CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues
Revenues	$ 3,587,918	$ 3,331,466	$ 3,209,041
Less: Promotional allowance	0	(183,496)	(174,661)
Revenues	3,587,918	3,147,970	3,034,380
Operating expenses
General and administrative	618,951	514,487	462,302
Depreciation and amortization	268,990	267,062	271,214
Provision for loan loss and unfunded loan commitments to the JIVDC, net of recoveries, and impairment losses	17,921	107,810	0
Total operating expenses	2,953,826	2,702,256	2,491,364
Operating income	634,092	445,714	543,016
Interest expense	(539,417)	(466,761)	(459,243)
Interest income	1,005	3,552	24,186
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	22,326	18,671	14,337
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(20,964)	(23,963)	0
Other	(7,121)	(2,257)	(1,679)
Total other expenses	(544,171)	(470,758)	(422,399)
Income (loss) before income taxes	89,921	(25,044)	120,617
Income tax benefit (expense)	3,593	498,507	(11,307)
Net income	93,514	473,463	109,310
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	5	0	0
Net income attributable to Penn National Gaming, Inc.	$ 93,519	$ 473,463	$ 109,310
Earnings per common share
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 5.21	$ 1.21
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 5.07	$ 1.19
Weighted average basic shares outstanding (in shares)	97,105	90,854	82,929
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	100,338	93,378	91,407
Gaming
Revenues
Revenues	$ 2,894,861	$ 2,692,021	$ 2,606,262
Operating expenses
Cost of revenue	1,551,430	1,364,989	1,334,980
Food, beverage, hotel and other
Revenues
Revenues	629,733	601,731	575,434
Operating expenses
Cost of revenue	439,253	421,848	406,871
Management service and license fees
Revenues
Revenues	6,043	11,654	11,348
Reimbursable management costs
Revenues
Revenues	57,281	26,060	15,997
Operating expenses
Cost of revenue	$ 57,281	$ 26,060	$ 15,997