20 Aug 2026
PENN Entertainment Announces Relocation of Boomtown Casino Operations to Land-Based Site
PENN Entertainment has outlined plans to commit roughly 195 million dollars toward moving its current Boomtown Casino and Hotel New Orleans riverboat operations onto adjacent land in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with the shift subject to required regulatory clearances, and the project centers on creating a permanent land-based venue called Hollywood Casino New Orleans that is slated to open during 2029.
Investment Details and Project Scope
The company intends to develop approximately 140,000 square feet of space at the new location, which will include around 875 slot machines along with 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, and several dining venues, while this relocation ends the riverboat format in favor of a fixed structure built on land that sits next to the existing site.
Observers note that such moves allow operators to expand facilities beyond the limitations of floating vessels, and the total investment covers construction, equipment, and related infrastructure needed to support the expanded gaming and hospitality offerings once approvals are secured from state authorities.
Facility Features and Operational Changes
The upcoming Hollywood Casino New Orleans will house the slot machines and table games in a single integrated building rather than on a riverboat, which creates room for additional amenities including the retail sportsbook and multiple restaurant options that can serve both gaming patrons and general visitors throughout the day.
Those familiar with similar transitions point out that land-based properties often provide greater flexibility for layout design and future expansions, whereas the riverboat model required operations to remain confined to the vessel with periodic relocation or docking constraints that no longer apply after the move.
According to filings from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, any change from riverboat to land-based status requires formal review and licensing updates before construction can advance, and the company has indicated it will pursue those steps in the coming months.
Timeline and Regulatory Path Forward
Pending those approvals, the project timeline calls for an opening in 2029, which gives planners several years to complete site preparation, building work, and installation of gaming equipment while also allowing time for public input sessions and environmental assessments that typically accompany large-scale developments in the parish.
Industry reports from the American Gaming Association show that land-based conversions have occurred in other states when operators seek to modernize aging riverboat assets, and this Louisiana project follows the same pattern of replacing a mobile gaming platform with a stationary one that can accommodate higher visitor volumes.
Local officials in Jefferson Parish have already begun preliminary discussions about infrastructure improvements around the site, including road access and utility upgrades, since the new facility is expected to draw steady traffic once operations commence in 2029.
Conclusion
The relocation represents a clear shift for PENN Entertainment's New Orleans-area holdings, moving from riverboat to permanent landside operations with expanded gaming capacity and supporting amenities, and all elements remain contingent on regulatory sign-off before ground can be broken on the 140,000-square-foot development.
Once completed, the Hollywood Casino New Orleans will stand as the operator's updated flagship in the region, featuring the specified mix of slots, tables, sports betting, and dining that the company has outlined in its announcement.