New Orleans is set to welcome a second land-based casino in the near future with Penn Entertainment’s new gaming venue.
Penn Entertainment, a Pennsylvania-based company, recently announced a $195 million investment to bring its Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans from a riverboat to a land-based facility. The proposed 145,000-square-foot structure, pending approval from state gaming regulators, is expected to open in 2029 on landside property next to the current riverboat.
“The new Hollywood Casino New Orleans will represent our fourth landside move in recent years, following the recent openings of Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet in Illinois and the expected opening of Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs in Iowa in 2028. As with our previous relocations, we expect our new facility to enhance the customer experience and strengthen the property’s competitive position in the New Orleans market,” said Jay Snowden, president and CEO of Penn Entertainment.
In addition to Boomtown, Penn operates four other casinos in Louisiana, including L’Auberge casino resorts in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge, as well as Margaritaville Resort Casino and Boomtown Casino Hotel in Bossier City.
Second New Orleans Casino… Kind Of
Penn Entertainment acquired Boomtown New Orleans as part of its 2018 purchase of Pinnacle Entertainment for $2.8 billion in cash and stock. Despite the riverboat carrying the New Orleans name since its establishment in 1994, the casino hotel is actually situated in Harvey, approximately five miles south of the city across the Mississippi River.
In 2018, Louisiana lawmakers granted permission for riverboat casino license holders to transition their gaming venues to land, as long as the new venues remain within 1,200 feet of their original docks. This distance equates to about a quarter of a mile.
Penn intends to fund the $195 million Hollywood Casino New Orleans project with available cash but may also utilize its balance sheet or other sources of liquidity.
Following Boyd Gaming’s announcement earlier this month of a land-based development for its Amelia Belle riverboat, located 60 air miles southwest of New Orleans, Boomtown’s move is anticipated to have a more direct impact on Harrah’s New Orleans with a larger and closer casino.
Hollywood Casino New Orleans by Penn is expected to house 875 slot machines, 45 live dealer table games, a retail sportsbook, and various dining options. The current Boomtown hotel, featuring 150 guestrooms and suites, will be integrated into Hollywood Casino New Orleans.
Boomtown Needs a Spark
Penn Entertainment’s investment in Boomtown comes as the riverboat has experienced a decline in annual gross gaming revenue (GGR) over multiple years.
Prior to the pandemic, Boomtown typically generated $130 million to $140 million in annual GGR. However, for the state’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the casino’s revenue plummeted to less than $104.6 million.