The old riverboat era is dying. Honestly, it’s been on life support for a while now. If you’ve ever driven past the current Hollywood Casino Joliet site on Empress Station, you know the vibe—it’s tucked away, a bit isolated, and literally floating on a barge. But that’s all changing. The Hollywood Casino Joliet opening at its new home in Rock Run Crossings isn't just a simple relocation. It’s a massive, $185 million bet by PENN Entertainment that land-based gaming is the only way forward in Illinois.
It’s about location. Pure and simple.
Right now, the casino is basically sitting in an industrial pocket that feels like a detour. By moving to the northeast corner of I-55 and I-80, the new Hollywood Casino Joliet is planting itself at one of the busiest highway junctions in the entire Midwest. We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of cars passing by every single day. You can't buy that kind of organic visibility. Or well, I guess PENN just did for nearly two hundred million dollars.
What’s Actually Changing with the Hollywood Casino Joliet Opening?
Everything.
The most obvious shift is the transition from water to land. Under older Illinois laws, these casinos had to be over water, leading to those somewhat cramped, multi-level layouts that feel a bit like a maze. The new spot is a sprawling, modern land-based facility.
Think 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Think about a high-tech Barstool Sportsbook that actually feels like a destination rather than a corner with a few TVs. The gaming floor itself is slated to house roughly 800 slot machines and 45 live table games. It’s about quality over quantity here. While the machine count isn't doubling, the experience of playing is being completely overhauled.
The project broke ground in late 2023, and since then, the construction crews have been aggressive. You’ve probably seen the cranes if you’re commuting toward Shorewood or Channahon. PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden has been pretty vocal about the fact that their "legacy" riverboat assets were underperforming compared to what they could do on dry land. They saw what happened in other markets when casinos moved out of the water. Revenue usually spikes. Convenience is king.
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The Rock Run Crossings Factor
You can't talk about the Hollywood Casino Joliet opening without talking about the broader Rock Run Crossings development. This isn't just a casino in a vacuum. It’s the anchor tenant for a 300-acre "live-work-play" mega-site.
We’re looking at:
- Over 500 apartment units.
- A massive cinema complex.
- Retailers that haven't even been announced yet but are circling the site like hawks.
- A proposed hotel that will eventually connect to the casino.
Joliet officials, including Mayor Terry D’Arcy, have been banking on this for years. The city needs the tax revenue, sure, but they also need a win. The old site will likely be repurposed, though the specifics of that are still somewhat up in the air. Some talk of light industrial use, others hope for something more creative. But the focus is strictly on the I-55/I-80 split right now.
It’s a strategic play against the new competition. Remember, the Wind Creek Chicago Southland is a factor now. The Bally’s project in Chicago is looming. If Hollywood stayed in its current hole in the ground, it would eventually get suffocated. This move is a survival tactic wrapped in a luxury package.
Jobs, Revenue, and the Local Impact
Let’s talk money. Real money.
The construction phase alone has been a massive boon for local trades. We’re looking at roughly 450 construction jobs. Once the doors actually swing open, the casino is expected to employ around 515 people. A lot of those will be transfers from the current site, but there's a significant bump in new hiring for the expanded food and beverage outlets.
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Speaking of food, they aren't just doing a generic buffet. The trend in 2025 and 2026 has been toward "celebrity" concepts and high-end steakhouses. Expect a refined version of the Final Cut Steakhouse and a much more integrated Barstool-branded dining experience.
The tax revenue is the real kicker for Joliet. Between gaming taxes, property taxes, and the sheer volume of incidental spending at nearby gas stations and shops, the "casino effect" is real. Critics will point out the social costs of gambling—and those are valid—but from a pure municipal budget standpoint, this is a cornerstone project for the city's next twenty years.
The Design Shift: No More "Boat" Vibes
If you’ve spent any time in the old Empress or Hollywood riverboats, you know that slightly claustrophobic feeling. Low ceilings. Narrow aisles.
The new Hollywood Casino Joliet is going for high ceilings and open sightlines. The architectural plans emphasize a modern, glass-heavy aesthetic that looks more like a Vegas boutique hotel than a Midwestern gambling hall. They want people to stay longer. You don’t stay long when you feel like you’re in a basement. You stay long when there’s natural light, high-end HVAC systems that actually clear the smoke, and easy access to a bar that doesn't require a hike between floors.
Timing and What to Expect Next
Construction is a fickle beast, but the timeline has remained surprisingly steady. The Hollywood Casino Joliet opening is targeted for a 2026 debut.
What happens to the old site? That’s the question everyone asks. PENN owns the land. Historically, when these riverboats move, the old equipment is sold for scrap or moved to other markets, and the land is cleared for industrial development. Given the proximity to the Des Plaines River and existing rail lines, it’s prime territory for logistics—which, let’s be honest, is Joliet’s other main industry.
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Why Some People are Skeptical
It’s not all sunshine and slot wins. Some local residents in the nearby subdivisions are worried about traffic. I-55 and I-80 are already a nightmare during rush hour. Adding a major casino and a massive retail hub to that interchange is like pouring gasoline on a fire.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has been working on interchange improvements, but anyone who lives in Will County knows that "roadwork" usually means years of orange cones before things get better. There’s also the question of market saturation. With the new Waukegan casino, the Chicago permanent site, and the Southland projects, are there enough gamblers to go around?
PENN is betting that their "mychoice" (now PENN Play) rewards loyalty program will keep people coming back. They have a massive database of players. They aren't just looking for new people; they’re looking to give their existing whales a reason to stop driving to Hammond or Rivers in Des Plaines.
How to Prepare for the Grand Opening
If you’re planning on hitting the floor on day one, keep a few things in mind. Grand openings are historically chaotic.
- Check your PENN Play status now. If you have rewards points or vouchers at the current Hollywood Joliet, they will almost certainly migrate to the new property, but it's worth verifying your account details before the old system goes offline during the transition.
- Expect traffic detours. Even with the new ramps, the first few months will be a learning curve for local drivers.
- Book dining early. The new restaurants will be the biggest draw for non-gamblers. If they open up reservations for the steakhouse, grab them weeks in advance.
- Watch the promos. PENN usually goes hard with "loss leader" promotions during a launch. Expect car giveaways, massive slot tournaments, and status match offers to lure people away from competitors like Grand Victoria or Harrah's.
The move to Rock Run Crossings represents a total shift in how gaming works in the Chicago suburbs. It’s no longer about being "on the water" as a legal loophole. It’s about being on the highway as a business powerhouse. The Hollywood Casino Joliet opening will be the final nail in the coffin for the old riverboat style, and honestly, most players won't miss the stairs one bit.
Actionable Steps for Casino Patrons and Locals
- Sign up for the PENN Play app immediately to track the specific transition dates and "sneak peek" invites for the new facility.
- Monitor the City of Joliet’s public works site for updates on the Houbolt Road extension and I-80 bridge projects, as these will directly impact your route to the new casino.
- If you are a local business owner, look into vendor registration with PENN Entertainment; they often prioritize local sourcing for everything from linens to landscaping during a new property launch.
- Keep an eye on the old Empress Station site for liquidation sales. When these old boats close, you can often find commercial kitchen equipment or office furniture at a fraction of the cost during the decommissioning phase.
The transition is happening. The steel is up. The only thing left is the final countdown to the first spin on the new floor.