PENN Entertainment's Landside Move Brings Hollywood Casino New Orleans to Jefferson Parish by 2029

PENN Entertainment, Inc. has announced plans to invest approximately $195 million to relocate its existing Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans riverboat operations to a new landside facility on adjacent land in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with the property slated for rebranding as Hollywood Casino New Orleans pending regulatory approvals, and the new venue is expected to open in 2029 while the existing hotel continues operations without interruption.

The move marks the company's fourth such landside relocation in recent years, a pattern that reflects broader industry shifts toward permanent facilities designed to improve customer access and overall experience, and the announcement comes from official company statements detailing the scope of the project along with specific operational features planned for the site.

Project Scope and Facility Features

The new development will span about 140,000 square feet and include roughly 875 slot machines, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, and multiple dining options, all positioned to replace the current riverboat setup while maintaining the adjacent hotel as a key component of the guest experience, and this configuration allows for expanded amenities that riverboat limitations often restrict.

Construction on adjacent land means minimal disruption to ongoing hotel services during the transition period, which extends through the projected 2029 opening, and the landside location provides opportunities for larger gaming floors along with integrated retail and food service areas that enhance convenience for visitors.

Regulatory and Timeline Details

Regulatory approvals remain a prerequisite before groundbreaking or full construction can proceed, and company statements emphasize that the timeline targets a 2029 debut once all necessary state and local clearances are obtained, a process that typically involves reviews by Louisiana gaming authorities overseeing casino relocations and expansions.

This project continues a series of similar moves by PENN Entertainment, each aimed at converting riverboat operations into fixed land-based venues that offer greater stability and expanded capacity, and the Jefferson Parish site benefits from proximity to the existing Boomtown property, which reduces logistical challenges during the phased transition.

Operational Continuity and Strategic Context

The existing hotel will stay fully operational throughout the relocation, ensuring that current guests and staff experience continuity while the new facility takes shape nearby, and this approach preserves revenue streams and employment during the multi-year development window leading to the 2029 opening.

Observers note that such relocations often align with state-level gaming regulations that encourage land-based infrastructure over floating vessels, and the rebranding to Hollywood Casino New Orleans positions the property within PENN's national portfolio of similarly named venues that share brand recognition and operational standards.

Company disclosures highlight the investment figure of approximately $195 million as covering construction, equipment, and related infrastructure for the 140,000-square-foot complex, which incorporates the specified gaming mix of 875 slots and 45 tables alongside the retail sportsbook and dining venues, and these elements collectively support the goal of elevating the customer experience through modern amenities and easier access.

Conclusion

The relocation project outlined by PENN Entertainment centers on a clear set of parameters including the $195 million investment, the 2029 target opening, the specific gaming and amenity counts, and the continued operation of the adjacent hotel, all subject to required approvals in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and this single initiative stands as the latest in a sequence of landside conversions undertaken by the company in recent years.