PENN Entertainment Inc. has announced that it expects to open the new land-based Hollywood Casino Aurora to the public on Wednesday, June 24, pending customary regulatory approvals. This will be the second all-new PENN property to open in the Chicagoland region following the grand opening of the land-based Hollywood Casino Joliet in August 2025.

The new $360 million entertainment destination is being developed across from Chicago Premium Outlets, located near Interstate-88 in Aurora. The state-of-the-art property will feature a luxurious hotel, more than 1200 gaming positions, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, premium bars and restaurants, a 12,000 square foot event center and approximately 1700 parking spaces. The Company expects to employ approximately 700 team members at the new casino, which nearly doubles PENN’s existing employee roster in Aurora.

“We are now months away from opening another premium entertainment destination in the greater Chicago region. We are thrilled to follow the successful rollout of Hollywood Casino Joliet last summer with another new land-based property, strengthening our overall retail portfolio in the Midwest and deepening our roots in the community,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment.

Hollywood Casino Aurora will feature an upscale 226-room hotel offering a variety of standard rooms and suites, as well as a beauty and wellness space, Drift Spa.

The new property will also be outfitted with numerous world class dining experiences for guests to enjoy. As previously announced, PENN has partnered with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis to open Sorella by Giada. The Italian-California fusion restaurant will offer approximately 170 seats for indoor and outdoor dining, a contemporary bar and private dining options.

Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, operated by McClain Camarota Hospitality (MCH), will include Lucky Goat by celebrity chef Stephanie Izard; Five50 Pizza, a pizza concept from the renowned chefs at MCH; and Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream. Additional restaurant partners that will be unique to Aurora’s Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will be announced in the coming weeks.

“These popular restaurateurs will provide our customers with amazing dining options at the new Hollywood Casino Aurora. Together with our hotel, event center, spa and additional amenities, patrons will experience a vibrant atmosphere at this new area attraction,” said Rafael Verde, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations at PENN Entertainment.

The 12,000 square foot event center will be equipped to host a variety of events, including meetings, conferences, weddings, galas, entertainment and more. Entertainment bookings are already underway, and the first public events will be announced soon.

Additional details related to the grand opening of the new casino will be provided in advance of June 24. The Company expects to work with the Illinois Gaming Board on the transfer of operations from the existing Hollywood Casino Aurora, which is located on the Fox River in downtown Aurora, to the new landside facility as the opening date nears.

In conjunction with this $360 million project, PENN expects to receive $225 million in funding from Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. near the project’s opening, at a 7.75% capitalization rate. By the end of the year, the Company also expects to receive the remaining $21 million of the $50 million in funding being contributed by the City of Aurora by year end.

White Hat Studios, a dedicated US iGaming market supplier, has unveiled Amplify Suite, a comprehensive engagement ecosystem designed to deliver operators flexibility, creative autonomy, and measurable commercial impact.

Amplify consolidates the provider’s promotional tools and proprietary content into a fully connected, scalable framework, equipping operators with a diverse range of performance-enhancing solutions engineered to maximise growth across regulated US markets.

Built on an API-first foundation, the suite incorporates White Hat Studios’ Engage promotional engine, comprised of tools such as Win Spins, Super Mode, and Triggers, alongside its award-winning Progressive Jackpot networks. This services an increasing demand for advanced gamification tools, enabling operators to stimulate user activity and drive sustained engagement.

These promotional tools are complemented by the studio’s first-class content portfolio. With a track record of creating custom products for tier-one operators, Amplify Bespoke will build on this momentum to deliver bespoke slots that support deeper brand integration and exclusive IP ownership.

Amplify Franchises transforms standalone hits into enduring game families, exemplified by the US-renowned 7s Fire Blitz series. By leveraging player familiarity and brand loyalty, franchises consistently drive momentum upon launch and can reignite traction across a game brand.

The suite is further strengthened by Amplify Omni, enabled through the studio’s landmark distribution agreement with Gaming Arts. The partnership facilitates the conversion and distribution of White Hat Studios content across US land-based casinos, while also supporting the transition of land-based titles into regulated online markets for the first time.

This powerful two-way content pipeline enhances the ecosystem, allowing US brands to engage and convert players seamlessly between casino floors and digital platforms.

The launch of Amplify represents a significant milestone in White Hat Studios’ strategic evolution, connecting its full product portfolio within a single, unified framework. Custom-built for US markets, the suite is set to redefine how operators engage their audiences and elevate commercial performance.

Daniel Lechner, SVP Sales and Marketing at White Hat Studios, said: “Amplify will serve as the promotional and engagement backbone of White Hat Studios. Bringing our diverse offering under one cohesive ecosystem, the suite is optimised to deliver tangible impact across the entire player journey.

“By combining configurable engagement tools with premium, high-performing content, Amplify empowers US operators to differentiate and scale within competitive environments.”