Hollywood Aurora Riverboat Closes Ahead of Land-Based Casino Opening
Posted on: June 9, 2026, 03:07h.
Last updated on: June 9, 2026, 03:07h.
- Hollywood Casino Aurora is closing its riverboat
- The riverboat is being replaced by a new land-based casino
- The forthcoming Hollywood Casino Aurora is a $360 million development
The Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat in Illinois is closing after more than three decades in business.
Penn Entertainment will power down the riverboat casino’s slot machines and table games on Wednesday, June 10, at 5:59 am CDT.
Owned by Penn’s real estate investment trust, Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (GLPI), the riverboat will be dismantled and the barge given to the city for redevelopment.
Hollywood Aurora was Pennsylvania-based Penn’s first riverboat enterprise. The floating casino on the Fox River opened on June 17, 1993.
In 2019, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation to allow riverboats to move inland. Penn announced its plans to open a brick-and-mortar casino in Aurora in 2023.
Gaming chips from the Aurora riverboat will be valid at the former brick-and-mortar Hollywood Casino through the end of the year.
Permanent Casino Nearly Ready
Tomorrow’s closure of the riverboat will be replaced on June 24 with the introduction of the new land-based Hollywood Casino Aurora. Located about 3.5 air miles northeast of the riverboat, the brick-and-mortar casino is near the Chicago Premium Outlets just west of North Farnsworth Avenue at Bitler Road.
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,” said Jay Snowden, the CEO and president of Penn Entertainment.
The $360 million investment includes a significantly larger casino floor, with approximately 1,200 gaming positions, a high-limit slots area, a baccarat room, and a sportsbook. The property also includes 226 hotel rooms and suites, an outdoor entertainment area, a full-service spa, 12,000 square feet of meeting space, and numerous restaurants and bars.
GLPI bankrolled $225 million of the $360 million investment in Aurora. Penn spent $114 million, and the City of Aurora contributed $21 million.
“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.”
Hollywood Joliet opened last August at a cost of $185 million. The land-based casino replaced the Joliet riverboat, which operated on the Des Plaines River for more than 30 years.
B&M Preferred Over Riverboats
Riverboats continue to sink across the United States in markets where lawmakers and regulators are allowing casino operators to move inland. Gaming companies much prefer land-based properties, as they tend to have much more floor space for gaming and amenities.
Illinois’ riverboat law resulted in the vessels being stuffed with gaming machines and tables. Patrons often had to walk long distances to land-based facilities for food and beverage, shopping, and their hotel rooms.
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