Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition and Promotional Allowances

Gaming revenue consists mainly of slot and video lottery gaming machine revenue as well as to a lesser extent table game and poker revenue. Gaming revenue is the aggregate net difference between gaming wins and losses, with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs, for “ticket-in, ticket-out” coupons in the customers’ possession, and for accruals related to the anticipated payout of progressive jackpots. Progressive slot machines, which contain base jackpots that increase at a progressive rate based on the number of coins played, are charged to revenue as the amount of the jackpots increases. Table game revenue is the aggregate of table drop adjusted for the change in aggregate table chip inventory. Table drop is the total dollar amount of the currency, coins, chips, tokens and outstanding markers (credit instruments) that are removed from the live gaming tables.

Food, beverage and other revenue, including racing revenue, is recognized as services are performed. Racing revenue includes the Company’s share of pari-mutuel wagering on live races after payment of amounts returned as winning wagers, its share of wagering from import and export simulcasting, and its share of wagering from its off-track wagering facilities.

Revenue from the management service contract for Casino Rama is based upon contracted terms and is recognized when services are performed.

Revenues are recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605-50, “Revenue Recognition—Customer Payments and Incentives.” The Company records certain sales incentives and points earned in point-loyalty programs as a reduction of revenue.

The retail value of accommodations, food and beverage, and other services furnished to guests without charge is included in gross revenues and then deducted as promotional allowances. The estimated cost of providing such promotional allowances is primarily included in food, beverage and other expense.

The amounts included in promotional allowances for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Rooms	$	8,903	$	8,426	$	17,239	$	16,497
Food and beverage	27,215		26,790		54,651		53,389
Other	2,082		2,475		4,198		4,736

Total promotional allowances	$	38,200	$	37,691	$	76,088	$	74,622

The estimated cost of providing such complimentary services for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Rooms	$	974	$	891	$	1,909	$	1,758
Food and beverage	10,657		11,247		21,486		22,215
Other	873		913		1,711		1,755

Total cost of complimentary services	$	12,504	$	13,051	$	25,106	$	25,728

Gaming and Racing Taxes

The Company is subject to gaming and pari-mutuel taxes based on gross gaming revenue and pari-mutuel revenue in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company primarily recognizes gaming and pari-mutuel tax expense based on the statutorily required percentage of revenue that is required to be paid to state and local jurisdictions in the states where or in which wagering occurs. In certain states in which the Company operates, gaming taxes are based on graduated rates. The Company records gaming tax expense at the Company’s estimated effective gaming tax rate for the year, considering estimated taxable gaming revenue and the applicable rates. Such estimates are adjusted each interim period. If gaming tax rates change during the year, such changes are applied prospectively in the determination of gaming tax expense in future interim periods. Finally, the Company recognizes purse expense based on the statutorily required percentage of revenue that is required to be paid out in the form of purses to the winning owners of horse races run at the Company’s racetracks in the period in which wagering occurs. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, these expenses, which are recorded primarily within gaming expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income, were $244.5 million and $471.5 million, as compared to $223.3 million and $440.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively.

Failed Spin-Off-Leaseback Financial Obligation

Failed Spin-Off-Leaseback Financing Obligation

The Company’s spin-off of real property assets and corresponding Master Lease Agreement with GLPI on November 1, 2013 did not meet all of the requirements for sale-leaseback accounting treatment under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 840 “Leases” and therefore is accounted for as a financing obligation rather than a distribution of assets followed by an operating lease. Specifically, the Master Lease contains provisions that would indicate the Company has prohibited forms of continuing involvement in the leased assets which are not a normal leaseback. As a result of the failed spin-off-leaseback accounting, the Company calculated a financing obligation at the inception of the Master Lease based on the future minimum lease payments discounted at 9.70%. The discount rate represents the estimated incremental borrowing rate over the lease term of 35 years, which included renewal options that were reasonably assured of being exercised given the high percentage of the Company’s earnings that are derived from the Master Lease properties operations to the Company and the lack of alternative economically feasible leasing options for such real estate. The minimum lease payments are recorded as interest expense and in part as a payment of principal reducing the financing obligation. Contingent rentals are recorded as additional interest expense. The real property assets in the transaction remain on the consolidated balance sheets and continue to be depreciated over their remaining useful lives.

Payments related to the Master Lease

As of June 30, 2015, the Company financed with GLPI real property assets associated with eighteen of the Company’s gaming and related facilities used in the Company’s operations.

The rent structure under the Master Lease, which became effective November 1, 2013, includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual escalator of up to 2% if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met, and a variable component that is based on the performance of the facilities, which is prospectively adjusted, subject to a floor of zero (i) every five years by an amount equal to 4% of the average change to net revenues of all facilities under the Master Lease (other than Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo) during the preceding five years, and (ii) monthly by an amount equal to 20% of the change in net revenues of Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo during the preceding month. In addition, with the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway in the third quarter of 2014, these properties began paying rent subject to the terms of the Master Lease, for which the annual rental obligation is calculated as 10% of the real estate construction costs paid for by GLPI related to these facilities.

The Master Lease is commonly known as a triple-net lease. Accordingly, in addition to rent, the Company is required to pay the following, among other things: (1) all facility maintenance; (2) all insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties; (3) taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties (other than taxes on the income of the lessor); and (4) all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties. At the Company’s option, the Master Lease may be extended for up to four five-year renewal terms beyond the initial fifteen-year term, on the same terms and conditions.

Total payments under the Master Lease for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 was $109.5 million and $218.4 million, as compared to $104.6 million and $208.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively.

Long-term asset related to the Jamul Tribe

On April 5, 2013, the Company announced that, subject to final National Indian Gaming Commission approval, it and the Jamul Indian Village of California (the “Jamul Tribe”) had entered into definitive agreements to jointly develop a Hollywood Casino branded gaming facility on the Jamul Tribe’s trust land in San Diego County, California. The definitive agreements were entered into to: (i) secure the development, management, and branding services of the Company to assist the Jamul Tribe during the pre-development and entitlement phase of the project; (ii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Company will provide a loan or loans to the Jamul Tribe to fund certain development costs; and (iii) create an exclusive arrangement between the parties.

The Jamul Tribe is a federally recognized Indian Tribe holding a government-to-government relationship with the U.S. through the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs and possesses certain inherent powers of self-government. The Jamul Tribe is the beneficial owner of approximately six acres of reservation land located within the exterior boundaries of the State of California held by the U.S. in trust for the Jamul Tribe (the “Property”). The Jamul Tribe exercises jurisdiction over the Property pursuant to its powers of self-government and consistent with the resolutions and ordinances of the Jamul Tribe. The arrangement between the Jamul Tribe and the Company provides the Jamul Tribe with the expertise, knowledge and capacity of a proven developer and operator of gaming facilities and provides the Company with the exclusive right to administer and oversee planning, designing, development, construction management, and coordination during the development and construction of the project as well as the management of a gaming facility on the Property.

The proposed $390 million development project will include a three-story gaming and entertainment facility of approximately 200,000 square feet featuring over 1,700 slot machines, 43 live table games, including poker, multiple restaurants, bars and lounges and a partially enclosed parking structure with over 1,800 spaces. In mid-January 2014, the Company announced the commencement of construction activities at the site and it is anticipated that the facility will open in mid-2016. The Company may, under certain circumstances, provide backstop financing to the Jamul Tribe in connection with the project and, upon opening, will manage and provide branding for the casino. The Company has a conditional loan commitment to the Jamul Tribe (that can be terminated under certain circumstances) for up to $400 million and anticipates it will fund approximately $390 million related to this development.

The Company is accounting for the development agreement and related loan commitment letter with the Jamul Tribe as a loan (note receivable) with accrued interest in accordance with ASC 310 “Receivables.” The loan represents advances made by the Company to the Jamul Tribe for the development and construction of a gaming facility for the Jamul Tribe on reservation land. As such, the Jamul Tribe will own the casino and its related assets and liabilities. San Diego Gaming Ventures, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) is a separate legal entity established to account for the loan and, upon completion of the project and subsequent commencement of gaming operations on the Property, will be the Penn entity which receives management and licensing fees from the Jamul Tribe. The Company has a note receivable with the Jamul Tribe for $108.1 million and $62.0 million, which includes accrued interest of $7.2 million and $3.3 million, at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Collectability of the note receivable will be derived from the revenues of the casino operations once the project is completed. Based on the Company’s current progress with this project, the Company believes collectability of the note is highly certain. However, in the event that the Company’s internal projections related to the profitability of this project and/or the timing of the opening are inaccurate, the Company may be required to record a reserve related to the collectability of this note receivable.

The Company considered whether the arrangement with the Jamul Tribe represents a variable interest that should be accounted for pursuant to the VIE Subsections of ASC 810 “Consolidation” (“ASC 810”). The Company noted that the scope and scope exceptions of ASC 810-10-15-12(e) states that a reporting entity shall not consolidate a government organization or financing entity established by a government organization (other than certain financing entities established to circumvent the provisions of the VIE Subsections of ASC 810). Based on the status of the Jamul Tribe as a government organization, the Company believes its arrangement with the Jamul Tribe is not within the scope defined by ASC 810.

Earnings Per Share

The Company calculates earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share” (“ASC 260”). Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stock by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the additional dilution for all potentially-dilutive securities such as stock options and unvested restricted shares.

At June 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company had outstanding 8,624 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock. The Company determined that the preferred stock qualified as a participating security as defined in ASC 260 since these securities participate in dividends with the Company’s common stock. In accordance with ASC 260, a company is required to use the two-class method when computing EPS when a company has a security that qualifies as a “participating security.” The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. A participating security is included in the computation of basic EPS using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, basic EPS for the Company’s common stock is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stock by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS for the Company’s common stock is computed using the more dilutive of the two-class method or the if-converted method.

Since the Company’s preferred shareholders are not obligated to fund the losses of the Company nor is the contractual principal of the Series C Preferred Stock reduced as a result of losses incurred by the Company, no allocation of the Company’s undistributed losses resulting from the net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 is required. As such, since the Company reported a net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, it was required by ASC 260 to use basic weighted-average common shares outstanding, rather than diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding, when calculating diluted EPS.

The following table sets forth the allocation of net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 under the two-class method:

	Three Months		Six Months
	Ended June 30,		Ended June 30,
	2015		2015
	(Restated)		(Restated)
	(in thousands)

Net income	$	2,983	$	4,852
Net income applicable to preferred stock	291		474

Net income applicable to common stock	$	2,692	$	4,378

The following table reconciles the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic EPS to the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of diluted EPS for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015:

	Three Months Ended June 30,	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2015	2015
	(in thousands)
Determination of shares:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	79,758	79,580
Assumed conversion of dilutive employee stock-based awards	2,298	2,301
Assumed conversion of restricted stock	49	60

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding before participating security	82,105	81,941
Assumed conversion of preferred stock	8,624	8,624

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding	90,729	90,565

Options to purchase 1,604,583 and 7,217,679 shares were outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they were antidilutive.

The following tables present the calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the Company’s common stock for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands, except per share data):

	Three Months		Six Months Ended
	Ended June 30,		June 30,
	2015		2015
	(Restated)		(Restated)

Calculation of basic EPS:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	2,692	$	4,378
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	79,758		79,580
Basic EPS	$	0.03	$	0.06

Calculation of diluted EPS using two-class method:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	2,692	$	4,378
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding before participating security	82,105		81,941
Diluted EPS	$	0.03	$	0.05

	Three months ended June 30, 2014			Six months ended June 30, 2014
	(Restated)			(Restated)
Calculation of basic and diluted EPS:
Net loss	$	(19,273	)	$	(18,693	)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	78,458			78,189
Basic and Diluted EPS	$	(0.25	)	$	(0.24	)

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock compensation under ASC 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation,” which requires the Company to expense the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. This expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period following the date of grant.

The fair value for stock options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires management to make certain assumptions. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury spot rate with a term equal to the expected life assumed at the date of grant. Expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price over a period of 5.45 years, in order to match the expected life of the options at the grant date. Historically, at the grant date, there has been no expected dividend yield assumption since the Company has not paid any cash dividends on its common stock since its initial public offering in May 1994 and since the Company intends to retain all of its earnings to finance the development of its business for the foreseeable future. The weighted-average expected life was based on the contractual term of the stock option and expected employee exercise dates, which was based on the historical and expected exercise behavior of the Company’s employees. The Company granted 1,689,357 stock options during the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 was $2.3 million and $4.4 million, as compared to $2.5 million and $5.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and is included within the condensed consolidated statements of income under general and administrative expense.

The Company’s cash-settled phantom stock unit awards (“PSUs”), which vest over a period of three to five years, entitle employees and directors to receive cash based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the vesting date. The PSUs are accounted for as liability awards and are re-measured at fair value each reporting period until they become vested with compensation expense being recognized over the requisite service period in accordance with ASC 718-30, “Compensation—Stock Compensation, Awards Classified as Liabilities.” The Company had a liability, which is included in accrued salaries and wages within the condensed consolidated balance sheets, associated with its PSUs of $11.9 million and $8.2 million at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. For PSUs held by Penn employees, there was $25.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost at June 30, 2015 that will be recognized over the grants remaining weighted average vesting period of 2.1 years. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recognized $5.0 million and $9.5 million of compensation expense associated with these awards, as compared to $1.2 million and $2.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014. The increase was primarily due to the stock price increase for both Penn and GLPI awards held by Penn employees in the current year compared with stock price declines in the prior year. Amounts paid by the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 on these cash-settled awards totaled $0.1 million and $5.3 million, as compared to $0.1 million and $6.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively.

For the Company’s stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), the fair value of the SARs is calculated during each reporting period and estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the various inputs discussed below. The Company’s SARs, which vest over a period of four years, are accounted for as liability awards since they will be settled in cash. The Company had a liability, which is included in accrued salaries and wages within the condensed consolidated balance sheets, associated with its SARs of $11.1 million and $6.3 million at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. For SARs held by Penn employees, there was $10.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost at June 30, 2015 that will be recognized over the awards remaining weighted average vesting period of 2.84 years. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recognized $2.5 million and $7.1 million of compensation expense associated with these awards, as compared to ($0.2) million and $0.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively. The increase was primarily due to the stock price increase for both Penn and GLPI awards held by Penn employees in the current year compared with stock price declines in the prior year. Amounts paid by the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 on these cash-settled awards totaled $0.5 million and $2.3 million, as compared to $0.7 million and $1.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively.

The following are the weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at June 30, 2015 and 2014:

	2015		2014

Risk-free interest rate	1.75	%	1.68	%
Expected volatility	32.52	%	44.80	%
Dividend yield	—		—
Weighted-average expected life (years)	5.45		5.45

Segment Information

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, who is the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker, as that term is defined in ASC 280, “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”), measures and assesses the Company’s business performance based on regional operations of various properties grouped together based primarily on their geographic locations. The Company’s reportable segments are: (i) East/Midwest, (ii) West, and (iii) Southern Plains.

The East/Midwest reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino Bangor, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, which opened on August 28, 2014, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, which opened on September 17, 2014, and Plainridge Park Casino, which opened on June 24, 2015. It also includes the Company’s Casino Rama management service contract.

The West reportable segment consists of the following properties: Zia Park Casino and the M Resort, as well as the Hollywood Casino Jamul — San Diego project with the Jamul Indian Village, which the Company anticipates completing in mid-2016. This segment will also include the results of Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (“Tropicana Las Vegas”) once this acquisition is consummated.

The Southern Plains reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino Aurora, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Argosy Casino Alton, Argosy Casino Riverside, Hollywood Casino Tunica, Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, Boomtown Biloxi, and Hollywood Casino St. Louis, and includes the Company’s 50% investment in Kansas Entertainment, LLC (“Kansas Entertainment”), which owns the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway. On July 30, 2014, the Company closed Argosy Casino Sioux City.

The Other category consists of the Company’s standalone racing operations, namely Rosecroft Raceway, Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, and the Company’s joint venture interests in Sam Houston Race Park, Valley Race Park, and Freehold Raceway, as well as the Company’s 50% joint venture with the Cordish Companies in New York (which is in the process of being dissolved). If the Company is successful in obtaining gaming operations at these locations, they would be assigned to one of the Company’s regional executives and reported in their respective reportable segment. The Other category also includes the Company’s corporate overhead operations which does not meet the definition of an operating segment under ASC 280.

See Note 10 for further information with respect to the Company’s segments.

Other Comprehensive Income

The Company accounts for comprehensive income in accordance with ASC 220, “Comprehensive Income,” which establishes standards for the reporting and presentation of comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements. The Company presents comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, the only component of accumulated other comprehensive income was foreign currency translation adjustments.