Hollywood Casino Aurora is a PENN Entertainment casino in Aurora, Illinois, whose replacement property opened near I-88 and Farnsworth Road on June 24, 2026. Its strongest appeal is the move toward a more self-contained casino trip, with hotel, dining, and entertainment facilities included in the development. The practical catch is that older downtown information describes a different location. It best suits visitors who want a casino outing in Aurora, but check individual services before arranging an overnight stay.
Hollywood Casino Aurora quick facts
| Location | Aurora, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Current address | 2500 N. Farnsworth Avenue |
| Operator | PENN Entertainment |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Poker room | No |
| On-property retail sportsbook | No |
| Former downtown address | 1 W. New York Street. Do not use this address for the new property. |
The new casino versus the former downtown property
The most important distinction here is not between slots and tables. It is between two locations carrying the same casino name.
The replacement opened on June 24, 2026, replacing the downtown riverboat operation. For a visit now, plan around the Farnsworth Avenue property rather than the former riverfront casino.
The City of Aurora’s development description outlines an 18.7-acre site with 1,200 gaming positions, a 220-room hotel with a spa, restaurants, event facilities, and a 1,000-car parking structure. These are development specifications, not a current inventory of operating services. “Gaming positions” also does not mean “slot machines,” and the city’s phrase “four-star quality” is not an independently awarded hotel rating.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Replacement development: Planned location, distinct from the downtown riverfront property | The city describes a relocation to an 18.7-acre site near I-88 and Farnsworth Road. This passage does not establish an opening date or confirm that the replacement property is operating. |
| Replacement development: Planned gaming capacity | The replacement development is described as having 1,200 gaming positions. This is not a published slot-machine count or a count for the downtown property. |
| Replacement development: Planned overnight amenities | The city describes a planned 220-room hotel with a spa as part of the replacement development. Its wording is “four-star quality,” not evidence of an independently awarded hotel rating. |
| Replacement development: Planned dining choices | Planned dining includes an Italian steakhouse, an Asian noodle bar, and a sports bar. These are replacement-development amenities, not confirmation of the downtown restaurant lineup or current restaurant availability. |
| Replacement development: Planned parking capacity | The replacement development includes a planned 1,000-car parking structure. The passage supplies no parking price, validation policy, or allocation between hotel and casino visitors. |
| Replacement development: Planned event uses | The city lists entertainment, weddings, meetings, conferences, and special events among the replacement property’s intended uses. It does not provide an operating event calendar or venue capacities. |
Research references: aurora.il.us.
Method: Published information collected 2026-10-17. The source observations remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
My practical comparison is simple: the former downtown setting suited an outing with stops elsewhere in Aurora; the replacement was designed to put more of the trip under one roof. That difference matters when choosing a hotel, arranging transportation, or deciding where to have dinner.
Casino games: what to plan around
Do not use the former downtown casino’s machine counts, table limits, or restaurant names as a guide to the replacement. If a particular game is the reason for your trip, check its availability and hours before leaving home.
Slots and video poker
Check the total wager before playing a slot. A penny denomination is not a promise of a one-cent spin, particularly when a game has multiple lines or bonus features.
For video poker, read the pay table before putting money in. Two machines offering the same named game can have different payouts. A busy bank of machines or somebody else’s jackpot story tells you nothing useful about what your session will return.
Table games
I would not make the drive expecting a particular $5 table. Available tables and posted limits can change with staffing, demand, and the time of your visit. Check the minimum, the rules, and, for blackjack, the payout on a natural before buying in.
Poker room and sportsbook
Hollywood Casino Aurora has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room or on-property retail sportsbook. Video poker and poker-themed house games are not poker rooms; sports TVs and mobile betting products are not an in-person sportsbook.
Hotel, restaurants, and entertainment
The replacement development includes plans for a 220-room hotel and spa, an Italian steakhouse, an Asian noodle bar, a sports bar, and event facilities. Check room availability, restaurant service hours, and the event calendar directly before making any one of them the centerpiece of your trip.
The former downtown casino had no attached hotel. Dining names associated with that location, including Fairbanks Steakhouse, the Penalty Box, and Take Two Deli, should not be treated as the replacement property’s restaurant lineup.
For an overnight comparison, put room charges, taxes, transportation, and parking costs on the same list. A cheaper room farther away is not necessarily the cheaper trip once you add travel in both directions. If walking straight from the casino to your room is essential, confirm that your reservation provides that experience.
Directions, parking, and practical costs
The Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau lists the new casino at 2500 N. Farnsworth Avenue, adjacent to Chicago Premium Outlets near I-88. Use that address rather than the former downtown New York Street address.
- Check the destination: Make sure navigation, reservations, and pickup arrangements point to Farnsworth Avenue.
- Check parking terms: The development’s parking capacity does not establish whether parking is free or whether validation is required.
- Plan the return journey: If using Metra, check the BNSF schedule and arrange the onward trip between Aurora station and the casino. For rideshare, choose a clear pickup point.
- Bring identification: You must be at least 21 to gamble. Carry valid government-issued photo identification.
- Separate trip costs from gambling money: Set aside food, transportation, and parking money before deciding what you can afford to gamble.
Casino hours do not automatically tell you when restaurants or individual table games are available. Check the specific service that matters to your visit.
Comparing destinations? See our guide to Illinois casinos.
Our take: who should visit?
Hollywood Casino Aurora is a sensible fit for adults who want a casino outing in Aurora and prefer the replacement property’s more self-contained concept to the former downtown setup. The meaningful trade-off is location: dinner, theater, and other downtown stops now require separate transportation planning rather than fitting naturally around the riverfront casino. If an attached room, spa appointment, or particular restaurant is essential, confirm those arrangements before booking; choose another property if it offers the specific experience you need with less coordination.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hollywood Casino Aurora now?
The new property is at 2500 N. Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora, Illinois, near I-88 and Chicago Premium Outlets. The former downtown address was 1 W. New York Street.
When did the replacement casino open?
The replacement property opened on June 24, 2026.
Does Hollywood Casino Aurora have a hotel?
A 220-room hotel and spa are included in the replacement development’s description. Check available rooms and services before booking. The former downtown casino had no attached hotel.
Does it have a poker room or sportsbook?
No. Hollywood Casino Aurora has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room or on-property retail sportsbook.
How old do you have to be to gamble?
You must be 21 or older. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Is Hollywood Casino Aurora the same as Hollywood Casino Joliet?
No. They are separate properties. Make sure directions, restaurant information, and reservations refer to Aurora.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.