Monarch Casino & Resort Receives Interactive Gaming Licens

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRI) ("Monarch" or the "Company"), owner of the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa (the "Atlantis") in Reno, Nevada, and the Riviera Black Hawk Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado, today announced that the Nevada State Gaming Commission (the "Commission") approved the application of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Monarch Interactive, Inc. (collectively, "Monarch") for a license to conduct intrastate interactive gaming in the State of Nevada. Before launching the interactive gaming business, Monarch must enter into contracts with licensed interactive gaming service providers, which contracts have not yet been consummated. Nevada law currently limits permissible interactive gaming to poker.David Farahi, Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Comment:Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.'s Chief Operating Officer David Farahi commented: "We are very pleased to have received one of the first two Nevada Interactive Gaming Operator licenses issued. We are evaluating several interactive poker software providers and intend to partner with the provider that can offer the best quality product to our guests."The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is known as one of northern Nevada's premier resorts and recently was awarded AAA's prestigious Four Diamond rating. We believe that the potential for synergy between our land based and interactive gaming offerings is significant."