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)			430,048
Share-based compensation arrangements	3,720		$ 4		3,716			3,720
Net income (loss)	45,437					45,437		45,437
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		0	91,655,290
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	(33,639)	$ 0	$ 937	(28,414)	1,011,322	(1,016,031)	(1,453)	(33,639)	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)			452,743
Share-based compensation arrangements	3,951		$ 1		3,950			3,951
Net income (loss)	40,987					40,992		40,992	(5)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		0	117,140,551
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 1,861,811	$ 0	$ 1,189	$ (28,414)	$ 1,730,351	$ 158,695	$ 0	$ 1,861,821	$ (10)