Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago

What Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago does

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago is a 56,000 square foot casino and 288-room hotel resort located at 777 Ameristar Boulevard in East Chicago, Indiana, serving the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana gaming market. The property is owned and operated by PENN Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN), one of the largest regional gaming operators in North America. The casino floor spans three playing levels and features over 900 slot machines, 28 table games, an 11-table dedicated Baccarat Room with limits up to $25,000, and a Sportsbook with 23 retail betting kiosks. Four dining venues (Bugatti's Steak and Pasta, Burger Brothers, Red Lotus Asian Kitchen, and The Sportsbook restaurant) plus Club 38 VIP lounge and The Social Lounge cocktail bar provide non-gaming revenue diversification.

The property's technology architecture is built on integration with PENN Entertainment's broader ecosystem rather than standalone proprietary systems. PENN Play, the cross-property loyalty program, links Ameristar East Chicago to 26+ PENN Entertainment gaming properties across multiple U.S. states, enabling PENN Cash and tier point accumulation and redemption. PENN Wallet provides a digital deposit and bonus system, PENN Marketplace extends PENN Cash redemption into e-commerce, and ESPN BET/theScore delivers mobile sportsbook functionality powered by Kambi's Bet Builder. SevenRooms handles dining reservations, and Ticketmaster integration enables event ticket redemption. The hotel offers Deluxe King, Deluxe Queen, and ADA-compliant rooms exceeding 500 square feet each, with direct booking, a Best Rate Guarantee, and a $10 nightly amenity fee plus 12% room tax.

Revenue is generated primarily through casino gaming (slots and table games via house edge), hotel room rentals, food and beverage across multiple outlets, sports betting margins, and ancillary services including a 24/7 casino credit program with no interest or fees on established lines. Customer segments span casual and high-stakes gamers, leisure and business hotel guests, sports bettors, dining patrons, and PENN Play loyalty members (including Owners Club, Elite, and Preferred tiers). Distribution is omnichannel: walk-in traffic to the physical resort, direct website booking for hotel, mobile apps for loyalty and sportsbook, and online platforms (PENN Play Casino, PENN Marketplace) for digital engagement. GTM motion is direct-to-consumer, anchored on the physical resort and reinforced by the PENN Play retention engine.

Name

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago

Legal name

PENN Entertainment, Inc.

Website

https://ameristareastchicago.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago is a 288-room casino resort in East Chicago, Indiana, operated by PENN Entertainment, serving Chicagoland gaming, hotel, dining, and sportsbook guests through 900+ slots, 28 tables, an 11-table Baccarat Room, and the PENN Play loyalty ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casino Gaming & Hospitality

NAICS

Casino Hotels (72112)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Casino Resorts (Casino + Hotel/Entertainment) (MPAEAAAA)

Keywords

• Casino gaming services
• Hotel accommodation
• Sports betting
• Food and beverage
• Entertainment venue

Headquarters

HQ city

East Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Casino Gaming - Slots: Slot machine gaming generates revenue from wagers placed on over 900 state-of-the-art slot machines with denominations ranging from one cent to $100. Revenue is generated through the house edge on each spin.
2. Casino Gaming - Table Games: Table game revenue from 28 table games including Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, EZ Pai Gow, and Baccarat. Includes dedicated high-limit area with bets up to $25,000 on Baccarat and $10,000+ on select Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette games.
3. Baccarat Room Gaming: Dedicated high-limit Baccarat gaming on the third floor with 11 tables offering bets from $15 minimum to $25,000 maximum. Side bets include Dragon Bonus, Dragon 7, Panda 8, and 5 Treasures.
4. Sports Betting: Retail sports wagering through 23 betting kiosks and the ESPN BET/theScore mobile app. Revenue generated through sports betting margins. Players earn PENN Cash and tier points on bets placed.
5. Hotel Accommodations: 288-room hotel offering Deluxe King Rooms and Deluxe Queen Rooms, each over 500 square feet. Revenue from room rentals with a $10 amenity fee per night and 12% room tax. Includes Best Rate Guarantee program.
6. Food and Beverage: Multiple dining venues including Bugatti's Steak and Pasta ($$$$), Burger Brothers ($), Red Lotus Asian Kitchen, The Sportsbook restaurant, Club 38 VIP lounge, and The Social Lounge cocktail bar. Revenue from food and beverage sales across all outlets.
7. Loyalty Program and PENN Cash: PENN Play loyalty program drives customer engagement through PENN Cash rewards, tier points, and exclusive offers. PENN Marketplace allows redemption of PENN Cash for products. PENN Wallet offers deposit matching bonuses up to $100.
8. Casino Credit Program: Provides casino credit lines to slots and table games players with 24/7 access, no interest or fees on established credit lines. Generates revenue through credit utilization and markers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago operates an integrated casino resort offering a 56,000-square-foot gaming floor with approximately 900 slot machines, 28 table games, and 11 Baccarat tables, alongside a 288-room hotel. The property also runs a Sportsbook with 23 betting kiosks and several on-site dining and lounge venues including Bugatti's Steak and Pasta, Burger Brothers, Red Lotus Asian Kitchen, Club 38, and The Social Lounge. Customers are individual adult patrons seeking gaming, lodging, dining, and sports betting experiences in Northwest Indiana.

Product overview

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago is a gaming and hospitality complex operated by PENN Entertainment, offering a 288-room hotel, 56,000 square foot casino with three playing levels, and multiple dining venues. The property features over 900 slot machines, 28 table games, an 11-table Baccarat Room, and The Sportsbook with 23 betting kiosks. The casino is integrated with PENN Entertainment's portfolio of 26 gaming properties across North America, connected through the PENN Play loyalty program that enables members to earn and redeem PENN Cash across slots, table games, sports betting, hotel stays, dining, and shopping at PENN Marketplace. Dining options include Bugatti's Steak and Pasta (steakhouse), Burger Brothers (fast-casual burgers), Red Lotus Asian Kitchen (Pacific Rim cuisine), Club 38 (VIP lounge), and The Social Lounge (cocktail bar). The Sportsbook integrates with theScore BET mobile app and Ticketmaster for event ticketing. The property also offers online social gaming through PENN Play Casino.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Sportsbook: Sports betting facility offering 23 betting kiosks, food and beverage service, and viewing screens for sporting events. Integrated with PENN Play rewards program.
• Bugatti's Steak and Pasta
• Burger Brothers
• Red Lotus Asian Kitchen
• Club 38
• The Social Lounge

Products and services

• Casino Gaming Floor A 56,000-square-foot gaming floor offering approximately 900 slot machines, 28 table games, and 11 Baccarat tables, serving adult patrons seeking casino gaming entertainment.
• Hotel Accommodations A 288-room hotel providing overnight lodging for casino guests, regional leisure travelers, and event visitors in the East Chicago / Northwest Indiana area.
• Sportsbook On-site retail sportsbook featuring 23 betting kiosks for wagering on sporting events, integrated with the ESPN BET digital sports betting platform.
• Bugatti's Steak and Pasta On-site restaurant serving steaks and pasta dishes to casino guests, hotel patrons, and walk-in diners.
• Burger Brothers Casual on-site dining venue serving burgers and related items to casino and hotel guests.
• Red Lotus Asian Kitchen On-site restaurant offering Asian cuisine to property guests and local visitors.
• Club 38 On-site lounge or club providing beverages and nightlife entertainment to adult guests.
• The Social Lounge On-site lounge venue for socializing and beverage service among property guests.
• PENN Play Loyalty Program Multi-property loyalty rewards program allowing guests to earn and redeem points across gaming, dining, hotel, and online sports betting, accessed via the PENN Play mobile application.

Quantifiable outcome

• Best gaming selection on Lake Michigan and beyond with over 900 slot machines
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PENN EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPENN Entertainment is the parent company and operating partner for Ameristar East Chicago. The property operates under the PENN Entertainment umbrella, utilizing the PENN Play loyalty program, PENN Wallet digital platform, and PENN Marketplace. The partnership integrates Ameristar into a network of 26+ gaming properties across North America, enabling cross-property rewards and a unified brand experience.
• TicketmasterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTicketmaster partnership enables PENN Play members to redeem PENN Cash for tickets to concerts and sporting events. Members can connect their accounts to access this redemption option through the PENN Entertainment platform.
• theScore / ESPN BETcoreTechnology or IntegrationtheScore media app integration with PENN Play's official sportsbook provides a seamless media and betting experience. Available in AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, MO and Ontario, Canada. Bet Builder tool enables pre-game bet planning with QR code ticket generation.
• KambicoreTechnology or IntegrationBet Builder platform powered by Kambi enables sports betting functionality at Ameristar East Chicago. The platform provides retail barcode-based ticket generation for sports wagers placed through the digital planning tool.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MGM Resorts International: Operates large-scale integrated resorts (MGM Grand Detroit, Beau Rivage) and the BetMGM digital platform. A broad incumbent in both regional gaming and national online sports betting/iGaming, indirectly competing with East Chicago for both physical and digital wallets.
• Caesars Entertainment: Operates Horseshoe Hammond and numerous regional integrated casino resorts across the US. A larger incumbent with overlapping capabilities in gaming, sportsbook (Caesars Sportsbook), and loyalty (Caesars Rewards), but operates as a multi-property portfolio rather than East Chicago's single-property focus.
• Boyd Gaming: Operates Blue Chip Casino and a national portfolio of regional casino resorts. Competes with East Chicago via FanDuel partnership for sportsbook and offers comparable regional gaming and hospitality products across multiple states.

Direct peers

• Blue Chip Casino Hotel: Boyd Gaming-operated casino hotel in Michigan City, Indiana, also targeting the Chicagoland/Northwest Indiana market. Offers similar slots, table games, hotel, and dining, providing direct regional competition.
• Horseshoe Casino Hammond: Caesars Entertainment-owned casino located in Hammond, Indiana, just minutes from East Chicago. Directly competes for the same Chicagoland player base in the Northwest Indiana gaming corridor with slots, table games, and sportsbook.
• Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana: Newly opened integrated casino resort in Gary, Indiana serving the same Chicagoland/Northwest Indiana market. Comparable offering with slots, table games, sportsbook, hotel, and F&B, directly competing for the regional player pool.
• Hollywood Casino Joliet: Sister PENN Entertainment property in Joliet, Illinois, serving the same broader Chicagoland market. Provides direct comparison on PENN's operational strategy and competes for the same regional gaming and hotel demand.
• Rivers Casino Des Plaines: Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, this casino directly competes for Chicago-area players who might otherwise cross the border to East Chicago. Operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated with comparable slots, table games, and entertainment offerings.

Emerging players

• BetMGM: MGM Resorts/Entain joint venture operating online sportsbook and iGaming across the US including Indiana. Competes for the same digital betting handle as East Chicago's ESPN BET integration and broader online gaming dollars.
• DraftKings: Leading US online sportsbook and iGaming operator active in Indiana. Represents the digital substitution threat to East Chicago's retail sportsbook and slot play, while potentially partnering or competing with PENN's ESPN BET platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Ameristar.Casino.EC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ameristar-casino-east-chicago-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago