-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Cxe1rUFhDJE9lLaf9AxqkOxmHnoVnYABP9JYhRYj3dZ/jL9u5O5GqjnNj5b7aaKc
 Cj6bb3f0J8oiBvrjHFWz7w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-009943.txt : 20030522
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-009943.hdr.sgml : 20030522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030514184819
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-009943
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030514
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20030522

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENN NATIONAL GAMING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000921738
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENT & RECREATION [7990]
		IRS NUMBER:				232234473
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 BERKSHIRE BLVD STE 200
		STREET 2:		WYOMISSING PROFESSIONAL CENTER
		CITY:			WYOMISSING
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19610
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6103732400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 BERSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			WYOMISSING
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19610

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARLINO PETER M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211342

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24206
		FILM NUMBER:		03700606

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 BERKSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			WYOMISSING
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19610
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6103732400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 BERKSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			WYOMISSING
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19610
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>j1054_4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-05-13</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>    <issuerCik>0000921738</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENN NATIONAL GAMING INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>PENN</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
      <rptOwnerCik>0001211342</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARLINO PETER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-12</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>25000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>1.67</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>0</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-12</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>25000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>22.82</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>0</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-13</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>26700</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>1.67</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>0</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-13</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>26700</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>22.90</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>1185322</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      <natureOfOwnership>
        <value>.</value>
      </natureOfOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>1.67</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-12</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>25000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>1995-05-26</value>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2004-05-26</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>25000</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>341300</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>1.67</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-13</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>26700</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>1995-05-26</value>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2004-05-26</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>26700</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>314600</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">The reporting person is also the indirect beneficial owner of 5,782,177 shares which are owned by the Carlino Family Trust, a ten percent owner of the issuer. Peter M. Carlino is a Trustee of the Trust.  Peter M. Carlino disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by the Carlino Family Trust, and this report should not be deemed an admission that Peter M. Carlino is the beneficial owner of such securities for the purpose of section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Robert Ippolito as attorney-in-fact for Peter M. Carlino</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----