<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PRATT HOTEL CORPOATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          24,816                  24,816
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   26,730                  26,730
<ALLOWANCES>                                    15,288                  15,288
<INVENTORY>                                      4,024                   4,024
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                50,188                  50,188
<PP&E>                                         317,934                 317,934
<DEPRECIATION>                                 158,665                 158,665
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 227,821                 227,821
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           50,211                  50,211
<BONDS>                                        330,166                 330,166
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           519                     519
<OTHER-SE>                                    (164,728)               (164,728)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   227,821                 227,821
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                76,397                 220,172
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   61,961                 184,760
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                10,371                  31,278
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   668                   1,562
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,611                  28,248
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (6,214)                (25,676)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,457                     118
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (7,671)                (25,794)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (7,671)                (25,794)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (1.48)                  (4.97)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>