<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF HOLLYWOOD CASINO CORPORATION AND
SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>    0000888245
<NAME>   HOLLYWOOD CASINO CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                          21,488                  56,538
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    4,833                  34,085
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,693                  17,675
<INVENTORY>                                      1,620                   5,837
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                39,851                  93,850
<PP&E>                                         249,741                 513,209
<DEPRECIATION>                                  49,740                 179,073
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 308,085                 514,463
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           33,674                  72,353
<BONDS>                                        223,764                 487,522
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                      45,142                (57,235)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   308,085                 514,463
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               530,580                 539,943
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  423,738                 392,383
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                84,311                  85,148
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                21,772                   3,774
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              55,989                  51,850
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (55,230)                   6,788
<INCOME-TAX>                                        63                     268
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (55,293)                   6,520
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                (23,808)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (55,293)                (17,288)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (2.24)                   (.70)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0


</TABLE>