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On Wednesday, PENN Entertainment, Inc. introduced the new Hollywood Casino app, exclusively available in Pennsylvania.
This launch is a surprise, as the company’s Chief Executive Officer Jay Snowden said the launch will happen in early 2025. In PENN Entertainment’s Q1 2024 earnings call, he said:
“We will have that ready to go in very early ’25, hopefully a little earlier, but we’ll say early ’25.”
Aaron LaBerge, chief technology officer at PENN Entertainment, is beaming with pride over the launch. For him, the app embodies the company’s objective to create a unified gaming experience that bridges the online and retail worlds. LaBerge said in a company press release:
“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.”
With this momentum, PENN Entertainment is already looking to the future, with plans to introduce the Hollywood Casino app in more states by early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.
“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,” LaBerge added.
What features does Hollywood Casino bring to Pennsylvanian players?
PENN’s technology powers the app, and this standalone app features:
- Over 700 online casino games
- Daily promotions
- Jackpots
The app can now be downloaded on iOS and Android devices. Pennsylvania players can also access the Hollywood Casino app through the ESPN BET app or by logging in directly.
What’s more, the Hollywood Casino app hosts various original games from PENN Game Studios. This shows another big step in the company’s digital gaming expansion.
With a war chest of $6.3 billion in annual revenues, PENN can continue investing in digital innovation, even as the market navigates turbulent times. Yet, the company’s stock price has taken a hit.
PENN stock dropped 26.36% year-to-date—a sobering reminder of the industry’s inherent risks.
PENN integrates new app with reward scheme
The company’s new app seamlessly fuses with PENN Play, allowing users to earn and redeem rewards across different platforms. But here’s the thing: PENN Entertainment isn’t just stopping at rewards.
The company is also prioritizing responsible gaming. Providing users with a suite of tools and resources to help them manage their gaming habits is front of mind.
It’s squarely in line with PENN Entertainment’s objective to deliver exceptional gaming and entertainment experiences. With a presence in 26 jurisdictions and portfolios of casinos, racetracks, and online offerings, the gaming industry is abuzz with rumors of a potential takeover bid by Boyd Gaming for Penn Entertainment.
The plot thickened recently with whispers of a possible partnership between Boyd and Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of FanDuel.
According to insiders, Flutter may join forces with Boyd to acquire Penn’s digital assets. That includes the coveted ESPN Bet platform, which boasts a 6% market share in online sports betting.
This unlikely alliance could be the key to unlocking a successful takeover bid. Flutter’s involvement could drive down the price of Penn’s interactive business, making it more appealing to Boyd.
