PENN Entertainment Moves Ahead with Land-Based Hollywood Casino Project in Harvey

PENN Entertainment has outlined plans to invest roughly 195 million dollars in a new land-based Hollywood Casino New Orleans that will replace the company's current Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans riverboat operation in Harvey, Louisiana, and the project includes about 875 slot machines, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook plus dining options along with additional amenities while the move requires regulatory approval and carries an expected opening in 2029.

The announcement marks the fourth time PENN Entertainment has shifted a riverboat operation to an inland site, and this relocation fits into a wider Louisiana industry pattern that stems from a 2018 state law permitting such onshore transitions for existing casino operators.

Project Scope and Location Details

Construction will take place on an adjacent inland site next to the existing riverboat location, which allows the company to maintain operational continuity during the transition period while the new facility expands the overall footprint beyond what a riverboat can accommodate and provides space for expanded gaming floors along with hospitality upgrades that observers note often accompany these shifts.

Company statements indicate the land-based design will feature modern infrastructure that supports higher guest capacity and improved access compared with the current riverboat setup, and the move keeps the operation within the same Harvey area south of New Orleans where local workforce and supply chains already serve the existing property.

Regulatory Path and Timeline

State gaming regulators must still review and approve the relocation before ground can break, and PENN Entertainment has signaled that it will work closely with the Louisiana Gaming Control Board throughout the process while the 2029 target date gives several years for permitting, design finalization and construction phases to unfold in sequence.

Similar projects in Louisiana have followed comparable approval sequences, and those who've tracked prior riverboat-to-landside conversions point out that the 2018 law created a clear pathway that reduces some of the earlier legal hurdles once faced by operators seeking to move inland.

Industry Context in Louisiana

The 2018 legislation opened the door for multiple operators to pursue land-based facilities, and PENN Entertainment's latest plan represents one more step in that ongoing adjustment across the state while the company has already completed three prior relocations that established a track record for executing these transitions on schedule once approvals arrive.

Data from state records shows that land-based casinos tend to generate different revenue profiles than riverboats because of larger gaming areas and easier access, and the Harvey project aligns with that pattern by adding table games and a retail sportsbook that the current riverboat layout supports on a more limited scale.

Employment and Local Impact

Local officials and economic development groups have historically welcomed these conversions because they often sustain or increase employment levels during construction and after opening, and the Hollywood Casino New Orleans project is expected to draw on the same regional labor pool that currently supports the Boomtown riverboat while adding permanent positions tied to the expanded facility once it begins operations in 2029.

Supply chain partners and construction firms in the greater New Orleans area stand to benefit from the multi-year build schedule, and those who've followed earlier PENN Entertainment projects note that the company typically coordinates with local vendors to keep spending within the state during the development phase.

Conclusion

The 195 million dollar investment by PENN Entertainment for the new land-based Hollywood Casino New Orleans sets a clear direction for the Harvey property through 2029 and beyond, and the plan follows the framework established by the 2018 state law that continues to shape how Louisiana casino operators adapt their riverboat assets to inland locations. Regulatory review will determine the next steps, yet the announcement itself confirms another chapter in the company's series of relocation projects across the region.