PENN Entertainment Launches New Hollywood Casino App in Pennsylvania

Rhea-AI Summary

PENN Entertainment has launched its new standalone Hollywood Casino app in Pennsylvania, featuring over 700 iCasino games. Built on PENN's proprietary technology platform, the app offers daily promotions, jackpots, and various gaming options including slots, table games, and live dealer content. Users can access the platform through either the ESPN BET app or the new Hollywood Casino app using the same login credentials.

The app includes exclusive features like bespoke live dealer tables, a dedicated 'Casino Floor' lobby, and original titles from PENN Game Studios. It's fully integrated with PENN Play, the company's loyalty program, allowing members to earn and redeem rewards. PENN plans to expand the Hollywood Casino app to additional jurisdictions in early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

Positive

• Launch of proprietary technology platform with 700+ iCasino games
• Integration with existing ESPN BET platform for seamless user experience
• Development of original content through in-house PENN Game Studios
• Planned expansion to additional markets in 2025

Negative

• None.

Insights

Product Strategy Analyst

PENN's launch of a dedicated Hollywood Casino app in Pennsylvania marks a strategic pivot in their digital gaming portfolio. The integration with ESPN BET credentials and PENN Play loyalty program creates a powerful cross-platform ecosystem that could significantly boost user retention and revenue per user. The proprietary technology platform with 700+ games positions PENN competitively against established iGaming operators like DraftKings and FanDuel.

The development of original content through PENN Game Studios adds a unique value proposition and higher-margin revenue stream, while the planned expansion into new jurisdictions in 2025 indicates strong growth potential. The "Casino Floor" feature bridges the digital-retail gap, potentially driving traffic to physical locations. However, the highly competitive nature of the Pennsylvania iGaming market, with established operators holding significant market share, presents immediate challenges for meaningful revenue generation.

Digital Gaming Expert

The technical architecture of PENN's new app demonstrates sophisticated platform integration. The seamless login system between ESPN BET and Hollywood Casino creates a frictionless user experience that could drive higher engagement rates. The inclusion of live dealer content and bespoke tables suggests a premium positioning strategy, while the proprietary game development capability through PENN Game Studios provides a competitive edge in content differentiation.

The most compelling aspect is the omnichannel approach through PENN Play, which creates a unified gaming ecosystem across digital and retail touchpoints. This infrastructure investment signals PENN's commitment to capturing a larger share of the digital gaming market, though initial revenue impact may be modest until the platform achieves scale across multiple jurisdictions.

WYOMISSING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PENN Entertainment, Inc. (“PENN” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PENN) is pleased to announce the launch of its stand-alone Hollywood Casino app in Pennsylvania. Built on PENN’s proprietary technology platform, Hollywood Casino offers more than 700 iCasino games, a variety of daily promotions, and exciting jackpots.

PENN Entertainment launches new Hollywood Casino app in Pennsylvania (Graphic: Business Wire)

Available on Android, iOS and desktop, customers in the Keystone State can access Hollywood Casino through either the ESPN BET app or through the new Hollywood Casino app using their same ESPN BET login credentials, allowing for a seamless experience across PENN’s online betting and casino platforms. PENN plans to launch Hollywood Casino in additional jurisdictions in 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

Hollywood Casino features a variety of online slots, table games and live dealer content, including bespoke live dealer tables and a dedicated ‘Casino Floor’ lobby that allows users to easily find virtual versions of their favorite slot games from PENN’s retail properties. Hollywood Casino also features original titles from PENN Game Studios, PENN’s in-house casino game development studio that has produced a number of popular online games, including Legendary Larry^TM and Wuji Mines^TM.

“We’re excited to launch Hollywood Casino as a stand-alone app in Pennsylvania, giving our customers access to their favorite games in a dedicated, casino-first experience,” said Aaron LaBerge, Chief Technology Officer at PENN Entertainment. “With four Hollywood Casino properties in the state, the app leverages our trusted retail brand and creates a seamless connection between our online and retail gaming experiences. We look forward to bringing this enhanced Hollywood Casino experience to more iCasino markets in early 2025, pending regulatory approvals.”

Hollywood Casino is also fully integrated with PENN Play, the Company’s omnichannel loyalty program that allows members to earn and redeem rewards, including PENN Cash, exclusive tier benefits and personalized services.

PENN is committed to providing a safe environment for all customers to enjoy gaming responsibly. ESPN BET and Hollywood Casino offer players comprehensive Responsible Gaming tools and resources, including limits on time, deposits, and wagering amounts. To learn more, visit www.pennentertainment.com/corp/responsible-gaming.

Must be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

About PENN Entertainment

PENN Entertainment, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (“PENN,” or the “Company”), is North America’s leading provider of integrated entertainment, sports content, and casino gaming experiences. PENN operates in 26 jurisdictions throughout North America, with a broadly diversified portfolio of casinos, racetracks and online sports betting and iCasino offerings under well-recognized brands including Hollywood Casino^®, L’Auberge^®, ESPN BET™ and theScore BET Sportsbook and Casino^®. PENN’s ability to leverage its partnership with ESPN, the “worldwide leader in sports,” and its ownership of theScore, the top digital sports media brand in Canada, is central to the Company’s highly differentiated strategy to expand its footprint and efficiently grow its customer ecosystem. PENN’s focus on organic cross-sell opportunities is reinforced by its market-leading retail casinos, sports media assets, and technology, including a proprietary state-of-the-art, fully integrated digital sports and iCasino betting platform and an in-house iCasino content studio (PENN Game Studios). The Company’s portfolio is further bolstered by its industry-leading PENN Play™ customer loyalty program, offering its 31 million members a unique set of rewards and experiences.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “goal,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “look forward to,” or “anticipates” or the negative or other variations of these or similar words, or by discussions of future events, strategies or risks and uncertainties. These statements are based upon management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates and are not guarantees of timing, future results, or performance. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated in these statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those factors described in PENN Entertainment’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including PENN Entertainment's current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except for PENN Entertainment’s ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, PENN Entertainment undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241218045402/en/

Media:

Dan Sabreen, PENN Entertainment, dan.sabreen@pennentertainment.com

Source: PENN Entertainment, Inc.

FAQ

What games are available on PENN's new Hollywood Casino app in Pennsylvania?

The Hollywood Casino app offers over 700 iCasino games, including online slots, table games, live dealer content, and original titles from PENN Game Studios like Legendary Larry™ and Wuji Mines™.

When will PENN Entertainment expand Hollywood Casino app to other states?

PENN Entertainment plans to launch Hollywood Casino in additional jurisdictions in early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

Can ESPN BET users access the new Hollywood Casino app with their existing credentials?

Yes, customers can access Hollywood Casino through either the ESPN BET app or the new Hollywood Casino app using their same ESPN BET login credentials.

What loyalty benefits does PENN's Hollywood Casino app offer?

The app is integrated with PENN Play loyalty program, allowing members to earn and redeem rewards, including PENN Cash, exclusive tier benefits, and personalized services.

What responsible gaming features does PENN's Hollywood Casino app include?

The app offers comprehensive responsible gaming tools including limits on time, deposits, and wagering amounts, along with resources for problem gambling support.