<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF HOLLYWOOD CASINO SHREVEPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001096352
<NAME> HOLLYWOOD CASINO SHREVEPORT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-22-1998             JUL-01-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                           7,397                   7,397                   7,397
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      289                     289                     289
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 8,477                   8,477                   8,477
<PP&E>                                         152,710                 152,710                 152,710
<DEPRECIATION>                                      18                      18                      18
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 227,599                 227,599                 227,599
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           30,762                  30,762                  30,762
<BONDS>                                        164,297                 164,297                 164,297
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      32,540                  32,540                  32,540
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   227,599                 227,599                 227,599
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0                       0                       0
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,661                   3,164                   4,578
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,510                     444                   3,263
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (12,171)                 (3,608)                 (7,841)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (12,171)                 (3,608)                 (7,841)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (12,171)                 (3,608)                 (7,841)
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0                       0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0                       0


</TABLE>