Hollywood Casino Bangor
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHollywood Casino Bangor is a casino, hotel, and harness-racing property in Bangor, Maine, operated by Penn Entertainment and owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
Hollywood Casino Bangor, formally known as Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor, is a casino, hotel, and harness-racing property in Bangor, Maine. The site combines a licensed gaming venue with the historic Bangor Raceway, linking the property to more than a century of organized harness racing in the city. The property was previously known as Hollywood Slots and Bangor Raceway, and its development reflects Maine's transition from a traditional pari-mutuel racing market to a regulated casino and racino model. Harness racing began at the site in 1883. The track also became associated with an important moment in trotting history: in 1890, the champion trotter Nelson recorded a world-best time of 2:15 1/4 for a mile on a half-mile track during an exhibition event. The property was originally associated with Joseph P. Bass and, after his death, was transferred by bequest to the City of Bangor in 1932. A wooden grandstand was destroyed by fire in April 1949, but was replaced by a concrete grandstand seating approximately 3,000 people. That structure remains part of the site. By the early 1990s, Bangor's city government was facing financial losses from operating the track and voted to transfer the harness-racing operation to a private investment group led by Fred Nichols. The property later became a racino after Maine voters approved slot-machine gaming at pari-mutuel racing facilities. Penn National Gaming, now Penn Entertainment, acquired Bangor Historic Track and its slot license from casino developer Shawn Scott. During the development period, Penn National operated a temporary venue in a nearby former restaurant. That interim facility contained 475 slot machines and off-track betting while a larger permanent facility was built across the street on the Penobscot River. The casino moved into the permanent facility in 2007 and expanded its gaming floor to accommodate approximately 1,000 slot machines at that stage. In 2012, the property added traditional table games after receiving authorization to expand beyond slot-machine gaming. This made it the first casino licensed in Maine and the first licensed slots facility in the state. Oxford Casino in Oxford is the other licensed casino identified in the cited reference material. The property has since operated as a regional gaming and hospitality destination serving Bangor and eastern Maine. As reported for 2024, its gaming floor contained 14 table games and 715 slot machines. The hotel offered 152 rooms, including four suites. In addition to casino gaming and lodging, the wider property continues to incorporate harness racing and related wagering activity. Revenue taxes from the casino have also supported public infrastructure: approximately $12 million in casino-related tax contributions helped the City of Bangor construct the Cross Insurance Center across from the property. The casino has additionally supported casino-dealing education at Eastern Maine Community College, where students can receive instruction in dealing card games.
History
Hollywood Casino Bangor occupies a site with a long history in Bangor's harness-racing economy. Harness racing began at Bangor Raceway in 1883. The track gained wider historical recognition in 1890 when the champion trotter Nelson completed an exhibition mile in 2:15 1/4 on a half-mile track, a record noted in accounts of the property. The park was originally owned by Joseph P. Bass. Following his death, ownership passed by bequest to the City of Bangor in 1932. The physical site was significantly altered after a fire destroyed its wooden grandstand in April 1949. A replacement concrete grandstand with seating for about 3,000 people was built soon afterward and remains in use. During the early 1990s, the Bangor City Council decided that the city's operation of the harness track was producing financial losses. The council therefore transferred the racing operation to a private investment group led by Fred Nichols. The next major transformation came after Maine approved slot-machine gaming at pari-mutuel racing facilities through a statewide referendum. The approval created the legal basis for a racino model at Bangor Raceway. Penn National Gaming, now known as Penn Entertainment, acquired Bangor Historic Track and its slots license from casino developer Shawn Scott. Because the permanent casino was still under construction, Penn National first acquired a nearby local restaurant and converted it into a temporary gaming venue. The interim facility housed 475 slot machines and off-track betting. A larger permanent facility was built across the street on the Penobscot River. The casino moved into that building in 2007, expanding its capacity to approximately 1,000 slot machines at the time. The property operated under the Hollywood Slots name before becoming associated with the Hollywood Casino brand. In 2012, it received permission to add traditional casino table games. This development made it the first casino to be licensed in Maine and expanded the property beyond its original slots-focused racino format. The property is now identified as Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor and is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties while being operated by Penn Entertainment. Its business combines casino gaming, hotel accommodation, harness racing, and off-track betting. The 2024 operating profile cited for the property included 14 table games, 715 slot machines, and a 152-room hotel containing four suites. The casino has also played a role in Bangor's civic and educational landscape. Taxes generated from casino revenue contributed approximately $12 million toward construction of the Cross Insurance Center, which stands across the street. Eastern Maine Community College has offered casino card-game dealing instruction with partial sponsorship from the casino. These connections have positioned the property not only as a gambling venue but also as a contributor to local public infrastructure and workforce training.
- 2024
Reported operating profile
[1]The cited reference reported 14 table games, 715 slot machines, and a 152-room hotel including four suites.
- 2012
Table games are introduced
[1]The property added traditional casino table games and became the first licensed casino in Maine.
- 2007
Permanent casino facility opens
[1]The casino moved from its temporary location into a larger permanent facility and expanded its slot-machine capacity.
- 1949
Grandstand destroyed and replaced
[1]A fire destroyed the wooden grandstand, which was replaced by a concrete structure seating about 3,000 people.
- 1932
Track property passes to the City of Bangor
[1]After Joseph P. Bass's death, the park was transferred by bequest to the City of Bangor.
- 1890
Nelson records a notable trotting time
[1]The champion trotter Nelson recorded 2:15 1/4 for an exhibition mile on the track's half-mile course.
- 1883
Harness racing begins at Bangor Raceway
[1]Harness racing was established at the site that later became part of Hollywood Casino Bangor.
Products and positioning
A regional casino and entertainment destination that combines regulated gaming, hotel accommodation, harness racing, and local economic activity in eastern Maine.
Casino · 2007
Casino gaming
The core offering is regulated casino gaming, including slot machines and traditional table games. The property began its modern casino operation as a slots-focused racino and later expanded into table games after receiving authorization in 2012. The cited 2024 profile listed 715 slot machines and 14 table games.
Harness racing · 1883
Bangor Raceway
Bangor Raceway is the property's historic harness-racing component. Racing at the site dates to 1883, predating the casino by more than a century. The track's history includes a notable 1890 performance by the trotter Nelson and the preservation of a concrete grandstand built after a 1949 fire.
Hospitality
Hotel
The property includes a 152-room hotel designed to support casino visitors and the wider entertainment destination. The cited reference states that the hotel includes four suites. It forms part of the property's integrated casino, racing, and hospitality model.
Wagering
Off-track betting
Off-track betting was offered at the temporary facility operated during construction of the permanent casino. It reflects the property's continuity with Maine's pari-mutuel racing and wagering infrastructure.
Brand decisions
2012
Expansion from slots to table gamesProduct launchBackground
Hollywood Casino Bangor originally operated as a slots-focused racino under Maine's gaming framework for pari-mutuel racing facilities.
Action taken
The property received authorization to add traditional casino table games.
Aftermath
The expansion made the property the first casino licensed in Maine and broadened its gaming proposition beyond slot machines.
2007
Move into a permanent casino facilityStrategyBackground
Penn National operated a temporary 475-machine facility while developing a larger casino across the street on the Penobscot River.
Action taken
The casino relocated to the permanent facility and expanded its capacity to approximately 1,000 slot machines at that stage.
Aftermath
The move established the modern casino property and created the platform for later hotel and table-game operations.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/hollywood-casino-bangor · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled