PENN Entertainment Advances Relocation of Boomtown Casino New Orleans to Land-Based Hollywood Casino

PENN Entertainment announced in August 2026 its intention to relocate the existing Boomtown Casino New Orleans riverboat operation to a new landside facility that will operate under the Hollywood Casino New Orleans brand, and the move centers on a $195 million investment that covers roughly 140,000 square feet of new development space including about 875 slot machines. The project targets a 2029 opening date, though that timeline remains subject to required regulatory approvals from Louisiana gaming authorities. Company filings describe the shift from a riverboat format to a permanent land-based structure as a way to modernize the property while retaining the same gaming footprint and market position in the greater New Orleans area.

Project Scope and Investment Details

The planned facility will replace the current riverboat setup with a fixed landside building that houses the slot machines along with supporting amenities such as food and beverage outlets, and the 140,000 square feet of development encompasses both gaming and non-gaming space designed to improve accessibility and operational efficiency compared with the floating vessel currently in use.

Observers note that the $195 million capital commitment reflects the scale of construction required to establish a permanent structure on land while meeting all state and local building codes, and the investment figure includes site preparation, infrastructure upgrades, and interior fit-out for the approximately 875 slot machines slated for installation.

Timeline and Regulatory Path

Company statements set 2029 as the target opening year, yet the schedule hinges on approvals from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and related local permitting processes that typically review economic impact, traffic, and environmental considerations for new casino developments.

PENN Entertainment has indicated that preliminary discussions with regulators have already begun, and the firm expects to advance formal applications in the coming months while continuing to operate the riverboat at its present location until the landside facility receives clearance and construction wraps up.

Market Context and Operational Continuity

The relocation maintains PENN Entertainment's presence in the competitive New Orleans gaming market, where riverboat casinos have historically operated under state legislation that once required vessels to be afloat, and the move to land aligns with recent legislative changes that permit fixed-site casinos in certain parishes.

Data from the announcement shows the new property will continue to serve the same customer base while offering updated amenities that address longstanding requests for easier access and expanded entertainment options, and the rebranding to Hollywood Casino New Orleans connects the location to PENN's national portfolio of Hollywood-branded properties.

Construction and Development Phases

Initial phases will focus on site acquisition and environmental assessments, followed by foundation work and structural erection that must comply with flood-zone requirements along the Mississippi River corridor, and the overall build timeline allocates roughly three years from groundbreaking to opening once permits are secured.

Company representatives have emphasized that the project will generate construction employment in the region during the build period, while the permanent facility is expected to sustain ongoing operational jobs once it opens in 2029, and coordination with local unions and suppliers forms part of the planning documents referenced in the August 2026 release.

Conclusion

The August 2026 announcement from PENN Entertainment outlines a clear path for transitioning the Boomtown Casino New Orleans riverboat into a modern landside Hollywood Casino New Orleans by 2029, pending the necessary regulatory green lights, and the $195 million investment in 140,000 square feet of space with 875 slot machines represents the core elements of the proposed development.

Further updates will depend on the pace of approvals from Louisiana authorities, yet the company has positioned the project as a long-term commitment to the New Orleans market that preserves existing gaming capacity while shifting to a more accessible land-based format.