<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-06-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906780</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMPIRE RESORTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYNY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001470324</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kien Huat Realty III Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21ST FLOOR, WISMA GENTING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>JALAN SULTAN ISMAIL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KUALA LUMPUR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>N8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>50250</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>MALAYSIA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001470308</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lim Kok Thay</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21ST FLOOR, WISMA GENTING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>JALAN SULTAN ISMAIL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KUALA LUMPUR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>N8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>50250</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>MALAYSIA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>784347</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.8901</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22689443</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Purchase of shares pursuant to the Standby Purchase Agreement by and between Issuer and Kien Huat Realty III Ltd. (&quot;Kien Huat&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Kien Huat has direct beneficial ownership of the 22,689,443 shares reported in this Form 4 (the &quot;Shares&quot;). Lim Kok Thay (&quot;Mr. Lim&quot;) controls Kien Huat through two trusts that directly and indirectly own all the shares of Kien Huat and, therefore, Mr. Lim has indirect beneficial ownership of such Shares. Mr. Lim has the power to remove and replace the trustees of such trusts in his sole discretion and is one of the beneficiaries of such trusts. Mr. Lim disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares for purposes of Section 16 reporting except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lim Kok Thay by Gerard Lim</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerard Lim for Kien Huat Realty III Limited</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
