<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BOOMTOWN,
INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                      20,105,495
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,080,541
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  1,896,039
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            30,649,926
<PP&E>                                     185,672,566
<DEPRECIATION>                              38,555,018
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             207,288,528
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       31,593,258
<BONDS>                                    101,109,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                   103,705,796
<OTHER-SE>                                (34,632,357)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               207,288,528
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            56,690,193
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               31,068,578
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            25,667,076
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,490,495
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (2,824,507)
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,457,564
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (1,366,943)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0