{"id":11245,"date":"2026-09-14T07:22:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T07:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/14\/penn-starts-180-million-hollywood-casino-council-bluffs-project-today\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T07:22:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T07:22:34","slug":"penn-starts-180-million-hollywood-casino-council-bluffs-project-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/14\/penn-starts-180-million-hollywood-casino-council-bluffs-project-today\/","title":{"rendered":"PENN Starts $180 Million Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs Project Today"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>PENN Entertainment will break ground on Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on September 14, replacing the Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat with a new land based casino.<\/p>\n<p>The Iowa project carries an expected budget of $180 million to $200 million. PENN now targets an opening in Q4 2027 or early 2028, subject to regulatory approvals.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>Good to Know<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs will offer about 1,000 slots and 25 live table games.<\/li>\n<li>PENN can access up to $150 million from Gaming and Leisure Properties for the project.<\/li>\n<li>Construction should create about 450 jobs, with roughly 50 permanent roles added after opening.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong>PENN Replaces Council Bluffs Riverboat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The new casino will connect directly to the existing hotel and pavilion, giving guests access to more than 160 rooms, dining, a sportsbook restaurant, Club 38 VIP Lounge and other amenities.<\/p>\n<p>PENN also plans two new food outlets. Shake Shack will enter the Omaha metropolitan area through the property, while Red Lotus will offer Asian dishes, noodles and Southeast Asian food.<\/p>\n<p>Ameristar Council Bluffs currently employs more than 500 people. PENN expects the replacement project to add around 50 permanent jobs on top of the existing workforce.<\/p>\n<p>Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment, said:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWe are thrilled to be celebrating yet another transition from riverboat gaming to a new best-in-class entertainment destination. Coupled with our recent announcement in New Orleans, we continue to prioritize organic growth opportunities with a disciplined approach to strengthening PENN\u2019s competitive position in our markets across the country.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>GLPI Can Fund Up to $150 Million<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>PENN has the option to obtain up to $150 million from Gaming and Leisure Properties at a 7.10% cap rate.<\/p>\n<p>The company can structure that funding as rent or as a five year loan. PENN can repay the loan early without penalty. The financing covers most of the expected $180 million to $200 million development cost.<\/p>\n<p>The Council Bluffs project also fits a wider PENN strategy of replacing older riverboat casinos with land based Hollywood branded properties.<\/p>\n<p>Hollywood Casino Joliet opened in Illinois in 2025, followed by Hollywood Casino Aurora in 2026. Council Bluffs will become the 20th Hollywood branded gaming property in the PENN portfolio.<\/p>\n<p>PENN also plans a $195 million Hollywood Casino New Orleans project to replace Boomtown Casino New Orleans riverboat operations, with an expected 2029 opening subject to approval.<\/p>\n<p>Iowa law adds another local requirement. Commercial casino operators must maintain an agreement with a licensed nonprofit Qualified Sponsoring Organization. Iowa regulators approved a 15 year extension of the Council Bluffs partnership with the Iowa West Racing Association when PENN announced the land based project in April 2025.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>FAQ<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>When will Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs open?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>PENN currently expects the casino to open in Q4 2027 or early 2028, subject to regulatory approvals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How much will Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs cost?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>PENN expects the project to cost between $180 million and $200 million.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How large will the new casino be?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The gaming floor will offer about 1,000 slot machines and 25 live table games.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What happens to Ameristar Council Bluffs?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The new land based Hollywood Casino will replace the existing Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat gaming operation.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/casino-news\/penn-starts-180-million-hollywood-casino-council-bluffs-project-today\/\">PENN Starts $180 Million Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs Project Today<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/igaming.org\/\">iGaming.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PENN Entertainment will break ground on Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on September 14, replacing the Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat with a new land based casino. The Iowa project carries an expected budget of $180 million to $200 million. PENN now targets an opening in Q4 2027 or early 2028, subject to regulatory approvals. Good [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.1.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"PENN Entertainment will break ground on Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on September 14, replacing the Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat with a new land based casino. The Iowa project carries an expected budget of $180 million to $200 million. PENN now targets an opening in Q4 2027 or early 2028, subject to regulatory approvals. 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The Iowa project carries an expected budget of $180 million to $200 million. PENN now targets an opening in Q4 2027 or early 2028, subject to regulatory approvals. Good","og:url":"https:\/\/casino-online-best.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/14\/penn-starts-180-million-hollywood-casino-council-bluffs-project-today\/","article:published_time":"2026-09-14T07:22:34+00:00","article:modified_time":"2026-09-14T07:22:34+00:00","twitter:card":"summary","twitter:title":"PENN Starts $180 Million Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs Project Today - Best Online Casinos","twitter:description":"PENN Entertainment will break ground on Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on September 14, replacing the Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat with a new land based casino. The Iowa project carries an expected budget of $180 million to $200 million. PENN now targets an opening in Q4 2027 or early 2028, subject to regulatory approvals. 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