The company developing the last of New York’s four new commercial casinos, and the largest of the group, has named a new CEO.
Nasdaq-listed Empire Resorts has appointed current President and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Eller to the top job, replacing Joseph D’Amato, who has retired from the company and its board of directors.
Empire is building Resorts World Catskills at the site of the former Concord Hotel in Sullivan County, not far from the company’s harness track, Monticello Raceway, and about 90 miles north of New York City.
Empire is majority held by global resort conglomerate Genting, whose Resorts World brand is affixed to a portfolio of casinos stretching from Kuala Lumpur to Birmingham, England. The company’s holdings include the largest racino in the United States, Resorts World New York City, at Aqueduct racetrack in Queens, and land on the Las Vegas Strip the company is developing as an Asian-themed megaresort.
Empire Executive Chairman Emanuel Pearlman said D’Amato will remain as a consultant in the run-up to Resorts World Catskills’ planned opening next March.
