PENN Entertainment Outlines Hollywood Casino Aurora Riverboat Closure Ahead of Land-Based Opening
PENN Entertainment announced on June 2, 2026 that the company will close the Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat property at 5:59 a.m. CDT on June 10, 2026, while it prepares for the grand opening of a new $360 million land-based casino facility scheduled for June 24, 2026 pending regulatory approvals, and the firm will maintain normal operations at the riverboat until the closure date arrives.
Company officials released the timeline through an investor update that details the sequence of events required to shift from the current riverboat format to the permanent land-based structure, and the announcement specifies that the riverboat will continue its regular schedule without interruption until the exact closure moment on June 10.
Timeline and Transition Process
The closure occurs at 5:59 a.m. CDT on June 10, which leaves a two-week window before the planned land-based opening on June 24, and during this interval the company will complete final preparations that include moving equipment, finalizing construction elements, and conducting required inspections.
Observers note that the brief shutdown period allows crews to handle the physical relocation of gaming equipment and operational systems from the riverboat to the new facility without overlapping activities, while the two-week span also accommodates any last-minute regulatory reviews that must conclude before the June 24 opening can proceed.
Operational Continuity Measures
Normal operations will continue at the riverboat through the morning of June 10, which means patrons can expect standard gaming hours, dining services, and entertainment programming until that precise cutoff time, and staff members will receive guidance on the transition schedule to ensure a coordinated shift.
The company has stated that the riverboat will remain fully functional until closure, which prevents any early service reductions that could affect employees or visitors during the final days of riverboat operations.
Those who have followed similar transitions at other properties recognize that maintaining full operations until the last moment supports revenue consistency and gives the workforce a clear endpoint before the move to the land-based location begins.
New Land-Based Facility Details
The new $360 million land-based casino will open on June 24, 2026 once regulatory approvals are secured, and the facility replaces the riverboat that has operated on the Fox River since the property first launched, and the permanent structure is designed to offer expanded gaming space along with updated amenities that the riverboat format could not accommodate.
According to the investor release, the land-based project represents a significant capital investment that modernizes the Aurora location and aligns with broader industry movement toward fixed-site casinos in jurisdictions that previously required floating vessels.
Regulatory and Approval Steps
The June 24 opening remains subject to regulatory approvals, which means state gaming authorities must complete their final reviews of the new facility before operations can begin, and PENN Entertainment has indicated that the company is working closely with regulators to meet all required milestones within the established window.
Industry reports show that similar land-based transitions in other states have involved sequential approval stages covering building safety, gaming equipment certification, and staff training verification, and the Aurora project follows that established pattern.
Conclusion
The sequence laid out by PENN Entertainment places the riverboat closure on June 10, 2026 and the land-based opening on June 24, 2026, creating a defined transition period that keeps operations continuous until the final riverboat day and then shifts focus to the new facility once approvals clear. The $360 million investment and the precise timing reflect the company's preparation for a permanent land-based operation at the Aurora site.