-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J9Mo2ykGhYnd9W3+qpjkZUgLH/VLTro5FG53DmFL/4+Hh5besFprboi+GEPcUrlN
 C65w3Yx0WACNNCAjd6b2bw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-10-001097.txt : 20100114
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-10-001097.hdr.sgml : 20100114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100114190300
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-10-001097
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100114

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:		10528597

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 BERKSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 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>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-12</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>825 BERKSHIRE BLVD SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WYOMISSING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19610</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>923643</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Carlino and his wife, Marshia W. Carlino, are joint owners of 219,136 of the shares reported as held by him directly.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is also the indirect beneficial owner of (a) 8,248,850 shares which are owned by the Carlino Family Trust a greater than 10% owner of the issuer of which Peter M. Carlino is a Trustee; and (b) 191,715 shares, which are owned by The Trust for Gary Gilbert, of which Peter M. Carlino is a Trustee.  Peter M. Carlino disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by each of the Carlino Family Trust and The Trust for Gary Gilbert, 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 any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person is also the indirect beneficial owner of (a) 231,380 shares owned by a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (a GRAT) executed by Peter M. Carlino on 9/23/05; (b) 21,659 shares owned by a GRAT executed by Peter M. Carlino on 5/19/06;(c) 206,153 shares owned by a GRAT executed by Peter M. Carlino on 6/26/08; (d) 201,818 shares owned by a GRAT executed by Peter M. Carlino  on 11/20/08; and (e) 235,311 shares owned by a GRAT executed by Marshia W. Carlino on 11/20/08. Mr. Carlino is the Trustee of each of the GRATs. Mr. Carlino disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by all of the GRATs, and this report should not be deemed an admission that Peter M. Carlino is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.  Mr. Carlino is also the indirect beneficial owner of 79,691 shares owned by his wife, Marshia W. Carlino, of which he disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">All transactions on this Form 4 were made pursuant to a stock trading plan, dated December 11, 2009, established pursuant to rule 10b5-1.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Robert S Ippolito as attorney-in-fact for Peter M. Carlino</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----