<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>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000             MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                         118,463                  53,481
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    6,448                   4,317
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,058                   1,552
<INVENTORY>                                      1,595                   1,149
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               137,716                  69,913
<PP&E>                                         330,554                 252,106
<DEPRECIATION>                                  96,174                  84,292
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 542,361                 278,390
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           73,586                  43,727
<BONDS>                                        532,467                 218,938
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                     (71,343)                  7,840
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   542,361                 278,390
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                84,015                  69,773
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   59,083                  50,961
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 9,347                  10,888
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   292                     124
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              11,911                   7,265
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,382                     535
<INCOME-TAX>                                       570                     205
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,812                     330
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,812                     330
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.11                    0.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.11                    0.01


</TABLE>