Hollywood Casino in downtown Aurora to close on June 10
Hollywood Casino in downtown Aurora will close on June 10 as it prepares to open a new $360 million land-based location on June 24.Summary
The riverboat Hollywood Casino in downtown Aurora is scheduled to close on June 10 in preparation for the opening of a new $360 million land-based casino on June 24. The new facility, located along Farnsworth Avenue and Bilter Road, will feature a casino floor for approximately 1,200 guests, a hotel, multiple restaurants, an event space, and a spa. Jay Snowden, CEO of PENN Entertainment, which owns the casino, noted that the new location aims to replicate the success of the downtown riverboat, which has operated for over three decades. The downtown location first opened in 1993 as a riverboat casino, a requirement at the time due to state laws. Over the years, the casino evolved into a stationary structure, though it remained a riverboat. At its peak, the riverboat employed around 1,500 people and contributed significantly to the city's tax revenue, peaking at $15.4 million in 2008. The city of Aurora provided a $50 million upfront payment to support the new location, a decision that was controversial. The downtown riverboat will be demolished after the new casino opens, and unused chips can be cashed in at the new location until the end of the year. The new casino is described as a full-on entertainment complex, including partnerships with celebrity chefs, and will launch a new website on June 10. Customers can visit other nearby PENN Entertainment casinos, such as Hollywood Casino Joliet and Ameristar East Chicago, during the transition period.
(Source：Chicago Tribune)