<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>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         115,351                  42,118                  40,259
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    7,315                   3,836                   3,935
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,826                   1,468                   1,188
<INVENTORY>                                      1,714                   1,385                   1,454
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               134,652                  61,467                  60,902
<PP&E>                                         300,496                 248,457                 237,261
<DEPRECIATION>                                  92,958                  80,642                  66,099
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 525,817                 270,740                 276,218
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           58,423                  34,754                  38,404
<BONDS>                                        533,920                 219,615                 219,261
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                     (74,159)                  7,510                   9,115
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   525,817                 270,740                 276,218
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               307,377                 268,760                 267,757
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  221,165                 196,991                 185,055
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                84,536                  43,961                  45,558
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                14,126                     845                  20,376
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              37,672                  27,416                  28,541
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (50,122)                   (453)                (11,773)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,196                     816                   5,359
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (51,318)                 (1,269)                (17,132)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                    (336)                   (215)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (81,671)                 (1,605)                (17,347)
<EPS-BASIC>                                      (3.27)                   (.06)                   (.70)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (3.27)                   (.06)                   (.70)


</TABLE>