PENN Entertainment Prepares Hollywood Casino Aurora for Permanent Land-Based Transition
PENN Entertainment has scheduled the closure of its Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat property for June 10, 2026, which sets the stage for the opening of a new $360 million permanent land-based casino just two weeks later on June 24, 2026, in Aurora, Illinois, and this sequence allows the company to shift operations without extended downtime while crews finalize the new structure.
The riverboat has operated on the Fox River since the 1990s, and observers note that the planned move aligns with broader trends where Illinois casinos replace floating vessels with fixed buildings to expand floor space and amenities, according to industry reports from the American Gaming Association.
Closure and Relocation Details
Management at PENN Entertainment confirmed the June 10, 2026, shutdown date for the riverboat, which currently features table games, slot machines, and dining options, while staff will transfer equipment and personnel to the new site during the brief interval before the grand opening, and this approach minimizes service gaps for regular visitors who frequent the property.
State regulators including the Illinois Gaming Board have reviewed the transition plans, which require the riverboat to cease operations ahead of the land-based facility's launch, and records show that similar conversions in the region have followed comparable timelines to meet construction milestones.
New Facility Construction and Features
The $360 million project replaces the riverboat with a multi-level structure that will house expanded gaming areas, restaurants, and entertainment venues, and construction crews have worked on the permanent site to meet the June 24, 2026, target date while incorporating modern infrastructure that supports higher capacity than the floating vessel allowed.
Design specifications include additional square footage for slots and table games plus dedicated spaces for live performances, and project timelines indicate that the permanent building will open fully operational on the announced date after final inspections, according to filings shared with state oversight bodies.
Operational Continuity and Regional Context
Employees from the riverboat will move directly into roles at the new casino, which helps maintain workforce stability during the switch, and company statements outline training programs that prepare staff for the larger facility's layout and systems ahead of the June 2026 opening.
Aurora's gaming market has seen steady activity in recent years, and data from the Illinois Department of Revenue shows tax contributions from the existing property that the land-based version is expected to build upon once operations begin, while nearby properties continue to serve regional visitors without interruption.
Timeline and Next Steps
The two-week gap between closure and reopening gives crews time to relocate gaming equipment and complete final touches on the new building, and PENN Entertainment has coordinated with local authorities to handle logistics such as traffic adjustments around the site during the transition period.
Marketing efforts for the grand opening include announcements about new amenities that will become available on June 24, 2026, and those plans draw from patterns observed in other Illinois conversions where land-based facilities attract increased attendance after launch.
Conclusion
The sequence of events positions PENN Entertainment to complete the shift from riverboat to land-based operations within a compressed window in June 2026, and records from regulatory reviews confirm that the $360 million investment supports the permanent facility's debut on the stated date while the original property winds down service on June 10.