Penn Entertainment Advances Major Casino Replacement Project in Council Bluffs
Penn Entertainment has scheduled the official groundbreaking for its new land-based Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on September 14, 2026, with construction expected to replace the existing Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat facility located directly across the Missouri River from Omaha. The development carries an estimated price tag between 180 and 200 million dollars and will feature roughly 1,000 slot machines along with 25 table games plus expanded food and beverage options that include the first Shake Shack location in the Omaha market and a Red Lotus Asian cuisine restaurant.
The project timeline calls for 18 to 24 months of construction activity leading to a targeted opening around 2028 once all necessary regulatory approvals are secured. Officials have indicated that the new facility will sit on land adjacent to the current riverboat operation, allowing for a transition that maintains continuous service during the build-out phase while shifting operations to a permanent land-based structure.
Project Scope and Design Elements
Construction crews will deliver a full-service casino hotel that incorporates modern gaming floors, multiple dining venues, and supporting infrastructure designed to serve both local patrons and visitors traveling from the Omaha metropolitan area. The inclusion of teh Shake Shack marks an expansion of national quick-service brands into the regional market, while the Red Lotus concept adds a dedicated Asian dining option that complements existing offerings in Council Bluffs.
Design specifications call for approximately 1,000 slot machines and 25 table games, numbers that align with current Iowa gaming regulations for the property. The shift from a riverboat to a land-based venue removes previous operational constraints tied to water levels and seasonal flooding, giving operators greater flexibility in floor layout and guest amenities.
Timeline and Regulatory Path
Groundbreaking is set for September 14, 2026, with site preparation and foundation work expected to begin immediately thereafter. Project managers have outlined an 18-to-24-month construction window that places the earliest possible opening in late 2027 or early 2028, although final dates remain subject to permitting and inspection milestones.
State and local approvals still must be finalized before full-scale vertical construction can commence, adn Penn Entertainment has stated that the company will work closely with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission throughout the review process. Observers note that similar land-based conversions in other Iowa markets have typically cleared regulatory hurdles within six to nine months when submitted with complete engineering documentation.
Economic and Employment Impact
The development is projected to generate 450 construction jobs during the active building phase and to create 50 new permanent positions once the facility opens. These figures represent direct employment tied specifically to the Council Bluffs project and do not include secondary economic activity expected from increased visitor traffic and supplier contracts.
Local economic development officials have highlighted the project as a continuation of ongoing investment along the Missouri River corridor, where gaming properties have contributed to regional tax revenues and tourism metrics for more than two decades. Data from the American Gaming Association shows that Iowa's commercial casino sector supported more than 12,000 jobs statewide in recent reporting periods, providing context for the scale of employment tied to individual property upgrades such as this one.
Transition From Riverboat Operations
The existing Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat will remain in operation until the new land-based facility reaches completion, ensuring uninterrupted gaming and hospitality services for customers. Once the permanent structure opens, the riverboat is expected to be decommissioned or repurposed according to separate plans that have not yet been publicly detailed.
Operators have emphasized that the move to a land-based site will allow for expanded square footage and improved accessibility compared with the floating vessel currently in use. The new building will integrate hotel accommodations, gaming space, and dining outlets under a single roof, creating a more cohesive guest experience than the riverboat configuration permitted.
Conclusion
The September 14, 2026 groundbreaking marks the formal start of a multi-year effort by Penn Entertainment to modernize its Council Bluffs asset and align it with contemporary land-based casino standards. With projected costs between 180 and 200 million dollars, a mix of 1,000 slots and 25 table games, signature dining additions, and several hundred construction and permanent jobs, the Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs development represents a significant capital commitment in the regional gaming market. All timelines remain contingent on regulatory approvals, yet the project framework is now in place for work to begin on the announced date.