PENN Entertainment to close Hollywood Casino Aurora Riverboat on 10 June

(PRESS RELEASE) -- PENN Entertainment, Inc. announced the expected closure of the Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat property at 5:59am CDT on Wednesday, 10 June, in preparation for the grand opening of the all-new, $360 million land-based property set to open on 24 June 2026, pending customary regulatory approvals.

“We are less than a month away from welcoming our loyal customers and guests to the new state-of-the-art Hollywood Casino Aurora,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment. “Our Aurora riverboat has created thousands of memorable experiences and supported economic development throughout the city for over three decades, and we look forward to replicating these successes for years to come.”

The new Hollywood Casino Aurora is being developed at 2500 N. Farnsworth Ave. adjacent to the Chicago Premium Outlets near Interstate 80 in Aurora. The facility will feature approximately 1,200 gaming positions, including high-limit slots and table games, a baccarat room and sportsbook. The property also includes a premium hotel with 226 rooms and suites, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, high-quality bars and restaurants including Sorella by Giada and Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, an approximately 12,000-square-foot event center with meeting areas and roughly 1,700 parking spaces.

All gaming operations at the riverboat property will maintain their normal operating hours until closing at 5:59am CDT on June 10. The hotel began accepting reservations in May.

“Our new location is ideally situated to welcome guests to enjoy a broad array of entertainment and dining experiences in the region,” said Rafael Verde, Senior Vice President of Operations for PENN Entertainment. “In the meantime, we invite our customers to visit our nearby locations, including the new Hollywood Casino Joliet and Ameristar East Chicago.”

Nearby Hollywood Casino Joliet, which opened in 2025, and Ameristar East Chicago, just over the state line in Indiana, are part of the same PENN Play customer rewards program as Hollywood Casino Aurora. Any unused chips from the Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat location can be cashed in at the new Hollywood Casino Aurora cage until the end of the year on Dec. 31, 2026.

Hollywood Casino Aurora expects to launch its new website on June 10 to provide information on restaurant hours, menus and reservation systems.