Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge premiers

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – (PRESS RELEASE) -- With searchlights, red carpet, celebrity impersonators, and exciting gaming play, Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge premieres tomorrow, February 9. Formerly Casino Rouge, the property, which is owned by Penn National Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq:PENN), is being re-named following an $8.5 million renovation that included all new interiors, renovated landside operations, new retail offerings, an expanded live entertainment venue, and memorabilia items from iconic movies and celebrities.

Red Carpet Premiere and Guest Events

Celebrity impersonators of Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Cher, Prince and Johnny Depp will join the fun at the official grand opening of the new Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge. On February 9 and 10, five-time Grammy-award winner B.J. Thomas will be performing in the new Studio 7 event center at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Hollywood Casino will also kick off its $100,000 Go Hollywood Giveaway in which casino guests can enter to win a new Porsche, diamonds, electronics, trips to Hollywood, California, and much more.

The new Hollywood property is being introduced in advertising with the messages Play, Dine, and Feel Like A Star, with people decked out in sunglasses "Going Hollywood."

"It's time to bring Hollywood to Baton Rouge, and we know that local residents are ready for some celebrity treatment," said Jon Zimmerman, General Manager of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge.

Zimmerman added, "With over 800 employees who we now refer to as 'cast members,' Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge has been a committed and thriving business in downtown Baton Rouge for over twelve years. Our recent investment in the property has significantly enhanced our entertainment, gaming, food and beverage offerings, and we look forward to delivering a great experience to existing and new customers with the highly recognizable Hollywood brand and theme."

Renovation

First Phase

The first phase of the renovation included a complete refresh of the casino floor and the addition of the Art Deco Hollywood theme. Updated lighting fixtures, moldings, columns, and signage combined to create an image of Hollywood while a three-story light and glass fiber-optic display projects movie images. In addition to the aesthetic changes, the casino has been updated with the latest ticketing technology, and the most up-to-date slot machines, including an expanded High-limit slot area. In total, the casino features 1,145 slot machines and 27 table games.

Second Phase

The second phase of renovations included the landside operations, and extended the design with custom-made moldings, railings, and fabrics to convey the glamour of Hollywood.

The live entertainment venue, Studio 7, expanded the former Rhythms Lounge, and has a glass wall to allow daytime viewing of the Mississippi River. Curtains can be drawn at night for the featured entertainers. In Studio 7, the casino will offer regional talent along with popular local favorites. Also, the new Studio Bar offers a sophisticated setting for guests to relax and enjoy a drink. The sense of arrival in the landside Pavilion was enhanced and opened up by moving the elevator and adding a dramatic curved staircase to allow for a seating area near the front entrance.

The retail outlet was expanded and renamed Box Office Gifts to offer a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, and gift items fit for a celebrity.

In addition, the renovation included updates of areas such as the boarding ramp to the casino, the front driveway, and patron and employee restrooms. The employee dining area, now called Backstage Deli, was remodeled to allow for more seating and expanded food offerings for the 800 cast members who work at Hollywood. The decorative finishes and a Mississippi River view give cast members the same kind of star treatment enjoyed by guests.