Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Summary financial information
Net income attributable to Penn National Gaming, Inc.	$ 5,687	$ 5,361
Kansas Entertainment
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest	50.00%
Investment balance	$ 88,900		$ 89,400
Summary financial information
Revenues	39,511	39,285
Operating expenses	27,414	27,658
Operating income	12,097	11,627
Net income	12,097	11,627
Net income attributable to Penn National Gaming, Inc.	$ 6,049	$ 5,814
Freehold Raceway
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest	50.00%
MAXXAM
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest	50.00%

The amount of the operating expenses reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of revenue from sale of goods and services reduced by sales returns, allowances, and discounts reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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