WYOMISSING, PA — PENN Entertainment has closed its long-running Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat property as the company prepares to open a new $360 million land-based casino later this month, marking the end of more than three decades of riverboat gaming operations in the Illinois city.
The riverboat property ceased operations June 10, according to the company. PENN plans to open the new Hollywood Casino Aurora on June 24, pending final regulatory approvals.
The project reflects an ongoing shift in Illinois gaming toward larger, land-based entertainment destinations that combine casino operations with hotels, dining, event space, and other amenities.
The new property is located at 2500 N. Farnsworth Ave., adjacent to the Chicago Premium Outlets and near Interstate 80. The facility will feature approximately 1,200 gaming positions, including slots, table games, a baccarat room, and a sportsbook.
The development also includes a 226-room hotel, a spa, outdoor entertainment space, multiple restaurants and bars, a 12,000-square-foot event center, meeting facilities, and approximately 1,700 parking spaces.
Chief Executive Officer Jay Snowden said the Aurora riverboat served customers and supported local economic activity for more than 30 years and that the company expects the new facility to build on that legacy.
The hotel began accepting reservations in May.
Rafael Verde, PENN’s senior vice president of operations, said the new location is designed to expand the property’s appeal as a regional entertainment destination. During the transition, the company is directing customers to nearby properties including Hollywood Casino Joliet and Ameristar East Chicago.
Customers holding unused chips from the Aurora riverboat location may redeem them at the new Hollywood Casino Aurora through Dec. 31, 2026.
PENN Entertainment operates casinos and racetracks across North America and has invested heavily in modernizing its regional gaming portfolio through new land-based developments and property relocations.
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