Penn Entertainment has received approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to make changes to its Hollywood Casino gaming area located at Penn National Race Course. The decision to modify the gaming floor comes as the company faces fierce competition from the skill-based gaming sector.

In an effort to improve performance, Hollywood Casino will be removing 169 slot machines from its gaming floor. This move is aimed at addressing the low levels of occupancy at the casino, which has been averaging around 20% on weekends and no more than 40% during peak hours.

After the removal of the 169 slots, the casino will be left with a total of 1,532 machines. Most of the slot machines being removed are older, as Hollywood Casino prioritizes offering players games they love and are familiar with.

The smoking area of the casino, which currently occupies a quarter of the gaming floor, will also see a reduction in the number of slots. 18 machines will be removed, leaving smokers with a selection of 510 slots to choose from.

Penn Entertainment is planning to reconfigure the remaining machines in order to provide players with more space to enjoy their gaming experience. The decision to reduce the number of slots was spearheaded by Tony Frabbiele, the VP and general manager of Hollywood Casino. Executives at Penn Entertainment have stated that the move was influenced by the growth of the skill-based gaming sector.

Overall, the changes at Hollywood Casino reflect the company’s commitment to adapting to the evolving gaming landscape and providing a better experience for its customers.