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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-15</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-11-17</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000907242</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MONARCH CASINO &amp; RESORT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mcri</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000937326</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FARAHI BOB</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MONARCH CASINO &amp; RESORT INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1175 MOANA LANE SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RENO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>89509</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Co-Chairman and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>54800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.18</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1429478</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 15, 2004, Mr. Farahi sold an aggregate of 54,800 shares of common stock at an average selling price of $37.18 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This Form 4/A amends the Form 4 (the &quot;Original Form 4&quot;) filed earlier on November 17, 2004 and reflects the disposition of 54,800 shares of common stock by Mr. Farahi on November 15, 2004 instead of the acquisition of such shares as was erroneously reported in the Original Form 4.

On November 15, 2004, Mr. Farahi, via an open market transaction, sold an aggregate of 54,800 shares of common stock of Monarch Casino &amp; Resort, Inc. at an average selling price of $37.18 per share.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bahram &quot;Bob&quot; Farahi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

