PENN Entertainment Charts New Course with $195 Million Land-Based Hollywood Casino New Orleans Relocation

Project Details and Timeline

Company filings and press materials lay out the move as a direct response to a 2018 Louisiana law that cleared the way for riverboat casinos to transition ashore, and this particular relocation keeps the operation in the same general area while shifting it to a permanent structure built on an adjacent inland parcel.

Once complete the new Hollywood Casino New Orleans will replace the existing Boomtown riverboat, which has operated on the Mississippi River near Harvey since the mid-1990s, and the transition is expected to maintain employment levels while modernizing the gaming floor and guest experience.

Regulatory Path and Statewide Context

State gaming regulators must review and approve the relocation before ground can be broken, and PENN Entertainment has indicated it will work through the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and related agencies to secure all necessary permits and licenses for the land-based facility.

The 2018 statute opened similar opportunities for other operators across the state, and several riverboat properties have already completed or announced moves to permanent sites, creating a clear pattern that this project continues without introducing new policy changes.

Facility Features at the New Location

Design plans call for a retail sportsbook integrated into the main gaming area alongside the 875 slot machines and 45 table games, while dining venues and additional amenities are expected to round out the non-gaming offerings that typically drive repeat visits at land-based properties.

The shift from riverboat to land-based structure removes constraints associated with floating platforms, such as weather-related closures and space limitations, and gives designers more flexibility to create connected spaces for gaming, food service, and entertainment under one roof.