<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                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000             JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                         113,082                 113,082
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    6,376                   6,376
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,997                   1,997
<INVENTORY>                                      1,792                   1,792
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               132,420                 132,420
<PP&E>                                         377,025                 377,025
<DEPRECIATION>                                  98,484                  98,484
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 546,803                 546,803
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           73,588                  73,588
<BONDS>                                        534,679                 534,679
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                    (69,099)                (69,099)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   546,803                 546,803
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                85,805                 169,820
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   62,369                 121,452
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 9,417                  18,764
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   236                     528
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              11,044                  22,955
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,739                   6,121
<INCOME-TAX>                                       506                   1,076
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,233                   5,045
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,233                   5,045
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .09                     .20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .08                     .19


</TABLE>