Stockholders Equity	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Stockholders’ Equity Authorized Capital On November 1, 2016, Empire filed the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Restated Charter”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Pursuant to Restated Charter, Empire’s authorized capital stock consists of 155 million shares, of which 150 million shares are common stock and five million shares are preferred stock. Common Stock Our common stock is transferable only 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 license issued by the NYSGC, and may be subject to compliance with the requirements of other laws pertaining to licenses held directly or indirectly by us. The owners of common stock issued by us may be required by regulatory authorities to possess certain qualifications and may be required to dispose of their common stock if the owner does not possess such qualifications. January 2016 Rights Offering On January 4, 2016, we commenced a rights offering (the "January 2016 Rights Offering") of transferable subscription rights to holders of record of our common stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of January 4, 2016 to purchase up to 20,138,888 shares of our common stock. The subscription rights were listed for trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "NYNYR" for the duration of the January 2016 Rights Offering. In connection with the January 2016 Rights Offering, on December 31, 2015, the Company and Kien Huat entered into a standby purchase agreement (the "January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement"). Pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement, Kien Huat agreed to (i) exercise its basic subscription rights to acquire approximately $30 million of our common stock within 10 days of the commencement of the January 2016 Rights Offering with a closing proximate thereto and (ii) to exercise the remainder of its basic subscription rights prior to the expiration date of the January 2016 Rights Offering. In addition, Kien Huat agreed it would exercise all rights not otherwise exercised by the other holders in the January 2016 Rights Offering in an aggregate amount not to exceed $290 million. The January 2016 Rights Offering closed on February 17, 2016. The Company issued a total of 20,138,888 shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $290 million. This includes 176,086 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their basic subscription and over-subscription rights and 13,136,817 shares issued to Kien Huat upon exercise of its basic subscription rights. Kien Huat also acquired the remaining 6,825,985 shares not sold in the January 2016 Rights Offering pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement. The net proceeds of the January 2016 Rights Offering were approximately $286.0 million following the deduction of expenses, which were used (i) to pay the expenses relating to the construction of the Casino Project, (ii) to redeem the outstanding shares of the Series E Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement on March 7, 2016 and (iii) for the working capital needs of the Company. Pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement, we paid Kien Huat a commitment fee of $1,450,000, which is equal to 0.5% of the maximum amount of the January 2016 Rights Offering, and reimbursed Kien Huat for expenses in the amount of $50,000. January 2015 Rights Offering On January 5, 2015, the Company commenced a rights offering (the "January 2015 Rights Offering") of non-transferable subscription rights to holders of record of our common stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of January 2, 2015 to purchase up to 1,408,451 shares of our common stock. In connection with the January 2015 Rights Offering, on January 2, 2015, the Company and Kien Huat entered into a standby purchase agreement (the "January 2015 Standby Purchase Agreement").Pursuant to the January 2015 Standby Purchase Agreement, Kien Huat agreed to exercise in full its basic subscription rights granted in the January 2015 Rights Offering within 10 days of its grant. In addition, Kien Huat agreed it would exercise all rights not otherwise exercised by the other holders in the January 2015 Rights Offering in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50 million. The January 2015 Rights Offering closed on February 6, 2015. The Company issued a total of 1,408,451 shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $50 million. This includes 10,658 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their basic subscription rights and over-subscription rights and 864,360 shares issued to Kien Huat upon exercise of its basic subscription rights. Kien Huat also acquired the remaining 533,433 shares not sold in the January 2015 Rights Offering pursuant to the terms of the January 2015 Standby Purchase Agreement. The net proceeds of the January 2015 Rights Offering were approximately $49.5 million following the deduction of expenses, which were used to pay the expenses of the Casino Project. Pursuant to the January 2015 Standby Purchase Agreement, we paid Kien Huat a commitment fee of $250,000, which is equal to 0.5% of the maximum amount of the January 2015 Rights Offering and reimbursed Kien Huat for expenses in the amount of $40,000. April 2014 Rights Offering On April 2, 2014, the Company commenced a rights offering of common stock to holders of its common stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of March 31, 2014 (the "April 2014 Rights Offering"). Upon completion of the April 2014 Rights Offering, the Company issued 427,776 shares of common stock and raised approximately $13.4 million. This includes 90,633 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their basic subscription rights, 302,526 shares issued to Kien Huat upon exercise of its basic subscription rights and 34,617 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their over-subscription rights in the April 2014 Rights Offering. Preferred Stock and Dividends The Company’s Series B Preferred Stock has voting rights of 0.054 votes per share and each share is convertible into 0.054 shares of common stock. It has a liquidation value of $29 per share and is entitled to annual cumulative dividends of $2.90 per share payable quarterly in cash. The Company has the right to pay the dividends on an annual basis by issuing shares of its common stock at the rate of $3.77 per share. The value of common shares issued as payment is based upon the average closing price for the common shares for the 20 trading days preceding January 30 of the year following that for which the dividends are due. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, there were 44,258 shares of Series B Preferred Shares outstanding. The Board authorized the cash payment of the Series B Preferred Stock quarterly dividends for calendar year 2016. Payments in the amount of $32,087 were made on April 1, 2016, July 1, 2016, October 3, 2016 and January 3, 2017. On March 2, 2016, our Board authorized the cash payment of dividends due for the year ended December 31, 2015 on our Series B Preferred Stock in the amount of approximately $167,000. At December 31, 2015, the Company had undeclared cash dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock of approximately $167,000 and payment was made the same day. The cash dividend was calculated as if it were a dividend issued in shares of our comment stock, which in accordance with the terms of the Series B Preferred stock, means the amount of the cash payment is the annual cash dividend value (if it had been paid quarterly) multiplied by 1.3. On February 9, 2015, our Board authorized the issuance of 5,102 shares of our common stock in payment of dividends due for the year ended December 31, 2014 on our Series B Preferred Stock. The recorded value of these shares was approximately $159,000. At December 31, 2014, the Company had undeclared dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock of approximately $159,000. On February 19, 2014, our Board authorized the issuance of 6,167 shares of our common stock in payment of dividends due for the year ended December 31, 2013 on our Series B Preferred Stock. The recorded value of these shares was approximately $218,000. At December 31, 2013, the Company had undeclared dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock of approximately $218,000. The Company’s Series E Preferred Stock was non-convertible and, except as set forth in Note H, had no fixed date for redemption or liquidation. It had a redemption value of $10 per share plus accrued but unpaid dividends. It was entitled to cumulative dividends at the annual rate of 8% of redemption value and the holders of these shares are entitled to voting rights of 0.25 per share. Dividends on common stock and certain other uses of the Company’s cash were subject to restrictions for the benefit of holders of the Series E Preferred Stock. Kien Huat Letter Agreement As a result of Kien Huat’s increased proportionate ownership following the consummation of the January 2016 Rights Offering and the Note Conversion, at the request of the Company, on February 17, 2016, Kien Huat and the Company entered into a letter agreement (the "Kien Huat Letter Agreement") pursuant to which, during the period commencing on February 17, 2016 and ending on the earlier of (i) the three-year anniversary of the closing of the January 2016 Rights Offering and (ii) the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Casino Project, Kien Huat has agreed not to take certain actions with respect to the Company. In particular, during such time period, Kien Huat has agreed not to, and to cause the Kien Huat Parties not to, take certain actions in furtherance of a “going-private” transaction (as such term is defined in the Kien Huat Letter Agreement) involving the Company unless such transaction is subject to the approval of (x) holders of a majority of the votes represented by the common stock, Series B Preferred Stock and any other capital stock of the Company entitled to vote together with the common stock in the election of the Board (other than any such capital stock owned by any Kien Huat Parties) and (x) either (A) a majority of disinterested members of the Board or (y) a committee of the Board composed of disinterested members of the Board. In addition, during such period, the Company and Kien Huat have agreed to cooperate to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, the Board includes no fewer than three independent directors (the definition of independence as determined under the standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market or any other securities exchange on which the common stock of the Company is then listed).

Stockholders’ Equity

Authorized Capital

On November 1, 2016, Empire filed the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Restated Charter”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Pursuant to Restated Charter, Empire’s authorized capital stock consists of 155 million shares, of which 150 million shares are common stock and five million shares are preferred stock.

Common Stock

Our common stock is transferable only 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 license issued by the NYSGC, and may be subject to compliance with the requirements of other laws pertaining to licenses held directly or indirectly by us. The owners of common stock issued by us may be required by regulatory authorities to possess certain qualifications and may be required to dispose of their common stock if the owner does not possess such qualifications.

January 2016 Rights Offering

On January 4, 2016, we commenced a rights offering (the "January 2016 Rights Offering") of transferable subscription rights to holders of record of our common stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of January 4, 2016 to purchase up to 20,138,888 shares of our common stock. The subscription rights were listed for trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "NYNYR" for the duration of the January 2016 Rights Offering. In connection with the January 2016 Rights Offering, on December 31, 2015, the Company and Kien Huat entered into a standby purchase agreement (the "January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement"). Pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement, Kien Huat agreed to (i) exercise its basic subscription rights to acquire approximately $30 million of our common stock within 10 days of the commencement of the January 2016 Rights Offering with a closing proximate thereto and (ii) to exercise the remainder of its basic subscription rights prior to the expiration date of the January 2016 Rights Offering. In addition, Kien Huat agreed it would exercise all rights not otherwise exercised by the other holders in the January 2016 Rights Offering in an aggregate amount not to exceed $290 million.

The January 2016 Rights Offering closed on February 17, 2016. The Company issued a total of 20,138,888 shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $290 million. This includes 176,086 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their basic subscription and over-subscription rights and 13,136,817 shares issued to Kien Huat upon exercise of its basic subscription rights. Kien Huat also acquired the remaining 6,825,985 shares not sold in the January 2016 Rights Offering pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement. The net proceeds of the January 2016 Rights Offering were approximately $286.0 million following the deduction of expenses, which were used (i) to pay the expenses relating to the construction of the Casino Project, (ii) to redeem the outstanding shares of the Series E Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement on March 7, 2016 and (iii) for the working capital needs of the Company. Pursuant to the January 2016 Standby Purchase Agreement, we paid Kien Huat a commitment fee of $1,450,000, which is equal to 0.5% of the maximum amount of the January 2016 Rights Offering, and reimbursed Kien Huat for expenses in the amount of $50,000.

January 2015 Rights Offering

On January 5, 2015, the Company commenced a rights offering (the "January 2015 Rights Offering") of non-transferable subscription rights to holders of record of our common stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of January 2, 2015 to purchase up to 1,408,451 shares of our common stock. In connection with the January 2015 Rights Offering, on January 2, 2015, the Company and Kien Huat entered into a standby purchase agreement (the "January 2015 Standby Purchase Agreement").Pursuant to the January 2015 Standby Purchase Agreement, Kien Huat agreed to exercise in full its basic subscription rights granted in the January 2015 Rights Offering within 10 days of its grant. In addition, Kien Huat agreed it would exercise all rights not otherwise exercised by the other holders in the January 2015 Rights Offering in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50 million.

The January 2015 Rights Offering closed on February 6, 2015. The Company issued a total of 1,408,451 shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $50 million. This includes 10,658 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their basic subscription rights and over-subscription rights and 864,360 shares issued to Kien Huat upon exercise of its basic subscription rights. Kien Huat also acquired the remaining 533,433 shares not sold in the January 2015 Rights Offering pursuant to the terms of the January 2015 Standby Purchase Agreement. The net proceeds of the January 2015 Rights Offering were approximately $49.5 million following the deduction of expenses, which were used to pay the expenses of the Casino Project. Pursuant to the January 2015 Standby Purchase Agreement, we paid Kien Huat a commitment fee of $250,000, which is equal to 0.5% of the maximum amount of the January 2015 Rights Offering and reimbursed Kien Huat for expenses in the amount of $40,000.

April 2014 Rights Offering

On April 2, 2014, the Company commenced a rights offering of common stock to holders of its common stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of March 31, 2014 (the "April 2014 Rights Offering"). Upon completion of the April 2014 Rights Offering, the Company issued 427,776 shares of common stock and raised approximately $13.4 million. This includes 90,633 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their basic subscription rights, 302,526 shares issued to Kien Huat upon exercise of its basic subscription rights and 34,617 shares issued to holders upon exercise of their over-subscription rights in the April 2014 Rights Offering.

Preferred Stock and Dividends

The Company’s Series B Preferred Stock has voting rights of 0.054 votes per share and each share is convertible into 0.054 shares of common stock. It has a liquidation value of $29 per share and is entitled to annual cumulative dividends of $2.90 per share payable quarterly in cash. The Company has the right to pay the dividends on an annual basis by issuing shares of its common stock at the rate of $3.77 per share. The value of common shares issued as payment is based upon the average closing price for the common shares for the 20 trading days preceding January 30 of the year following that for which the dividends are due. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, there were 44,258 shares of Series B Preferred Shares outstanding.

The Board authorized the cash payment of the Series B Preferred Stock quarterly dividends for calendar year 2016. Payments in the amount of $32,087 were made on April 1, 2016, July 1, 2016, October 3, 2016 and January 3, 2017.

On March 2, 2016, our Board authorized the cash payment of dividends due for the year ended December 31, 2015 on our Series B Preferred Stock in the amount of approximately $167,000. At December 31, 2015, the Company had undeclared cash dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock of approximately $167,000 and payment was made the same day. The cash dividend was calculated as if it were a dividend issued in shares of our comment stock, which in accordance with the terms of the Series B Preferred stock, means the amount of the cash payment is the annual cash dividend value (if it had been paid quarterly) multiplied by 1.3.

On February 9, 2015, our Board authorized the issuance of 5,102 shares of our common stock in payment of dividends due for the year ended December 31, 2014 on our Series B Preferred Stock. The recorded value of these shares was approximately $159,000. At December 31, 2014, the Company had undeclared dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock of approximately $159,000.

On February 19, 2014, our Board authorized the issuance of 6,167 shares of our common stock in payment of dividends due for the year ended December 31, 2013 on our Series B Preferred Stock. The recorded value of these shares was approximately $218,000. At December 31, 2013, the Company had undeclared dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock of approximately $218,000.

The Company’s Series E Preferred Stock was non-convertible and, except as set forth in Note H, had no fixed date for redemption or liquidation. It had a redemption value of $10 per share plus accrued but unpaid dividends. It was entitled to cumulative dividends at the annual rate of 8% of redemption value and the holders of these shares are entitled to voting rights of 0.25 per share. Dividends on common stock and certain other uses of the Company’s cash were subject to restrictions for the benefit of holders of the Series E Preferred Stock.

Kien Huat Letter Agreement

As a result of Kien Huat’s increased proportionate ownership following the consummation of the January 2016 Rights Offering and the Note Conversion, at the request of the Company, on February 17, 2016, Kien Huat and the Company entered into a letter agreement (the "Kien Huat Letter Agreement") pursuant to which, during the period commencing on February 17, 2016 and ending on the earlier of (i) the three-year anniversary of the closing of the January 2016 Rights Offering and (ii) the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Casino Project, Kien Huat has agreed not to take certain actions with respect to the Company. In particular, during such time period, Kien Huat has agreed not to, and to cause the Kien Huat Parties not to, take certain actions in furtherance of a “going-private” transaction (as such term is defined in the Kien Huat Letter Agreement) involving the Company unless such transaction is subject to the approval of (x) holders of a majority of the votes represented by the common stock, Series B Preferred Stock and any other capital stock of the Company entitled to vote together with the common stock in the election of the Board (other than any such capital stock owned by any Kien Huat Parties) and (x) either (A) a majority of disinterested members of the Board or (y) a committee of the Board composed of disinterested members of the Board. In addition, during such period, the Company and Kien Huat have agreed to cooperate to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, the Board includes no fewer than three independent directors (the definition of independence as determined under the standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market or any other securities exchange on which the common stock of the Company is then listed).