PENN Entertainment Advances Land-Based Casino Shift for Hollywood New Orleans

PENN Entertainment has outlined plans to invest approximately 195 million dollars in a new land-based Hollywood Casino New Orleans that will replace the company's existing Boomtown Casino and Hotel New Orleans riverboat operation in Harvey, Louisiana, with the project moving to an adjacent inland site once regulatory approvals clear.

The development includes roughly 875 slot machines along with 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, multiple dining options and additional amenities, while the timeline calls for an opening in 2029 and represents the fourth such riverboat-to-landside relocation undertaken by the company.

Project Specifications and Site Details

Construction targets an inland location next to the current riverboat setup in Harvey, which removes the operational constraints tied to water-based gaming vessels and allows for expanded facilities that meet modern player expectations. The design incorporates a full complement of gaming positions plus food and beverage outlets that observers expect will draw both local visitors and regional travelers seeking a consolidated entertainment destination.

Company statements indicate the new structure will feature updated infrastructure capable of supporting year-round operations without the maintenance demands associated with riverboat hulls and mooring systems, and the shift aligns with engineering standards that prioritize accessibility and capacity growth.

Regulatory Pathway and State Framework

Approval from Louisiana gaming regulators remains a prerequisite before groundbreaking can begin, with the process expected to review compliance, environmental impact and community considerations. A 2018 state law opened the door for these onshore transitions by permitting riverboat operators to relocate to land-based sites under defined conditions, and multiple operators have since pursued similar moves across the state.

Industry records show this legislative change created a structured path for modernization that reduces reliance on floating vessels while maintaining existing tax and licensing structures, and PENN Entertainment's proposal fits directly within those established parameters.

Pattern of Previous Relocations

This marks the fourth instance in which PENN Entertainment has converted a riverboat property into a land-based casino, following comparable projects completed in other jurisdictions where state rules permitted the transition. Each prior relocation demonstrated measurable increases in guest capacity and operational efficiency once the facilities moved away from water-based limitations.

Data from completed conversions elsewhere indicate that land-based sites typically support larger square footage for gaming floors, expanded parking and additional non-gaming amenities that riverboats cannot easily accommodate, and the New Orleans project follows the same established blueprint.

Timeline and Market Context

Subject to the regulatory timeline, the facility is slated to open in 2029, placing construction activities in a multi-year window that allows for permitting, design finalization and building phases. As of August 2026, the announcement sits within an active period of industry adjustments across Louisiana where several operators continue evaluating similar land-based options enabled by the 2018 statute.

The broader trend reflects operators seeking to optimize physical footprints and guest experiences through inland development, while teh Harvey location maintains proximity to the greater New Orleans market and existing transportation corridors that already serve the current riverboat property.

Employment and Economic Considerations

Project documentation highlights potential job creation during both construction and ongoing operations, with the land-based model expected to support a wider range of positions in food service, hospitality and gaming supervision compared with the riverboat configuration. Local economic analyses conducted for prior relocations in Louisiana showed sustained increases in regional spending and tax contributions once facilities transitioned onshore.

The retail sportsbook component adds another revenue stream that integrates with the state's regulated sports wagering framework, and the overall mix of slots, tables and dining aims to create a destination that competes within the regional entertainment landscape.

Conclusion

The proposed 195 million dollar investment by PENN Entertainment formalizes a multi-year effort to modernize the New Orleans area operation through relocation to an inland site, continuing a sequence of similar conversions that began after the 2018 legislative change. Once regulatory steps conclude, the Hollywood Casino New Orleans will deliver expanded gaming and hospitality offerings scheduled for 2029, joining other Louisiana properties that have already completed comparable transitions under the same statutory framework. Additional details appear in the original announcement.