New Orleans Casino Reimagined
PENN Entertainment Unveils $195 Million Plan to Relocate Boomtown Casino Landside in New Orleans
Key Points
Boomtown New Orleans is located on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish in Harvey, about 15 minutes from the French Quarter, positioning the landside Hollywood Casino New Orleans as a nearby urban destination.
The current Boomtown riverboat casino offers more than 700 video slot and video poker games, a live poker room, and more than 20 table games, and the property includes NOLA Steak Restaurant and Asia Restaurant.
This relocation represents PENN’s fourth landside move in recent years, following Hollywood Casino Aurora and Joliet in Illinois, with the expected opening of Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs in Iowa.
The move is part of a broader Louisiana trend toward on-land casino developments, with PENN’s investment in Boomtown reportedly outpacing most other recent on-land constructions in the state.
PENN Entertainment plans to spend about $195 million to move its Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans off a riverboat and onto dry land, rebranding it as Hollywood Casino New Orleans, according to CDC Gaming. The new facility in Harvey, Louisiana — roughly 15 minutes from the French Quarter — is expected to open in 2029.
The 140,000-square-foot complex will feature about 875 slot machines, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, and several dining options, GGB Magazine reported. Once it opens, the old riverboat will be permanently vacated.
What the New Hollywood Casino Will Look Like
The new landside property will be built on land adjacent to the current riverboat site in Harvey, on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish. It replaces an operation that currently offers more than 700 slot and video poker machines, a live poker room, and over 20 table games, according to CDC Gaming.
The upgraded Hollywood Casino New Orleans will nearly double the table game count to 45 and grow the slot floor to around 875 machines. A retail sportsbook and multiple restaurants will also be part of the new build. PENN says its existing hotel on the property will stay open during and after the transition, CityBiz reported.
PENN's Fourth Riverboat-to-Land Move in Recent Years
This project marks PENN's fourth landside relocation in recent years. The company previously moved Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet, both in Illinois, off the water. A similar project at Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs in Iowa is also expected to open soon, according to WFMZ.
PENN is a Berks County, Pennsylvania-based gaming company. It says its Louisiana operations employ more than 3,500 people and generate over $200 million in state and local taxes each year, GGB Magazine reported. The company plans to fund the $195 million project from cash on hand, with additional financing options available if needed.
Louisiana's Broader Push to Move Casinos onto Land
The New Orleans move fits a wider trend across Louisiana. Several other riverboat casinos in the state have pursued or completed moves to land-based facilities in recent years. Landside buildings are easier to modernize, cheaper to maintain, and more attractive to guests than aging riverboats.
PENN's $195 million investment reportedly outpaces most other recent on-land casino projects in Louisiana, according to CDC Gaming. The shift reflects growing pressure on operators to upgrade aging facilities to stay competitive, especially in markets near large cities like New Orleans.
Approvals Still Needed Before Shovels Hit the Ground
The project is not yet final. PENN must get approval from two key bodies: the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Jefferson Parish Council, Seeking Alpha reported. Only after both sign off can the company move forward with construction.
If approved and built on schedule, Hollywood Casino New Orleans would open in 2029. PENN has not yet detailed a construction timeline beyond that target date. The company's riverboat license would be surrendered once the new facility opens its doors, CityBiz noted.
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