CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total Penn Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	Non-Controlling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		8,624	80,889,275
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ (678,043)	$ 0	$ 830	$ (28,414)	$ 988,686	$ (1,634,591)	$ (4,554)	$ (678,043)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation arrangements (in shares)			1,609,033
Share-based compensation arrangements, net of tax benefits of $6,896 for the year ended December 31, 2017	25,535		$ 16		25,519			25,535
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications	(122)						(122)	(122)
Conversion of Series C preferred stock (in shares)		8,624	8,624,000
Conversion of Series C Preferred Stock			$ 86		(86)
Net income (loss)	109,310					109,310		109,310
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		0	91,122,308
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	(543,320)	$ 0	$ 932	(28,414)	1,014,119	(1,525,281)	(4,676)	(543,320)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation arrangements (in shares)			1,367,083
Share-based compensation arrangements, net of tax benefits of $6,896 for the year ended December 31, 2017	18,284		$ 14		18,270			18,284
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications	$ 3,223						3,223	3,223
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(1,264,149)		(1,264,149)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (24,796)		$ (13)		(24,783)			(24,796)
Net income (loss)	473,463					473,463		473,463
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		0	91,225,242
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	(73,146)	$ 0	$ 933	(28,414)	1,007,606	(1,051,818)	(1,453)	(73,146)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation arrangements (in shares)			1,466,625
Share-based compensation arrangements, net of tax benefits of $6,896 for the year ended December 31, 2017	19,413		$ 15		19,398			19,413
Acquisition of Pinnacle (in shares)			26,295,439
Acquisition of Pinnacle	749,683		$ 263		749,420			749,683
Reclassification to earnings upon termination of Casino Rama management contract	$ 1,453						1,453	1,453
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(2,299,498)		(2,299,498)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (50,046)		$ (23)		(50,023)			(50,046)
Net income (loss)	93,514					93,519		93,519	(5)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		0	116,687,808
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 731,221	$ 0	$ 1,188	$ (28,414)	$ 1,726,401	$ (967,949)	$ 0	$ 731,226	$ (5)