Penn Entertainment Sets Opening for $360 Million Hollywood Casino Aurora in Chicagoland
In order to establish a new casino and entertainment venue in Chicagoland, Penn Entertainment is almost finished with its $360 million investment in Illinois.
The Hollywood Casino Aurora will welcome visitors on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, according to the Pennsylvania-based regional gambling specialist. Penn's long-floating riverboat on the Fox River has been replaced by a brand-new physical location.
The land-based casino is located close to Interstate 88 and the Chicago Premium Outlets, approximately 3.5 air miles northeast of the riverboat. Hollywood Aurora is located at Bilter Road, just west of N. Farnsworth Ave.
“We are now months away from opening another premium entertainment destination in the greater Chicago region,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and president of Penn Entertainment.
In addition to a retail sportsbook, the new Hollywood Casino Aurora has over 1,200 gaming spaces, including slot machines and table game seats. A 226-room hotel, a 12,000-square-foot event center, 1,700 parking spots, a full-service spa, and a number of eateries and bars, including the famous chef Giada De Laurentiis' Sorella by Giada, are further aspects of the location.
Midwest Renovations
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (GLPI), Penn Entertainment's landlord, is still optimistic about the Midwest. In addition to Aurora, the firms spent $185 million to move their riverboat from Joliet to an inland location. Last August, the new Hollywood Casino Joliet, which is located close to the I-80/I-55 interchange, opened.
"We are thrilled to follow the successful rollout of Hollywood Casino Joliet last summer with another new land-based property, strengthening our overall retail portfolio in the Midwest and deepening our roots in the community,” Snowden added.
Additionally, Penn is nearly complete with a 203-room hotel project at Ohio's Hollywood Casino Columbus. On June 12, the $100 million hotel tower will open.
GLPI funded $225 million of the $360 million Aurora project. In the hopes that the new casino will increase employment, local taxes, and economic activity, the City of Aurora is also investing $21 million to the project. Penn is paying the remaining $114 million.
As the opening date approaches, the Illinois Gaming Board will collaborate with Penn authorities to move the casino operations from the Aurora riverboat to the new land-based gaming floor. The riverboat, which has over 1,000 slots and 20 table games, is currently operating normally.
Oerations in Hollywood, Illinois
Penn runs the Argosy Casino Alton close to St. Louis in addition to its two Hollywood casinos in Illinois. The three establishments brought approximately $239.8 million in gross gaming revenue in 2025.
With $239.8 million in GGR from the three casinos, Penn accounted for 12.3% of the Indiana casino market. Last year, the state's GGR was $1.94 billion.
With a GGR of $503.1 million, Rivers Casino Des Moines continued to be the leading operator. In the 17-casino market, Hollywood Joliet ($102.9 million) and Hollywood Aurora ($101.7 million) were rated eighth and ninth, respectively.
