PENN Entertainment to Close Hollywood Casino Joliet Riverboat Location on July 29 Ahead of New Land-Based Casino Grand Opening on August 11
PENN Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PENN) ("PENN" or the "Company") announced today the expected closure of the Hollywood Casino Joliet riverboat property at 5:59am CDT on Tuesday, July 29, in preparation for the grand opening of the all-new, $185 million land-based property set to open on August 11, 2025, pending customary regulatory approvals.
"As we transition to our new state-of-the-art facility, we reflect on 30+ years of operating in Joliet," said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment. "We look forward to continuing to create best-in-class experiences for our loyal customers, welcoming new guests, and supporting this community for years to come."
The new Hollywood Casino Joliet is part of Rock Run Collection, a super-regional commercial and residential development conveniently located adjacent to the Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 interchange southwest of downtown Chicago. The facility will feature approximately 1,000 slots and 43 live table games, including high-limit slots and table games, a baccarat room and an ESPN BET sportsbook. Its unique bars and restaurants include Sorellina by Giada De Laurentiis and Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, both open to all ages. Sorellina will have Giada's signature Italian touch and feature a light and casual atmosphere, while Boulevard will include local Chicagoland favorites Antique Taco, Pretty Cool Ice Cream and an all-new burger concept from Stephanie Izard called Lucky Goat, alongside a midcentury modern-designed bar, cafe and more. Additional features of the new property include an approximately 10,000 square foot, all-ages event center with meeting areas, and approximately 1,330 parking spaces.
"We are incredibly excited about our future at the new location, which enhances our ability to serve guests and creates a top entertainment, gaming and dining attraction in the region," said Todd George, Executive Vice President of Operations for PENN Entertainment.
All gaming operations at the riverboat property will maintain their normal operating hours until closing at 5:59am CDT on July 29. The hotel adjacent to the casino property will accept reservations until July 26.
"We invite all of our customers to experience our nearby Hollywood Casino Aurora and Ameristar East Chicago locations during the brief transition before we open the doors to the new Hollywood Casino Joliet," said Ruben Warren, Vice President and General Manager of Hollywood Casino Joliet. "We thank all of our guests, loyalty members and team members that have made our riverboat location special over the last 30 years and invite them to visit the riverboat one last time before July 29."
Nearby Hollywood Casino Aurora and Ameristar East Chicago, just over the state line in Indiana, are part of the same PENN Play rewards program as Hollywood Casino Joliet. Any unused chips from the Hollywood Casino Joliet riverboat location can be cashed in at the new Hollywood Casino Joliet cage until the end of the year on Dec. 31, 2025.
Hollywood Casino Joliet expects to launch its new website on July 29 to provide information on restaurant hours, menus and reservation systems, including details on a ticketed event opportunity to dine with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis at the property in mid-August.
About Hollywood Casino Joliet
Hollywood Casino Joliet, operated by PENN Entertainment, opened in 1992 on the shores of the Des Plaines River and will officially close its doors on July 29, 2025, in preparation for its move to a new facility. That new, $185 million, land-based Hollywood Casino Joliet is located at 1401 Gateway Blvd., Joliet, Illinois, in Rock Run Collection, a super-regional commercial and residential development, conveniently located adjacent to the Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 interchange southwest of downtown Chicago. The new Hollywood Casino Joliet will open August 11, 2025, pending customary regulatory approvals, featuring approximately 1,000 slots and 43 live table games, an ESPN BET sportsbook, several new restaurants and bars, event center and meeting space, and ample parking. For more information, visit www.hollywoodcasinojoliet.com
About PENN Entertainment
PENN Entertainment, Inc., together with its subsidiaries ("PENN," or the "Company"), is North America's leading provider of integrated entertainment, sports content, and casino gaming experiences. PENN operates in 28 jurisdictions throughout North America, with a broadly diversified portfolio of casinos, racetracks, and online sports betting and iCasino offerings under well-recognized brands including Hollywood Casino®, L'Auberge®, ESPN BET™, and theScore BET Sportsbook and Casino®. PENN's ability to leverage its partnership with ESPN, the "worldwide leader in sports," and its ownership of theScore™, the top digital sports media brand in Canada, is central to the Company's highly differentiated strategy to expand its footprint and efficiently grow its customer ecosystem. PENN's focus on organic cross-sell opportunities is reinforced by its market-leading retail casinos, sports media assets, and technology, including a proprietary state-of-the-art, fully integrated digital sports and iCasino betting platform, and an in-house iCasino content studio (PENN Game Studios). The Company's portfolio is further bolstered by its industry-leading PENN Play™ customer loyalty program, offering its over 32 million members a unique set of rewards and experiences.
Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "goal," "seeks," "may," "will," "should," "look forward to," or "anticipates" or the negative or other variations of these or similar words, or by discussions of future events, strategies or risks and uncertainties. These statements are based upon management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates and are not guarantees of timing, future results, or performance. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated in these statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those factors described in PENN Entertainment's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including PENN Entertainment's current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except for PENN Entertainment's ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, PENN Entertainment undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Media Contact:
Jeff Morris
VP, Public Affairs
PENN Entertainment, Inc.
[email protected]
610-373-2400
Jessica Gallen
Laughlin Constable Public Relations
[email protected]
312-995-8598