<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> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 20,783,332 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,489,670 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,943,962 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 30,946,592 <PP&E> 187,401,510 <DEPRECIATION> 40,035,688 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 207,598,787 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 31,748,402 <BONDS> 101,167,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 103,774,076 <OTHER-SE> (34,253,718) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 207,598,787 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 116,352,141 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 61,143,987 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 51,421,647 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,955,699 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,750,354) <INCOME-TAX> (762,062) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (988,292) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.11) <EPS-DILUTED> 0