PENN Entertainment Moves Forward With Landside Casino Relocation in Harvey

PENN Entertainment announced plans to invest approximately $195 million in relocating its riverboat-based Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans operations to a new landside facility on adjacent property in Harvey, Louisiana, and the project carries the working name Hollywood Casino New Orleans once regulatory approvals clear.

The company outlined the move in a formal release that details a shift from water-based gaming to a permanent structure, and this change aligns with patterns seen in other PENN properties that completed similar transitions in prior years.

Scope of the New Development

The proposed facility spans roughly 140,000 square feet adn will feature about 875 slot machines along with 45 table games, while a retail sportsbook and multiple dining options form part of the initial layout, and construction timelines target an opening in 2029.

Once the new building opens, the existing riverboat will close operations, yet the current hotel on site stays open to continue serving guests without interruption during the transition period.

Regulatory Path and Timeline

State and local approvals remain pending before any ground work begins, and the announcement from August 2026 placed the project on public record while company representatives noted standard review processes ahead.

Jefferson Parish officials have received preliminary information about the site plan, and coordination with gaming regulators continues as the company prepares documentation required for final permits.

Operational Continuity During Construction

Throughout the multi-year build period the riverboat continues normal service, which allows existing staff and customer routines to remain in place until the landside venue reaches completion, and the hotel component operates independently of the gaming floor relocation.

Management has indicated that employee transition planning forms part of the project scope, and communications with state gaming authorities cover both the closure of the riverboat and the licensing steps for the new structure.

Market Context and Prior Company Moves

PENN Entertainment has executed comparable landside conversions in additional states, and those projects produced measurable shifts in visitation patterns according to company reports, while the New Orleans market presents its own competitive factors that the relocation aims to address through expanded amenities.

Observers tracking regional gaming revenue note that land-based facilities often support longer operating hours and larger event spaces compared with riverboat constraints, and the Harvey site offers direct highway access that differs from the current water location.

Facility Specifications and Amenities

Design documents describe a single-story main gaming area connected to support buildings that house the sportsbook and restaurants, and the overall footprint allows for future expansion zones if demand warrants additional square footage beyond the initial 140,000 square feet.

Parking infrastructure receives dedicated attention in the plans, and traffic flow studies submitted with permit applications project peak-hour capacity based on historical visitation data from the riverboat era.

Conclusion

The relocation project centers on a $195 million investment that converts Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans into Hollywood Casino New Orleans at a landside Harvey location, with the 2029 opening date dependent on regulatory clearance and construction progress, while the riverboat ceases activity once the new venue activates and the hotel component continues uninterrupted service.

Details released to date cover machine counts, table game numbers, and ancillary offerings, and the company references earlier landside moves as templates for execution, yet final outcomes hinge on approvals that remain in process as of the August 2026 announcement. company announcement and local coverage provide the primary documentation for these facts.