CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total Penn National Gaming, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	Non-Controlling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		0	91,225,242
Beginning 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)			971,043
Share-based compensation arrangements	11,127		$ 10		11,117			11,127
Net income (loss)	99,425					99,425		99,425
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		0	92,196,285
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	27,756	$ 0	$ 943	(28,414)	1,018,723	(962,043)	(1,453)	27,756	0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		0	91,655,290
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2018	(33,639)	$ 0	$ 937	(28,414)	1,011,322	(1,016,031)	(1,453)	(33,639)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation arrangements (in shares)			540,995
Share-based compensation arrangements	7,407		$ 6		7,401			7,407
Net income (loss)	53,988					53,988		53,988
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		0	92,196,285
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	27,756	$ 0	$ 943	(28,414)	1,018,723	(962,043)	(1,453)	27,756	0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		0	116,687,808
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	731,221	$ 0	$ 1,188	(28,414)	1,726,401	(967,949)	0	731,226	(5)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation arrangements (in shares)			453,784
Share-based compensation arrangements	7,376		$ 1		7,375			7,376
Share repurchases (in shares)			(1,271,823)
Share repurchases	(24,885)		$ (13)		(24,872)			(24,885)
Net income (loss)	92,344					92,539		92,539	(195)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		0	115,869,769
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	1,891,708	$ 0	$ 1,176	(28,414)	1,708,904	210,242	0	1,891,908	(200)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		0	117,140,551
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	1,861,811	$ 0	$ 1,189	(28,414)	1,730,351	158,695	0	1,861,821	(10)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation arrangements (in shares)			1,041
Share-based compensation arrangements	3,425		$ 0		3,425			3,425
Share repurchases (in shares)			(1,271,823)
Share repurchases	(24,885)		$ (13)		(24,872)			(24,885)
Net income (loss)	51,357					51,547		51,547	(190)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		0	115,869,769
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 1,891,708	$ 0	$ 1,176	$ (28,414)	$ 1,708,904	$ 210,242	$ 0	$ 1,891,908	$ (200)