UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 28, 2014

EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (845) 807-0001

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Resignation

On February 28, 2014, Mr. Au Fook Yew resigned from his positions as a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Empire Resorts, Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries, effective immediately. Mr. Au’s resignation was not a result of any disagreement with the Company or its executive officers, or any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

Mr. Au was nominated to stand for election as a director of the Company by Kien Huat Realty III Limited (“Kien Huat”), the Company’s largest stockholder, pursuant to a nomination right held by Kien Huat under an Investment Agreement between the Company and Kien Huat dated August 19, 2009 (as amended, the “Investment Agreement”). The Investment Agreement provides that Kien Huat has the right to recommend three directors to the Board, subject to the reasonable approval of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Nominating Committee”).

Nomination

On March 1, 2014, Kien Huat exercised its nomination right pursuant to the Investment Agreement and identified Edmund Marinucci as its nominee to stand for election as a director of the Company to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Au’s resignation. The Nominating Committee reviewed Mr. Marinucci’s qualifications and the needs of the Company and has determined to recommend to the Board that Mr. Marinucci be appointed to the board of directors of the Company and each subsidiary to fill the vacancies resulting from the resignation of Mr. Au. The Company anticipates that the Board will consider this recommendation by the Nominating Committee at its upcoming regularly-scheduled meeting. Mr. Marinucci’s ability to participate in the affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries is subject to certain statutory and regulatory requirements including the receipt of any necessary licenses from the New York State Gaming Commission.

Mr. Marinucci has been a partner at PCH Hotels, LLC, a boutique hotel and resort operator based in San Francisco that is an operating division of Pacific Union Company since 1983. From October 1983 to December 2008, Mr. Marinucci served as a president of PCH Hotels, LLC. PCH Hotels owned and managed properties in the U.S. and the Caribbean. Such properties included Meadowood Resort (Napa, California), Windermere Island Club (Bahamas), Divi Resorts (Aruba), Downtown Athletic Club (New York City), Frangipani Resort (Anguilla) and Marriott Resort (Grand Cayman). During his presidency of PCH Hotels, he oversaw the ground-up development of The Hotel Griffon and the renovation and repositioning of the Drisco Hotel (each in San Francisco). Prior to PCH Hotels, Mr. Marinucci served as director of development for HCP Hotels/Aston Resorts in Hawaii. In such position, Mr. Marinucci oversaw all development aspects of the hotel group and grew inventory from 15 to 20 hotel resorts. From 1978 to 1981, Mr. Marinucci served as director of resort operations for Kapalua Resort Maui in Hawaii. While at Kapalua Resort Maui, Mr. Marinucci was responsible for the daily operations of the resort, including the Kapalua Bay Hotel, 150 rental villas, two golf courses, The Bay and The Village. He serves on the board of directors of Miami JV Member LLC, a private hotel and resort company, and has previously served on the board of directors of Jameson Inns/Colony Capital, a private hotel and resort company. Mr. Marinucci is a member of The Cornell Hotel Society. Mr. Marinucci received a BS in Hotel Administration from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.

SIGNATURES

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

Dated: March 6, 2014