Illinois: Penn sets stage for Hollywood Casino Joliet land-based relocation with groundbreaking ceremony

Penn Entertainment has announced that it will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hollywood Casino Joliet in Illinois today, December 13, at 2 pm CT. The entirely new land-based casino and entertainment facility will replace the company’s nearby riverboat casino when completed.

Earlier this year, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) had given the green light to Penn’s plans to relocate its two suburban Chicago casinos, Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet. The move is part of the company's efforts to invest over $500 million in reconstructing its gaming properties and making them more accessible.

The new $185 million regional destination will anchor RockRun Collection, a new super-regional commercial and residential development, located adjacent to the Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 interchange in Joliet and projected to have 230,000 passing vehicles daily.

The facility will feature approximately 850 slots and 44 live table games, including a baccarat room, a retail sportsbook, high-quality bars and restaurants, an approximately 10,000-square-foot event center with meeting areas, and approximately 1,330 parking spaces. The company expects to create 450 construction jobs and 515 permanent jobs at the new facility, growing Penn’s current team in Joliet by 150 team members.

“We are very excited to be moving forward with construction on a new, state-of-the-art Hollywood Casino Joliet in an ideal location,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment. “Our close proximity to two interstates and surrounding mixed-use development will offer our modern facility with exceptional visibility and accessibility in the highly attractive Chicagoland market.”

The move onto land was enabled by a law signed in 2019 that allowed for riverboat casinos to relocate landside. The existing Hollywood Casino Joliet, which is located on the Des Plaines River, will maintain its normal operations while the new land-based facility is constructed, which is anticipated to take approximately 24 months.

“From our day-one team members to the hundreds of individuals that will be joining us in the months ahead, this is an incredibly exciting milestone for all of us with the property and local community,” said Mike Thoma, Vice President & General Manager of Hollywood Casino Joliet. “We can’t wait to provide our guests with an even greater customer experience at the future Hollywood Casino Joliet.”

The company said it has invited members of the Illinois Gaming Board, Illinois General Assembly, the Mayor of Joliet and the City Council, labor organizations, and other local stakeholders to the groundbreaking ceremony.

The new Hollywood Casino Joliet is part of a previously announced plan for four new growth projects in Aurora, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; and Henderson, Nevada. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has committed up to $575 million towards the overall $850 million budget for all four growth projects.