Hollywood Casino Joliet, PENN Entertainment's new $185-million land-based property, officially opened Monday in Illinois.
Key Takeaways
- Hollywood Casino Joliet, a replacement for PENN's former riverboat property on the Des Plaines River, officially opened its doors Aug. 11.
- The 189,000-square-foot casino features 1,000 slot machines, 43 table games, and a retail ESPN Bet sportsbook.
- It employs 600 staff members, created 450 construction jobs, and is open 24/7 year-round.
State representatives, city officials, Illinois Gaming Board officials, Chicago Bears executives, and former NFL player and Joliet native Tom Thayer attended a ribbon-cutting event. The property contains 43 table games, about 1,000 slot devices, and a retail ESPN Bet sportsbook.
Exciting News! On Monday we celebrated the grand opening of the all-new land based Hollywood Casino Joliet. This $185 million state-of-the-art casino features a variety of slots, table games, an ESPN BET sportsbook, world-class dining concepts, and more! pic.twitter.com/l95RWdBcZ3
— PENNEntertainment (@PENNEntertain) August 12, 2025
The 189,000-square-foot casino, which replaces PENN's long-running riverboat venue on the Des Plaines River, has around 600 team members and created an estimated 450 construction jobs. PENN leadership highlighted the company's decades-long regional heritage and continued investment in the area through job creation, tourism, and tax base contributions.
The casino is operational 24 hours a day and will include a video gaming area that offers blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and video poker, as well as one of the biggest sportsbook TV screens in Chicagoland. The ESPN Bet book offers teller stations, kiosks, interactive games, and a premium viewing environment.
Executives described the property as a new entertainment hub designed to deliver an elevated guest experience. It will combine gaming, dining, and sports betting in a modern, land-based setting that will operate year-round.
PENN targets Missouri retail sports betting market
Following the Joliet launch, PENN is positioning itself for Missouri's Dec. 1 sports betting debut. Job postings for sportsbook managers at Hollywood Casino St. Louis and River City Casino indicate plans for retail books at both locations. At the same time, Argosy Riverside in Kansas City will also feature one.
Missouri's sports betting framework allows licensed casinos to partner with mobile operators, allowing PENN to roll out ESPN Bet statewide without external partnerships.
The Missouri market is expected to include about a dozen mobile operators, with FanDuel and DraftKings favored for untethered licenses. Other competitors, such as bet365, BetMGM, and Underdog, are also seeking entry through local partnerships.
Only three retail sportsbooks have been confirmed: the two PENN venues and a bet365 location near Busch Stadium. While most operators prioritize mobile, PENN's dual retail-and-digital approach suggests a strategy to capture both in-person and online wagering audiences.
ESPN Bet rolls out integrated fantasy sports betting feature
In addition to making retail moves, PENN and ESPN will soon launch FanCenter within ESPN Bet, offering personalized wagering tied to ESPN fantasy football rosters, favorite teams, and players. Users can access starter prop bets, customized parlays, and targeted markets by linking ESPN and ESPN Bet accounts.
The feature will go live before the NFL's season opener Sept. 4. As part of a 10-year, $2-billion agreement between ESPN and PENN, both parties have an opt-out clause in 2026, making this NFL season critical for driving engagement and demonstrating product differentiation.
