PENN opens new $360m Hollywood Casino Aurora
PENN Entertainment has opened its new US$360m Hollywood Casino Aurora in Illinois, replacing the property's former riverboat casino with a land-based integrated resort featuring gaming, hospitality and entertainment amenities.
PENN Entertainment has officially opened its new Hollywood Casino Aurora in Illinois, marking the completion of a US$360m development that replaces the property’s long-standing riverboat casino.
The new land-based facility opened to guests on 24 June following the closure of the original Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat operation earlier this month.
Located near Interstate 88, the new property features approximately 1,200 slot machines and table games, a retail sportsbook, a 226-room hotel, full-service spa, event centre, multiple dining outlets and a 1,700-space parking structure.
The development forms part of PENN’s strategy to modernise its Illinois portfolio by relocating gaming operations from riverboat facilities to larger, purpose-built entertainment destinations.
Jay Snowden, Chief Executive Officer and President of PENN Entertainment, said the opening represented a significant milestone for the company and reflected its commitment to investing in markets with long-term growth potential.
The Aurora opening follows the recent development of Hollywood Casino Joliet and continues PENN’s broader effort to enhance the customer experience through integrated gaming, hospitality and entertainment offerings.
The project is expected to generate economic benefits for the City of Aurora through increased tourism, employment opportunities and tax revenues while providing PENN with a modernised property positioned to compete more effectively within the Chicagoland gaming market.
The opening represents one of the largest recent land-based casino investments in the US Midwest and highlights the continuing shift away from legacy riverboat casinos towards fully integrated land-based resort developments.
