EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BY EMPIRE RESORTS, INC AND LAURETTE J. PITTS



 Exhibit 10.1 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”) is entered into as of August 17, 2012 (the “Commencement Date”), by and between Empire Resorts, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Laurette J. Pitts (the “Executive”, and the
Company and the Executive collectively referred to herein as “the Parties”). 
 W I T N E S S E T H: 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating
Officer of the Company, and to enter into an agreement embodying the terms of such employment (this “Agreement”), and the Executive desires to continue employment with the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement;

 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and promises of the Parties contained herein, the
Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows: 
 1. Term. The term of employment under
this Agreement shall be for the period beginning on the Commencement Date and ending on the close of business on December 31, 2014 (the “Term”), or such earlier date upon which the Executive’s employment is terminated by either
Party in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. 
 2. Employment. 

(a) Position. As of the Commencement Date, the Executive shall be employed as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Operating Officer and/or such other title or titles as may be granted by the Company. The Executive shall perform such duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be assigned to her from time to time by the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer, and in the absence of such assignment, such duties as are customary and commensurate with the position held by the Executive. The Executive agrees to comply with the Company’s written policies and procedures throughout
the Term; provided, however, that if any such policy or procedure conflicts with the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. The Executive shall report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. 

(b) Obligations. The Executive agrees to (i) perform her duties faithfully and devote substantially all of her
full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company; (ii) devote her skill and ability to promote the interests of the Company; and (iii) carry out her duties in a competent and professional manner. Anything herein
to the contrary notwithstanding, nothing shall preclude the Executive from: (i) serving on the boards of directors of trade associations and/or charitable organizations; (ii) engaging in charitable activities and community affairs; and


  
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(iii) managing her personal investments and affairs, provided that the activities described in the preceding clauses (i) through (iii) do not materially interfere with the proper
performance of her duties and responsibilities hereunder and do not prevent her from devoting substantially all of her full business time and attention to the affairs of the Company. 

3. Base Salary. The Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid to the Executive during the Term a base salary at the
rate of Two Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($230,000) per year for the Term which may increase if in the sole discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) shall determine based on a number of factors that the
Executive’s performance warrants such an increase (the base salary in effect shall be referred to herein as, the “Base Salary”). Such Base Salary shall be payable, less applicable withholdings and deductions, in accordance with
the Company’s reasonable and customary payroll practices applicable to its executive officers. 
 4.
Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in any annual bonus plan maintained by the Company for its senior executives on such terms and conditions as may be determined from time to time by the Compensation Committee
of the Board. The payment of any such bonus shall be in the absolute discretion of the Board and based on a number of factors including but not limited to overall performance and profitability of the Company. 

5. Additional Incentive. 
 (a) The Compensation Committee of the Board has previously approved the grant(s) to Executive of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Options”) pursuant to the
Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The per share exercise price applicable to the Options is 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of a share of the Company’s common stock on the grant
date. The Options vest according to the terms of the grant(s), subject to earlier vesting as provided herein and in the Plan. The Options shall expire as set forth in the grant(s). Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as
defined below), the Options shall be deemed fully vested and exercisable. In the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of this Section 5 and the Plan, the Plan shall govern. 

(b) For the purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall have the same meaning as in the Plan. 

(c) Employee Benefits. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans, practices and
programs maintained by the Company and made available to senior level executive officers generally and as may be in effect from time to time, including any medical and health plans and any equity-based incentive programs that may be put into place,
subject, however, to the terms and conditions of the various plans and programs and subject to the determinations of any person or committee administering such plans and programs. The Executive’s participation in such plans, practices and
programs shall be on the same basis and terms as are applicable to senior 

  
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level executive officers of the Company generally. Such level of benefits shall be at a level commensurate with her position. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall be entitled to
terminate or reduce any employee benefit enjoyed pursuant to the provision of this Section, if such reduction is applicable to all senior level executives of the Company who are at a level commensurate with Executive’s position. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Executive will not be eligible to participate in any severance plan of the Company. The Executive severance benefits, if any, are to be solely set forth in Sections Section 9(b)(ii) and (iii). 

6. Other Benefits. 
 (a) Vacation. During each calendar year of the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to accrue paid vacation up to twenty (20) days in accordance with the Company’s
vacation policy for senior level executive officers, as it may be amended from time to time. The Executive agrees that vacation time is to be taken at such time(s) as shall not materially interfere with the Executive’s fulfillment of her duties
hereunder. 
 (b) Perquisites. The Executive shall be entitled to perquisites on the same basis as provided to
other senior level executive officers at the Company. 
 7. Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to
receive prompt reimbursement on not less than a monthly basis for all reasonable, ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by her in connection with the performance of her duties hereunder or for promoting, pursuing or otherwise furthering the
business or interests of the Company (including but not limited to travel costs, dining and entertainment), in each case in accordance with policies established by the Board from time to time in effect and upon receipt of appropriate documentation
of such expenses (which policies comply with the Section 409A Rules (defined below in Section 11). 
 8.
Termination. 
 (a) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive’s death. 
 (b) Disability. If during the Term of this Agreement,
Executive becomes physically or mentally unable to perform her duties for the Company hereunder and such incapacity has continued for a total of ninety (90) consecutive days or any one hundred twenty (120) days in a period of three hundred
sixty-five (365) consecutive days (“Disability”), then the Company shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company upon written notice to Executive. 

(c) Cause. The Company shall be entitled to terminate the Executive’s employment for “Cause.” For
purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean that the Executive: (i) pleads “guilty” or “no contest” to or is convicted of an act which is defined as a felony under federal or state law or as a crime under
federal or state law which involves Executive’s fraud or dishonesty; (ii) in carrying out her duties, 

  
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engages in conduct that constitutes willful neglect or willful misconduct; provided such plea, conviction, neglect or misconduct results in material economic harm to the Company; (iii) fails
to obtain or maintain required licenses in the jurisdiction where the Company currently operates or has plans to operate; (iv) willfully and intentionally fails to perform the material responsibilities of the Executive’s position,
(v) engages in an act of dishonesty in the performance of her duties hereunder, (vi) harasses or discriminates against the Company’s employees, customers, or vendors in violation of Company policies with respect to such conduct;
(vii) engages in any conduct that is reasonably likely to cause harm to the reputation of the Company; (viii) makes a material disclosure as defined by Section 10(a)or (ix) materially breaches any term of this Agreement. In
the event any of the occurrences in (i) through (ix) above have occurred, the Executive shall be given written notice by the Company of its intention to so terminate her employment, such notice; (i) to state in detail the particular
act or acts or failure or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which the proposed termination for Cause is based and (ii) to be given within sixty (60) days after the Board knew of such acts or failures to act. In the event
such notice is timely given by the Company, the Executive shall have thirty (30) days after the date that the notice is given in which to cure such conduct, to the extent such cure is possible. For the avoidance of doubt, any of the
occurrences constituting Cause set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (v) above cannot be cured. No act or failure to act on Executive’s part will be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done by Executive not
in good faith and without reasonable belief that her action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. 
 (d)
Good Reason. The Executive may terminate her employment hereunder for “Good Reason”, which is defined to include the following events arising without the consent of the Executive: (A) a diminution in the
Executive’s Base Salary; or (B) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of the terms of this Agreement, as permitted under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”). In the event any of the occurrences in (A) through (B) above have occurred, the Company shall be given written notice by the Executive of her intention to so terminate her employment, such notice; (i) to state
in detail the particular act or acts or failure or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which the proposed termination for Good Reason is based and (ii) to be given within thirty (30) days after the Executive knew of such acts or
failures to act. In the event such notice is timely given by the Executive, the Company shall have thirty (30) days after the date that the notice is given in which to cure such conduct, to the extent such cure is possible. In the event
that the Company is in default of a material term of this Agreement or has diminished the Executive’s Base Salary, which default or conduct remains uncured after the Company has received written notice of Executive’s intention to terminate
her employment to the Company, the Executive shall have sixty (60) days from the date Executive knew of such acts or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which the proposed termination for Good Reason is based to terminate her
employment for Good Reason. 
 (e) Without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment
hereunder without Cause at any time and for any reason (or for no reason) in the Company’s sole discretion by giving the Executive a Notice of Termination (as defined below). Such termination shall not be deemed a breach of this
Agreement.

  
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 (f) Voluntary. Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this
Agreement to the contrary, the Executive may terminate her employment hereunder at any time and for any reason whatsoever (or for no reason) in the Executive’s sole discretion by giving the Company a Notice of Termination (as defined
below). Such termination shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement. 
 (g) Notice of
Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which indicates the specific termination provision of this Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail, if
applicable, the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no purported termination of employment which requires a
Notice of Termination shall be effective without such Notice of Termination. The Termination Date (as defined below) specified in such Notice of Termination shall be no less than thirty (30) days from the date the Notice of Termination is
given. 
 (h) Termination Date. “Termination Date” shall mean the date of the termination of the
Executive’s employment with the Company and specifically (i) in the case of the Executive’s death, her date of death; (ii) in the case of a termination of the Executive’s employment for Cause, the relevant date specified in
Section 8(c) of this Agreement; (iii) in the case of a termination of the Executive’s employment for Good Reason, the relevant date specified in Section 8(d) of this Agreement; (iv) in the case of the expiration of the Term
of this Agreement in accordance with Section 1, the date of such expiration; and (v) in all other cases, the date specified in the Notice of Termination. 
 9. Compensation Upon Termination of Employment. 
 (a) For
Cause; Without Good Reason. If during the Term of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason (and other than by reason of the
Executive’s death or Disability), the Company’s sole obligation hereunder shall be to pay the Executive the following amounts earned hereunder but not paid as of the Termination Date: 

(i) the Executive’s Base Salary through the Termination Date; 

(ii) reimbursement of any and all reasonable, ordinary, and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the
Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement and for which the Company received appropriate prior to the Termination Date; and 
 (iii) any benefits to which Executive may be entitled to under the plans and programs described in Section 5(c) as of the Termination Date in accordance with the terms of such plans and
programs.

  
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 (iv) subsections (i) through (iii) shall be referred to
collectively as the “Accrued Obligation.” 
 (b) Without Cause or for Good Reason. If the
Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Company without Cause, the Company’s sole obligation hereunder shall be to pay the Executive the following amounts: 

(i) the Accrued Obligation; 
 (ii) a pro-rata portion (based on the days worked by the Executive during the applicable year) of any bonus awarded pursuant to any annual bonus plan maintained by the Company for its senior
executives to which the Executive would have been entitled had she not been terminated, which shall be paid at such time as other participants in the bonus plan are paid their respective bonuses in respect of that fiscal year, but no later than
March 15 of the calendar year following the Termination Date; 
 (iii) The Executive’s Base Salary
for the following period (the “Salary Continuation Period”): (A) in the event that Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control, the lesser of (x) eighteen (18) months
following such termination or (y) the remaining duration of the Term; or (B) in the event that Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated on or following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the greater of (x) twenty-four
(24) months following such termination or (y) the remaining duration of the Term; in each instance such amount payable in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices applicable to its executive officers which
payments shall commence on the earlier of the first payroll date following the 75th day after the Termination Date, or thirty (30) days after the effective date of the Release referenced below in Section 9(g). The first payment
pursuant to this Section 9(b)(iii) shall include those payments that would have previously been paid if the payments described in this Section had begun on the first payroll date following the Termination Date. This timing of the
commencement of payments pursuant to this Section 9(b)(iii) is subject to Section 11 below; and 

(iv) that portion of any Options that is unvested on the Termination Date shall be deemed vested on the Termination
Date and such Options shall remain outstanding through the remainder of the original 5 year term. 

  
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 (c) Disability. If the Executive’s employment hereunder is
terminated by the Company by reason of the Executive’s Disability, the Company’s sole obligation hereunder shall be to pay the Executive the following amounts: 

(i) the Accrued Obligation; and 

(ii) any accrued benefits under the Company’s regular and any supplemental long-term disability plan or plans;
and 
 (iii) that portion of any Options that is unvested on the Termination Date shall be deemed vested on
the Termination Date and such Options shall remain outstanding through the remainder of the original 5 year term. 
 (d)
Death. If the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated due to her death, the Company’s sole obligation hereunder shall be to pay the Accrued Obligation to the person or persons designated in writing by the
Executive to receive such payment, or if no such designation was made, the Executive’s estate. In addition, that portion of the Options that is unvested on the Termination Date shall be deemed vested on the Termination Date and such
Options shall remain outstanding through the remainder of the original 5 year term. 
 (e) Continuation of Employee
Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in addition to any amounts payable above, the Company shall subject to the Executive’s group coverage continuation rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act
(“COBRA”), the Company shall fully subsidize the cost of all COBRA premiums during the Salary Continuation Period and the Company shall continue to provide the Executive, during the Salary Continuation Period with any other benefits set
forth under Section 5(c) as though the Executive’s employment had not terminated (to the extent such coverage may be continued under the terms of such plans and programs and exclusive of participation in any Section 401(k) Plan or any
other plans for severance benefits). The Executive may continue COBRA coverage at the Executive’s sole cost for any remaining COBRA period after the Salary Continuation Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Executive’s group
health plan coverage continuation rights under COBRA, the Company’s obligation to provide the continuation of benefits under this Section shall be reduced to the extent the same types are received or made available to Executive under the plans,
programs or arrangements of a subsequent employer or is otherwise received by Executive during such period. The Executive shall have the obligation to notify the Company, during the Salary Continuation Period, that she is eligible for, entitled to
or receiving such benefits from a subsequent employer or is otherwise receiving such benefits. 
 (f) No Mitigation; No
Offset. In the event of any termination of her employment hereunder, the Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise and no such payment
shall be offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation provided to the Executive in any subsequent employment, except as provided in Section 9(e) of this Agreement. 

  
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 (g) Release. Any other provisions of this Agreement notwithstanding,
Section 9(b)(ii) and (iii) shall not apply unless and until: (i) Executive has executed and delivered a full and complete general release of all claims in such form as is reasonably requested by the Company which Executive has not
revoked in any time frame provided in the general release; and (ii) Executive has returned all the Company’s property. Any obligation on the part of the Company for payments pursuant to Section 9(b)(ii) and (iii), shall cease if the
Executive is in violation of the provisions of Section 10 below. 
 (h) Timing of Payments. Other
than the benefits provided for in Section 9(e) above, unless otherwise specifically indicated herein, the payments provided for in this Section 9 shall begin within ninety (90) days of the termination of the Executive’s
employment with the Company provided the Executive has not revoked acceptance of the releases set forth in Section 9(g). 

(i) Limitation on Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, to the extent that
any of the payments and benefits provided for under this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Executive (collectively, the “Payments”) (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code and (ii) but for this Section 9(i), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Payments shall be payable either (i) in full or (ii) as to such
lesser amount which would result in no portion of such Payments being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code; whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999, results in the Executive’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits under this Agreement, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under
Section 4999 of the Code. Unless the Executive and the Company otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent public accountants (the
“Accountants”), whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Executive and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions
and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely in reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such
information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section. The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by
this Section. If the limitation set forth in this Section 9(i) is applied to reduce an amount payable to the Executive, and the Internal Revenue Service successfully asserts that, despite the reduction, the Executive has nonetheless
received payments which are in excess of the maximum amount that could have been paid to the Executive without being subjected to any excise tax, then, unless it would be unlawful for the Company to make such a loan or similar extension of credit to
the Executive, the Executive may repay such excess amount to the Company as though such amount constitutes a loan to the Executive made at the date of payment of such excess amount, bearing interest at 120% of the applicable federal rate (as
determined under section 1274(d) of the Code in respect of such loan). 

  
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 (j) Valuation of Non-Competition Obligations. The Company shall make
reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Executive with regard to the value for tax purposes of the Executive’s non-competition obligations under this Agreement. 
 10. Employee Covenants. 
 (a) Unauthorized
Disclosure. The Executive shall not, during the Term of this Agreement and thereafter, make any Unauthorized Disclosure (as defined below). For purposes of this Agreement, “Unauthorized Disclosure” shall mean disclosure
by the Executive without the prior written consent of the Board to any person, other than an employee of the Company or a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by the Executive of her
duties hereunder, of any confidential information relating to the business or prospects of the Company, including, but not limited to, any information with respect to any of the Company’s customers, products, finances or financial projections,
methods of distribution, strategies, business and marketing plans and business policies and practices, including information disclosed to the Company by others under agreements to hold such information confidential (the “Confidential
Information”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may disclose Confidential Information (i) to the extent such disclosure is or may be required by law, but only after providing (A) notice to the Company of any third
party’s request for such information, which notice shall include the Executive’s intent with respect to such request, and (B) to the extent possible under the circumstances, sufficient opportunity for the Company to challenge or limit
the scope of the disclosure, or (ii) in confidence to an attorney, accountant or other advisor for the purpose of securing professional advice concerning the Executive’s personal matters, provided that such attorney or other advisor agrees
to observe these confidentiality provisions. Confidential Information shall not include the use or disclosure by the Executive of any information known generally to the public or known within the Company’s trade or industry (other than as
a result of any direct or indirect action or inaction by the Executive or any disclosure by the Executive in violation of this Section 10(a)). This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction.

 (b) Non-Competition. The Executive shall not, during the Term of this Agreement and during the
Non-Competition Period (as defined below), directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, consult with or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control
of, or be connected with (as a stockholder, partner, or otherwise) any business competing with, or substantially similar to, the businesses of Company and its present and future subsidiaries, joint ventures, partners or other affiliates (except that
affiliates that are in a business unrelated to the Company’s business shall not be included)(the “Empire Companies”), as such businesses exist within 60 miles of the location in which any such entity conducts, or is actively
investigating the possibility of 

  
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conducting, its businesses as of the beginning of the Non-Competition Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 10(b) shall not be deemed to prohibit the
Executive’s ownership of up to 2% of the total shares of all classes of stock outstanding of any publicly held company. 

(c) Non-Solicitation. During the period from the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company
through the one year anniversary of the date of termination, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with another person, (i) hire, solicit, retain, compensate or otherwise induce or attempt to induce any
individual who is an employee of any of the Empire Companies, to leave the employ of the Empire Companies or in any way interfere with the relationship between any of the Empire Companies and any employee thereof, (ii) hire, engage, send any
work to, place orders with, or in any manner be associated with any supplier, contractor, subcontractor or other business relation of any of the Empire Companies if such action by the Executive would have a material adverse effect on the business,
assets or financial condition of any of the Empire Companies, or materially interfere with the relationship between any such person or entity and any of the Empire Companies, or (iii) solicit or accept business from any customer of any of the
Empire Companies. In connection with the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, the Executive represents that her experience, capabilities and circumstances are such that such provisions will not prevent her from earning a
livelihood. The Executive further agrees that the limitations set forth in this Section 10 (including, without limitation, time and territorial limitations) are reasonable and properly required for the adequate protection of the current
and future businesses of the Empire Companies. 
 (d) Non-Competition Period. For purposes of this Agreement,
the “Non-Competition Period” means the period from the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company through (i) in the case of a termination without Cause by the Company, the end of the Salary Continuation Period,
(ii) in the case of a voluntary termination by the Executive without Good Reason, one (1) year following the date of such termination, (iii) in the case of Executive terminating her employment for Good Reason, the end of the Salary
Continuation Period (iv) in the case of a termination by the Company with Cause, for one (1) year following such termination and (v) in the case of the expiration of the Term, for three months (3) months following the expiration
of the Term. 
 (e) Remedies. The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 10 would
result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law. The Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of such a breach, the Company shall be
entitled to seek an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach or continued breach by the Executive, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity. The Executive and the
Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants not to compete and solicit in this Section 10 are reasonable and that the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the inclusion of such covenants herein. Should
a court determine, however, that any 

  
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provision of the covenants is unreasonable, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the Parties agree that such covenants should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum
extent which such court deems reasonable and such determination shall have no effect upon, and shall not impair the enforceability of, any other provision of this Agreement. The existence of a claim, charge, or cause of action by the Executive
against the Company shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the foregoing confidentiality, non-competition, and non solicitation sections. 
 11. Section 409A. It is the intention of the Parties that this Agreement be exempt from or comply strictly with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, and Treasury
Regulations and other Internal Revenue Service guidance promulgated thereunder (the “Section 409A Rules”). Consistent with that intention, all references hereunder to termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company
shall mean separation from the service of the service recipient under the 409A Rules. Further, to the extent the Executive is a specified employee under the 409A Rules, any payments of deferred compensation within the meaning of the 409A Rules
will be deferred and accumulated for a period of six (6) months and one (1) day and will be paid in a lump sum on such date, unless the Executive dies within such period, in which event payment will be made upon her death. Thereafter,
the normal schedule for the remaining payments will commence. In addition, Executive’s entitlement to the payments of the severance benefits described in Section 9(b)(iii) shall be treated as the entitlement to a series of separate
payments for purposes of the Section 409A Rules. Accordingly, this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any provisions relating to severance payments, may be amended from time to time as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with
the Section 409A Rules. 
 12. Withholding of Taxes. The Company may take such actions as are reasonably
appropriate or consistent with applicable law and the Plan in connection with any compensation paid pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the withholding of any taxes (including income or employment taxes) or any other tax matters, including,
but not limited to, requiring the Executive to furnish to the Company any applicable withholding taxes prior to the issuance of stock pursuant to an option grant or the vesting of restricted stock. 

13. Indemnification; Insurance; Limitation of Liability. 

(a) The Company agrees that if the Executive is made a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
member, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, the Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest
extent legally permitted or authorized by the Company’s certificate of incorporation, by-laws or resolutions of the Board against all cost, expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines,
ERISA 

  
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excise taxes or other liabilities or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by the Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification
shall continue as to the Executive even if he has ceased to be a director, member, employee or agent of the Company or other entity and shall inure to the benefit of the Executive’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall
advance to the Executive all costs and expenses incurred by her in connection with a Proceeding within a reasonable time after submission of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses. Such request shall include an undertaking by the
Executive to repay the amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled by law to be indemnified against such costs and expenses; provided that the amount of such obligation to repay shall be limited to the
after-tax amount of any such advance except to the extent the Executive is able to offset such taxes incurred on the advance by the tax benefit, if any, attributable to a deduction realized by her for the repayment. The Company shall not be
responsible under this Agreement to indemnify the Executive for any costs or expenses incurred by the Executive: (i) on account of acts which, at the time taken, were known or believed by the Executive to be clearly in conflict with the
Company’s best interests or (ii) in a Proceeding by right or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor against the Executive if Executive acted without good faith. 

(b) Neither the failure of the Company (including its Board, independent legal counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior
to the commencement of any Proceeding concerning payment of amounts claimed by the Executive under Section 13(a) above that indemnification of the Executive is proper because he has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor a determination by
the Company (including its Board, independent legal counsel or stockholders) that the Executive has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption in any judicial proceeding that the Executive has not met the applicable
standard of conduct. 
 (c) The Company agrees to continue and maintain director’s and officer’s liability insurance
policy covering the Executive, until such time as actions against the Executive are no longer permitted by law, with terms and conditions no less favorable than the most favorable coverage then applying to any other senior level executive officer or
director of the Company. 
 14. Representations.

(a) The Executive represents and warrants that he has the free and unfettered right to enter into this Agreement and to perform her
obligations under it and that he knows of no agreement between her and any other person, firm or organization, or any law or regulation, that would be violated by the performance of her obligations under this Agreement. The Executive represents that
in connection with the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not use or disclose any trade secrets or other proprietary information or intellectual property in which a prior employer or company has any right, title or
interest and your employment with the Company will not infringe or violate the rights of any prior employer or company. The Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he has returned all property and confidential information belonging to
any prior employer, other than confidential information that has become generally known to the public or within the relevant trade industry. 

  
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 (b) The Company represents and warrants that it is duly formed or organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is registered or qualified to conduct business in all other jurisdictions in which the failure to be so registered or qualified would adversely affect the ability of the
Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company has taken all company action required to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to make all of the provisions of this Agreement the valid and enforceable obligations
they purport to be and has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. All consents and approvals by any third party required to be obtained by the Company in order for it to be authorized to enter into and
consummate this Agreement have been obtained and no further third party approvals or consents are required to consummate this Agreement. Execution and delivery of this Agreement and all related documents, and performance of the obligations hereunder
by the Company do not conflict with any provision of any law or regulation to which the Company or any of its affiliates are subject, conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute a default under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of
any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its affiliates are a party or by which the Company is bound or any order or decree applicable to the Company, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien on any assets or property of
the Company, and/or which would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company has obtained all consents, approvals, authorizations or orders of any court or governmental
agency or body, if any, required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement. 
 15.
Successors and Assigns. 
 (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company,
its successors and assigns and the Company shall require any successor or assign to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession
or assignment had taken place. The term “the Company” as used herein shall include any such successors and assigns. The term “successors” and “assigns” as used herein shall mean a corporation or other entity
acquiring or otherwise succeeding to, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all the assets and business of the Company (including this Agreement) whether by operation of law or otherwise. 

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall be assignable or transferable by the Executive, her beneficiaries or
legal representatives, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal personal representative. 

  
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 16. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in this Agreement (including the Notice of Termination) shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, or upon receipt if overnight delivery service or facsimile is used, and addressed as follows: 
 To the
Executive: 
 Laurette J. Pitts, 
 at the address in the payroll records of the Company 
 With a copy to: 

[                     ] 

To the Company: 
 Empire Resorts, Inc. 
 c/o Monticello Casino and Raceway, Route 17B 

P.O. Box 5013 

Monticello, New York 12701 
 17. Survivorship. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the Executive and the Company hereunder shall survive any termination of the
Executive’s employment. 
 18. Waiver. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. The failure of a Party to insist upon strict adherence to any provision of this Agreement on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that Party of
the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by the Executive and the Company. 

19. Governing Law. Subject to Section 12, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. Any action, suit or other legal proceeding that is commenced to resolve any matter arising under or relating to any provision of
this Agreement shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court in New York County. 
 20.
Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. 

  
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 21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the Parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Executive has
executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	 EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.

		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ Joseph A. D’Amato

	 Name:
	 	 Joseph A. D’Amato

	 Title:
	 	 Chief Executive Officer

	
	 EXECUTIVE:

	
	 /s/ Laurette J. Pitts



  
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