Hollywood Casino Toledo
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Hollywood Casino gaming and entertainment property in Toledo, Ohio, operated by Penn Entertainment and owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Hollywood Casino Toledo is a casino and entertainment property on the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. It opened on May 29, 2012, following Ohio voters' approval of a constitutional amendment authorizing four commercial casinos in the state's largest cities. The property was developed within Penn National Gaming's broader Ohio casino expansion, alongside Hollywood Casino Columbus. Penn National Gaming later became Penn Entertainment, while the real-estate ownership of the Toledo property is held by Gaming and Leisure Properties, a casino-property real estate investment trust. Penn Entertainment operates the casino under the Hollywood Casino brand. The casino was built on a 44-acre former Pilkington glass plant site near Interstate 75. Its development followed several unsuccessful attempts to legalize casino gambling in Ohio dating back to 1990. The successful 2009 ballot initiative authorized casinos at specifically designated locations in Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. The proposal received approximately 53 percent support both statewide and in Lucas County. Its backers included Penn National Gaming, which intended to develop the Toledo and Columbus casinos, and Dan Gilbert, who supported the Cleveland and Cincinnati projects. The Toledo project faced political and commercial criticism before approval. Opponents argued that Penn National might have been seeking voter support primarily to secure approval for casinos in other Ohio markets and questioned whether a Toledo property could compete effectively with established casinos in nearby Detroit. During the referendum campaign, Penn National reached an arrangement with Lakes Entertainment, a Minnesota gaming company that had previously promoted a competing Ohio casino proposal. Lakes contributed to the referendum campaign and received an option to invest in a portion of the Toledo and Columbus projects. Penn National subsequently acquired Lakes' interest before construction began. Construction began in August 2010. The property ultimately developed approximately 125,000 square feet of gaming space, with about 2,002 slot machines, 60 table games, and 20 poker tables according to the cited Wikipedia description. These offerings position Hollywood Casino Toledo as a full-scale regional casino serving northwest Ohio and nearby markets, including visitors from southeastern Michigan. Its entertainment proposition combines casino gaming with poker and other on-site amenities, although the available reference material does not identify a complete current list of restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, or loyalty-program features. The property also operates within Ohio's changing gaming regulatory environment. In 2011, the state approved video lottery terminals at Ohio's seven racetracks, including Penn National's Raceway Park in Toledo. Because a racetrack gaming operation in the same market could compete with the planned casino, Penn National sought permission to relocate Raceway Park to the Youngstown area. In 2015, Hollywoodcasino.com was introduced as a digital casino platform associated with the Hollywood properties. The available sources do not establish the present availability or precise legal relationship between that digital platform and the Toledo property. Hollywood Casino Toledo is therefore best understood as a local casino property rather than a standalone consumer-goods brand. Its brand identity is derived from the wider Hollywood Casino portfolio, while its physical operations, gaming capacity, Ohio regulatory setting, and Toledo location define its market role.
History
Hollywood Casino Toledo emerged from Ohio's long-running debate over commercial casino gambling. Beginning in 1990, several attempts to legalize casinos in the state failed. A fifth proposal, placed before voters in 2009, took a more targeted approach by authorizing four casino sites in Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Penn National Gaming supported the Toledo and Columbus developments, while Dan Gilbert was associated with the Cleveland and Cincinnati projects. The measure passed with about 53 percent support statewide and in Lucas County. Before the vote, Penn National entered into an arrangement with Lakes Entertainment, a Minnesota gaming company that had previously opposed or competed with an earlier Ohio casino proposal. Lakes helped finance the referendum campaign and received an option to invest in up to 10 percent of the Toledo and Columbus projects. Penn National later bought out that interest for $25 million before construction started; Lakes had previously paid approximately $1.9 million in connection with its participation. After voter approval, Penn National exercised an option to purchase a 44-acre property on the Maumee River near Interstate 75. The site had formerly been occupied by a Pilkington glass plant. Construction began in August 2010. The project was developed against a backdrop of regional competition, especially from casinos in Detroit. Critics had questioned whether a Toledo casino could succeed and whether Penn National was genuinely committed to the Toledo site, but the company proceeded with the development. Ohio's regulatory framework changed again during construction. In 2011, Governor John Kasich agreed to permit video lottery terminals at the state's seven racetracks, including Penn National's Raceway Park in Toledo. This created the possibility that Penn National's own racetrack gaming operation could compete with the planned Hollywood Casino Toledo. Penn National sought state approval to move Raceway Park to the Youngstown area, thereby reducing direct overlap between the two facilities in Toledo. Hollywood Casino Toledo opened on May 29, 2012. The completed property was described as containing approximately 125,000 square feet of gaming space, with around 2,002 slot machines, 60 table games, and 20 poker tables. It became a major regional gaming venue for Toledo and northwest Ohio, with potential reach into southeastern Michigan and surrounding areas. In 2015, Hollywoodcasino.com was introduced as a digital casino platform for the Hollywood Casino portfolio. The available reference material does not provide enough information to determine the Toledo property's current digital integration, detailed amenity mix, employment levels, financial performance, or current leadership. The property is currently owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment, the successor to Penn National Gaming.
- 2015
Hollywoodcasino.com launches
[1]A digital casino service associated with the Hollywood Casino portfolio was introduced.
- 2012
Property opens
[1]Hollywood Casino Toledo opened on May 29.
- 2011
Ohio authorizes racetrack video lottery terminals
[1]Approval of video lottery terminals at Ohio racetracks prompted Penn National to seek relocation of its Toledo-area Raceway Park operation.
- 2010
Construction starts
[1]Construction began in August on the former Pilkington glass plant site along the Maumee River.
- 2009
Voters approve four designated casino sites
[1]Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing casinos in Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
- 1990
First major Ohio casino-legalization effort
[1]Ohio's first of several attempts to legalize casino gambling began a process that ultimately led to the 2009 statewide authorization of designated commercial casino sites.
Products and positioning
A large regional casino and entertainment destination serving Toledo, northwest Ohio, and nearby southeastern Michigan markets through a broad mix of electronic gaming, table games, and poker.
Electronic gaming · 2012
Slot machines
The casino's principal electronic gaming offering consists of a large slot-machine floor. The cited reference describes approximately 2,002 slot machines, making slots the largest stated gaming category at the property. Specific machine titles, denominations, progressive-jackpot arrangements, and current counts are not established by the available material.
Casino gaming · 2012
Table games
Hollywood Casino Toledo offers traditional casino table games. The cited description gives a capacity of approximately 60 tables, but it does not identify the complete current mix of blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, or other games. The table-game floor forms part of the property's broader regional-casino proposition.
Poker · 2012
Poker room
Poker is a dedicated gaming category at the property, with approximately 20 poker tables cited in the reference material. The available sources do not specify the current tournament schedule, cash-game limits, promotions, or operating hours.
Digital casino · 2015
Hollywoodcasino.com
Hollywoodcasino.com was introduced in 2015 as a digital casino platform associated with the Hollywood Casino portfolio. The available material does not establish whether the service is currently available in Ohio or how its customer accounts and offerings connect specifically with Hollywood Casino Toledo.
Brand decisions
2011
Proposed relocation of Raceway ParkStrategyBackground
Ohio's decision to allow video lottery terminals at racetracks created a potential competing gaming operation for Penn National's planned Toledo casino.
Action taken
Penn National sought state approval to move Raceway Park from Toledo toward the Youngstown area.
Aftermath
The proposal was intended to reduce overlap between Penn National's racetrack gaming business and Hollywood Casino Toledo.
2010
Acquisition of Lakes Entertainment's project interestStrategyBackground
Lakes Entertainment had contributed to the referendum campaign and held an option to invest in portions of the Toledo and Columbus projects.
Action taken
Penn National bought out Lakes Entertainment's interest before construction began.
Aftermath
Penn National retained control of the Toledo development and proceeded with construction.
Buyout consideration. $25 million (Before construction began)
2009
Support for Ohio's four-site casino initiativeStrategyBackground
Penn National Gaming sought approval for casino developments in Toledo and Columbus as part of a ballot initiative that also covered Cleveland and Cincinnati.
Action taken
The company backed the referendum and pursued the Toledo site after voters approved the measure.
Aftermath
The vote created the legal foundation for Hollywood Casino Toledo and three other Ohio commercial casino projects.
Sources2 sources
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