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Hollywood Casino Aurora Opens Barge Expansion8 August 2000DALLAS, Texas –(Press Release)-- Aug. 8, 2000 --Hollywood Casino(R) Corporation (AMEX:HWD) today announced the opening of a barge expansion at Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois. The expansion significantly increases the passenger capacity and customer appeal of Aurora's two riverboat casinos. The Company has reconfigured the Aurora casino by moving its two riverboats to the same side of the land-based pavilion and connecting the riverboats with a newly constructed barge. Customers can now easily access either of Aurora's riverboats and, for the first time, move freely between the two casinos. The 4,000 square foot barge significantly increases the spaciousness and comfort of the gaming facility and provides additional customer service amenities including a casino cage, a promotions booth and a luxurious beverage facility. In addition to enhancing its customer service, the new barge will enable the Aurora casino to achieve substantial operating efficiencies. The next step in the Company's expansion plans for the Aurora casino is the development of a luxurious new dockside casino. The Company has finalized plans and received regulatory approval to develop a new dockside facility to replace Aurora's existing riverboats. The new dockside casino will offer 52,000 square feet of gaming space on a single level, along with additional restaurant and entertainment facilities. The new dockside casino will cost approximately $65 million to build, and will be funded from the Company's existing cash balances. Once the outstanding litigation regarding the constitutionality of a provision of the legislation that enabled dockside gaming in Illinois is favorably resolved, the Company will commence construction of the new dockside casino with an expected opening approximately 14 months later. |