of profits the Company receives from the Collaboration Revenue.
Even if the State of New York enacts regulations and/or laws permitting the bet365 Sportsbook Services and/or the bet365 Gaming Services during the Term
of the Collaboration Agreement, the Collaboration may never be profitable for the Company.
The Collaboration has no operating history and is highly
speculative. The success of the Collaboration is dependent on the enactment by the State of New York of the regulations and laws required to allow the Company and bet365 to provide the products and services contemplated by the Collaboration
Agreement. We may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect the Collaboration and our ability to commercialize any products or services pursuant to the Collaboration. Even
if the products and services contemplated by the Collaboration obtain the necessary approvals of the State of New York, our products and services may fail to achieve market acceptance and we may never become profitable. Even if the Collaboration
achieves profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent periods. As a result, our stockholders may never benefit from the Collaboration.
S-11
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the Commission a registration statement (including amendments and exhibits to the registration statement) on Form
S-3
under the Securities Act. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of the registration statement, and do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and
the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as part of the registration statement. If a document has been filed as an exhibit to
the registration statement, we refer you to the copy of that document as filed. Each statement in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to a document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.
Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.
The
registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation
of the public reference room by calling
1-800-SEC-0330.
Copies of such materials are also available by mail from the Public
Reference Branch of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. In addition, the SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov from which interested persons can electronically access the registration
statement, including the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement.
We have not authorized anyone to give you any information
or to make any representations about us or the transactions we discuss in this prospectus other than those contained in this prospectus. If you are given any information or representations about these matters that is not discussed in this
prospectus, you must not rely on that information. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities anywhere or to anyone where or to whom we are not permitted to offer or sell securities under applicable law.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. The information filed by us with the SEC in the future and incorporated by reference herein will
automatically update and supersede this information.
We incorporate by reference our filings listed below and any additional documents
that we may file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date we file the registration statement that contains this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of any offering,
including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement; except we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished (but not
filed) under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form
8-K,
unless specifically noted below or in a prospectus supplement:
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Our Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2017, filed on March 19, 2018;
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Our Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q
for the quarterly periods ended
March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018, filed on May 8, 2018, August 7, 2018, and November 7, 2018, respectively;
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Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on September 21, 2018;
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Our Current Reports on Form
8-K
filed on May 3, 2018, June 26,
2018, July 24, 2018, August 31, 2018, November 5, 2018 and November 14, 2018; and
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S-15
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The description of our common stock contained in our Form
8-A
filed on
June 20, 2001 and as it may be further amended from time to time.
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You may request a copy of these filings, at no
cost, by writing or calling us at the following address or telephone number:
Empire Resorts, Inc.
c/o Monticello Casino and Raceway
204 State Route 17B, P.O. Box 5013
Monticello, New York 12701
Attention: Secretary
(845)
807-0001
S-16
Prospectus
$250,000,000
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED
STOCK
PURCHASE CONTRACTS
WARRANTS
SUBSCRIPTION
RIGHTS
DEPOSITARY SHARES
DEBT SECURITIES
UNITS
We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series, any one of the following securities of Empire Resorts, Inc.
(“Empire” or the “Company”), for total gross proceeds of up to $250,000,000:
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warrants to purchase our securities;
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subscription rights to purchase any of the foregoing securities;
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debt securities (which may be senior or subordinated, convertible or non-convertible, secured or unsecured); and
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units comprised of the foregoing securities.
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We may offer and sell these securities separately or together, in one or more series or classes and in amounts, at prices and on terms
described in one or more offerings. We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of
securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.
Empire’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “NYNY.” If we decide to seek a listing of any
preferred stock, purchase contracts, warrants, subscriptions rights, depositary shares, debt securities or units offered by this prospectus, the related prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which the securities will be
listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any.
As of October 13, 2016, the
aggregate market value of our outstanding voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates was approximately $65,131,005 million, based on an aggregate of 31,139,207 shares of common stock outstanding, of which 3,314,555 shares were held
by non-affiliates, and a per share price of $19.65, the closing price of our common stock on October 13, 2016, as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities in a
public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75.0 million. We have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of
Form S-3
during the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus.
Investing in our securities involves certain risks. You should carefully read and consider the section entitled “
Risk Factors
” on page 4 and the risk factors included in our periodic reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and, if any, in the relevant prospectus supplement. We urge you to carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before making
your investment decision.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or
disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of
this prospectus is November 17, 2016.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC,
utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings, any of the securities described in this prospectus, for total gross
proceeds of up to $250,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that will contain
more specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any
related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In this
prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Empire,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Empire Resorts, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for
use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” before investing in any of the securities being
offered. You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for
use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in
jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.
The information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any
related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of
delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security.
This
prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual
documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those
documents as described below under the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
1
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein include forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained or incorporated
by reference in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” and similar
expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect
our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, business prospectus, growth strategy and liquidity. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and our actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operation” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements
speak as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and we undertake no obligation to update any
such statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
You should carefully read the factors described
in the “Risk Factors” section of any prospectus supplement or other offering material, as well as any risks described in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a description of certain risks that could, among
other things, cause our actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and that this list should not be considered a complete statement of all
potential risks and uncertainties. You should also realize that if the assumptions we have made prove inaccurate or if unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the views and estimates included or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
2
ABOUT EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
Overview
Empire was organized as a
Delaware corporation on March 19, 1993, and since that time has served as a holding company for various subsidiaries engaged in the hospitality and gaming industries.
Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Monticello Raceway Management, Inc. (“MRMI”), we currently own and operate Monticello Casino
and Raceway, a 45,000 square foot video gaming machine (“VGM”) and harness horseracing facility located in Monticello, New York, approximately 90 miles northwest of New York City. Monticello Casino and Raceway operates 1,110 VGMs, which
includes 1070 video lottery terminals and 40 electronic game positions (“ETGs”). VGMs are similar to slot machines, but they are connected to a central system and report financial information to the central system. ETGs include the games
of roulette, blackjack, craps and 3-card poker. We also generate racing revenues through pari-mutuel wagering on the running of live harness horse races, the import simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred horse races from racetracks across the
country and internationally, and the export simulcasting of our races to offsite pari-mutuel wagering facilities. In a letter dated April 13, 2016, the New York State Gaming Commission (the “NYSGC”) approved MRMI’s racetrack and
simulcast license renewal applications for calendar year 2016. Generally, the annual license renewal process requires the NYSGC to review the financial responsibility, experience, character and general fitness of MRMI and its management.
On December 21, 2015, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Montreign Operating Company, LLC was awarded a license (a “Gaming Facility
License”) by the NYSGC to operate a resort casino (“Montreign Resort Casino” or the “Casino Project”) to be located at the site of a four-season destination resort planned for the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County
approximately 90 miles from New York City (“Adelaar” or the “Adelaar Project”). The award of the Gaming Facility License follows the Company’s selection in December 2014 by the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board
as the sole Hudson Valley—Catskills Area casino applicant eligible to apply to the NYSGC for a Gaming Facility License. The Gaming Facility License became effective on March 1, 2016 (the “License Award Effective Date”).
The Adelaar Project is to be located on approximately 1,700 acres owned by EPT Concord II, LLC and EPR Concord II, L.P., two wholly-owned
subsidiaries of EPR Properties (“EPR”). Montreign Resort Casino is part of the initial phase of the Adelaar Project, which will also include an Indoor Waterpark Lodge (the “Waterpark”), Rees Jones redesigned “Monster”
Golf Course (the “Golf Course”) and an Entertainment Village, which will include retail, restaurants and other amenities (the “Entertainment Village” and, together with the Casino Project, the Waterpark and the Golf Course, the
“Initial Projects”). Although construction has commenced, over the past four years, the Company has expended substantial time and resources on designing Montreign Resort Casino and, in conjunction with EPR, working with local, state and
federal agencies and officials to obtain the necessary permits and approvals for the construction of the Initial Projects.
The principal
executive offices of Empire are located at Monticello Casino and Raceway, 204 State Route 17B, P.O. Box 5013, Monticello, New York 12701, and our telephone number is (845) 807-0001. Empire’s website address is www.empireresorts.com. Except
for the documents referred to in the section “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” which are specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus, information contained on our website or that can be accessed through our
website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. We have included Empire’s website address only as an interactive textual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to Empire’s website.
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Underwriters and Agents; Direct Sales
If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell the offered securities from
time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented
by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate.
Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the obligations of
the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the
prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any over-allotment option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we
have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.
6
We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name
any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities, and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the
period of its appointment.
We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to
purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these
contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
Dealers
We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices
to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale.
Institutional Purchasers
We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a
delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, as the case may be, will provide the details of any such
arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.
We will enter into such delayed contracts only
with institutional purchasers that we approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.
Indemnification; Other Relationships
We may provide agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms with indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in
transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.
Market-Making; Stabilization and Other Transactions
There is currently no market for any of the offered securities, other than the common stock of Empire, which is listed on the Nasdaq Global
Market. If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is
possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intends to make a market in the offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market-making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no
assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities. We have no current plans for listing of the preferred stock, purchase contracts, warrants, subscription rights, depositary shares, debt securities
or units on any securities exchange or quotation system; any such listing with respect to any particular securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, as the case may be.
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Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering
transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying
security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market
after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering
transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
Any underwriters or agents that are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Global Market may engage in passive market making transactions in
our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of our common stock. Passive market
makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if
all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the
securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Fees and Commissions
We will disclose the fees to be paid to any underwriter, dealer or agent in the prospectus supplement for any takedown. If any conflict of
interest exists between the issuer and an underwriter, dealer or agent participating in an offering of securities under this prospectus, the offering will be conducted in compliance with FINRA Rule 5121.
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
General
This
prospectus describes the general terms of our capital stock. The following description is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our capital stock. For a more detailed description of these
securities, you should read the applicable provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our second amended and restated bylaws. When we offer to sell a particular series of these securities,
we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of any series of securities, you must refer to both the prospectus supplement relating to that series and the
description of the securities described in this prospectus. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 150,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 95,000 shares
have been designated Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share, 821,496 shares have been designated Series B Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share, 137,889 shares have been designated Series C Preferred Stock, $.01
par value per share, 4,000 shares have been designated Series D Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share, and 1,730,697 shares have been designated Series E Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share.
New York State Gaming Commission
. Our capital stock is transferable 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 racing license issued by the NYSGC (formerly the New York Racing and Wagering Board), and may be subject to compliance with the requirements of other laws pertaining
to licenses held directly or indirectly by us. The owners of capital stock issued by the Company may be required by regulatory authorities to possess certain qualifications and may be required to dispose of their capital stock if the owner does not
possess such qualifications.
We, directly or through agents, dealers or underwriters designated from time to time, may offer, issue and
sell, together or separately, up to $250,000,000 in the aggregate of:
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warrants to purchase our securities;
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subscription rights to purchase our securities;
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secured or unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness which may
be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities, each of which may be convertible into equity securities; or
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units comprised of, or other combinations of, the foregoing securities.
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We may issue the debt securities as exchangeable for or convertible into shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities. The
preferred stock may also be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of common stock, another series of preferred stock or other securities. When a particular series of securities is offered, a supplement to this prospectus will be delivered
with this prospectus, which will set forth the terms of the offering and sale of the offered securities.
Common Stock
As of November 4, 2016, there were 31,139,207 shares of common stock outstanding and 209 holders of record of our common stock.
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Voting.
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all
matters to be voted upon by the holders of common stock.
Dividends.
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then
outstanding preferred stock, and further subject to any contractual limitations on the declaration, setting aside or payment of dividends, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends, if any, as may be declared from time
to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.
Liquidation
. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation
preferences that may be granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences
. The
common stock has no preemptive, conversion or other subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and
may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock, which we may designate and issue in the future.
Our common stock is admitted for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “NYNY”.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority to issue up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix
the voting powers, designations, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each such series without any further vote or action by the stockholders, of which an aggregate of 2,789,082 have been designated as
a previously issued series of preferred stock. 44,258 shares of Series B Preferred Stock are currently outstanding.
We will fix the
rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will
incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of
preferred stock. This description will include any or all of the following, as required:
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the title and stated value;
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the number of shares we are offering;
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the liquidation preference per share;
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the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends;
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whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will
accumulate;
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any contractual limitations on our ability to declare, set aside or pay any dividends;
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the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;
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the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;
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the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those
redemption and repurchase rights;
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any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;
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whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price,
or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period;
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whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or
how it will be calculated, and the exchange period;
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voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;
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preemptive rights, if any;
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restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;
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whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;
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a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the
preferred stock;
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the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate,
dissolve or wind up our affairs;
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any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the
series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and
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any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock.
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If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, after receipt of payment therefor, the shares will be
fully paid and non-assessable.
The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to
vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.
Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting
power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of
preferred stock could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
Purchase Contracts
We may issue purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specific or
varying number of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, debt securities or depositary shares, warrants or any combination of the above, at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the purchase contracts may obligate us to
purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specific or varying number of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, debt securities, or any combination of the above. The price of the securities and other property
subject to the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of
a unit that consists of (a) a purchase contract and (b) one or more of the other securities that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus, debt obligations of third parties (including U.S. Treasury securities) or any combination of
the foregoing, which may secure the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the purchase contract. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders or require the holders to make periodic payments to
us. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the contracts in a manner specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
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We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or
will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the purchase contracts and purchase contract agreement, if any. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase
contracts in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, to the extent applicable, the following:
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whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the
securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts;
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whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;
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whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value,
performance or level of the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract;
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any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase
contracts; and
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whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form.
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Warrants
We may
issue warrants to purchase our securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the
foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. To the extent warrants that we issue are to be publicly-traded, each series of such warrants will be
issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent.
We will file as exhibits to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the warrant and warrant agreement, if any. The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that
we may offer will contain the specific terms of the warrants and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement, if any. These terms may include the following:
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the title of the warrants;
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the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
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the designation, amount and terms of the securities or other rights for which the warrants are exercisable;
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the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the
number of warrants issued with each other security;
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the aggregate number of warrants;
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any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or
the exercise price of the warrants;
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the price or prices at which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be
purchased;
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if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the securities or other rights purchasable upon
exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;
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a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants;
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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence, and the date on which the right will expire;
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the maximum or minimum number of warrants that may be exercised at any time;
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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and
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any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and
exercise of the warrants.
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Exercise of Warrants.
Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase
the amount of securities or other rights, at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the applicable
prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, if applicable, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised in the manner described in the
applicable prospectus supplement. When the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office indicated in the prospectus
supplement, we will, as soon as possible, forward the securities or other rights that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue a new warrant
certificate for the remaining warrants.
Subscription Rights
We may issue rights to purchase our securities. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In
connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining
unsubscribed for after such rights offering. In connection with a rights offering to holders of our capital stock a prospectus supplement will be distributed to such holders on the record date for receiving rights in the rights offering set by us.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a
current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the subscription rights, standby underwriting agreement or other agreements, if any. The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating
to the offering, including, among other matters:
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the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;
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the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of the
rights;
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the conditions to completion of the rights offering;
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the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire;
and
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any applicable federal income tax considerations.
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Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase the principal amount of securities at the exercise price set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all
unexercised rights will become void.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt
of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent, if any, or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or
dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Depositary Shares
General.
We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we decide to offer
fractional shares of our preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of our preferred stock, and the applicable prospectus supplement will indicate
that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a depositary that is a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us. The
depositary will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all of the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be
evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of our preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering. We will file as
exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the deposit agreement, form of certificate of designation of underlying
preferred stock, form of depositary receipts and any other related agreements.
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Dividends and Other Distributions
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The depositary will distribute all cash
dividends or other cash distributions received by it in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares held on the relevant record date.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute securities or property received by it to the record
holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares held on the relevant record date, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution. In that case, the depositary may make the
distribution by such method as it deems equitable and practicable. One such possible method is for the depositary to sell the securities or property and then distribute the net proceeds from the sale as provided in the case of a cash distribution.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
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Whenever we redeem the preferred stock, the depositary will redeem a number of
depositary shares representing the same number of shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If fewer than all of the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot, pro rata or by any other equitable
method as the depositary may determine.
Voting of Underlying Shares
. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of
our preferred stock of any series are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to that series of preferred stock. Each record holder of
the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights represented by the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will
endeavor, to the extent it is practical to do so, to vote the number of whole shares of preferred stock underlying such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions. We will agree to take all actions that the depositary may deem reasonably
necessary in order to enable the depositary to do so. To the extent the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred shares, it will abstain from voting such shares of preferred
stock.
Withdrawal of Shares
. Upon surrender of depositary receipts representing any number of whole shares at the
depositary’s office, unless the related depositary shares previously have been called for redemption, the holder of the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts will be entitled to delivery of the number of whole shares of the
related series of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, underlying such depositary shares. However, once such an exchange is made, the preferred stock cannot thereafter be redeposited in exchange for depositary shares. Holders of
depositary shares will be entitled to receive whole shares of the related series of preferred stock on the basis set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary
shares representing more than the number of whole shares of preferred stock of the related series to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.
Amendment and Termination of Depositary Agreement
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The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and
any provision of the applicable depositary agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. We may, with the consent of the depositary, amend the depositary agreement from time to time in any manner that we desire.
However, if the amendment would materially and adversely alter the rights of the existing holders of depositary shares, the amendment would need to be approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding.
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The depositary agreement may be terminated by us or the depositary if:
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all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or
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there has been a final distribution in respect of the shares of preferred stock of the applicable series in
connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and such distribution has been made to the holders of depositary receipts.
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Resignation and Removal of Depositary.
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so.
We may remove a depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of appointment.
Charges of Depositary.
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of any
depositary arrangements. We will pay all charges of each depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred shares of any series, the initial issuance of the depositary shares, any redemption of such preferred shares and any
withdrawals of such preferred shares by holders of depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares will be required to pay any other transfer taxes.
Notices
. Each depositary will forward to the holders of the applicable depositary shares all notices, reports and communications
from us which are delivered to such depositary and which we are required to furnish the holders of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares.
Miscellaneous
. The depositary agreement may contain provisions that limit our liability and the liability of the depositary to the
holders of depositary shares. Both the depositary and we are also entitled to an indemnity from the holders of the depositary shares prior to bringing, or defending against, any legal proceeding. We or any depositary may rely upon written advice of
counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred shares for deposit, holders of depositary shares or other persons believed by us to be competent and on documents believed by us or them to be genuine.
Debt Securities
As used in this prospectus, the term “debt securities” means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we
may issue from time to time. The debt securities will either be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt or subordinated debt securities. We may also issue convertible debt securities. Debt securities issued under an indenture (which we
refer to herein as an Indenture), which are contracts entered into between us and a trustee to be named therein. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a
current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the Indenture, if applicable, form of debt securities. We may issue debt securities and incur additional indebtedness other than through the offering of debt securities pursuant to this
prospectus. It is likely that convertible debt securities will not be issued under an Indenture.
In the event that any series of debt
securities will be subordinated to other indebtedness that we have outstanding or may incur, the terms of the subordination will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subordinated debt securities.
We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a
discount. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such
additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable Indenture and will be equal in ranking.
Should an Indenture relate to unsecured indebtedness, in the event of a bankruptcy or other liquidation event involving a distribution of
assets to satisfy our outstanding indebtedness or an event of default under a loan agreement relating to secured indebtedness of our company or its subsidiaries, the holders of such secured indebtedness, if any, would be entitled to receive payment
of principal and interest prior to payments on the unsecured indebtedness issued under an Indenture.
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Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt
securities. These terms will include some or all of the following:
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the title of debt securities and whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated;
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of such series;
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the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities of any series will be issued;
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the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;
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the purchase price for the debt securities and the denominations of the debt securities;
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the specific designation of the series of debt securities being offered;
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the maturity date or dates of the debt securities and the date or dates upon which the debt securities are
payable and the rate or rates at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method by which such rate shall be determined;
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the basis for calculating interest;
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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be
determined;
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the duration of any deferral period, including the period during which interest payment periods may be extended;
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whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be
determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;
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the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is
entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;
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the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be
payable, where any securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, as applicable, and notices and demands may be delivered to or upon us pursuant to the applicable Indenture;
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the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities;
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any terms for the attachment to the debt securities of warrants, options or other rights to purchase or sell our
securities;
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if the debt securities will be secured by any collateral and, if so, a general description of the collateral and
the terms and provisions of such collateral security, pledge or other agreements;
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if we possess the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt
securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any such provisions;
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our obligation or discretion, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to
a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part,
pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;
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the terms and conditions, if any, regarding the option or mandatory conversion or exchange of debt securities;
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the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt
securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at our option and, if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to redeem the debt securities shall be evidenced;
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any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities of a particular series;
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the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities which we must
pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with any event of default;
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the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which principal, any premium
and any interest will or may be payable or a description of any units based on or relating to a currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated;
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provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified
events;
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any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or our covenants with respect to the
applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not such events of default or covenants are consistent with those contained in the applicable Indenture;
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any limitation on our ability to incur debt, redeem stock, sell our assets or other restrictions;
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the application, if any, of the terms of the applicable Indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance
(which terms are described below) to the debt securities;
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what subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities;
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the terms, if any, upon which the holders may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for our securities
or property;
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whether we are issuing the debt securities in whole or in part in global form;
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any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal
amount thereof due and payable because of an event of default;
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the depositary for global or certificated debt securities, if any;
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any material federal income tax consequences applicable to the debt securities, including any debt securities
denominated and made payable, as described in the prospectus supplements, in foreign currencies, or units based on or related to foreign currencies;
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any right we may have to satisfy, discharge and defease our obligations under the debt securities, or terminate
or eliminate restrictive covenants or events of default in the Indentures, by depositing money or U.S. government obligations with the trustee of the Indentures;
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the names of any trustees, depositories, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other
agents with respect to the debt securities;
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to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security
is registered, on the record date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid;
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if the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities is to be payable in one or more currencies
or currency units other than as stated, the currency, currencies or currency units in which it shall be paid and the periods within and terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amounts payable (or the manner in which such
amount shall be determined);
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the portion of the principal amount of any debt securities which shall be payable upon declaration of
acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities pursuant to the applicable Indenture;
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if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt security of the series will not be
determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due
and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be
determined); and
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any other specific terms of the debt securities, including any modifications to the events of default under the
debt securities and any other terms which may be required by or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
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Unless
otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we do not anticipate the debt securities will be listed on any securities exchange. Holders of the debt securities may present registered debt securities for exchange or transfer in the
manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as limited by the applicable Indenture, we will provide these services without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the exchange or
transfer.
Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a variable rate as specified in the prospectus supplement. In addition, if
specified in the prospectus supplement, we may sell debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate, or at a discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe in
the applicable prospectus supplement any special federal income tax considerations applicable to these discounted debt securities.
We may
issue debt securities with the principal amount payable on any principal payment date, or the amount of interest payable on any interest payment date, to be determined by referring to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity
indices or other factors. Holders of such debt securities may receive a principal amount on any principal payment date, or interest payments on any interest payment date, that are greater or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise
payable on such dates, depending upon the value on such dates of applicable currency, commodity, equity index or other factors. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information as to how we will determine the amount of principal or
interest payable on any date, as well as the currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount payable on that date relates and certain additional tax considerations.
Units
We may
issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into
unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent, if any, may be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of
units. Specific unit agreements, if any, will contain additional important terms and provisions. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report that
we file with the SEC, the form of unit and the form of each unit agreement, if any, relating to units offered under this prospectus.
If
we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable
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the title of the series of units;
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identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;
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the price or prices at which the units will be issued;
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the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately
transferable;
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a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and
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any other material terms of the units and their constituent securities.
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FORMS OF SECURITIES
Each security may be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global
securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order
to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global
securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of
the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.
Registered Global Securities
We may issue the securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its
nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the
portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be
transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be
described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the
depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the
respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of
participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability
to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable
indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement.
Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security
will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the
owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that
registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit
agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take
under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would
authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
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Payments to holders with respect to securities represented by a registered global security
registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of the Company, the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit
agents or any other agent of the Company, agent of the trustees, the warrant agents or unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the
registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.
We
expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other payment or distribution to holders of that registered global security, will
immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers or registered in
“street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.
If the depositary for any of these securities represented
by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not
appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security
will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions
received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed
upon for us by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York. If legal matters in connection with offerings made by this prospectus are passed on by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, that counsel will be named in
the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Empire Resorts, Inc. appearing in Empire Resorts, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) as of
December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 including schedules appearing therein, and the effectiveness of Empire Resorts, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December
31, 2015, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, reports quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Information filed with the SEC by
us can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at prescribed rates.
Further information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
We are “incorporating by reference” in this prospectus certain
documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information in the documents incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Statements
contained in documents that we file with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus, including information in previously filed documents or
reports that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information. We have filed or may file the following documents with the SEC and they are incorporated
herein by reference as of their respective dates of filing.
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Our Annual Report, as amended, on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, originally filed
with the SEC on March 10, 2016;
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Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on May 4,
2016;
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Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 filed with the SEC on August 2,
2016;
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Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 filed with the SEC on November 4,
2016;
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Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 20, 2016, June 6, 2016, June 8,
2016, July 21, 2016, October 19, 2016 and November 2, 2016;
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Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on September 20, 2016; and
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The description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A filed on June 20, 2001 and as it may be
further amended from time to time.
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All documents filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and before the termination or completion of this offering of our securities shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be a part of it from the filing dates of such
documents, except in each case for information contained in any such filing where we indicate that such information is being furnished and is not to be considered “filed” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this prospectus shall be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference
in this prospectus, modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statement so modified, superseded or replaced shall not be deemed, except as so modified, superseded or replaced, to constitute a part of this prospectus. None of the
information that we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K or any corresponding information, either furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit therein, that we may from time to time furnish to the SEC will
be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus, except as otherwise expressly set forth in the relevant document. Subject to the foregoing, all information appearing in this prospectus is qualified in its entirety by
the information appearing in the documents incorporated by reference.
Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without
charge, excluding all exhibits unless we have specifically incorporated by reference the exhibit in this prospectus. You may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from:
Empire Resorts, Inc.
c/o
Monticello Casino and Raceway
204 State Route 17B, P.O. Box 5013
Monticello, New York 12701
Attention: Secretary
(845)
807-0001
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