(AsiaGameHub) – PENN Entertainment has announced that Hollywood Casino Aurora will open its doors in Illinois on June 24. The $360 million new casino is being constructed across from Chicago Premium Outlets, situated near Interstate-88 in Aurora.
The resort will include a hotel, over 1,200 gaming positions, a retail sportsbook, an outdoor entertainment space, a full-service spa, upscale bars, and restaurants. It will also feature a 12,000-square-foot event center and roughly 1,700 parking spots.
In an announcement confirming the planned opening date, PENN CEO Jay Snowden shared, “We are just months away from launching another top-tier entertainment destination in the greater Chicago area.”
“We are excited to follow the successful launch of Hollywood Casino Joliet last summer with another new land-based venue, bolstering our overall retail portfolio across the Midwest and deepening our ties to the local community.”
Upgraded Riverboats Driving Revenue Growth
Hollywood Joliet launched in August of last year, with several hundred guests waiting in line to enter the new resort. The $185 million casino resort boasts roughly 1,000 slot machines and 43 live table games, plus a retail sportsbook.
The location posted revenue of $11.3 million during its first full month of operation in September. This marked a 48% rise compared to September 2024, when the venue operated as a riverboat casino.
Hollywood Casino Aurora was Hollywood Casino Corporation’s very first riverboat casino, launching in 1993. Initially, two riverboats were utilized, which later developed into a 70,000-square-foot floating, moored half-circle facility.
The casino spans 53,000 square feet of gaming space, with more than 1,000 slot machines and 26 table games. The venue also features one restaurant.
Varied Dining & Entertainment Offerings
The new land-based location will be a substantial upgrade, especially when it comes to its entertainment spaces. PENN noted that it will provide guests with a wide range of world-class dining experiences.
The company has teamed up with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis to launch Sorella by Giada. Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, meanwhile, will offer a variety of dining choices, including Lucky Goat by celebrity chef Stephanie Izard, Five50 Pizza, Antique Taco, and Pretty Cool Ice Cream.
“These beloved restaurateurs will offer our guests exceptional dining options at the new Hollywood Casino Aurora,” stated Rafael Verde, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations at PENN Entertainment. “Combined with our hotel, event center, spa, and extra amenities, visitors will enjoy a lively atmosphere at this new local landmark.”
PENN Prioritizes Casinos Over Prediction Markets
Following its unsuccessful venture with ESPN Bet, PENN has no desire to test out prediction markets. Snowden has warned that these markets present a risk to its online betting division, which now solely focuses on theScore Bet in the United States.
However, concerns over regulatory pushback have stopped the company from launching its own platforms, unlike other sportsbooks. During the company’s earnings call last month, he shared, “When regulators say, ‘This is illegal gambling, don’t do it,’ we don’t do it.”
Instead, the company is focusing on new projects and regulated online gambling to boost its revenue. Aside from the Aurora casino, the firm will open a new hotel tower at its Hollywood Casino Columbus location in Ohio later this year.
Its interactive division has also performed better since ESPN Bet shut down. In the fourth quarter of last year, iGaming revenue rose by 40%, and sports betting increased by 73%.
Snowden shared, “We are optimistic about the trajectory of our interactive business, thanks to a more streamlined cost structure and regionally targeted marketing strategy that prioritizes regions with both legalized iCasino and online sports betting.”
Snowden also noted that he anticipates the new Hollywood Casino in Aurora will be a success, following the strong performance of the Joliet venue during its shift from a riverboat to a land-based facility.
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