PENN Entertainment Charts New Course for Hollywood Casino New Orleans with $195 Million Inland Project
Uma Foster · Aug 19, 2026
PENN Entertainment Charts New Course for Hollywood Casino New Orleans with $195 Million Inland Project
PENN Entertainment has outlined plans to spend roughly $195 million replacing its existing Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans riverboat operation in Harvey, Louisiana, with a new land-based Hollywood Casino New Orleans facility on an adjacent inland site, and the move remains subject to regulatory approval before construction can begin.
Scope of the Proposed Development
The facility would feature around 875 slot machines along with 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, dining options, and additional amenities when it opens, while the timeline targets 2029 for the first guests to walk through the doors once all approvals clear and building wraps up.
Observers note that the project follows a broader industry pattern of relocating riverboat casinos to permanent land sites under the framework established by a 2018 Louisiana law that permits such transitions, and this particular relocation would keep the operation in the same general Harvey area while shifting it off the water.
Site Location and Operational Shift
The current Boomtown riverboat sits on the water in Harvey, whereas the new Hollywood Casino New Orleans would occupy an inland parcel right next door, allowing PENN Entertainment to maintain its regional footprint while modernizing the physical plant and expanding the range of offerings available to visitors.
Those familiar with the market point out that the transition would eliminate the constraints that come with operating on a riverboat, such as limited floor space and weather-related disruptions, and replace them with a larger, more flexible building designed from the ground up for contemporary gaming and hospitality needs.
Regulatory and Timeline Considerations
Before any shovels hit the ground the project requires sign-off from Louisiana gaming regulators, and company statements indicate that the process will move forward in the coming months while design work and site preparation advance in parallel, and the 2029 opening date reflects the time needed for permitting, construction, and testing of all systems.
Data from similar relocations in the state show that once approvals arrive the build phase typically spans several years, which aligns with the schedule PENN Entertainment has shared for this development, and the August 2026 period may see initial regulatory filings or community briefings as the company moves through the review stages.
Alignment with Statewide Trends
The 2018 Louisiana law opened the door for riverboat operators to move ashore, and multiple properties across the state have since pursued or completed similar transitions, which has allowed operators to increase capacity and introduce amenities that were difficult to accommodate on vessels, and PENN Entertainment's plan for Hollywood Casino New Orleans follows that established path.
Figures released by the company tie the investment directly to long-term growth in the New Orleans market, where demand for expanded gaming and non-gaming amenities continues to rise, while the land-based format supports future flexibility for additional features beyond the initial 875 slots and 45 tables.
Conclusion
The announcement positions PENN Entertainment to replace its riverboat operation with a larger, modern facility that meets current player expectations and complies with the state's 2018 relocation statute, and the $195 million commitment along with the 2029 target date gives a clear picture of the scope and pace of the project as it enters the regulatory review phase.
Further updates will depend on the timing of approvals and construction milestones, yet the core details of the inland Hollywood Casino New Orleans remain consistent with the information released by the company.