<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                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         139,218                 139,218
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    7,351                   7,351
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,437                   2,437
<INVENTORY>                                      1,650                   1,650
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               159,272                 159,272
<PP&E>                                         426,479                 426,479
<DEPRECIATION>                                 101,605                 101,605
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 579,450                 579,450
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           86,128                  86,128
<BONDS>                                        544,188                 544,188
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                     (58,509)                (58,509)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   579,450                 579,450
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                89,033                 258,853
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   63,359                 184,811
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 4,000                  22,764
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   457                     985
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,226                  33,181
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,991                  17,112
<INCOME-TAX>                                       476                   1,552
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,515                  15,560
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,515                  15,560
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .42                     .62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .39                     .59


</TABLE>