Item 8.01 Other Events.

MONARCH CASINO REPORTS ATLANTIS EXPANSION EXPECTED TO OPEN BY MID-JULY

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRI) (the "Company"), owner of the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa (the "Atlantis") in Reno, Nevada, today announced that its Atlantis expansion is expected to be open to the public by mid-July 2008.

The Company previously announced that the $50 million expansion would open in June of 2008, except for the expanded and upgraded spa facilities which will open in the third quarter of 2008. Certain construction items are in the final stages before the Company may seek a temporary certificate of occupancy for the expansion.

The Company's previously announced $12.5 million Atlantis Convention Center Skybridge project, which will provide guests with a convenient, traffic-free stroll between the Atlantis and the 500,000 square-foot Reno-Sparks Convention Center in an enclosed, climate controlled environment, is on track to be completed late in the fourth quarter of 2008.

This filing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which are subject to change, including, but not limited to, comments relating to (i) completion of construction , (ii) issuance of a certificate of occupancy and other required certificates, and (iii) ongoing expansion plans of the Company. Actual results and future events and conditions may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning potential factors that could affect the Company is included in the Company''s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available on the Company's web site.

Contacts: Ron Rowan, CFO at (775) 825-4700 or RRowan@monarchcasino.com John Farahi, CEO at (775) 825-4700 or JohnFarahi@monarchcasino.com