The new Hollywood Casino can accommodate nearly 9,000 guests. That's approximately 5,000 more than the former Argosy Casino's capacity.

Press Release

Lawrenceburg, Indiana and Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, June 29, 2009 – The curtain lifts on a new gaming experience today in Lawrenceburg as the former Argosy Casino Hotel owned by Penn National Gaming, Inc. unveils a new $336 million casino boat and becomes Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg.

Lawrenceburg Mayor William Cunningham and other elected officials joined Penn National Gaming Chief Executive Officer Peter M. Carlino at the opening and ribbon cutting ceremony.

“With four years of planning, two years of construction and a significant capital investment, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg is bringing guests new gaming and entertainment experiences that are unrivaled in the market,” said Carlino. “The Hollywood décor and theme is flawlessly executed throughout the facility, we have added a large number of slots and gaming positions to accommodate significantly more patrons during peak periods and we have expanded parking and made infrastructure improvements which will make the facility more accessible than ever before.

“The new facility is so impressive that it was recently selected as a stop on the World Poker Tour®, and we’ve established the World Poker Tour room at the facility, which will be the premier poker room for Midwest players. We are grateful for the support of local and state government officials and regulators throughout the planning and development process and look forward to bringing our special brand of ‘Hollywood’ entertainment to visitors from across the tri-state region.”

Marked by the scale, grandeur and modern design of the project, the new Hollywood Casino boat is more than twice the size of the property’s existing casino vessel and offers 4,400 gaming positions – the most of any riverboat casino in the United States. Hollywood’s two decks, each wider than an aircraft carrier and nearly as long as a football field, can accommodate nearly 9,000 guests, approximately a 5,000-person increase from the casino’s former capacity.

The new Hollywood Casino, which offers more gaming entertainment for tri-state players than ever before, is expected to generate $25 to $35 million in additional annual tax revenue for the State of Indiana and City of Lawrenceburg over the [$62] million of wagering and admissions taxes generated in 2008.

Style and Design
The classic style and glamour of 1930s art deco Hollywood is evident throughout the casino and is complemented by the latest technology and amenities designed for ultimate guest comfort. Among the casino’s major attractions is an exclusive VIP Producer’s Lounge, expanded high-limit gaming area and a 41-table World Poker TourÒ poker room, the largest card room of any kind in the Midwest.

The casino brings classic Hollywood to life with a 60-foot serpentine video wall, nine large billboards and more than 300 flat screen displays featuring first-run movie trailers, video shorts, entertainment programming and sporting events.

At the center of it all is Hollywood on the Roof, a performance area with a panoramic screen resembling the Hollywood Bowl where bands can entertain guests and video content can be projected in grand scale. Hollywood on the Roof features a high-energy circular bar that looks out onto the casino atrium and its giant eye-catching chandelier.

The casino floor is marked by two back-lot Hollywood film sets: Central Park, complete with a classic wrought iron gate at the perimeter and trees and foliage sprinkled among slot machines; and Water Works, designed to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a Busby Berkeley movie.

“We really didn’t have an identity when we were Argosy, but the classic Hollywood theme is something that resonates with every guest,” said Tony Rodio, Hollywood Lawrenceburg general manager. “Our goal is to create an energetic yet sophisticated ambiance that exudes Hollywood no matter where you play on the floor, and to deliver a unique experience each and every visit a player makes here.”

Thirty-foot ceilings that slope upward to 45 feet add to the spaciousness of the casino, and 12 bio-climatic air-handling units ensure that guests enjoy fresh air while they play, something missing from older generation riverboat casinos.

On the casino floor, the 108-seat Celebrity Grill, featuring a Hollywood canteen-style menu, serves sandwiches, salads and sweets. Hollywood Casino also offers additional eateries including a large buffet and a steakhouse in its entertainment pavilion.

Players Club and VIP Treatment
Just prior to entering the new casino boat, guests can visit the player’s services desk and pick up their new Club Hollywood card, which replaces the casino’s Preferred Card. Club Hollywood features three levels based on a guest’s amount of play – Club, Celebrity and Producer.

Players with a Producer’s Card can relax in the new Producer’s Lounge just inside the casino entrance. The lounge features an exclusive bar and specialty food service along with couch seating and a fireplace.

Electronic Machines
Once inside the casino, the gaming action is hot. Players can choose from an array of almost 3,300 state-of-the-art electronic machines, up from 2,400 electronic games on the casino’s former boat. The games range from penny slots to high-limit machines, progressives, electronic table games and video poker. There is an expanded high limit area near Hollywood on the Roof on the upper deck, and a non-smoking area on the lower level with four hundred slot machines.

“We have 900 more electronic units than we had on the former boat,” said Rodio. “Players can find all their favorite games along with new ones such as Monopoly, Wizard of Oz, Bally Hot Shot and Hot Hot Penny. We’ve also doubled the number of video poker units we offer and now feature well over 30 limited progressive banks, including many that are multi-level.”

Table Games and Poker
The new Hollywood boat features 88 live table games and six electronic tables (up from 64 tables and two electronic tables on the previous boat). Fifteen different table games are offered with new variations added to many favorites. In the casino’s expanded high limit area, 18 tables are featured including six “super high limit” blackjack tables.

“The goal was to add more variety among our most popular games,” said Rodio. “Our blackjack players will find that we’ve introduced several new side bet options that offer extra chances to win.”

The new additions, designed to enhance Hollywood Casino’s variety of popular table games, include rapid roulette, three-card poker progressive, fortune pai gow poker and lucky ladies blackjack.

The new World Poker Tour (WPT) poker room will establish Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg as the poker capital of the Midwest. The casino will host four WPT tournaments in the coming year, including the Indiana State Poker Championships in August and the Hollywood Poker Open Championship in March 2010, an event filmed for broadcast on FOX Sports Net in the United States and on leading networks in more than 100 countries worldwide, and hosted by poker and WPT veterans Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten.

About Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Hollywood Casino is located on the Ohio River in the City of Lawrenceburg, Indiana just off I-275, less than 30 minutes from Cincinnati. With 4,400 gaming positions, Hollywood is the largest riverboat casino in the United States with 3,232 slot machines, 88 table games and a 41-table World Poker Tour poker room. The property includes a 300-room hotel and multiple dining options to meet every guests need. On-site parking is available for up to 4,000 vehicles. For more information, visit www.hollywoodindiana.com

Source: Hollywood Casino