PENN Entertainment celebrates grand opening of Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora

(PRESS RELEASE) -- PENN Entertainment, Inc. today celebrates the grand opening of Hollywood Casino Aurora, the all-new, $360 million state-of-the-art casino and hotel. PENN’s latest land-based property replaces the former riverboat property that operated on the Illinois shores of the Fox River since 1993.

PENN is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon that will include Illinois Gaming Board officials, area dignitaries, state legislators, and team members prior to opening to the public at 8:30pm CST. Inside, guests will experience over 1,000 of the newest slot machines, over 50 table games and a baccarat room, a retail sportsbook, elevated national and Chicagoland celebrity-led dining, a 226-room premier hotel and wellness spa, event center, and, above all, a prime guest experience.

“We are proud to officially welcome guests and players to the exciting, all-new Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment. “Together with our landside move in Joliet last summer, we have reinvested over $500 million in the Chicagoland market over the last three years, resulting in more jobs, meaningful state and local tax revenue, and further enhancing the region as a must-visit destination. Our roots in Aurora run deep, and we are committed to extending our 33-year legacy as a leader in world-class dining, hospitality, entertainment, gaming, and guest experience for years to come.”

“Today marks an exciting new chapter for Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora, made possible through support from the city of Aurora, the Illinois Gaming Board, and all of our partners, including the hundreds of tradesmen and women who built this incredible new property from the ground up,” said Rafael Verde, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations for PENN. “We are grateful for these partnerships and are eager to showcase the collaborative effort to transition from riverboat gaming to an entertainment destination.”

The roughly 388,500 square foot facility employs approximately 700 team members and supported roughly 700 construction jobs. Open seven days a week and 24 hours a day, the fun and excitement will continue 365 days a year.

Gaming Floor
Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora’s gaming floor features over 1,000 of the latest video reel slot and video poker machines, as well as over 50 exciting table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and more. The Sportsbook includes one of Chicagoland’s largest TV screens to create the ultimate watching experience, sports betting tellers, and sports wagering and racing kiosks, along with interactive games.

Dining and Entertainment
Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora features multiple world-class dining options throughout the property, including many options for guests of all ages.

PENN partnered with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis to create Sorella by Giada, an elevated Italian steakhouse that combines De Laurentiis’ signature fusion of classic Italian cuisine and modern California influence. The restaurant seats roughly 170 guests with both indoor and outdoor options and features a unique menu of handmade pastas, steaks, and more.

Boulevard Food & Drink Hall is a dynamic dining experience operated by McClain Camarota Hospitality, which was founded by James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Shawn McClain. Open to all ages with both indoor seating and an outdoor patio with a fire feature, Boulevard Food & Drink Hall includes Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream, as well as Five50 Pizza, Stephanie Izard’s Lucky Goat, Tabo Sushi by Takashi Yagihashi, and Urbanbelly.

In addition to the numerous betting opportunities and massive screen highlighting the hottest sports action from around the world, The Sportsbook is also a full-service, classic casual restaurant that seats roughly 163 patrons in the dining room and bar. Guests can enjoy a wide array of food and beverage options, featuring favorites such as burgers, crispy wings, sandwiches, and shareables, plus a wide selection of craft and domestic beers and hand-crafted cocktails.

Red Lotus Asian Kitchen will serve patrons authentic made-to-order Asian cuisine, featuring popular noodle and southeast Asian specialties designed to excite the senses in a sleek, modern designed open kitchen. Nearby on the gaming floor is &Vine, a 110-seat bar and entertainment lounge offering distinctive beverages and will be host to various artists for guests to enjoy.

In addition, Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora’s 12,000 square foot event center and meeting rooms are adaptable to accommodate weddings, galas, community events, concerts, sports events, conferences, and more. The event center is accessible for all ages and offers an outdoor entertainment courtyard for special events.

Hotel and Wellness Spa
Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora’s all-new seven-story hotel adds 226 standard rooms and premier suites to the Aurora area and features modern amenities, state-of-the-art in-room technology, a fitness center, and a seamless design throughout the facility. Guests will have room service options as well as full indoor access to the property’s food hall, celebrity chef restaurant, bars and live entertainment lounges, thrilling gaming areas, and wellness spa.

Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora’s Drift Spa blends classic spa treatment with hair and beauty services, including 11 stations for hair, makeup, and nails, plus seven dedicated rooms for massage therapies. In addition, Drift Spa will debut Drift Drybar, a refined hybrid concept pairing high-end, non-chemical salon services with elevated hospitality.

PENN Play Rewards Program
Guests can elevate their experience with PENN Play, PENN Entertainment’s industry-leading loyalty program, available at more than 35 destinations nationwide. This free membership offers exclusive access to events, experiences, and personalized rewards across gaming, dining, hotel stays, entertainment, and a network of partners.

With five membership tiers—Play, Advantage, Preferred, Elite, and Owners Club, members enjoy benefits such as priority access, premium partner perks, and personalized offers. Members can easily track their rewards and tier progress through the PENN Play app, which also manages their loyalty dollars “PENN Cash”, redeemable for PENN SlotPlay, hotel stays, dining, and more. Once members reach 3,000 Tier Points, they unlock Real Time Rewards, delivering instant PENN Cash bonuses. The program also proudly features PENN Heroes, honoring active-duty military, veterans, and first responders with exclusive benefits, including annual tier upgrades, hotel and dining discounts, and special promotions.