Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue recognition and Promotional allowances

Gaming revenue is the net difference between gaming wagers and payouts for prizes from VGMs, non-subsidized free play and accruals related to the anticipated payout of progressive jackpots. Progressive jackpots contain base jackpots that increase at a progressive rate based on the credits played and are charged to revenue as the amount of the jackpots increase. The Company recognizes gaming revenues before deductions of related expenses such as the New York State Gaming Commission's ("NYSGC") share of VGM revenue and the Monticello Harness Horsemen’s Association (the “MHHA”) and the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund’s contractually required shares of revenue.

Food, beverage, racing and other revenue includes food and beverage sales, racing revenue earned from pari-mutuel wagering on live harness racing and simulcast signals to and from other tracks and miscellaneous income. The Company recognizes racing revenues before deductions of such related expenses as purses, stakes and awards. Some elements of the racing revenues from Off-Track Betting Corporations (“OTBs”) are recognized as collected, due to uncertainty of receipt of and timing of payments.

Net revenues are recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Certification (“ASC”) 605-50, “Revenue Recognition—Customer Payments and Incentives”.

The retail value of complimentary food, beverage and other items provided to the Company’s guests is included in gross revenues and then deducted as promotional allowances. The estimated cost of providing such food, beverage and other items as promotional allowances is included in food, beverage, racing and other expense. In addition, promotional allowances include non-subsidized free play offered to the Company’s guests based on their relative gaming worth and prizes included in certain promotional marketing programs.

The retail value amounts included in promotional allowances for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	Sept. 30, 2017		Sept. 30, 2016		Sept. 30, 2017		Sept. 30, 2016
	(in thousands)
Food and beverage	$	328	$	447	$	668	$	1,192
Non-subsidized free play	1,135		143		2,105		855
Players club awards	156		71		299		337
Total retail value of promotional allowances	$	1,619	$	661	$	3,072	$	2,384

The estimated cost of providing complimentary food, beverage and other items for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	Sept. 30, 2017		Sept. 30, 2016		Sept. 30, 2017		Sept. 30, 2016
	(in thousands)
Food and beverage	$	490	$	572	$	1,159	$	1,594
Non-subsidized free play	670		84		1,242		504
Players club awards	156		71		299		338
Total cost of promotional allowances	$	1,316	$	727	$	2,700	$	2,436

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable, net of allowances, are stated at the amount the Company expects to collect. When required, an allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded based on information on the collectability of specific accounts. Accounts are considered past due or delinquent based on contractual terms, how recently payments have been received and the Company’s judgment of collectability. In the normal course of business, the Company settles wagers for other racetracks and is exposed to credit risk. These wagers are included in accounts receivable. Account balances are charged against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $171,000 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Other long-term liabilities

The difference between our cash payments made and straight-line rent expense on our leases of $7.8 million and $8.0 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, is included in other long-term liabilities.

Common stock - loss per share

The Company computes basic loss per share by dividing net loss applicable to holders of common stock by the weighted-average common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share reflects the potential dilution of earnings that could occur if securities or contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the loss of the entity. Since the effect of common stock equivalents is anti-dilutive with respect to losses, these common stock equivalents have been excluded from the Company’s computation of loss per common share. Therefore, basic and diluted loss per common share for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were the same.

The following table shows the approximate number of common stock equivalents outstanding at September 30, 2017 and 2016 that could potentially dilute earnings per share in the future, but were not included in the calculation of average common shares outstanding for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive to the loss per common share:



	Outstanding at
	September 30, 2017	September 30, 2016
Options	15,000	40,000
Warrants	133,000	133,000
Option Matching Rights	3,000	21,000
Unvested Restricted Stock	149,000	208,000
Unvested Restricted Stock Units	55,000	—
Total	355,000	402,000

Interest Rate Cap Agreement

In February 2017, the Company entered into an interest rate cap agreement with Credit Suisse AG, International to limit its exposure to increases in interest rates on its Term B Loan (as defined below) from May 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018 and then for a portion of the balance of its Term B Loan through July 31, 2019 (the "Interest Rate Cap"). The Company paid $675,000 for the Interest Rate Cap. The cost of the Interest Rate Cap will be amortized over its term as interest expense. The fair value of the Interest Rate Cap was $166,000 at September 30, 2017 and is presented at fair value as "other assets" on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The difference between the fair value and amortized cost is recorded as an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

As of September 30, 2017, accumulated other comprehensive loss of $489,000 consisted solely of the fair value adjustment relating to the Interest Rate Cap.

Fair value

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” issued by the FASB for financial assets and liabilities. This standard defines fair value, provides guidance for measuring fair value, requires certain disclosures and discusses valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow) and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). The Company chose not to elect the fair value option as prescribed by FASB, for its financial assets and liabilities that had not been previously carried at fair value. The Company’s financial instruments are comprised of current assets, restricted cash and investments, Interest Rate Cap, current liabilities and long-term loans. Current assets and current liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

In determining fair value, the Company uses quoted prices and observable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company.

The fair value hierarchy of observable inputs used by the Company is broken down into three levels based on the source of inputs as follows:

- Level 1 - Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

- Level 2 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable inputs and quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities.

- Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and models that are significant to the overall fair value measurement.

The Company used a third party to complete the valuation of its Interest Rate Cap, which is considered a Level 2 asset and is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows for the Interest Rate Cap.

At September 30, 2017, the estimated fair value of the Company's outstanding Term B Loan was approximately $449.8 million and the carrying value was approximately $450.0 million. The fair value of the Kien Huat Montreign Loan has not been estimated due to its related party nature and lack of comparable market information.

Stock-based compensation

The cost of all stock-based awards to employees, officers and directors, including grants of employee stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units is recognized in the financial statements based on the fair value of the awards at grant date. The fair value of stock option awards would be determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model on the date of grant. The fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards is equal to the market price of Empire’s common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of stock-based awards is recognized as stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period from the date of grant. As of September 30, 2017, there was approximately $2.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company’s equity compensation plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a period of three years. This expected cost does not include the impact of any future stock-based compensation awards.

Income taxes

The Company applies the asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates for the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

Intangible Assets

In accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, the Company's policy is to amortize intangible assets over their estimated useful lives unless the Company determines their lives to be indefinite.

On December 21, 2015, the Company was granted a gaming license (the "Gaming Facility License"), for which it paid $51 million on March 30, 2016. The term of the Gaming Facility License is 10 years from the effective date, which was March 1, 2016. Amortization of the license fee will not commence until the initial opening to the general public of the Casino Project. Amortization will be recognized on a straight-line basis beginning at that time and continuing until the license is up for renewal in 2026. During the period that the Company is not amortizing the intangible asset, the Company will assess it for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued new revenue recognition guidance, which will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve the core principle, the new guidance implements a five-step process for customer contract revenue recognition. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Entities can transition to the new guidance either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption.

The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption of the recently issued ASUs related to revenue recognition will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures, but anticipates adopting this accounting standard during the first quarter of 2018 with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. However, the Company has identified a few significant impacts. Under the new guidance, the Company expects it will no longer be permitted to recognize revenues for goods and services provided to customers for free, as an inducement to gamble, as gross revenue with a corresponding offset to promotional allowances to arrive at net revenues. The Company expects the majority of such amounts will offset gaming revenues. In addition, accounting for complimentaries and loyalty points granted under the Company’s customer loyalty program may also change. Under the new guidance, complimentaries and loyalty points earned by customers through past revenue transactions will be identified as separate performance obligations and recorded as a reduction in gaming revenues when earned at the retail value of such benefits owed to the customer (less estimated breakage). When customers redeem such benefits and the performance obligation is fulfilled by the Company, revenue will be recognized in the department that provides the goods or services (e.g., hotel, food and beverage, or entertainment). In addition, given that customer rewards is an aspirational loyalty program with multiple customer tiers, which provide certain benefits to tier members, the Company will need to assess if such benefits are deemed to be separate performance obligations under the new guidance.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02"), which provides guidance for accounting for leases. Under ASU 2016-02, the Company will be required to recognize the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leased assets. ASU 2016-02 will take effect for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach and provides for certain practical expedients. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has not yet completed its assessment of the impact of the new standard on the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company currently anticipates adopting this standard during the first quarter of 2019.

In August 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash ("ASU 2016-18"), which provides guidance for accounting for restricted cash transactions. Under ASU 2016-18, several aspects of the accounting for restricted cash transactions are simplified, including the presentation and classification of cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 will take effect for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company currently anticipates adopting this standard during the first quarter of 2018 and is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its financial statements.