Yesterday, Empire Resorts who own and operate the casino over at the Monticello Casino and Raceway, filed a notice to close their casino operation at that venue with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In what was a unexpected move that took many local residents by surprise they did however, state that the harness racing facility would continue to operate for the foreseeable future.
Whilst no set in stone date has been given for the closure of the casino, the company expects it to be on or around the 23rd of April this year.
Thought has though, been given to the employees at the casino, with Empire Resorts announcing that 40 jobs will remain at the raceway. Employees affected by the 160 jobs that will be lost with the closure of the casino will be given the option of moving to the Resorts World Catskills Casino that the company owns nearby, or they will receive a severance package instead.
The long term future of the race track does however remain in doubt, for whether it will remain financially viable once the casino is shuttered remains to be seem, but Empire Resorts do remain hopefully that it does have a long term future.
It was back in February last year that Empire Resorts opened up the Resorts World Catskills Casino and sadly that company has seen some huge losses each month being racked up since it has been in operation, working out at between $10 million and $13 million per month.
It is hoped that with the closure of the Monticello Casino the company can concentrate its efforts of increasing the income at it premier venue, that being the Resorts World Catskills Casino.
