Casino City’s Friday Five: Openings and a major win edition
There is a new Illinois property set to open its doors and it just announced a June opening date. We also have an Illinois sportsbook debut, a new hotel tower in Louisiana, Planet Hollywood bringing its brand to Georgia, and a massive jackpot in Pennsylvania.
Let’s start this Friday with a six-figure hit:
5. $5 bet at Valley Forge Casino Resort wins $795,000
A Pennsylvania local tapped into the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day at Valley Forge Casino Resort, cashing in on a $795,056 blackjack progressive jackpot.
On 17 March, the guest placed a $5 side bet while playing Super 4 Blackjack, and struck it big with a diamond-suited royal flush.
4. Coushatta Casino Resort sets May opening of new luxury hotel tower
Earlier this week, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana announced that its anticipated new hotel tower hotel will open this May at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana.
The eight-story expansion will introduce 204 guest rooms and 100 luxury suites, directly connected to the existing resort and just steps from the gaming floor, dining, entertainment and resort amenities. Upon completion, the addition will bring the resort's total inventory to more than 1,000 guest rooms.
3. Wind Creek Chicago Southland opens sportsbook
Wind Creek Chicago Southland announced the official opening of the property’s Sportsbook at Wind Creek. Located directly on the casino floor, the book provides guests with a new way to watch and wager on their favorite sporting events.
Spanning over 4,200 square feet, Sportsbook at Wind Creek allows sports enthusiasts to watch up to 16 games at one time on two LED TV walls or at the bar. To place a bet, players can wager in person at the sportsbook or use one of nine self-service kiosks located throughout the casino floor. All major wager types are accepted, including parlays, same-game parlays, and prop bets.
2. Planet Hollywood property coming to Georgia
Planet Hollywood Resorts International announced its debut in Tbilisi, Georgia, bringing its globally recognized brand to the market through a newly executed license agreement with Orbi Group and Block Group, in association with Iconic Entertainment.
This milestone project introduces the nation's first fully integrated resort. Currently under construction in the heart of Tbilisi, the development is part of a transformative 1,200-room, two-tower luxury campus featuring a 500-room Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino and a 600-room Radisson Blu luxury hotel. The destination will include a 50,000-square-foot casino, a 4,000-seat entertainment and special events venue, more than 70,000 square feet of Harvey Nichols retail, and a curated mix of international dining, nightlife, and lifestyle offerings.
1. Hollywood Casino Aurora set to open on 24 June
PENN Entertainment announced that it expects to open the new land-based Hollywood Casino - Aurora to the public on 24 June. 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. The property will feature a hotel, more than 1,200 gaming positions, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, bars and restaurants, a 12,000 square foot event center and approximately 1,700 parking spaces.
Hollywood Casino Aurora will feature a 226-room hotel offering a variety of standard rooms and suites, as well as a beauty and wellness space, Drift Spa.
Let’s start this Friday with a six-figure hit:
5. $5 bet at Valley Forge Casino Resort wins $795,000
A Pennsylvania local tapped into the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day at Valley Forge Casino Resort, cashing in on a $795,056 blackjack progressive jackpot.
On 17 March, the guest placed a $5 side bet while playing Super 4 Blackjack, and struck it big with a diamond-suited royal flush.
A lucky local tapped into the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day at @VFCasinoResort, cashing in on a whopping $795,056 Blackjack Progressive jackpot.????
— Valley Forge Casino (@VFCasinoResort) March 23, 2026
(Note: The person in the photo is not the winner, but a Valley Forge team member)
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER pic.twitter.com/3hP0XaXYk1
4. Coushatta Casino Resort sets May opening of new luxury hotel tower
Earlier this week, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana announced that its anticipated new hotel tower hotel will open this May at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana.
The eight-story expansion will introduce 204 guest rooms and 100 luxury suites, directly connected to the existing resort and just steps from the gaming floor, dining, entertainment and resort amenities. Upon completion, the addition will bring the resort's total inventory to more than 1,000 guest rooms.
3. Wind Creek Chicago Southland opens sportsbook
Wind Creek Chicago Southland announced the official opening of the property’s Sportsbook at Wind Creek. Located directly on the casino floor, the book provides guests with a new way to watch and wager on their favorite sporting events.
Spanning over 4,200 square feet, Sportsbook at Wind Creek allows sports enthusiasts to watch up to 16 games at one time on two LED TV walls or at the bar. To place a bet, players can wager in person at the sportsbook or use one of nine self-service kiosks located throughout the casino floor. All major wager types are accepted, including parlays, same-game parlays, and prop bets.
2. Planet Hollywood property coming to Georgia
Planet Hollywood Resorts International announced its debut in Tbilisi, Georgia, bringing its globally recognized brand to the market through a newly executed license agreement with Orbi Group and Block Group, in association with Iconic Entertainment.
This milestone project introduces the nation's first fully integrated resort. Currently under construction in the heart of Tbilisi, the development is part of a transformative 1,200-room, two-tower luxury campus featuring a 500-room Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino and a 600-room Radisson Blu luxury hotel. The destination will include a 50,000-square-foot casino, a 4,000-seat entertainment and special events venue, more than 70,000 square feet of Harvey Nichols retail, and a curated mix of international dining, nightlife, and lifestyle offerings.
1. Hollywood Casino Aurora set to open on 24 June
PENN Entertainment announced that it expects to open the new land-based Hollywood Casino - Aurora to the public on 24 June. 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. The property will feature a hotel, more than 1,200 gaming positions, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, bars and restaurants, a 12,000 square foot event center and approximately 1,700 parking spaces.
Hollywood Casino Aurora will feature a 226-room hotel offering a variety of standard rooms and suites, as well as a beauty and wellness space, Drift Spa.
Major News! The all-new Hollywood Casino Aurora will officially open its doors on June 24, 2026.
— PENNEntertainment (@PENNEntertain) March 19, 2026
This new state-of-the-art property will feature an upscale hotel, retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, world class dining and an event center. pic.twitter.com/puHQscfgxA