Penn Entertainment Moves Forward with Major Land-Based Casino Replacement in Council Bluffs
Penn Entertainment has scheduled the official groundbreaking for its new Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on September 14, 2026, marking a shift from the current riverboat operation to a permanent land-based facility valued between 180 and 200 million dollars.
The project replaces the adjacent Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat casino with a structure that includes roughly 1,000 slot machines and 25 table games, while adding dining venues such as the first Shake Shack in the Omaha area and Red Lotus Asian cuisine.
Timeline and Construction Details
Work on the site begins in September 2026 and carries an 18 to 24 month construction window, which places the expected opening near 2028 once all required approvals are secured; observers note that the schedule aligns with similar expansions across Midwest gaming markets where land-based conversions have replaced floating vessels.
Construction crews will generate approximately 450 temporary positions during the build phase, while the completed venue is projected to support 50 new permanent roles once operations commence; these figures come from company announcements tied directly to the Council Bluffs location.
Facility Features and Amenities
The design incorporates expanded food and beverage options that extend beyond the gaming floor, including Shake Shack and Red Lotus as anchor dining concepts that introduce national and regional cuisine choices to visitors from both sides of the Missouri River.
Slot and table game counts remain comparable to the existing riverboat yet benefit from modern infrastructure that allows for future technology upgrades and improved guest circulation; the land-based format eliminates seasonal river level concerns that have affected riverboat operations in past years.
Economic Impact on Local Area
City and county officials have reviewed the project as part of broader redevelopment efforts along the riverfront corridor, where the shift to a fixed structure supports year-round access and larger event spaces than the current floating platform can accommodate.
Regional tourism data indicates that Omaha-Council Bluffs visitors often combine casino trips with dining and entertainment, and the addition of branded restaurants such as Shake Shack is expected to draw additional foot traffic from both local residents and cross-river travelers.
Regulatory and Approval Process
Final permits and licensing reviews remain pending through Iowa regulatory channels, including the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, before full construction can proceed without interruption; teh company has stated that the September 2026 groundbreaking date assumes timely completion of these steps.
Similar conversions in other states have required coordination between local zoning boards, environmental reviews, and gaming regulators, a pattern that Council Bluffs follows as the project moves from planning documents into active site work.
Comparison to Existing Operations
The Ameristar riverboat currently operates adjacent to the planned site, and Penn Entertainment intends to maintain continuous gaming availability during the transition by keeping the riverboat open until the new facility reaches completion; this phased approach mirrors strategies used in other jurisdictions where operators replaced vessels with land-based buildings.
Once the new structure opens, the riverboat will be decommissioned, freeing riverfront space for potential alternative uses while the permanent casino hotel serves as the primary destination.
Conclusion
The September 2026 groundbreaking initiates a multi-year process that will reshape the Council Bluffs gaming landscape through a 180 to 200 million dollar investment, new dining concepts, and expanded employment opportunities that extend beyond the immediate construction period. Updates on permitting progress and final opening dates will continue to emerge as the project advances toward its 2028 target.