The high end of the range of percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

Name:	penn_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateHighEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The low end of the range of percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ Details

Name:	penn_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateLowEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the estimated construction costs inclusive of license fees of planned facility.

+ Details

Name:	penn_EstimatedFacilityConstructionCostsIncludingLicenseFees
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureByProjectLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the area of casino available with the joint venture.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureInterestAreaOfCasino
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The acreage of a racetrack which is a joint venture of the entity.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureInterestByAcreage
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of poker tables available with the joint venture.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureInterestNumberOfPokerTables
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of slot machines available with the joint venture.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureInterestNumberOfSlotMachines
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of space parking available with the joint venture.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureInterestNumberOfSpaceParkingStructure
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of table games available with the joint venture.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureInterestNumberOfTableGames
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The acreage of a planned development of a racetrack in which the entity has an option to purchase related to a joint venture.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureInterestOptionToPurchaseByAcreage
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the entity's ownership interest in a joint venture.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureOwnershipInterestPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the size of the dog racing and simulcasting facility of a joint venture, in terms of square feet.

+ Details

Name:	penn_JointVentureSquareFootage
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The payment to the joint venture towards capital expenditure and other operating expenses.

+ Details

Name:	penn_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndOtherOperatingExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The proportionate share of interest in a joint venture.

+ Details

Name:	penn_ProportionateShareInJointVentureInterest
Namespace Prefix:	penn
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase for additional borrowings on the debt instrument during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 4

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentIncreaseAdditionalBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the amount of gain (loss) arising from the disposal of an equity method investment.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Investment In and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified						3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 08, 2011 Sam Houston Race Park in Houston acre	Apr. 08, 2011 Valley Race Park in Harlingen acre sqft	Apr. 08, 2011 Planned racetrack in Laredo acre	Sep. 30, 2011 Freehold Raceway	Apr. 08, 2011 Texas Racing Commission	Sep. 30, 2011 Kansas Entertainment	Sep. 30, 2011 Kansas Entertainment sqft tablegame space machine pokartable	Sep. 30, 2011 Maryland RE & R LLC	Sep. 30, 2011 Maryland RE & R LLC	Sep. 30, 2011 Maxxam	Sep. 30, 2011 Maxxam Senior financing	Sep. 30, 2011 Maxxam Subordinated financing
Business ventures
Ownership interest in joint venture (as a percent)				50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%			50.00%
Size of race park (in acres)	323	80
Size of property for a planned development of racetrack (in acres)			135
Size of dog racing and simulcasting facility (in square feet)		91,000
Loan provided to joint venture to cover development costs										$ 375
Basis points added to reference rate, low end of range (as a percent)											8.00%	5.00%
Basis points added to reference rate, high end of range (as a percent)											9.00%	6.00%
Variable rate basis											LIBOR	LIBOR
Proportionate share in joint venture							155
Funding for capital expenditure and other operating expenses						22.8	44.2
Gain on sale of joint venture interest								20.2	20.2
Planned facility construction costs including license fees							$ 411
Area of Casino (in square foot)							95,000
Number of slot machines							2,000
Number of table games							52
Number of poker tables							12
Number of space parking							1,253