PENN Entertainment will invest $195m to move Boomtown Casino New Orleans off its riverboat and onto adjacent land. The venue will reopen in 2029 as Hollywood Casino New Orleans, subject to regulatory approval.
The new property will occupy around 140,000 square feet. The gaming floor will hold approximately 875 slots and 45 tables, with a sportsbook and several restaurants. The riverboat will be retired once the land-based facility opens; the existing hotel is expected to remain.
This is PENN's fourth riverboat-to-land conversion in recent years. The operator has already completed similar projects at Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet in Illinois, with Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs in Iowa set to open in 2028. CEO Jay Snowden described the move as part of the company's organic growth strategy, noting that land-based properties strengthen market position and deliver better returns.
PENN operates four other casinos in Louisiana: L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles, L'Auberge Casino Hotel Baton Rouge, Margaritaville Resort Casino, and Boomtown Casino Hotel in Bossier City. The company employs more than 3,500 people in the state and pays over $200m in taxes annually.
Funding will come from cash on hand, with other liquidity sources possible. Final approval rests with the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Jefferson Parish council.
