PENN Entertainment Advances Land-Based Transition for New Orleans Casino with 195 Million Dollar Investment

PENN Entertainment has outlined plans to commit approximately 195 million dollars toward relocating the Boomtown Casino and Hotel New Orleans riverboat operations from Harvey, Louisiana, into a new adjacent land-based facility that will carry the Hollywood Casino New Orleans brand, and this move requires regulatory approval before construction can proceed according to the company's public statement.

The project encompasses a development footprint between 140,000 and 145,000 square feet that will house roughly 875 slot machines along with 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, multiple dining options, and additional guest amenities, while the expected opening remains scheduled for 2029 once all necessary permits and approvals are secured.

Project Scope and Facility Details

Company records show the new structure will sit directly beside the existing riverboat site, allowing operators to maintain access to the same regional customer base while shifting from floating operations to a permanent land-based platform that aligns with recent changes in state gaming regulations, and the design incorporates expanded space for gaming floors plus support services that the current vessel configuration cannot accommodate at the same scale.

Observers note that the transition preserves employment levels and local economic contributions from the Harvey location, since the adjacent placement minimizes disruption to staff and suppliers during the phased relocation process, and the retail sportsbook addition reflects expanded offerings now permitted under Louisiana law for land-based venues.

Regulatory Path and Timeline

Approval from state gaming authorities stands as the next required step before groundbreaking can occur, with the company indicating that the full permitting sequence will determine the precise construction start date, adn the 2029 target provides a multi-year window for design finalization, environmental reviews, and infrastructure upgrades on the selected parcel.

State records confirm that similar onshore conversions have followed the 2018 legislation that authorized riverboat casinos to pursue land-based alternatives, and this project represents one more instance of operators exercising that option to improve operational efficiency and guest experience through fixed facilities rather than vessel-based constraints.

Context Within Louisiana Gaming Trends

Industry filings reveal a pattern across Louisiana where multiple riverboat operators have pursued or completed shifts to land-based sites since the 2018 statutory update, and PENN Entertainment's announcement for the New Orleans market follows that established sequence of regulatory filings and capital commitments, while the scale of the 195 million dollar outlay aligns with the size of the proposed 140,000 to 145,000 square foot complex.

Data from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board tracks these conversions as they progress through approval stages, and the Hollywood Casino New Orleans project will add to that inventory once permits are granted, with the retail sportsbook component fitting within the broader expansion of sports wagering options now available at approved land-based locations throughout the state.

Operational Continuity Measures

During the transition period the existing Boomtown riverboat will continue normal operations until the land-based facility reaches completion, thereby avoiding any gap in service for patrons in the Harvey area, and company communications emphasize that the new venue will integrate the same gaming licenses currently held by the riverboat into the expanded land-based format.

Local infrastructure supporting the site, including road access and utility connections, will require targeted upgrades as part of the overall development budget, and these improvements will support both the casino operations and the surrounding amenities once the 2029 opening occurs.

Conclusion

The relocation project outlined by PENN Entertainment centers on a 195 million dollar investment that will convert the Boomtown Casino and Hotel New Orleans riverboat operations into the Hollywood Casino New Orleans land-based facility featuring 875 slots, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, and dining options within a 140,000 to 145,000 square foot complex, subject to regulatory approval and with a projected 2029 opening that continues the pattern of onshore transitions enabled by the 2018 state law.