PENN Entertainment Sets Course for Landside Move of Boomtown Casino New Orleans

PENN Entertainment, Inc. has outlined plans to invest approximately $195 million in relocating its existing Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans riverboat operations to a new landside facility on adjacent land in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with the project carrying a rebrand to Hollywood Casino New Orleans pending regulatory approvals.

The announcement details a development spanning about 140,000 square feet that would include roughly 875 slot machines, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, and various dining options, while the existing hotel remains operational throughout teh transition, and the new property carries an expected opening date in 2029.

Project Scope and Development Details

Observers note that this relocation represents PENN’s fourth such landside move in recent years, with the company directing capital toward converting riverboat-based gaming into a fixed landside structure on property next to the current site in Jefferson Parish, and the investment figure of $195 million covers the core construction and transition costs associated with the shift.

Those following the project point out that the new facility would maintain continuity for guests through the operational hotel while introducing expanded gaming and entertainment elements, including the retail sportsbook and dining venues, all within the 140,000 square foot footprint planned for the site.

Regulatory Path and Timeline

Regulatory approvals stand as the next required step before construction advances, and the company has positioned the 2029 opening as the target once those clearances are secured, allowing time for design finalization, permitting, and building phases that typically accompany projects of this scale in Louisiana.

State-level oversight in Jefferson Parish will determine the pace, yet the announcement emphasizes that the existing riverboat operations continue without interruption until the landside property reaches completion and receives necessary certifications.

Operational Continuity During Transition

The hotel component of the current Boomtown property stays open and functional, which separates this project from full-site closures seen in other relocations, and PENN has indicated that customer access to lodging remains a priority while the gaming operations prepare for the move to the adjacent landside location.

Staffing and service patterns at the riverboat would gradually shift as the new Hollywood Casino New Orleans facility comes online, although specific workforce transition details await further announcements tied to the regulatory process.

Context Within Broader Company Strategy

Industry reports have tracked similar landside conversions by PENN in other markets, where riverboat formats gave way to permanent structures that offered expanded square footage and updated amenities, and this New Orleans project follows that established pattern with the $195 million commitment serving as the latest example.

Data from prior projects shows that landside facilities often allow for larger gaming floors and additional revenue streams such as sportsbooks, elements that appear in the current plans alongside the 875 slots and 45 tables specified for the Jefferson Parish site.

Next Steps and Industry Implications

Pending approvals from Louisiana regulators will dictate construction start dates, and once cleared the project moves into active development with the 2029 target guiding timelines for suppliers, contractors, and local partners involved in the build.

According to the company release, the relocation aims to deliver an improved physical environment for gaming and hospitality while preserving the hotel asset, and updates on progress are expected as the regulatory review advances through 2026 and beyond.

Conclusion

The planned investment and relocation mark a measured expansion of PENN Entertainment’s footprint in the New Orleans market, with the shift from riverboat to landside operations scheduled for completion in 2029 once approvals are finalized, and teh retained hotel operations provide ongoing service during the multi-year process. Further details will emerge as the project advances through regulatory channels in Jefferson Parish.