PENN Entertainment Moves Forward with Landside Casino Relocation in Jefferson Parish

PENN Entertainment, Inc. has outlined a $195 million investment to shift its Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans riverboat operations onto adjacent land in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with the new venue set to operate under the Hollywood Casino New Orleans name once regulatory approvals clear. The project targets an opening in 2029 and will encompass roughly 140,000 square feet of development space that includes approximately 875 slot machines, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, and multiple dining venues while the existing hotel structure stays in service throughout the transition.

Project Scope and Design Elements

Observers note that the relocation represents PENN's fourth landside conversion in recent years, a pattern that shifts gaming from vessels to permanent buildings on solid ground. The new facility will stand on property next to the current riverboat site, allowing continuous hotel operations while construction proceeds on the main gaming and entertainment areas. Data from the company release shows the design emphasizes expanded floor space compared with the floating platform, which often faces capacity limits due to vessel regulations and maintenance demands.

Those familiar with similar projects point out that landside venues typically accommodate larger gaming layouts, more varied food and beverage outlets, and integrated retail sportsbooks without the constraints of maritime rules. The planned 140,000 square feet will house the core gaming areas along with support services, creating a consolidated destination that connects directly to the existing hotel tower.

Timeline and Regulatory Path

Company filings indicate the project remains subject to approvals from Louisiana gaming authorities, with construction expected to ramp up once those clearances are secured. The 2029 target date leaves room for permitting, environmental reviews, and phased building work that keeps the hotel running without interruption. As of August 2026, preliminary planning documents continue to advance through local and state channels, reflecting steady progress toward the landside conversion.

Industry reports track how earlier PENN relocations followed comparable sequences of announcement, regulatory review, and multi-year construction. Each prior site moved from riverboat to landside while preserving hotel operations, a model that minimizes revenue disruption during the changeover. The Jefferson Parish location benefits from existing infrastructure and proximity to the current Boomtown site, which reduces some logistical hurdles compared with greenfield developments.

Operational Continuity and Customer Experience

According to the announcement, the hotel will remain open and fully operational during the entire process, allowing guests continued access to lodging while the new gaming facility takes shape nearby. This approach mirrors strategies used at previous PENN properties where phased construction preserved revenue streams and maintained customer loyalty programs without major gaps in service.

Company statements emphasize that the shift to a landside venue supports broader amenities including the retail sportsbook and expanded dining, features that align with evolving guest expectations for integrated entertainment options. The existing riverboat will cease gaming operations once the new facility receives its final certifications and opens to the public in 2029.

Regional Context and Precedents

Jefferson Parish officials have reviewed similar casino development proposals in the past, and records show a history of gaming operators transitioning to land-based sites across Louisiana. PENN's sequence of four relocations demonstrates a consistent corporate strategy that favors fixed structures over floating platforms for long-term operational efficiency and guest accessibility.

State gaming commission data from comparable Louisiana projects indicate that landside facilities often achieve higher throughput in slots and table games once construction completes, owing to larger footprints and fewer regulatory restrictions tied to vessel operations. The Hollywood Casino New Orleans branding will replace the Boomtown name at the new location, aligning the property with PENN's national portfolio of Hollywood-branded venues.

Conclusion

The $195 million investment underscores PENN Entertainment's commitment to modernizing its New Orleans-area presence through a landside facility scheduled for 2029. With regulatory reviews ongoing and the hotel remaining active, the project follows established patterns from the company's prior conversions while introducing updated gaming capacity, a sportsbook, and dining options on solid ground in Jefferson Parish. Further updates will emerge as approvals advance and construction timelines solidify.