PENN Entertainment Commits $195 Million to Relocate New Orleans Casino Operations Inland

PENN Entertainment has outlined plans to invest approximately $195 million in a project that would move gaming operations from the existing Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans riverboat in Harvey, Louisiana, to a new land-based facility that carries the Hollywood Casino New Orleans brand, and this shift aligns with regulatory pathways established under state law.

The development remains subject to regulatory approval while the company prepares designs that incorporate around 875 slot machines, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, dining options, and additional amenities, and the existing hotel property would continue operations without interruption during and after the transition.

Project Specifications and Site Details

Under the proposed configuration the new Hollywood Casino New Orleans would operate as a fully inland destination rather than a riverboat, which removes the need for continuous vessel maintenance and allows for expanded floor plans that accommodate both gaming and non-gaming amenities in a single structure, and construction timelines currently target an opening in 2029 once permits and approvals are secured.

Company statements indicate that the 875 slot machines and 45 table games would form the core gaming offering while the retail sportsbook adds another revenue stream that follows recent expansions in Louisiana sports betting markets, and dining venues plus other guest amenities are expected to support longer visitor stays at the land-based site.

Regulatory Framework and 2018 State Law

Louisiana’s 2018 legislation created the mechanism that permits riverboat casinos to relocate to permanent onshore locations, and multiple operators across the state have since pursued similar conversions that convert floating vessels into fixed facilities with greater flexibility for expansion, and PENN Entertainment’s announcement follows that established pattern of moving gaming assets inland.

State regulators must review the relocation application, environmental assessments, and economic impact studies before granting final approval, and the process typically includes public comment periods along with evaluations of how the new facility would affect local employment and tourism metrics in the Harvey and greater New Orleans region.

Observers note that the 2018 law has accelerated several comparable projects statewide because it allows operators to replace aging riverboats with modern buildings that can house more gaming positions and diversified amenities, and the Hollywood Casino New Orleans project represents one of the larger capital commitments announced under that framework to date.

Timeline and Operational Continuity

Current projections place the opening of the new facility in 2029, which provides a multi-year window for design finalization, permitting, and construction phases, and during that period the Boomtown riverboat would continue normal operations until the land-based casino is ready to accept guests.

The existing hotel at the Harvey site would remain open throughout the transition, which preserves lodging capacity for visitors and maintains a portion of the current workforce while the company shifts gaming revenue to the new inland location, and company filings indicate that employment levels at the overall complex are expected to stay stable or increase once the expanded facility begins operations.

Industry Context in Louisiana

Several other casino operators in Louisiana have completed or announced similar onshore moves since the 2018 law took effect, and the trend reflects broader efforts to modernize aging riverboat infrastructure while complying with updated zoning and building standards that favor permanent structures over vessels, and PENN Entertainment’s $195 million commitment fits within that statewide pattern of capital investment.

Data from state gaming reports show that land-based facilities often achieve higher utilization rates for slot and table game positions compared with riverboats because of improved accessibility and larger physical footprints, and those performance differences have encouraged additional operators to pursue relocation approvals in recent years.

Conclusion

The planned relocation of gaming operations from the Boomtown riverboat to the new Hollywood Casino New Orleans represents a significant capital project that follows established regulatory pathways created by the 2018 state law, and once approvals are obtained the facility is scheduled to open in 2029 with expanded gaming, sportsbook, and dining offerings while the associated hotel continues uninterrupted service. Further updates from PENN Entertainment and Louisiana regulators will determine the exact pace of development through the coming years.