-----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,
 E0A0b3VPb7NKJq1sWVvrp+Zp+89D3FwxGfnFSc8cW6cvBdj8lYDvTNg7jiKB0zuU
 KIISkgku8O1JXxPWg05F2w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-015540.txt : 20030724
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-015540.hdr.sgml : 20030724
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030723191913
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-015540
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030724

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEANGELO LEONARD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001255646

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24206
		FILM NUMBER:		03799251

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 BERKSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			WYOMISSING
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19610

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-07-21</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921738</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENN NATIONAL GAMING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>Penn</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001255646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEANGELO LEONARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>Executive Vice Pres -Operation</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>20.111</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-21</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <deemedExecutionDate>
      <value>2003-07-21</value>
    </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>19888</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>20.111</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2004-07-21</value>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2010-07-21</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>19888</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>19888</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>20.111</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-21</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <deemedExecutionDate>
      <value>2003-07-21</value>
    </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>130112</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>20.111</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2004-07-21</value>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2010-07-21</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>130112</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>130112</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Robert S. Ippolito as attorney-in-fact for Leonard M. De Angelo</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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