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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This proxy statement contains statements that do not relate to historical or current facts, but are “forward looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements relate to analyses and other information based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable.  These statements may also relate to future events or trends, our future prospects, and proposed new services, developments, or business strategies, among other things.  These statements can generally (although not always) be identified by their use of terms and phrases such as anticipate, appear, believe, could, would, estimate, expect, indicate, intend, may, plan, predict, project, pursue, will, continue, and other similar terms and phrases, as well as the use of the future tense.

Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward looking statements.  Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent known and unknown risks and uncertainties.  See Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our most recently filed Form 10-K Annual Report for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.  You should not assume at any point in the future that the forward looking statements in this report are still valid.  We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update our forward looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

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MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

May 6, 2011

To the Stockholders of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.:

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “Monarch”) will be held at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, 3800 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89502, on Friday, May 6, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. local time, for the following purposes:

1.             To elect Bob Farahi, Yvette E. Landau and Ronald R. Zideck as directors of the Company;

2.             To approve the increase of shares issuable under the Company’s 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan from 1,500,000 shares to 1,900,000 shares;

3.             To approve the increase of shares issuable under the Company’s 1993 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan from 1,500,000 shares to 1,800,000 shares;

4.             To approve, by non-binding vote, executive compensation;

5.             To recommend, by non-binding vote, the frequency of executive compensation votes as every one, two or three years;

6.             To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 7, 2011 are entitled to notice of, and to vote, at the annual meeting.  The stock transfer books will not be closed.  On or about March 25, 2011, we will mail to our stockholders either a printed copy of our proxy statement and our annual report on Form 10-K or a notice containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement and annual report and how to vote online.  The notice also contains instructions on how you can receive a paper copy of our annual meeting materials, including the notice of annual meeting, proxy statement and proxy card, should you wish.

Stockholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting in person.  STOCKHOLDERS DESIRING TO VOTE IN PERSON MUST REGISTER AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WITH THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING.  IF YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THEN CAST YOUR VOTE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE NOTICE WE WILL MAIL TO CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS ON OR ABOUT MARCH 25, 2011 OR, IF YOU RECEIVED A PRINTED COPY OF THE PROXY MATERIALS, ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD.

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MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

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MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

3800 South Virginia Street

Reno, Nevada 89502

PROXY STATEMENT

This Proxy Statement is prepared for the stockholders of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “Monarch”) in connection with the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, 3800 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89502, on Friday, May 6, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. local time, and any adjournment thereof, for the purposes indicated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and more fully outlined herein.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MEETING

Question:  What is the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy materials that I received in the mail instead of a full set of proxy materials?

Answer:  Under rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we are furnishing proxy materials to certain of our stockholders via the internet, instead of mailing printed copies of those materials to each stockholder.  On or about March 25, 2011 we will mail to our stockholders either a printed copy of our proxy materials, including our proxy statement and our annual report on Form 10-K, or a Notice of Internet Availability containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials.  This electronic access process is designed to expedite stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials, lower the costs of our annual meeting and help to conserve natural resources.  However, if stockholders prefer to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials and a paper proxy card, they may do so by following the instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability.

Question:  Why am I being provided with access to or receiving these proxy materials?

Answer:  You are being provided with access to or are receiving these proxy materials because you owned shares of Monarch common stock as of the close of business on March 7, 2011, our record date.  This proxy statement describes in detail issues on which we would like you, our stockholder, to vote.  It also gives you information on these issues so that you can make an informed decision.  If you will not be able to attend the annual meeting and vote in person, you are encouraged to read this Proxy Statement and then cast your vote as promptly as possible in accordance with the instructions either in the Notice of Internet Availability or, if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials, on the enclosed proxy card.  The shares represented by the proxy will be voted if the proxy is properly executed and received by the Company prior to the commencement of the annual meeting, or any adjournment thereof.

Question:  On what questions am I being asked to vote?

Answer:

1.     The election of Bob Farahi, Yvette E. Landau and Ronald R. Zideck as directors of the Company;

2.     To approve the increase of shares issuable under the Company’s 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan from 1,500,000 shares to 1,900,000 shares;

3.     To approve the increase of shares issuable under the Company’s 1993 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan from 1,500,000 shares to 1,800,000 shares;

4.     To approve, by non-binding vote, executive compensation;

5.     To recommend, by non-binding vote, the frequency of executive compensation votes as every one, two or three years;

6.     To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

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Question:  How does the Board of Directors recommend I vote on these proposals?

Answer:  Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote your shares FOR each of the nominees for director named in this proxy statement; FOR each of the proposed increase of shares issuable under the Company’s Employee Stock Option Plan and the Long-Term Incentive Plan, respectively; FOR the recommended executive compensation and THREE YEARS as the frequency of executive compensation votes.

Question:  Why are we recommending that stockholders approve the proposed increase of shares issuable under the Company’s Employee Stock Option Plan and the Long-Term Incentive Plan (collectively the “Stock Option Plans”)?

Answer:  We believe that an effective and competitive employee incentive program is imperative for the success of our business.  We rely on our experienced and productive employees and their efforts to achieve our business objectives.  At Monarch, stock options constitute a key component of our incentive and retention programs because our Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee and Incentive Plan Committee believe that equity compensation encourages employees to act like owners of the business, motivating them to work toward our success, and rewarding their contributions by allowing them to benefit from increases in the value of our shares.  Under our current compensation practices (see further discussion of our compensation elements described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section) each year we award stock options to purchase approximately 135,000 shares under our Employee Stock Option Plan and approximately 135,000 shares under the Long-Term Incentive Plan.  If we continue to issue stock option awards at our normal annual rate, without additional shares, the Stock Option Plans will run out of shares available for issuance under the plans in 2012.   By approving the respective proposals to increase the number of shares issuable under each of the Stock Option Plans, the Board, the Compensation Committee and Incentive Plan Committee will be able to continue this important incentive and retention program beyond 2012.

Question:  Why are the stockholders voting on executive compensation?

Answer:  The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) voted to approve rules to implement the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) relating to shareholder votes on executive compensation (“say on pay”) and shareholder votes on the frequency (“say-on-frequency”) of conducting say-on-pay votes.  The rules adopted by the SEC require that we provide a say-on-pay vote and say-on-frequency vote at the first annual stockholder meeting occurring after January 21, 2011.  By voting FOR the approval of executive compensation, stockholders are voting to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as described in the Compensation Disclosure and Analysis, the compensation tables and other narrative compensation disclosures described in the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement.  As required by the SEC rules under the Dodd-Frank Act, the say-on-frequency vote allows stockholders to cast their respective vote among the following four choices:  one year, two years, three years or abstain.   Both the say-on-pay and say-on-frequency votes are advisory only and as such, are non-binding on the Company and our Board of Directors.

Question:  Do any of the proposals to be voted on create a statutory right of dissent under Nevada law?

Answer:  None of the proposals to be voted on at the annual meeting creates a statutory right of dissent under Nevada law.  A vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” any of the proposals set forth herein will only affect the outcome of the proposal.

Question:  Who is entitled to vote?

Answer:  The record date for the annual meeting is March 7, 2011.  Stockholders of record as of the close of business on that date are entitled to vote at the annual meeting.  Both “stockholders of record” and “street name holders” are entitled to vote or direct the voting of their Monarch common stock.  You are a “stockholder of record” if you hold Monarch common stock that is registered in your name at our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer &

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Trust Company, LLC.  You are a “street name holder” if you hold Monarch common stock indirectly through a nominee, such as a broker, bank or similar organization.

Question:  If I am a stockholder of record, how do I vote?

Answer:  You may vote via the Internet.  You can vote by proxy over the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice or on the separate proxy card if you have received a printed set of the proxy materials.

You may vote by telephone.  You can submit your vote by proxy over the telephone by following the instructions provided on the separate proxy card if you received a printed set of the proxy materials

You may vote by mail.  If you received a printed set of the proxy materials, you can submit your vote by completing and returning the separate proxy card in the prepaid and addressed envelope.

You may vote in person at the meeting.  All stockholders of record may vote in person at the annual meeting.  Written ballots will be passed out to anyone who wants to vote at the meeting.

Question:  If my shares are held by a broker, bank or other nominee, how do I vote?

Answer:  If your shares are held in street name by a broker, bank or other nominee, please refer to the instructions they provide regarding how to vote.  In addition, if you are a street name holder and you wish to vote in person at the annual meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee in order to vote at the meeting.

Question:  Can I revoke my proxy later?

Answer:  Yes.  You have the right to revoke your proxy at any time before the annual meeting.  If you are a stockholder of record, you may do so by:

1.     voting electronically via the Internet or by telephone on a subsequent date prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the day before the annual meeting,

2.     delivering a signed revocation or a subsequently dated, signed proxy card to the Secretary of Monarch before the annual meeting, or

3.     attending the annual meeting and voting in person at the meeting (your mere presence at the annual meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy).

For shares you hold in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank or other nominee or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee giving you the right to vote your shares at the annual meeting, by attending the meeting and voting in person.

Question:  How many shares can vote?

Answer:  As of the close of business on the record date of March 7, 2011; 16,138,158 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.  We have no other class of voting securities outstanding.  Each share of common stock entitles its holder to one vote.

Question:  How is a quorum determined?

Answer:  Our Bylaws provide that the holders of fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, represented in person or by proxy, constitute a quorum at a meeting of the stockholders.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for quorum purposes.

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Question:  What is required to approve each proposal once a quorum has been established?

Answer:

Election of Directors.  An affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting, either in person or by proxy, is required for the election of directors. A properly executed proxy marked “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” with respect to the election of one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated, although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes for directors.

Increase the Shares Under Our Employee Stock Option Plan.  An affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting, either in person or by proxy, is required to increase the shares available under our Employee Stock Option Plan.

Increase the Shares Under Our Executive Long Term Incentive Plan.  An affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote, either in person or by proxy, is required to increase the shares available under our Executive Long Term Incentive Plan.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation. An affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting, either in person or by proxy, is required for approval of the advisory vote on executive compensation.  Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the board of directors or the Company. However, the board of directors will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Frequency of the Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation.  The option receiving the greatest number of votes — every three years, every two years or every one year — will be the frequency that stockholders approve. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board of Directors or the Company. The Board of Directors will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation.

Other Items.  For any other item which may properly come before the meeting, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting, either in person or by proxy, will be required for approval, unless otherwise required by law.

Question:  What happens if I abstain?

Answer:  Abstentions are treated as shares present or represented and voting, so abstaining has the same effect as a negative vote for each of the proposals. Abstentions are counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum.

Question:  How will my shares be voted if I do not give specific voting instructions?

If you are a stockholder of record and you:

·      Indicate when voting on the Internet or by telephone that you wish to vote as recommended by our board of directors; or

·      Sign and send in your proxy card and do not indicate how you want to vote, then the proxyholders, John Farahi and Bob Farahi, will vote your shares in the manner recommended by our Board of Directors as follows: FOR each of the director nominees named in this proxy statement, FOR each of the proposed increase of shares issuable under the Company’s Employee Stock Option Plan and the Long-Term Incentive Plan, respectively; FOR the recommended executive compensation and THREE YEARS as the frequency of executive compensation votes.

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All of the proposals contained in this proxy statement are considered non-discretionary items.  If your shares are held by a broker on your behalf (that is, in “street name”), and you do not instruct the broker as to how to vote these shares on any of the proposals included in this proxy statement, the broker may not exercise discretion to vote for or against those proposals. This would be a “broker non-vote” and these shares will not be counted as having been voted on the applicable proposal. Broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum.  Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on proposals 1, 2, 4 and 5.  Broker non-votes will have the same effect as a negative vote on proposal 3. Please instruct your bank or broker so your vote can be counted.

Question:  How will voting on any other business be conducted?

Answer:  Although we do not know of any business to be considered at the annual meeting other than the proposals described in this proxy statement, if any other business properly comes before the annual meeting, your proxy or voting instruction gives authority to the proxyholders, John Farahi and Bob Farahi, to vote on those matters in their discretion.

Question:  What if a quorum is not present at the meeting?

Answer:  If a quorum is not present at the scheduled time of the annual meeting, we may adjourn the meeting, either with or without the vote of the stockholders.  If we propose to have the stockholders vote whether to adjourn the meeting, the proxyholders will vote all shares for which they have authority in favor of the adjournment.  We may also adjourn the meeting if for any reason we believe that additional time should be allowed for the solicitation of proxies.  An adjournment will have no effect on the business that may be conducted at the annual meeting.

Question:  How much stock do Monarch’s directors and executive officers own?

Answer:  As of March 17, 2011, our current directors and executive officers collectively beneficially owned 5,274,472 shares of our common stock, constituting approximately 32.7% of the outstanding shares.  It is expected that these persons will vote the shares held by them for each of the director nominees named in this proxy statement and in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendation on the other proposals.

Question:  Who will bear the costs of this solicitation?

Answer:  Our Board of Directors is soliciting these proxies.  We will pay the cost of this solicitation of proxies by mail.  Our officers and regular employees may also solicit proxies in person or by telephone without additional compensation.  We will make arrangements with brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and other fiduciaries to send proxy materials to their principals, and we will reimburse these persons for related postage and clerical expenses.

VOTING SECURITIES

The close of business on March 7, 2011 has been fixed by the Board as the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting.  The securities entitled to vote at the annual meeting consist of shares of common stock, par value $.01 (“Common Stock”), of the Company, with each share entitling its owner to one vote.  Common Stock is the only outstanding class of voting securities authorized by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation.  The Company’s Articles of Incorporation authorize the Company to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 (“Preferred Stock”).  None of the Preferred Stock is issued or outstanding, and the Company has no present plans to issue shares of Preferred Stock.

The Board is empowered to issue one or more series of Preferred Stock with such rights, preferences, restrictions, and privileges as may be fixed by the Board, without further action by the Company’s stockholders.  The issuance of the Preferred Stock could adversely affect the rights, including voting rights, of the holders of the Common Stock and could impede an attempted takeover of the Company.  In addition to none of the Preferred Stock being currently outstanding, the Preferred Stock does not presently possess general voting rights.

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The number of outstanding shares of Common Stock at the close of business on March 7, 2011, was 16,138,158.  The number of shares outstanding may change between such date and March 25, 2011 if any currently exercisable options to purchase Common Stock are exercised, if the Company elects to repurchase and cancel any shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions, or if the Company otherwise authorizes the issuance of any shares.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
AND CERTAIN OTHER BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The following is a list of persons who beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock and the ownership of all executive officers, directors, director nominees, and executive officers and directors as a group at the close of business on March 17, 2011, according to record ownership listings as of that date, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 3, 4 and 5 and Schedules 13D and 13G of which the Company has received copies, and according to verifications as of December 31, 2010, which the Company solicited and received from each executive officer and director:

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Board currently is comprised of five persons.  The Bylaws of the Company provide for a board of directors consisting of three to twelve persons who are elected generally for a term of two years.  Directors are to serve until their successors are elected and have qualified.

If the proxy is duly executed and received in time for the annual meeting and if no contrary specification is made as provided therein, the proxy will be voted in favor of electing the nominees Bob Farahi, Yvette E. Landau and Ronald R. Zideck for terms of office expiring in 2013.  If any such nominee shall decline or be unable to serve, the proxy will be voted for such person as shall be designated by the Board to replace any such nominee.  The Board presently has no knowledge or reason to believe that any of the nominees will refuse or be unable to serve.

Any vacancies on the Board which occur during the year will be filled, if at all, by the Board through an appointment of an individual to serve only until the next annual meeting of stockholders.

The Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Road Motor Inn, Inc. (“Golden Road”), owns and operates the Atlantis Casino Resort (the “Atlantis”) in Reno, Nevada.  The Company, each director and executive officer who has been required by the Nevada State Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission (collectively, the “Nevada Gaming Authorities”) to be found suitable has been found suitable by the Nevada Gaming Authorities or has submitted an application for such approval.  Future new members of the Board, if any, may be required to be found suitable in the discretion of the Nevada Gaming Authorities.  Should any such new director not be found suitable or should any director later be found not to be suitable by the Nevada Gaming Authorities, that person will not be eligible to continue serving on the Board and a majority of the remaining directors may appoint a qualified replacement to serve as a director until the next annual meeting of stockholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF MR. BOB FARAHI, MS. YVETTE E. LANDAU AND MR. RONALD R. ZIDECK TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

The following information is furnished with respect to each member of the Board or nominee thereto.  Similar information is provided for the Company’s executive officers and certain significant employees who are not directors.  John Farahi and Bob Farahi are brothers.  There are no other family relationships between or among any directors, nominees to the Board, or executive officers of the Company.  The statements as to beneficial ownership of Common Stock as to each director or nominee to the Board are based upon information furnished by him.

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Directors and Nominees

JOHN FARAHI has been Co-Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its inception, and of Golden Road since June 1993.  From 1973 until June 1993, Mr. Farahi was President, Director, and General Manager of Golden Road.  Mr. Farahi is a partner in Farahi Investment Company (“FIC”) which is engaged in real estate investment and development.  Mr. Farahi served on the Washoe County Airport Authority as a Trustee from July 1997 until June 2005.  Mr. Farahi is a former member of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and is presently a Board Member of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors’ Authority.  Mr. Farahi holds a political science degree from the California State University at Hayward.

BOB FARAHI has been Co-Chairman of the Board and President of the Company since its inception, and of Golden Road since 1993.  From 1973 until June 1993, Mr. Farahi was Vice President and a Director of Golden Road.  Mr. Farahi divides his working time between the Company and the other private companies with which he is involved.  Mr. Farahi is a partner in FIC.  Mr. Farahi holds a biochemistry degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

YVETTE E. LANDAU has been a member of the Board since June 2010. Ms. Landau was general counsel and corporate secretary of Mandalay Resort Group from 1996 until 2005.  Since 2005, Ms. Landau has been co-owner of W.A. Richardson Builders, LLC, a construction services firm specializing in casino resort development.  Ms. Landau currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Greektown Superholdings, LLC which owns the Greektown Casino in Detroit, Michigan.    Ms. Landau is a past president of the International Association of Gaming Advisors, a worldwide organization of legal, financial and regulatory professionals in the gaming industry, and remains active with the organization as a counselor.  Ms. Landau holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

CRAIG F. SULLIVAN has been a member of the Board since September 1998.  He was Chairman of the Board of Park Cattle Company from July 2006 to June 2008.  Since March 1998, Mr. Sullivan has been President of Sullivan & Associates, a strategic and financial consulting firm geared to companies in the gaming industry.  From April 1995 to March 1998, Mr. Sullivan served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Primadonna Resorts, Inc., and from February 1990 to April 1995, Mr. Sullivan served as Treasurer of Aztar Corporation.  Mr. Sullivan also served on the Board of New York-New York Hotel & Casino from March 1996 to June 1998.  Mr. Sullivan holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the George Washington University and holds a master’s degree in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management.

RONALD R. ZIDECK has been a member of the Board since March 2000.  From August 1981 to August 1997, he was Managing Partner for the Reno office of the national accounting firm of Grant Thornton, LLP and served on that firm’s National Executive Committee.  He also served as a director at Harveys Casino Resorts from May 1997 to February 1999 and as a director of planned giving for the University of Nevada, Reno from March 2003 to March

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2006.  On March 1, 2006, Mr. Zideck became Vice President of Business Development for The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada.  Mr. Zideck is a certified public accountant with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nevada.

The Company’s Bylaws, as amended, currently provide for a staggered board of directors divided into two categories:  Category A consisting of three directors and Category B consisting of two directors.  Each director serves two-year terms.  A staggered board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company.  Executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board.

Charles Scharer served as an independent member of our board of directors until his resignation effective January 25, 2010.  Prior to his resignation, he served as a member of our Audit, Compensation, Incentive Plan, Operations and Special Committees.

Officers and Significant Employees

DARLYNE SULLIVAN, age 56, has been the General Manager of Golden Road since February 2006 and Executive Vice President of Operations of Golden Road since 2004.  From June 1993 until 2004, Mrs. Sullivan was Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Assistant General Manager of Golden Road.  Mrs. Sullivan has held positions including Assistant General Manager/Director of Sales and Marketing, Reservations and Sales Manager, Front Desk Manager, Hotel Manager and Assistant Hotel Manager for Golden Road from May 1977 through June 1993.

RONALD ROWAN, age 46, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company and of Golden Road, joined the Company in June 2006.  From December 2004 to June 2006, Mr. Rowan served as the Chief Operating and Financial Officer of Ztrading Industries, LLC, a retail software company.  From June 2003 to December 2004, he served as the CFO of Camco, Inc., a specialty finance lender.  Mr. Rowan was the CFO of the North/South American subsidiary of Aristocrat Technologies, Inc., a public Australian based systems and gaming device company, from June 2001 through June 2003 and was employed by Casino Data Systems, also a public systems and gaming company, from September 1996 through June 2001 as its Controller and then as its CFO.  Prior to joining Casino Data Systems, Mr. Rowan was employed by Price Waterhouse in its audit practice for six years and then in its strategic consulting practice for four years.  Mr. Rowan is a certified public accountant with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

RICHARD COOLEY, age 63, has been Vice President of Finance of Golden Road since May 2001.  Mr. Cooley was Vice President of Administration of Golden Road from March 2001 through May 2001, and served as Vice President of Operations of Golden Road from July 1995 through March 2001.  Mr. Cooley served as Vice President of Finance of Golden Road from June 1993 through July 1995, and served as Controller of Golden Road from March 1993 through March 1994.  Mr. Cooley was President and General Manager of the Reno Ramada Hotel Casino from May 1988 to March 1993, and he was Chief Financial Officer and Assistant General Manager from 1981 to 1988.  From July 1977 to June 1981, Mr. Cooley was Controller and Co-General Manager of the Shy Clown Casino in Reno.  Mr. Cooley is a certified public accountant with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada.

Committees of the Board

The Board has certain standing committees including the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the 1993 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan Committee (the “Incentive Plan Committee”), the 1993 Directors’ Stock Option Plan Committee (the “Directors’ Plan Committee”) and the Operations Committee.

The Audit Committee, comprised of Yvette E. Landau, Craig F. Sullivan and chaired by Ronald R. Zideck met 7 times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.  The Audit Committee is comprised exclusively of directors who are not salaried employees and a majority of whom are, in the opinion of the Board, free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment as a committee member.  The Audit Committee’s

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function is to review reports of the auditors to the Company; to review Company financial practices, internal controls and policies with officers and key employees; to review such matters with the Company’s auditors to determine scope of compliance and any deficiencies; to consider selection of independent public accountants; to review and approve certain related party transactions; and to make periodic reports on such matters to the Board.  The Audit Committee adopted an Audit Committee Charter on June 4, 2000, and subsequently amended it effective June 7, 2001 and April 9, 2004.  A copy of the charter may be viewed on the Company’s website at www.monarchcasino.com.

All members of the Audit Committee are “independent directors”, as such term is defined in NASDAQ Rule 4200(a)(15).

The Company believes that each member of the Audit Committee is a financial expert, as defined by the SEC rules applied pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and as defined in Regulation S-K, Item 407(d)(5)(ii).  The relevant experience of such directors is summarized under “Election of Directions — Directors and Nominees” above.

The Compensation Committee, comprised of Yvette E. Landau, Ronald R. Zideck and chaired by Craig F. Sullivan, met 4 times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.  The Compensation Committee recommends, and the Board ratifies, all compensation and awards to the Company’s executive officers and administers the Employee Stock Option Plan.  The Compensation Committee reviews the performance and the compensation of the chief executive officer and president and, following discussions with those individuals, presents recommendations for their compensation levels to the Board for review and ratification.  For the remaining executive officers, the chief executive officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee that generally are approved and then passed onto the full Board for ratification.  The Compensation Committee has not adopted a charter.

The Incentive Plan Committee, currently comprised of Yvette E. Landau, Craig F. Sullivan and Ronald R. Zideck did not meet during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.  The Incentive Plan Committee’s function is to administer the 1993 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”), including determining such matters as the persons to whom awards shall be granted, the number of shares to be awarded, when the awards shall be granted, when the awards shall vest, and the terms and provisions of the instruments evidencing the awards, interpreting the Incentive Plan and notifying the Board of all decisions concerning awards granted to Incentive Plan participants.

The Directors’ Plan Committee, comprised of John Farahi and Bob Farahi, did not meet during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.  Neither John Farahi nor Bob Farahi is eligible to participate in the Directors’ Plan.  The Directors’ Plan Committee consists of not less than 2 directors of the Company selected by, and serving at the pleasure of, the Board and its function is to administer the 1993 Directors’ Stock Option Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”).  The Directors’ Plan Committee has the authority to interpret the Directors’ Plan and make all determinations necessary or advisable for its administration.  All decisions of the Directors’ Plan Committee are subject to approval by the Board.

The Strategic Planning Committee, comprised of John Farahi, Bob Farahi, Craig F. Sullivan and chaired by Yvette E. Landau, was formed by the Board in March 2011 to identify and evaluate expansion and acquisition opportunities for the Company.

In addition to the standing committees described above, the Board established a special committee comprised of the Company’s independent directors (the “Special Committee”) to review and evaluate related party transactions.  The Special Committee consists of Yvette E. Landau, Craig F. Sullivan and Ronald R. Zideck.  The Special Committee did not meet in 2010.

The Company does not have a standing Nominating Committee, nor has the Board of Directors adopted a charter addressing the director nomination process.  The Board of Directors believes that it is appropriate for the Company not to have a nominating committee because the entire Board of Directors can adequately serve the function of considering potential director nominees from time to time as needed.  As required by the Securities and Exchange

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Commission, the Company is required to disclose whether the Board of Directors considers “diversity” in identifying director nominees.  The term “diversity” as used in this context has not been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Monarch is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability or veteran status.  It is the Board of Director’s desire that the Board should be composed of qualified individuals who bring diverse professional expertise and points of view.  All prospective Director nominees are evaluated on their professional merits, technical qualifications, demonstrated expertise, experience and ability to contribute in such a way as to bolster and expand the collective professional perspective of the Board.

For stockholder meetings at which directors are to be elected, in compliance with NASDAQ rule 4350(c)(4), director nominees are recommended for the Board’s nomination by a majority of the independent directors.  In making such recommendation, the qualifications of the prospective nominee which will be considered include the nominee’s personal and professional integrity, experience, skills, ability and willingness to devote the time and effort necessary to be an effective board member, and commitment to act in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

The requirements for nomination of a person to the Board by a security holder are set forth in Article II, Section 16 of the Company’s Bylaws and the qualifications for a person to be a director of the Company are set forth in Article II, Section 14 of the Bylaws.  Both sections of the Bylaws are set forth below.

14.           Eligibility of Directors.  No Director is eligible to continue to serve as a Director of the Corporation who is required under Nevada gaming laws to be found suitable to serve as a director and who is not found suitable or whose finding of suitability is suspended or revoked by Nevada gaming authorities.  Such eligibility shall cease immediately following whatever act or event terminates the director’s eligibility under the laws and gaming regulations of the State of Nevada.

16.           Nomination of Directors.  Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 16 of Article II shall be eligible for election as Directors.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at the Annual Meeting may be made at a meeting of stockholders by or at the direction of the Board of Directors by any nominating committee or person appointed by the Board or by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting who complies with the Notice procedures set forth in this Section 16 of Article II.  Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the secretary of the Corporation.  To be timely, unless waived by the Board of Directors, no person not already a Director shall be eligible to be elected or to serve as a Director unless such person’s notice of nomination shall be received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation at least seventy five (75) days before initiation of solicitation to the stockholders for election in the event of an election other than at an Annual Meeting and seventy five (75) days before the corresponding date that had been the record date for the previous year’s Annual Meeting or seventy five (75) days before the date of the next Annual Meeting of stockholders announced in the previous year’s proxy materials in the event of an election at an Annual Meeting.  To be timely, no stockholder’s notice shall be received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation more than ninety (90) days before the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than ninety (90) days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the 15th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever first occurs.  The stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director, (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (iii) the class and number of shares of stocks of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the person, (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder, and (b) any other information relating to the person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of Directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (vi) the consent of such nominee to serve as Director of the Corporation, if he is so elected; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice, (i) the name

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and record address of stockholder, and (ii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder.  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as Director of the Corporation.  No person shall be eligible for election as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article II, Section 16.  The Chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

The Company did not receive the names of any proposed director candidates submitted by any stockholder for inclusion in this Proxy Statement under the guidelines set forth above.

John Farahi, the Company’s Co-Chairman, also serves as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.  Bob Farahi, the Company’s other Co-Chairman also serves as the Company’s President.  The Company does not have a lead independent director.  At the time of this filing, the Company believes this is the best structure to leverage John and Bob Farahi’s operating expertise, professional experience and longevity with the Company.

Board Meetings

The Board held 6 meetings in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.  All directors attended at least 75% of the Board meetings and all committee members attended at least 75% of the meetings for the committees on which they served during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Annual Meetings

The Board has a policy that requires all directors to attend each Annual Meeting of Stockholders absent exigent circumstances.  All four directors who were members of the Board as of the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders attended the meeting.  Ms. Landau joined the Board after the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Communication with Directors

The Company’s stockholders may contact directors by sending an email to Ronald Rowan at RRowan@MonarchCasino.com, which will be relayed to the board member or members specified in the message, or by addressing a letter to Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc., Board of Directors, 3800 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89502.  Each communication should specify the applicable director or directors to be contacted.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Yvette E. Landau (since June 18, 2010), Craig F. Sullivan, Ronald R. Zideck and Charles Scharer (prior to January 25, 2010) each served on the Compensation Committee during fiscal 2010.  None of these directors is or has been a former or current executive officer of Monarch or had any relationships requiring disclosure by Monarch under the SEC’s rules requiring disclosure of certain relationships and related-party transactions. None of Monarch’s executive officers served as a director or a member of a compensation committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, the executive officers of which served as a director or member of the Compensation Committee during fiscal 2010.

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PROPOSAL 2:  APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE COMPANY’S 1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

General

At the annual meeting, the stockholders will be asked to approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan, as amended, (the “Employee Plan”) to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Employee Plan from 1,500,000 shares to 1,900,000 shares.

The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that the Company will continue to have a sufficient reserve of Common Stock available under the Employee Plan to provide eligible employees of the Company with the opportunity to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

The following is a summary of the principal features of the Employee Plan as modified by the proposed amendment. The summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of all the provisions of the Employee Plan. Unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, the term of “Employee Option” used herein shall mean a non-statutory stock option and the term “Employee Optionee” shall mean any person holding an Employee Option granted under the Employee Plan.  Any stockholder who wishes to obtain a copy of the actual plan documents may do so upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices at 3800 South Virginia Street; Reno, Nevada 89502.

Under current compensation practices (see further discussion of our compensation elements described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section) the Company awards stock options to purchase approximately 135,000 shares annually under the Employee Stock Option Plan.

Administration and Eligibility

The Employee Plan is administered by the Board’s Compensation Committee, consisting of not less than two members of the Board who are not eligible to participate in the Employee Plan and who have not, within one year prior to their appointment to the Compensation Committee, participated in the Employee Plan. The Compensation Committee administers and interprets the Employee Plan and adopts such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and instruments of the administration of the Employee Plan as the Compensation Committee deems necessary or advisable.  In this regard, the Compensation Committee’s powers include the authority to determine the employees to be granted Employee Options under the Employee Plan, the power to determine the size and applicable terms and conditions of grants to be made to such employees, and the power to authorize grants to eligible employees.

Employees which are eligible to participate in the Employee Plan are (a) full-time, salaried or hourly, union-represented or unrepresented employees regularly scheduled for and working at least 30 hours per week; (b) part-time, salaried or hourly, union-represented or unrepresented employees regularly scheduled for and working less than 30 hours per week and at least two weeks per month; and (c) all other employees of the Company as determined from time to time by the Compensation Committee. However, no person then eligible to be granted an option under the Incentive Plan (defined below), 1993 Directors’ Stock Option Plan (“Directors’ Plan”) or any other Company-sponsored Employee Plan may be granted an Employee Option.

Option Price

Stock options granted under the Employee Plan have an option price equal to the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market, or such other stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed from time to time, on the date of grant, or, if no sale of Common Stock is reported on such date, then on the next preceding day on which there was such a sale.

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Employee Options may be exercised by payment of the option price in full in cash, money order or certified check or, if the Compensation Committee in its discretion agrees to accept, in shares of Common Stock.

Option Exercise and Term

An Employee Option may be exercised one year after the date of grant unless a longer period is provided in such grant. An Employee Option may not be transferred or assigned other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  During the lifetime of the Employee Optionee, the Employee Option may only be exercised by that Employee Optionee.  Except in special circumstances, each Employee Option will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

Termination of Employee Option

If the employment of an Employee Optionee terminates, for whatever reason, prior to the date upon which an Employee Option becomes exercisable, that Employee Option will terminate and lapse upon the date employment is terminated.

If an Employee Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company for a reason other than for cause, or by reason of retirement, disability or death, the Employee Optionee must exercise an Employee Option within the earlier of either the tenth anniversary after the date of grant or the first anniversary of the date employment was terminated. However, such Employee Options, to the extent unexercised, will expire on the date that an Employee Optionee (i) uses for profit or discloses to unauthorized persons, confidential information or trade secrets of the Company; (ii) breaches any contract with or violates any fiduciary obligation to the Company; (iii) engages in unlawful trading in the Company’s securities or the securities of another company based on information gained as a result of that Employee Optionee’s employment with the Company; or (iv) violates, as determined by the Compensation Committee, any covenant not to compete in effect between the Company and the Employee Optionee. In the event that an Employee Optionee is terminated for cause, including activities discussed in the preceding sentence, the Employee Optionee forfeits all rights to any unexercised Employee Options granted under the Employee Plan and any outstanding Employee Options then held by the Employee Optionee will automatically terminate and lapse, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee.

Term and Amendment of Plan

The Employee Plan will terminate on June 13, 2013, except as to Employee Options outstanding on such date. The Compensation Committee may alter, amend, or suspend the Employee Plan or any Employee Option, or may at any time terminate the Employee Plan, except that the Employee Plan may not be modified to increase eligibility to include directors and/or executive officers, who are otherwise eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan and Directors’ Plan without the approval of the holders of the majority of the outstanding common stock. Moreover, the Compensation Committee may not, either with or without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, take action which may materially and adversely affect any outstanding Employee Option without the consent of the holder of that option.  In the event of a change in control of the Company, all unvested stock option awards immediately vest.

Accounting and Tax Treatment

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with authoritative guidance which establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods and services or incurs a liability in exchange for goods and services that are based on the fair value of the entity’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of those equity instruments.  It requires an entity to measure the costs of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and recognize that cost over the service period.  We calculate the grant-date fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

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The Black-Scholes valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions which include the expected term of options granted, risk-free interest rates, expected volatility, and expected rates of dividends.  We estimated an expected term for each stock option grant based on the weighted-average time between grant date and exercise date and the risk-free interest rate assumption was based on U.S. Treasury rates appropriate for the expected term. We used historical data and projections to estimate expected volatility and expected employee behaviors related to option exercises and forfeitures.

The Company is entitled to a tax deduction when a participant in the Company’s stock option plans has compensation income.  Any such deduction will be subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code which limits the tax deductions of any publicly-held corporation for individual compensation to certain executives of such corporation exceeding $1,000,000 in any taxable year unless the compensation is performance based.

Recommendation of the Company Board of Directors

The approval of this proposal is not a condition to the approval of any other proposals submitted to the stockholders. Should stockholder approval not be obtained, the proposed increase of 400,000 shares to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Employee Plan will not be implemented, no stock options will be granted on the basis of such increase. However, the Employee Plan as in effect prior to the share increase which is the subject of this proposal will continue to remain in effect, and stock purchases will continue to be made pursuant to the provisions of the Employee Plan until the Employee Plan terminates or the available reserve of 310,000 shares is exhausted.

The Board believes that it is in the Company’s best interests to continue providing its employees with the opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in the Company through their participation in the Employee Plan and thereby encourage them to remain in the Company’s employ and more closely align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYEE PLAN.

PROPOSAL 3:  APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE COMPANY’S 1993 EXECUTIVE LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

General

At the annual meeting, the stockholders will be asked to approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. 1993 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, (the “Incentive Plan”) to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan from 1,500,000 shares to 1,800,000 shares.

The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that the Company will continue to have a sufficient reserve of Common Stock available under the Incentive Plan to provide eligible employees of the Company with the opportunity to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

The following is a summary of the principal features of the Incentive Plan as modified by the proposed amendment. The summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of all the provisions of the Incentive Plan and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Incentive Plan attached hereto as Appendix B.  Unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, the term of “Option” used herein shall mean either an incentive stock option (“ISO”) or non-qualified stock option, and the term “Optionee” shall mean any person holding an Option granted under the Incentive Plan.  Any stockholder who wishes to obtain a copy of the actual plan documents may do so upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices at 3800 S. Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89502.

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Under current compensation practices (see further discussion of our compensation elements described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section) the Company awards approximately 135,000 stock options annually under the Employee Stock Option Plan.

Administration and Eligibility

The Incentive Plan is administered by the Board’s Incentive Plan Committee, consisting of not less than two nonemployee directors of the Company selected by, and serving at, the pleasure of the Board.  Directors who are also employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or who have been such employees within one year, may not serve on the Incentive Plan Committee.  Based upon the recommendations from the Company and its operating subsidiaries, the Incentive Plan Committee recommends to the Board the persons to whom awards shall be granted (“Participants”), the number of shares to be awarded, when the awards shall be granted, when the awards shall vest, and the terms and provisions of the instruments evidencing the awards.  The Incentive Plan Committee also interprets the Incentive Plan and makes recommendations for its administration. Only employees who serve in the positions of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate President, Corporate Secretary and Corporate Treasurer are eligible for selection as Participants in the Incentive Plan.  An ISO may not be issued to a person who, at the time of grant, is not an employee of the Company.

Option Price

The price for non-qualified Options shall be the fair market value of the Common Stock under option on the day the option is granted, which shall be an amount equal to the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on such date on the NASDAQ National Market System, or such other stock exchange on which the price of the Common Stock may be listed from time to time.  The option price for ISOs shall be an amount equal to the price of the Common Stock under option, as determined above, unless the proposed option recipient, at the time of grant, owns (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.  In such case, the purchase price of the shares covered by such ISO shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value per share of the Common Stock on the ISO is granted.

Options may be exercised by payment of the option price in full (i) in cash, (ii) in Common Stock, including Common Stock underlying the Option being exercised, having a fair market value equal to such Option price, or (iii) a combination of cash and Common Stock, including the Common Stock underlying the Option being exercised.

Option Term

An Option may not be transferred or assigned other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. During the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option may only be exercised by that Optionee. Except in special circumstances, each Option shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of its grant and shall be exercisable according to a vesting schedule to be determined by the Incentive Plan Committee. The Incentive Plan Committee may include in any Option instrument, initially or by amendment at any time, a provision making any installment exercisable at such earlier date, if the Incentive Plan Committee deems such provision to be in the interest of the Company or its subsidiaries, or necessary to realize the reasonable expectation of the Optionee.

Restricted Share Awards

Under the Incentive Plan, the Incentive Plan Committee may also award Participants restricted shares of Common Stock. Under the Incentive Plan, all restricted shares will be forfeited to the Company or the applicable operating subsidiary if a Participant fails to be continuously employed with the Company or any of its subsidiaries during the restriction.

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Term and Amendment of Plan

The Incentive Plan will expire on June 13, 2013, except with respect to Options and restricted shares outstanding on that date. The Board may terminate or amend the Incentive Plan in any respect, at any time; provided, however, without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Stock the total number of shares that may be sold, issued, or transferred under the Incentive Plan may not be increased (except for proportional adjustment for stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, or other similar corporate changes); the eligibility requirements for participation may not be modified; the exercise price of an Option cannot be reduced; and the termination date of the Incentive Plan may not be extended.  In the event of a change in control of the Company, all unvested stock option awards immediately vest.

Accounting and Tax Treatment

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with authoritative guidance which establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods and services or incurs a liability in exchange for goods and services that are based on the fair value of the entity’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of those equity instruments.  It requires an entity to measure the costs of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and recognize that cost over the service period.  We calculate the grant-date fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

The Black-Scholes valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions which include the expected term of options granted, risk-free interest rates, expected volatility, and expected rates of dividends.  We estimated an expected term for each stock option grant based on the weighted-average time between grant date and exercise date and the risk-free interest rate assumption was based on U.S. Treasury rates appropriate for the expected term. We used historical data and projections to estimate expected volatility and expected employee behaviors related to option exercises and forfeitures.

The Company is entitled to a tax deduction when a participant in the Company’s stock option plans has compensation income.  Any such deduction will be subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code which limits the tax deductions of any publicly-held corporation for individual compensation to certain executives of such corporation exceeding $1,000,000 in any taxable year unless the compensation is performance based.

Recommendation of the Company Board of Directors

The approval of this proposal is not a condition to the approval of any other proposals submitted to the stockholders. Should stockholder approval not be obtained, then the proposed increase of 300,000 shares to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan will not be implemented and no stock options will be granted on the basis of such increase.  However, the Incentive Plan as in effect prior to the share increase, which is the subject of this Proposal, will continue to remain in effect, and stock purchases will continue to be made pursuant to the provisions of the Incentive Plan until the Incentive Plan terminates or the available reserve of 170,000 shares is exhausted.

The Board believes that it is in our best interests to continue providing the Company’s employees with the opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in the Company through their participation in the Incentive Plan and thereby encourage them to remain in the Company’s employ and more closely align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE INCENTIVE PLAN.

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PROPOSAL 4: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) requires that the Company’s stockholders have the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote regarding the approval of the compensation disclosed in this Proxy Statement of the Company’s executive officers who are named in the Summary Compensation Table (the “named executive officers”). The Company has disclosed the compensation of the named executive officers pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC.

The Company believes that the compensation policies for the named executive officers are designed to attract, motivate and retain talented executive officers and are aligned with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders. This advisory stockholder vote, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote, gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to approve or not approve the compensation of the named executive officers that is disclosed in this Proxy Statement by voting for or against the following resolution (or by abstaining with respect to the resolution):

RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. approve all of the compensation of the Company’s executive officers who are named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s 2011 Proxy Statement, as such compensation is disclosed in the Company’s 2011 Proxy Statement pursuant to disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which disclosure includes the Proxy Statement’s Summary Compensation Table and other executive compensation tables and related narrative disclosures.

Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on either the Board of Directors or the Company. However, the Company’s Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the stockholder vote on this proposal when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NAMED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT’S SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE.

PROPOSAL 5: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the Company’s stockholders to have the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote regarding how frequently the Company should seek from its stockholders a non-binding advisory vote (similar to Proposal No. 4 above) on the compensation disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement of its named executive officers. By voting on this frequency proposal, stockholders may indicate whether they would prefer that the advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers occur every one, two or three years. Stockholders may also abstain from voting on the proposal. Accordingly, the following resolution is submitted for an advisory stockholder vote at the annual meeting:

RESOLVED, that the highest number of votes cast by the stockholders of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. for the option set forth below shall be the preferred frequency of the Company’s stockholders for holding an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s executive officers who are named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s Proxy Statement:

·                every year;

·                every two years; or

·                every three years.

The Board has determined that an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years is the best approach for the Company. This recommendation is based on a number of considerations, including the following:

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·                  A three-year cycle will provide stockholders sufficient time to evaluate the effectiveness of our short and long term compensation strategies and the related business outcomes of the Company;

·                A three year vote cycle gives the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee sufficient time to thoughtfully respond to stockholders’ sentiments and to implement any necessary changes to our executive compensation policies and procedures; and

·                The Board will continue to engage with our stockholders on executive compensation during the period between stockholder votes.  As discussed elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, the Company provides stockholders and opportunity to communicate directly with the Board of Directors, including on issues of executive compensation.

The option receiving the greatest number of votes (every one, two or three years) will be considered the frequency approved by stockholders. Although the vote is non-binding, the Board will take into account the outcome of the vote when making future decisions about the frequency for holding an advisory vote on executive compensation.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO CONDUCT AN ADVISORY STOCKHOLDER VOTE EVERY THREE YEARS ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE OFFICERS NAMED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT’S SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR THAT YEAR.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Compensation Objectives

Our named executive officers (“NEOs”) are our Chief Executive Officer, our President and our Chief Financial Officer.  We seek to compensate our named executive officers in a manner that will attract and retain qualified individuals who are responsible for the management, growth and success of the Company.  We believe that NEO compensation should be designed to:

1.  motivate performance in areas consistent with our short and long-term objectives,

2.  reward for achieving those objectives, and

3.  encourage NEOs to continue in our employ.

We evaluate and establish the total compensation of our NEOs in light of what we believe to be the compensation practices, and relative corporate financial performance, of other companies in the gaming industry similar to us in terms of asset size and target market.  We do not engage in a formal benchmarking study.  Because many of these companies are not publicly held, their compensation practices are not published publicly.  As such, we rely on the industry experience and knowledge of our Board of Directors in determining appropriate NEO compensation.

Compensation Elements

Our NEO compensation program utilizes four primary components which include annual salary, annual cash bonus awards, one-time cash awards and stock option awards.  Following is a discussion of each component.

Annual Salary:  The salary element compensates each NEO for performance of the fundamental duties associated with that NEO’s position.  In addition to what we believe to be the compensation practices and relative corporate financial performance of other companies in the gaming industry similar to us in terms of asset size and target market, we consider other factors in establishing NEO annual salaries including the executive’s respective record of leadership and service to us, our growth during the NEO’s term of employment, the relative importance of the NEO

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in overseeing both our strategic direction and our day-to-day operations, the relative performance of our competitors, and civic leadership in the Reno area.  Salaries are reviewed annually and are adjusted as warranted.

Annual Cash Bonus Awards:  To align NEO performance with our short-term operational and profit objectives, we utilize an annual cash bonus program (the “Bonus Program”) with an annual target set as a percentage (the “Target Bonus Percentage”) of the NEO’s annual salary.  Prior to the global recession that began in the fourth quarter of 2007, the Target Bonus Percentage was typically set at 20%.  Until the effects of the global recession subside and Company profits grow to a more substantial level, it is likely that the Board will set the Target Bonus Percentage at percentages less than 20%.  The Bonus Program is comprised of both a quantitative and a qualitative component.  The quantitative component is awarded based on achieving our annual profit goal, as established by the Board of Directors (the “Board”).  The qualitative component of the cash bonus program is awarded at the discretion of the Compensation Committee which considers several factors of the NEO’s performance including, but not limited to, performance against specific tactical objectives as established by the Board of Directors, staff development, staff retention, operating process improvement and the implementation of programs resulting in permanent cost reductions.

The profit target is defined as a determined level of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”).  The Board sets the EBITDA target at a level they believe is both challenging and achievable.  By establishing a target that is challenging, the Board believes that NEO performance, and therefore Company performance, is maximized.  By setting a target that is also achievable, the Board believes that NEOs remain motivated to perform at the high level required to achieve the EBITDA target.  EBITDA can be calculated from our audited financial statements by adding depreciation and amortization expense to income from operations.  An additional evaluation is completed at year-end which allows for the potential to exceed the Target Bonus Percentage up to a cap of 40% of the NEO’s annual salary.  For every whole percentage point that our actual EBITDA exceeds the full-year EBITDA target, an additional 1% of NEO salary is awarded.

To motivate and reward actions that directly translate into increased Company profit, the Bonus Program is significantly weighted toward the quantitative component.  The quantitative and qualitative components, if awarded, are paid simultaneously on a semi-annual basis.  Because of operating challenges primarily related to the ongoing global recession, management did not achieve the financial profit and other performance targets in fiscal year 2008 nor in fiscal year 2009.  For fiscal year 2010, the Target Bonus Percentage was set at 5%, the EBITDA target was achieved and in March 2011, bonuses were paid.

One-Time Cash Awards:  We may, from time to time, award additional one-time cash payments based on superior financial performance relative to the Board established annual financial profit target when such performance is deemed to be extraordinary.  Such determination is based on several factors including, but not limited to, comparison of our financial performance relative to our competitors, the general market conditions in which those financial results were generated and other operating criteria that indicate that the financial results were abnormally strong given those market and operating conditions.  Such performance criteria could serve as the basis for increasing an NEO’s salary level; however, by instead rewarding such performance with one-time cash awards, we believe we are more accurately promoting sustained, superior performance by more closely tying the reward with the timing of the performance.  Because of operating challenges primarily related to the ongoing global recession, management did not achieve the financial profit and other performance targets in fiscal year 2009 nor in fiscal year 2010.  As such, no one-time cash bonus awards were given in those years and until the difficult operating environment improves, we believe it is not likely that future bonus awards will be paid.

Stock Option Awards:  While it is difficult to predict the value an NEO will ultimately realize from the stock option component, the compensation package is designed with the expectation that stock options will provide the highest potential reward of the four components of the NEO compensation package.  As such, the most significant driver of NEO compensation is designed to correlate directly with the financial gains of our stockholders.  As our stock price increases or decreases, the value of NEO stock option awards also increases or decreases.  By designing the compensation program in this way, we believe that a significant portion of NEO compensation has been directly aligned with the NEOs’ performance as measured through the market value of the common stock held by our stockholders.

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NEOs generally receive an initial grant on their hire date and generally receive subsequent annual replacement grants in amounts equal to the portion of the initial grant that vests.  Stock option awards are granted at strike prices equal to the closing market price of our stock on the date the stock option award is granted.  As such, the value of the award increases only if our stock price increases subsequent to the stock option’s grant date.  Because these awards vest over time, the stock option component of NEO compensation also encourages NEO retention, as value related to unvested stock options is forfeited if an NEO ceases to be employed by us.

Change in Control

Our NEOs, senior managers and other employees have built Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. into the successful enterprise that it is today, and we believe that it is important to both reward and protect them in the event we experience a change in control.  Further, it is our belief that the interests of our stockholders are best served if the interests of our senior management are aligned with those of our stockholders, and providing change in control benefits should eliminate, or at least reduce, the reluctance of senior management to pursue potential change in control transactions that may be in the best interests of our stockholders.  Relative to our overall value to the stockholders, the potential change in control benefits to senior managers and other employees are minor.

In the event of a change in control, all unvested stock option awards immediately vest.  Any one of the following events would constitute a change in control: 1) if any new person or entity becomes the beneficial owner of 25% or more of our outstanding stock; 2) if a majority of the Board is removed; 3) if substantially all of our assets are sold; or 4) if our stockholders are solicited, via a proxy statement, by someone other than current management (the “Soliciting Party”) seeking approval for a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation involving us and, as a result, our shares are acquired by the Soliciting Party, unless the transaction is affirmatively recommended to our stockholders by a majority of our Board.

Other Benefits and Compensation

The NEOs also participate in our other benefit plans on the same basis as other employees.  The plans include subsidized health insurance benefits and an annual 401K matching contribution up to two percent of their annual salary.  The 401K matching contribution was suspended in 2009 and reinstated in July 2010.

Board Process

The Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) recommends, and the Board ratifies, all compensation and awards to the NEOs.  The Committee reviews the performance and the compensation of the chief executive officer and president and, following discussions with those individuals, presents recommendations for their compensation levels to the Board for review and ratification.  For the remaining NEOs, the chief executive officer makes recommendations to the Committee that generally are approved and then passed onto the full Board for ratification.

Stock Option Exchange Program

In fiscal 2010, we conducted a stockholder approved stock option exchange program that allowed us to retire stock options then held by some of our employees in exchange for the grant of the same or a lesser amount of stock options at a lower exercise price.  The exchange ratios were be designed to result in the fair value of the replacement options to be granted that were approximately equal to the fair value of the options that were surrendered.  While our CFO was eligible to participate in the exchange program, the members of our Board of Directors, including our CEO and our President, were not eligible to participate.

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Compensation Committee Report

Notwithstanding any statement to the contrary set forth in any of the Company’s previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the following Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings or otherwise deemed filed.

Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

The Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

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Summary Compensation Table

The following table presents information regarding compensation of our NEOs for services rendered during the last three completed fiscal years.

(1)          Amounts for Ronald Rowan represent the Company’s contribution to 401(k) plans.

(2)          The bonuses, earned for performance in 2010, were paid in March 2011.

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Grants of Plan Based Awards Made in Fiscal 2010

The following table presents information regarding the equity incentive awards granted to our NEOs for 2010.

(1)          The Company’s policy is to set exercise prices for stock option awards equal to the closing price of the Company’s stock on the grant date.  If the grant date falls on a date that the stock market is closed, the exercise price is set at the closing price on the last day that the market was open before the grant date.

(2)          The option awards listed in the above table vest 100% on the third anniversary of the grant date.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2010 Year-End

The following table presents information regarding the outstanding equity awards held by each of our NEO’s as of December 31, 2010.

(1)          Vests in full on October 21, 2011, subject to continued employment through that date.

(2)          Vests in full on October 21, 2012, subject to continued employment through that date.

(3)          Vests in full on October 21, 2013, subject to continued employment through that date.

(4)          Vests in full on June 19, 2012, subject to continued employment through that date.

(5)          Vests as follows subject to continued employment through the noted dates: 16,888 vest on June 21, 2011; 42,223 vest on June 21, 2012 and 16,889 vest on June 21, 2013.

(6)          Vests in full on June 19, 2013, subject to continued employment through that date.

Potential Payments Upon Termination in Connection with Change in Control

Upon a change in control (“CIC”), all unvested stock options issued by the Company immediately vest.  Any one of the following events would generally constitute a change in control: 1) any new person or entity becomes the beneficial owner of 25% or more of our outstanding stock; 2) a majority of the Board is removed; 3) substantially all of our assets are sold; or 4) if our stockholders are solicited, via a proxy statement, by someone other than current management (the “Soliciting Party”) seeking approval for a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation involving us and, as a result, our shares are acquired by the Soliciting Party, unless the transaction is affirmatively

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recommended to our stockholders by a majority of our Board.  There are no other CIC agreements with any of our employees.

Other Employment Related Agreements

The Company has an agreement with Ronald Rowan, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, that in the event that his employment is terminated “without cause” he will receive severance pay in the amount equal to his then-applicable annual base salary in exchange for his waiver of any and all causes of action against us, our officers, directors, principals and affiliates, arising from his employment.  Termination “without cause” would be termination unless Mr. Rowan committed an illegal act, violated our Business Ethics Policy and Code of Conduct, committed gross neglect or abandonment of his professional responsibilities, or disqualification by a controlling regulatory agency.  The agreement prohibits Mr. Rowan from entering the employ of any gaming enterprise located within 250 miles of a gaming enterprise owned by the Company for the year following termination.

Director Compensation — Fiscal 2010

(1)          Annual fees of $40,000 are paid to directors who are not employees of the Company.  Each non-employee director serving as the chairman of a standing committee of the Board received an additional annual fee of $10,000 for each standing committee chaired in 2010.  Ms. Landau joined the Board in June 2010 and was paid fees proportionate to the percentage of the year that she served on the Board.

(2)          On the date of prior year’s Annual Stockholders Meeting, each non-employee director received a stock option grant to purchase 6,100 shares comprised of 4,800 shares for service as a director and 1,300 shares for service as a committee chair.  The options were issued at exercise prices equal to the close price of the Company’s stock on the grant date.  The options vest on the six-month anniversary of the grant date.  Ms. Landau joined the Board on June 18, 2010, after prior year’s Annual Stockholders Meeting.  She was granted stock options to purchase 6,100 shares at an exercise price equal to the close price of the Company’s stock on June 18, 2010.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The following Report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this Report by reference therein.

To the Board of Directors of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.:

Our role is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process.  As set forth in our charter, the Company’s management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of our financial statements, and for maintaining appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.  The independent auditors are responsible for auditing our financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

We have reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010.

We have discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended and as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T.  We have received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by the PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence and have discussed with the auditors the auditors’ independence.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommend to the Board of Directors that the financial statements referred to above be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The 18.95-acre shopping center (the “Shopping Center”) adjacent to the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is owned by Biggest Little Investments, L.P. (“BLI”).  BLI’s general partner is Maxum, L.L.C. (“Maxum”).  John Farahi, Bob Farahi and Ben Farahi each individually own non-controlling interests in BLI and Maxim.  John Farahi is Co-Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of Monarch.  Bob Farahi is Co-Chairman of the Board, President, Secretary and a Director of Monarch. Ben Farahi formerly was the Co-Chairman of the Board, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Monarch.  Monarch’s board of directors accepted Ben Farahi’s resignation from these positions on May 23, 2006.

A driveway that is being shared between the Atlantis and the Shopping Center was completed on September 30, 2004.  As part of the driveway construction, in January 2004, the Company leased a 37,368 square-foot corner section of the Shopping Center for a minimum lease term of 15 years at an annual rent of $300,000, subject to increase every 60 months based on the Consumer Price Index. The Company began paying rent to the Shopping Center on September 30, 2004. The Company also uses part of the common area of the Shopping Center and pays its proportional share of the common area expense of the Shopping Center. The Company has the option to renew the lease for 3 five-year terms, and at the end of the extension periods, the Company has the option to purchase the leased driveway section of the Shopping Center at a price to be determined based on an MAI Appraisal. The leased space is being used by the Company for pedestrian and vehicle access to the Atlantis.  The lease also permits the Company to use a portion of the parking spaces at the Shopping Center. The total cost of the project was $2.0 million; the Company was responsible for two thirds of the total cost, or $1.35 million. The Company paid approximately $340,000 plus common area charges for the year ended December 31, 2010, and approximately $310,000 in the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 for its leased driveway space at the Shopping Center.

On December 24, 2007, the Company entered into a lease with Triple “J” Plus, LLC (“Triple J”) for the use of a facility on 2.3 acres of land (jointly, the “Property”) across Virginia Street from the Atlantis that the Company plans to utilize for administrative staff offices.  The managing partner of Triple J is a first-cousin of John and Bob Farahi, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively.  The term of the lease was two years requiring monthly rental payments of $20,256.  Commensurate with execution of the lease, the Company entered into an agreement that provided the Company with a purchase option on the Property at the expiration of the lease period while also providing Triple J with a put option to cause the Company to purchase the Property during the lease period.  The purchase price of the Property was established by a third party appraisal company.  Lastly, as a condition of the lease and purchase option, the Company entered into a promissory note (the “Note”) with Triple J whereby the Company advanced a $2.7 million loan to Triple J.  The Note required interest only payments at 5.25% and matured on the earlier of i) the date the Company acquires the Property or ii) January 1, 2010.  In November 2009, Triple J exercised its put option causing the Company to complete the purchase transaction on November 12, 2009 in accordance with the terms described above.

Audit Committee Review

The Company requires that the Audit Committee of the Board review and approve related party transactions.  The Audit Committee reviews all related party transactions on a case by case basis and approves any such transaction in accordance with Nevada corporate law.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Company’s principal accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has audited the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.  Ernst & Young, LLP is expected to have a representative present at the annual meeting who will have the opportunity to make a statement if such representative desires to do so and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

The Audit Committee has formally engaged Ernst & Young, LLP to audit the Company’s financial statements for the years ending December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012.

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AUDIT AND RELATED FEES

Audit Fees.  The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s principal accountants for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statement and review of financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-Q or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $110,125 for the year ended December 31, 2010 and $122,500 for the year ended December 31, 2009.  The aggregate fees billed for audit of internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 totaled $125,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010 and $125,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Audit Related Fees.  The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the Company’s principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements not included under “Audit Fees” above were $15,000 and zero for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Tax Fees.  The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the Company’s principal accountant for the compilation, tax advice and tax planning were $50,667 for the year ended December 31, 2010 and $43,670 for the year ended December 31, 2009.  For 2010 and 2009 these services consisted of the preparation of the Company’s federal corporate tax return and advice related to a review by the Internal Revenue Service.

All Other Fees.  There were no other fees billed by the Company’s principal accountants for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

As required by the Audit Committee Charter, as revised on April 9, 2004, all services proposed to be provided by outside independent auditors must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee.

There were no non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm in 2010 and 2009.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company.  Officers, directors, and stockholders holding more than 10% of the class of stock are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company, during 2010 Forms 4 were filed late for Ronald R. Zideck and Craig Sullivan on June 18, 2010; a Form 3 and a Form 4 were filed late for Yvette E. Landau on June 28, 2010; a Form 4 for Ronald Rowan was filed late on June 30, 2010; a Form 4 was filed late for Bob Farahi on October 29, 2010; a Form 4 was filed late for John Farahi on October 29, 2010 and a Form 4 was filed late for Bob Farahi on November 8, 2010.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Company adopted a Business Ethics Policy and Code of Conduct, a copy of which may be reviewed on the Company’s website, www.monarchcasino.com.

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VOTING PROCEDURES

The Company will appoint three inspectors of election to determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity, and effect of a proxy; receive votes, ballots, or consents; hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote; count and tabulate all votes or consents; determine when the polls shall close; determine the results; and do any other acts which may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders.

2012 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

The next annual meeting of stockholders is expected to be held on or about May 11, 2012.  Stockholders desiring to present proper proposals at that meeting and to have their proposals included in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting must meet the eligibility and other criteria under the Company’s Bylaws and Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and must submit the proposal to the Company.  Such proposal must be received no later than November 25, 2011.  Unless a stockholder proposal for the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is submitted to the Company prior to February 8, 2012, management may use its discretionary voting authority to vote management proxies on the stockholder proposal without any discussion of the matter in the proxy statement.

OTHER BUSINESS

The Board does not know of any other business which will be presented for action by the stockholders at this annual meeting.  However, if any business other than that set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders should be presented at the annual meeting, the proxy committee named in the enclosed proxy intends to take such action as will be in harmony with the policies of the Board and will use their discretion and vote all proxies in accordance with their judgment.

The Company’s 2010 annual report on Form 10-K, including financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, along with these proxy materials, are being made available on the Internet, or when requested mailed, on or about March 25, 2011 to all stockholders of record of the Company as of March 7, 2011.

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APPENDIX A

Amended and Restated

MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

First amended by the Board of Directors May 14, 1997

1.     Purpose.

The 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to promote the interests of the Company by providing long-term incentives and rewards to its employees in order to:   improve individual employee performance; assist the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating employees with experience and ability; and associate the interests of the Company’s employees with those of its shareholders.

2.     Definitions.

For all purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)     “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Company as appointed from time to time by the Board, consisting of not less than two members of the Board who are not eligible to participate in the Plan and who have not, within one year prior to their appointment to the Committee, participated in the Plan.

(b)     “Common Stock” means Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.’s, $.01 par value, common stock.

(c)     “Company” means Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

(d)     “Fair Market Value” means an amount equal to the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System, or such other stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed from time to time, on that day (or, if no sale of Common Stock is recorded on such day, then on the next preceding day on which there was such a sale).

(e)     “Option” or “Non-qualified Stock Option” means a stock option not qualified under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

(f)     “Option Exercise Price” means the price at which a share of Common Stock covered by an Option granted hereunder may be purchased.

(g)     “Optionee” or “Participant” means an eligible employee of the Company who has received an Option granted under the Plan.

3.     Administration.

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and instruments for the administration of the Plan as the Committee deems necessary or advisable.  The Committee’s powers include, but are not limited to (subject to the specific limitations described herein), authority to determine the employees to be granted options under the Plan, to determine the size and applicable terms and conditions of grants to be made to such employees, and to authorize grants to eligible employees.

The Committee’s interpretations of the Plan, the actions taken by the Committee thereunder and determinations made by the Committee in connection with any matter arising under or with respect to the Plan or any Option granted hereunder, shall be final, binding and conclusive on all interested parties, including the Company, its shareholders

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and all former, present and future employees of the Company.  The Committee may as to all questions of accounting rely conclusively upon any determination made by the independent public accountants of the Company.

4.     Stock Subject to the Plan.

The stock which is subject to Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be shares of Common Stock.  The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan is 100,000, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 12.  Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares now or hereafter held in the treasury of the Company.  If an Option expires, is surrendered or canceled, or is otherwise terminated prior to its exercise, the shares of Common Stock covered by such an Option immediately prior to such expiration, surrender, cancellation or other termination shall continue to be available for grant under the Plan.

5.     Granting of Options.

The date of grant of Options to Participants under the Plan will be the date on which the Options are awarded by the Committee.  The grant of any Option to any Participant shall neither entitle nor disqualify such Participant from participating in any subsequent grant of Options.

6.     Terms and Conditions of Options.

Options shall be designated and constitute Non-qualified Stock Options and shall be evidenced by written instruments approved by the Committee.  Such instruments shall conform to the following terms and conditions:

6.1.     Option Price.

The Option price per share for each Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

6.2.     Exercise and Conditions of Options.

(a)     Exercisability.

Unless the Committee specifies otherwise, and except as otherwise provided in this Plan, each Option shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of its grant and shall be exercisable according to a vesting schedule to be determined by the Committee.  However, the Committee may include in any option instrument, initially or by amendment at any time, a provision making any installment or installments exercisable at such earlier date, if the Committee deems such provision to be in the interests of the Corporation or necessary to realize the reasonable expectation of the Optionee.  After becoming exercisable, each Option shall remain exercisable until it expires or terminates.

(b)     Method of Exercise.

Optionees may exercise Options by giving written notice to the secretary of the Company or his designee stating the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Options are being exercised and tendering payment therefor.  At the time that an Option granted under the Plan, or any part thereof, is exercised, payment for the Common Stock issuable thereupon shall be made in full in cash, money order or certified check or, if the Committee in its discretion agrees to accept, in shares of Common Stock of the Company (the number of such shares paid for each share subject to the Option, or part thereof, being exercised shall be determined by dividing the Option price by the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of exercise). The Committee in its discretion may provide for exercise of Options pursuant to Federal Reserve Board Regulation T and permit the payment of any withholding taxes incurred by an Optionee pursuant to such exercise to be paid with shares purchased thereunder.  In addition, in order to enable the

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Company to meet any applicable foreign, federal (including FICA) state and local withholding tax requirements, an Optionee shall also be required to pay the amount of tax to be withheld at the time of exercise.  No share of Common Stock will be delivered to any Optionee until all such amounts have been paid. As soon as reasonably possible following such exercise, a certificate representing shares of Common Stock purchased, registered in the name of the Optionee, or that Optionees agent, shall be delivered to the Optionee or that Optionee’s agent.

(c)     Conditions.

Options shall be subject to such terms and conditions, shall be exercisable at such time or times, and shall be evidenced by such instrument between the Optionee and the Company, as the Committee shall determine.

6.3.     Termination of Options.

In the event the employment of an Optionee terminates, for whatever reason, prior to the date upon which Options become exercisable, then such Options shall terminate and lapse on the date upon which the employment of such Optionee terminates.

If the employment of an Optionee terminates for a reason other than for cause, or by reason of retirement (as defined and determined under any of the Company’s pension plans), disability (as defined and determined by the Committee) or death, then all Options granted to the Optionee and exercisable on the date of such termination shall expire on the earlier of the tenth anniversary of the date of grant or the first anniversary of the day of such Optionee’s termination of employment due to such reasons; provided, however, such Options, to the extent unexercised, expire on the date that such Optionee (i) uses for profit or discloses to unauthorized persons, confidential information or trade secrets of the Company, or (ii) breaches any contract with or violates any fiduciary obligation to the Company, or (iii) engages in unlawful trading in the Company’s securities or the securities of another Company based on information gained as a result of that Optionee’s employment with the Company, or (iv) violates (as determined by the Committee) any covenant not to compete in effect between the Company and the Optionee.

In the event that an Optionee is or has been terminated for cause, such cause including, but not limited to, (i) use for profit or disclosure to unauthorized persons of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company, or (ii) breach of any contract with or violation of any fiduciary obligation to the Company, or (iii) unlawful trading in the Company’s securities or the securities of another Company based on information gained as a result of that Optionee’s employment with the Company, or (iv) violation (as determined by the Committee) of any covenant not to compete in effect between the Company and the Optionee, then that Optionee shall forfeit all rights to any unexercised Options granted under the Plan and all of that Optionee’s outstanding Options shall automatically terminate and lapse, unless the Committee shall determine otherwise.

6.4.     Assignability.

No Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Optionee except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and during the lifetime of the Optionee the Option shall be exercisable only by such Optionee.  No Option shall be otherwise transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for any purpose whatsoever, nor shall any Option be subject in whole or in part, to execution, attachment or similar process.  Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge or hypothecation or other disposition of the Option, other than in accordance with terms set forth herein, shall be null and void, and of no effect.

7.     Eligibility.

Only the following employees shall be eligible to participate in the Plan:  (a) Full-time, salaried or hourly, union-represented or unrepresented employees regularly scheduled for and working at least thirty (30) hours per week; (b) part-time, salaried or hourly, union-represented or unrepresented employees regularly scheduled for and working less than thirty (30) hours per week and at least two (2) weeks per month; and (c) all those employees of the Company as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee; provided, however, that no person then eligible to be

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granted an option under the Company’s 1993 Executive Long Term Incentive Plan, 1993 Directors’ Stock Option Plan or any other Company sponsored stock option plan may be granted an Option hereunder.

Inclusion of union-represented employees in this Plan is subject to discussions with their respective collective bargaining representatives.

8.     Term/Amendment.

This Plan shall expire on June 13, 2003 (except as to Options outstanding on that date).  The Committee may from time to time alter, amend or suspend the Plan or any Option granted hereunder or may at any time terminate the Plan, except that the provisions of Section 7 may not be modified to increase eligibility to include directors and/or executive officers, who are otherwise eligible to participate in the Company’s 1993 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan and 1993 Directors’ Stock Option Plan without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Stock.  No action taken by the Committee under this Section, either with or without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, may materially and adversely affect any outstanding Option without the consent of the holder thereof.

9.     Registration, Listing and Qualification of Shares.

Each Option shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time the Committee shall determine that the registration, listing or qualification of the shares covered thereby upon any securities exchange or under any foreign, federal, state or local law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of or in connection with, the granting of such Option or the purchase of shares thereunder, no such Option may be exercised unless and until such registration, listing, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any condition not acceptable to the Committee.  Any person exercising an Option shall make such representations and agreements and furnish such information as the Committee may request to assure compliance with the foregoing or any other applicable legal requirements.

10.     Dissolution, Merger and Consolidation.

Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or upon a merger or consolidation of the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, each Option granted hereunder shall expire as of the effective date of such transaction; provided, however, that the Committee shall give at least 30 days’ prior written notice to all Optionees of such event during which time such Optionees shall have a right to exercise wholly or partially unexercised Options (without regard to installment exercise limitations, if any) and, subject to prior expiration pursuant to Section 6.3, each Option shall be exercisable after receipt of such written notice and prior to the effective date of such transaction.

11.     Effective Date and Conditions Subsequent to Effective Date.

The Plan shall become effective on the date of adoption of the Plan by the Company’s Board of Directors.  The Plan shall be null and void and of no effect if the foregoing condition is not fulfilled, and in such event, each Option granted hereunder shall, notwithstanding any of the provisions of the Plan, be null and void and of no effect.

No grant or award shall be made under the Plan after June 13, 2003; provided, however, that the Plan and all Options granted under the Plan prior to such date shall remain in effect, and subject to adjustment and amendment as herein provided, until they have been exercised or terminated in accordance with the terms of the respective grants or awards and the related instruments.

12.     Capital Adjustments.

In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, such equitable adjustments may be made in the Plan and the Options granted hereunder as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate, including, if necessary, an adjustment in the number of shares and Option

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Exercise Prices per share applicable to Options then outstanding and in the number of shares which are reserved for issuance under the Plan.  Any such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

13.     Approvals.

The issuance of shares pursuant to this Plan is expressly conditioned upon obtaining all necessary approvals from the Nevada Gaming Commission.

14.     No Right to Options or Employment.

No employee or other person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Option under the Plan.  Having received an Option under the Plan shall not give an employee any right to receive any other grant under the Plan.  An Optionee shall have no rights to or interest in any Option except as set forth herein.  Neither the action of the Company in establishing the Plan nor any action taken hereunder, nor any provision of the Plan itself shall be construed to limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate an Optionee’s employment at any time; nor shall it be evidence of any agreement or understanding, expressed or implied, that the Company will employ an employee in any particular position nor ensure participation in any future compensation or stock program.

15.         Rights as Shareholder.

An Optionee under the Plan shall have no rights as a holder of Common Stock with respect to Options granted hereunder, unless and until certificates for shares of Common Stock are issued to such Optionee.

16.     Other Actions.

This Plan shall not restrict the authority of the Committee or the Company for proper corporate purposes, to grant or assume stock options, other than under the Plan, to or with respect to any employee or other person.

17.     Costs and Expenses.

Except with respect to withholding taxes and expenses of brokerage fees, commissions and expenses incurred by an Optionee pursuant to exercise of an Option, the costs and expenses of  administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and shall not be charged to any Option nor to any Optionee.

18.     Plan Not a Trust.

Nothing contained in the Plan and no action taken pursuant to the Plan shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between the Company and any Participant, the executor, administrator or other personal representative, or designated beneficiary of such Participant, or any other persons.  Any reserves that may be established by the Company in connection with the Plan shall continue to be part of the general funds of the Company and no individual or entity other than the Company shall have any interest in such funds until paid to a Participant.  If and to the extent that any Participant or such Participant’s executor, administrator or other personal representative, as the case may be, acquires a right to receive any payment from the Company pursuant to the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

19.     Leaves of Absence and Disability.

The Committee shall have full power and authority to make such rules, regulations and determinations as it deems appropriate under the Plan in respect of any leave of absence taken by or disability of any Optionee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled to determine (i) whether or not any such leave of absence shall constitute a termination of employment within the meaning of the Plan, and (ii) the impact, if any, of any such leave of absence on awards under the Plan theretofore made to any Optionee who takes such leave of absence.

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20.     Notices.

Every direction, revocation or notice authorized or required by the Plan shall be deemed delivered to the Company (1) on the date it is personally delivered to the Secretary of the Company at its principal executive offices or (2) five business days after it is sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Secretary at such offices, and shall be deemed delivered to an Optionee (1) on the date it is personally delivered to him or her or (2) five business days after it is sent by registered or certified mall, postage prepaid, addressed to him or her at the last address shown for him or her on the records of the Company.

Each Participant shall be responsible for furnishing the Committee with the current and proper address for the mailing of notices, delivery of instruments and Common Stock pursuant to the Plan.  If any item mailed to such address is returned as undeliverable to the addressee, mailing will be suspended until the Participant furnishes the proper address.  This provision shall not be construed as requiring the mailing of any notice or notification if such notice is not required under the terms of the Plan or any applicable law.

21.     Separability of Provisions.

If any provision of this Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

22.     Payments to Minors, Etc.

Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor, an incompetent person or other person incapable of receipting therefor shall be deemed paid when paid to such person’s guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such person, and such payment shall fully discharge the Committee, the Company and other parties with respect thereto.

23.     Headings and Captions.

The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.

24.     Governing Law.

This Plan shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Nevada to the extent not preempted by federal law, which shall otherwise control.

SECOND AMENDMENT TO

MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

The 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan (as first amended May 14, 1997) shall be amended as follows:

1.  The second sentence of Paragraph 4, Stock Subject to the Plan, is amended to reflect that “the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan is 300,000, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 12.”

2.  The first sentence of Paragraph 8, Term/Amendment, is amended to reflect that “this Plan shall expire on June 13, 2013 (except as to Options outstanding on that date).”

3.  The first sentence of the second paragraph of Paragraph 11, Effective Date and Conditions Subsequent to Effective Date, is amended to reflect that “no grant or award shall be made under the Plan after June 13, 2013; provided, however, that the Plan, and all Options granted under the Plan prior to such date shall remain in effect, and

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subject to adjustment and amendment as herein provided, until they have been exercised or terminated in accordance with the terms of the respective grants or awards and the related instruments.”

Unless specifically addressed above, the Plan shall otherwise remain unchanged.  This Second Amendment shall be effective as of the date that it is approved and ratified by the Company’s stockholders.

THIRD AMENDMENT TO

 MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

 1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

This third amendment (“Third Amendment”) to the 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) of Monarch Casino & Resort Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 31, 2005, and was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s annual meeting on May 26, 2005.

AMENDMENTS

Authorized Shares.  The total number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be granted as stock options pursuant to the Plan shall be increased from 300,000 shares to 1,000,000 shares through a restatement of Paragraph 4 of the Plan to reflect the following:

4.     Stock Subject to the Plan.

The stock which is subject to Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be shares of Common Stock.  The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan is 1,000,000, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 12.  Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares now or hereafter held in the treasury of the Company.  If an Option expires, is surrendered or canceled, or is otherwise terminated prior to its exercise, the shares of Common Stock covered by such an Option immediately prior to such expiration, surrender, cancellation or other termination shall continue to be available for grant under the Plan.

CONFLICT BETWEEN THE THIRD AMENDMENT AND THE PLAN

If there is a conflict between any of the provisions of this Third Amendment and any of the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of this Third Amendment shall control.

NO OTHER AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES

Except as expressly amended or modified by this Third Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

GOVERNING LAW

This Third Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Nevada law.

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FOURTH AMENDMENT TO

 MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

 1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

This fourth amendment (“Fourth Amendment”) to the 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) of Monarch Casino & Resort Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 20, 2007.

AMENDMENTS

The following paragraph 7 shall be added to the Plan :

7.                 Change of Control

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6, in the event of a change of control, all vesting on all unexercised stock options will accelerate to the change of control date.  For purposes of this Plan, a “Change of Control” of the Corporation shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (a) any “person” (as the term is used in Section 13 (d) and 14 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 25 0% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at the election of directors; or (b) individuals who constitute the Board of Directors on the date hereof (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was approved by at least a majority of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election was approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (b), considered as he or she were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (c) merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation occurs, unless such merger or consolidation shall have been affirmatively recommended to the Corporation’s stockholders by a majority of the Incumbent Board; or (d) a proxy statement soliciting proxies from stockholders of the Corporation by someone other than the current management of the Corporation seeking stockholder approval of a plan or reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Corporation with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the Corporation’s securities are actually exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the Corporation unless the reorganization, merger or consolidation shall have been affirmatively recommended to the Corporation’s stockholders by a majority of the Incumbent Board.

The existing paragraphs 7 through 24 of the Plan shall be renumbered and identified as paragraphs 8 through 25, respectively.

CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND THE PLAN

If there is a conflict between any of the provisions of this Fourth Amendment and any of the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of this Fourth Amendment shall control.

NO OTHER AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES

Except as expressly amended or modified by this Fourth Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

GOVERNING LAW

This Fourth Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Nevada law.

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FIFTH AMENDMENT TO

MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

This fifth amendment (“Fifth Amendment”) to the 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) of Monarch Casino & Resort Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 20, 2007, and was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s annual meeting on May 22, 2007.

AMENDMENTS

Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be granted as stock options pursuant to the Plan shall be increased from 1,000,000 shares to 1,500,000 shares through a restatement of Paragraph 4 of the Plan to reflect the following:

4. Stock Subject to the Plan.

The stock which is subject to Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be shares of Common Stock. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan is 1,500,000, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 13. Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares now or hereafter held in the treasury of the Company. If an Option expires, is surrendered or canceled, or is otherwise terminated prior to its exercise, the shares of Common Stock covered by such an Option immediately prior to such expiration, surrender, cancellation or other termination shall continue to be available for grant under the Plan.

CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FIFTH AMENDMENT AND THE PLAN

If there is a conflict between any of the provisions of this Fifth Amendment and any of the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of this Fifth Amendment shall control.

NO OTHER AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES

Except as expressly amended or modified by this Fifth Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

GOVERNING LAW

This Fifth Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Nevada law.

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APPENDIX B

Amended and Restated

MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC.

1993 EXECUTIVE LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

First Amended by the Board of Directors May 14, 1997

1.        Purpose

The 1993 Executive Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to promote the interest of Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Corporation”) by offering those executive officers and key employees of the Corporation who are primarily responsible for the management, growth and success of the business of the Corporation the opportunity to participate in a long-term incentive plan designed to reward them for their services and to encourage them to continue in the employ of the Corporation.

2.        Definitions

For all purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Common Stock” means Monarch Casino & Resort common stock, $.01 par value.

“ISO” means incentive stock options qualified under Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.

“Monarch” means Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.

“Non-qualified Options” means stock options not qualified under Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Restricted Shares” means shares of Common Stock which have not been registered under federal securities law.

“Subsidiary” means any company of which Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. owns, directly or indirectly, the majority of the combined voting power of all classes of stock.

3.        Administration

The Plan shall be administered by a Committee (the “Committee”) of not less than two directors of Monarch selected by, and serving at the pleasure of, Monarch’s Board of Directors (“Monarch Board”).  Except for Directors who are ineligible to participate under this Plan, directors who are also employees of Monarch or any Subsidiary, or who have been such employees within one year, may not serve on the Committee.

Initially, the Subsidiary will recommend to the Committee persons to whom awards may be granted.  The Committee then shall have the authority, subject to the terms of the Plan, to determine, based upon recommendations from the Subsidiaries, the persons to whom awards shall be granted (“Participants”), the number of shares covered by each award, the time or times at which awards shall be granted, the timing of when awards shall vest, and the terms and provisions of the instruments by which awards shall be evidenced; and to interpret the Plan and make all determinations necessary or advisable for its administration.  The Committee shall notify the Monarch Board of all decisions concerning awards granted to Participants under the Plan, the interpretation thereof, and determinations concerning its administration.

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4.        Eligibility

Awards shall be granted only to employees who (a) serve as executives or other key employees of the Corporation and (b) do not, at the time of grant, own (within the meaning of Section 425(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Monarch or of any Subsidiary.

5.        Stock Subject to the Plan

The stock from which awards may be granted shall be shares of Common Stock.  When Restricted Shares are vested or when options are exercised, Monarch may either issue authorized but unissued Common Stock or Monarch, or the Subsidiary which employs the Participant, may transfer issued Common Stock held in its treasury.  Each of the respective Boards of the Corporation will fund the Plan to the extent so required to provide Common Stock for the benefit of Participants employed by Monarch or the Subsidiary, respectively.  The total number of shares of Common Stock which may be granted as Restricted Shares or stock options shall not exceed, in the aggregate, 250,000 shares in total.  Any Restricted Shares awarded and later forfeited are again subject to award under the Plan.  If an option expires, or is otherwise terminated prior to its exercise, the shares of Common Stock covered by such an option immediately prior to such expiration or other termination shall continue to be available for grant under the Plan.

6.        Granting of Options

The date of grant of options to Participants under the Plan will be the date on which the options are awarded by the Committee.  The grant of any option to any Participant shall neither entitle nor disqualify such Participant from participating in any subsequent grant of options.

7.        Terms and Conditions of Options

Options shall be designated Non-qualified Options or Incentive Stock Options qualified under Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and shall be evidenced by written instruments approved by the Committee.  Such instruments shall conform to the following terms and conditions:

7.1      Option Price

The option price per share for Incentive Stock Options shall be the fair market value of the Common Stock under option on the day the option is granted, which shall be an amount equal to the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on such date on the NASDAQ National Market System, or such other stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed from time to time.  The price for Non-qualified Options shall be an amount equal to the price of the Common Stock under option as determined above.  The option price shall be paid (i) in cash or (ii) in Common Stock having a fair market value equal to such option price or (iii) in a combination of cash and Common Stock.  The fair market value of Common Stock delivered to the Corporation pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be determined on the basis of the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System on the day of exercise or, if there was no such sale price on the day of exercise, on the day next preceding the day of exercise on which there was such a sale.

7.2      Term and Exercise of Options

Unless the Committee specifies otherwise, and except as otherwise provided in this Plan, each option shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of its grant and shall be exercisable according to a vesting schedule to be determined by the Committee.  However the Committee may include in any option instrument, initially or by amendment at any time, a provision making any installment or installments exercisable at such earlier date, if the Committee deems such provision to be in the interests of the Corporation or necessary to realize the reasonable expectation of the optionee.

After becoming exercisable, each installment shall remain exercisable until expiration or termination of the option.  After becoming exercisable an option may be exercised by the optionee from time to time, in whole or part,

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up to the total number of shares with respect to which it is then exercisable.  The Committee may provide that payment of the option exercise price may be made following delivery of the certificate for the exercised shares.