Hundreds Stand In Line For Hollywood Casino's Joliet Grand Opening: Photos

JOLIET, IL — Back in December 2023, the city of Joliet celebrated the groundbreaking of the Hollywood Casino's new location, and at 10 a.m. Monday, Mayor Terry D'Arcy joined several high-ranking officials with PENN Entertainment as the company opened its new Joliet Hollywood Casino.

The new casino is visible from Interstate 55. It's at the new Rock Run Collections, near I-80 and I-55. Several hundred people gathered for Monday's 10 a.m. grand opening celebration that included a traditional ribbon-cutting. Ruben Warren is the general manager and CEO for the new Joliet Hollywood Casino.

Hollywood Casino Joliet’s 10,000-square-foot event center includes a customizable layout to accommodate weddings, galas, community events, concerts, sports events, meetings, and more. The event center is also accessible for all ages.

“We would like to officially welcome players and guests to the all-new Hollywood Casino Joliet,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment. “After approximately 20 months of construction, we are thrilled to open the doors to this land-based entertainment destination. We are proud of our 30-year history in Will County and are committed to continuing our investment in the community by creating new jobs, providing important tax revenue, and serving as a new attraction to bring even more visitors to the area.”

“This opening marks an exciting new era of entertainment in Joliet,” said Todd George, executive vice president of operations for PENN. “We’re grateful for the support from the city of Joliet, the Illinois Gaming Board, and our business and community partners who contributed to the successful development of this new property. We look forward to delivering an elevated experience with world-class dining, entertainment, and gaming options for patrons across the region.”

The roughly 189,000 square foot entertainment destination employs approximately 600 and generated around 450 construction jobs. Open seven days a week and 24 hours a day, the fun and excitement will continue 365 days a yea, according to Hollywood Casino's marketing and promotions team.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people, mostly senior citizens, waited in the parking garage or in front of the casino entrance for the casino to officially open to the public at 4 p.m.

The land-based $185 million entertainment destination features approximately 1,000 slots and 43 live table games, an ESPN BET sportsbook and more.

Mayor D’Arcy talked about the entertainment destination’s importance to regional tourism and its significant economic impact as a leading employer, tax revenue generator and community supporter.