Penn Entertainment has announced plans to permanently close the Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat property at 5:59 a.m. CDT on June 10, as the company prepares to open its new $360 million land-based casino and entertainment destination later this month.
The new Hollywood Casino Aurora, located at 2500 N. Farnsworth Ave. near the Chicago Premium Outlets and Interstate 80, is scheduled to open on June 24, pending final 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 development will feature approximately 1,200 gaming positions, including slot machines, table games, a high-limit gaming area, a dedicated baccarat room, and a sportsbook.
The property will also include a 226-room hotel, an outdoor entertainment venue, a full-service spa, multiple dining and beverage options, and a 12,000-square-foot event center with meeting space. Approximately 1,700 parking spaces will be available on-site.
Among the dining attractions planned for the property are Sorella by Giada and Boulevard Food & Drink Hall.
Casino operations at the riverboat location will continue under normal business hours until the June 10 closure. The hotel at the new property 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.”
The company said that any unused chips from the Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat property can be redeemed at the cashier cage of the new casino through Dec. 31, 2026.
Moreover, Hollywood Casino Aurora expects to launch a new website on June 10, providing guests with information on restaurant hours, menus and reservation options ahead of the property’s opening.
The downtown riverboat location of Aurora’s Hollywood Casino first opened on June 17, 1993. At that time, state law required that casinos be on boats that floated independently. Laws now allow land-based casinos, prompting operators to explore relocation opportunities.
The city of Aurora is supporting the new Hollywood Casino location through an agreed-upon up-front payment of $50 million, to be paid back to the city through a tax increment financing district on the property.