One of Louisiana’s longtime riverboat casinos could be heading ashore as part of a major investment in the New Orleans-area gaming market.
PENN Entertainment has announced plans to spend approximately $195 million to move Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans from its existing riverboat operation in Harvey to a newly constructed landside property. The company also plans to retire the Boomtown name and reopen the gaming operation as Hollywood Casino New Orleans.
The proposal still requires regulatory approval, but PENN is targeting a 2029 opening. Plans call for roughly 140,000 square feet of new development, approximately 875 slot machines, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook, and several restaurants. The existing Boomtown hotel is expected to remain in operation after the riverboat is vacated.
Boomtown has operated along the Harvey Canal since 1994, making the proposal a substantial change for a property that has been part of the local market for more than three decades.
The move is possible because Louisiana changed its riverboat rules in 2018. Act 469 allows a licensed riverboat operator to apply to relocate gaming operations to a facility within 1,200 feet of its licensed berth. Operators seeking approval must submit relocation and capital investment plans to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Boomtown recorded approximately 778,000 visits and about $104 million in gaming revenue during the fiscal year running from July 2025 through June 2026. The proposed Hollywood property would dramatically expand the existing gaming space while adding more of the dining and entertainment amenities associated with modern casino resorts.
For players, however, the expansion remains focused on in-person casino gambling. Louisiana has regulated mobile sports wagering, but it has not followed states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan by authorizing state-regulated real-money online casino games.
Other Local Casino Developments
Boomtown isn’t the only Louisiana property moving away from the traditional riverboat model.
The trend dates back to Act 469, which provided eligible operators with a pathway to relocate their gaming floors to nearby land. The Queen Baton Rouge opened its new $62 million landside facility in 2023, while Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner followed with a $100 million land-based property in 2024.
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana opened in Bossier City in February 2025, replacing the former DiamondJacks license with a new land-based resort. The property launched with more than 1,000 slot machines, 40 live table games, a sportsbook, a 550-room hotel, restaurants, bars, and a 25,000-square-foot event center.
Another riverboat could soon make the transition. Boyd Gaming has announced plans involving the Amelia Belle near Morgan City, adding another property to the list of operators looking toward landside gaming.
Are Offshore Casinos Legal in Louisiana?
Louisiana does not currently license conventional online casinos that offer games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, or baccarat.
The sites recommended at OnlineLouisianCasinos.com operate outside Louisiana’s regulated gaming system and do not hold licenses from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Several international operators accept registrations from Louisiana residents, creating an online option that players can encounter despite the absence of a state-authorized iGaming market.
Many LA players tend to wager online for numerous reasons, including convenience, larger bonuses, acceptance of digital assets, a wider game selection, among other factors. While the state does not license offshore gambling sites, they do hold licenses from international gaming regulators and offer real money online casino games to US players over the age of 18.