Penn Entertainment said its new Hollywood Casino Aurora property in Illinois is due to open on 24 June 2026. The $360m land-based venue will replace the riverboat casino, which is scheduled to close at 5.59am on 10 June; the new property will include about 1,200 gaming positions.
Operators can plan for the riverboat closure and the scheduled opening of its replacement casino.
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
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Illinois casinos generated $173.6m in June, up 9.1% year on year, according to Illinois Gaming Board figures. Slots contributed $132.4m and table games $41.2m; Rivers Casino led with $44m. Harrah’s Metropolis recorded the steepest decline, with revenue down 13.9% to $3.9m.
Penn Entertainment chief executive Jay Snowden said the company is not prioritising acquisitions, with debt reduction, possible share repurchases and recently completed and planned growth projects ahead of deal-making. He said any acquisition would need to offer a high implied free-cash-flow return, limited risk and strategic value; Snowden also said Penn could consider returning to Las Vegas in the future.
Penn Entertainment says pursuing deals is not a top priority, and CEO Jay Snowden listed several alternatives that come first. The regional casino operator reported third-quarter results, and Snowden discussed those priorities on its conference call with analysts.
PENN Entertainment chief executive Jay Snowden said on a 5 November earnings call that theScore Bet and Hollywood Casino had made a strong start in Alberta, where the company claims about 10% market share in the early months. He said PENN hopes to enter other provinces if they open to private operators; the company reported 17% year-on-year growth in PENN Interactive revenue in Q3 2026 and adjusted EBITDA of US$18.3m loss.
PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden hopes to soon launch in other provinces as talk grows of further regulated expansion in Canada. The remarks came on a third-quarter earnings call on Nov. 5. The company says the launch widened its presence in Canada and leaves it well placed for growth if more provinces privatize.
Reportedly, Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway began construction of The Dotte on 25 September. The approximately 140-room hotel will connect to the casino and is expected to open in 2028 under Marriott Bonvoy's Tribute Portfolio brand.
PENN Entertainment has put $20m into its Alberta operations, chief executive and president Jay Snowden said. The spend is intended to extend the company's Ontario performance and bring its digital arm closer to profit.