PENN Entertainment, Inc. held a groundbreaking to launch construction of Hollywood Casino in Joliet. The $185 million project will replace the existing riverboat casino and is expected to attract up to 230,000 vehicles to the area every day.
The casino will be the cornerstone of the RockRun Collection, a regional hub for commercial and residential development.
The project will create 450 construction jobs.
“We are very excited to be moving forward with construction on a new, state-of-the-art Hollywood Casino Joliet in an ideal location,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and president of PENN Entertainment. “Our close proximity to two interstates and surrounding mixed-use development will offer our modern facility with exceptional visibility and accessibility in the highly attractive Chicagoland market.”
A law signed in 2019 allows riverboat casinos to relocate on land and the existing Hollywood Casino Joliet on the Des Plaines River will remain open while the new structure is built.
Construction is expected to take about two years.
The RockRun Collection, by Cullinan Properties, proposes a mixed-use development including entertainment facilities, residential spaces, and retail areas. Future plans include the addition of a movie theatre and a large number of apartments, which will enrich the development’s appeal and utility.
