Empire Resorts appoints Ryan Eller to president and COO

Empire Resorts appointed Ryan Eller as president and COO, effective immediately. 

Ryan Eller

In his new role, Eller will oversee the development of the company’s resort casino in Sullivan County, N.Y., and the company’s operations at the Monticello Casino and Raceway. Eller brings to the company extensive experience in the design, development and operation of casinos, VGM facilities such as Monticello Casino and Raceway and integrated resort projects. During the four years prior to joining Empire Resorts, Eller served in various executive officer positions with Genting New York, which operates Resorts World Casino New York City. During his tenure at Genting, Eller oversaw RWNYC’s planning with respect to a $315-million expansion to add 1,000 video lottery terminals, a new hotel and convention complex.

Concurrently with his position at Genting, Eller served as senior vice president of development of Genting Americas. In his role with Genting Americas, Eller oversaw the design and development of the Resorts World Las Vegas integrated resort, a $4-billion project on the Las Vegas Strip. From 2012 to 2013, Eller served as EVP and CFO of Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise, a wholly-owned enterprise of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which operates three casinos including the Pearl River Resort, a fully integrated casino and resort facility.

From 2007 to 2012, Eller served as treasurer and executive director of finance of PCI Gaming Authority, a business enterprise created by the Poarch Bank of Creek Indians, where he helped design, open and operate three casino and hotels representing capital investments over $600 million. From 2006 to 2007, Eller served as regional manager, planning and analysis at Caesar’s Entertainment. 

Eller served in the United States Marine Corps from 1997 to 2004 where he attained the rank of major, holds an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy.