PENN breaks ground on $100M Hollywood Casino Columbus hotel expansion

Penn Entertainment announced on Monday that it will be hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for a new hotel at its Hollywood Casino Columbus property in Ohio today, Tuesday, November 28.

The hotel, with an estimated budget of approximately $100 million, will be attached to the existing property and will add hundreds of construction jobs and approximately 100 new permanent jobs upon opening, the company said. The hotel is expected to include 180 rooms, meeting space, an additional restaurant, and local partnerships and amenities that will be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled to soon begin construction on a new, state-of-the-art hotel at Hollywood Casino Columbus,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment. “Since opening in 2012, our Columbus property has experienced tremendous growth, and the addition of a hotel at Hollywood Casino Columbus will create a true regional destination.”

The new hotel is part of a previously announced plan consisting of four new growth projects that include new land-based casinos in Aurora and Joliet, Illinois and an additional hotel tower in Henderson, Nevada. The City of Aurora will provide $50 million in funding for the project there while Penn’s publicly traded real estate investment trust Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI) has committed up to $575 million towards the overall $850 million budget for all four growth projects.

“We are elated to be celebrating this day with our team members, supporters, and key stakeholders,” said Rick Skinner, Vice President and General Manager of Hollywood Casino Columbus. “We can’t wait to begin hiring new team members and welcoming more visitors from around the region to showcase our new hotel and the excitement of Hollywood Casino Columbus.”

The forthcoming completion of the hotel at Hollywood Casino Columbus marks a significant milestone, positioning it as the inaugural casino within the quartet, comprising Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo, to integrate an on-premise accommodation facility. Hollywood Casino Columbus currently stands as the largest among the four casinos.

Located off I-270 West, the 160,000-square-foot gaming facility features 1700 slot machines, 70 table games, a retail sportsbook, and the largest poker room in Central Ohio. Dining options include The Lounge at Final Cut Steak & Seafood, Mikey’s LateNight Slice, Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace, Zen Noodle, Wahlburgers and Sportsbook Restaurant. Hollywood Casino Columbus also offers more than 16,000 square feet of multi-purpose banquet and event space.