The number of general types of liabilities related to contracts with customers.

No definition available.

Name:	penn_ContractWithCustomerNumberOfTypesOfLiability
Namespace Prefix:	penn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents gaming taxes, pari-mutuel taxes and purse expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	penn_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldGamingTaxExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	penn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	penn_GamingAndRacingTaxesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	penn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
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Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130549-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as noncurrent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130549-203045

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-Topic 606
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
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-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130545-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transaction price allocated to performance obligation that has not been recognized as revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130556-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period in which remaining performance obligation is expected to be recognized as revenue, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130556-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis=2018-10-01
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=penn_NortheastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=penn_SouthWestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=penn_MidwestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_CasinoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_FoodAndBeverageMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_OccupancyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=penn_RacingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_ManagementServiceIncentiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=penn_OtherServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	penn_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAxis=penn_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityLoyaltyCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	penn_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAxis=penn_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAdvancePaymentsOnGoodsAndServicesYetToBeProvidedAndUnpaidWagersMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Revenue Disaggregation and Customer-related Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	$ 789,651		$ 2,432,649
Customer-related Liabilities
Number of general types of liabilities related to contracts with customers \| item			2
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2018-10-01
Customer-related Liabilities
Loyalty credit obligations outstanding	$ 21,400		$ 21,400
Loyalty credit obligation expected settlement period	6 months		6 months
Other
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	$ 9,938		$ 30,571
Northeast \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	398,818		1,235,973
South/West \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	152,988		477,653
Midwest \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	227,907		688,452
Gaming
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	646,335		1,965,923
Gaming and Racing Taxes
Gaming and racing taxes	250,100	$ 252,900	750,500	$ 751,800
Gaming \| Northeast \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	356,787		1,076,709
Gaming \| South/West \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	93,580		290,890
Gaming \| Midwest \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	195,968		598,324
Food And Beverage
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	69,551		197,931
Food And Beverage \| Other
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	230		812
Food And Beverage \| Northeast \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	21,669		60,419
Food And Beverage \| South/West \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	30,572		88,475
Food And Beverage \| Midwest \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	17,080		48,225
Lodging
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	34,967		103,770
Lodging \| Northeast \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	2,684		6,950
Lodging \| South/West \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	23,279		70,899
Lodging \| Midwest \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	9,004		25,921
Racing
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	5,415		18,875
Racing \| Other
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	1,451		4,638
Racing \| Northeast \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	3,842		14,009
Racing \| South/West \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	122		228
Reimbursable management costs
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	3,910		57,281
Reimbursable management costs \| Northeast \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	3,910		46,822
Reimbursable management costs \| South/West \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues			10,459
Other
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	29,473		88,869
Other \| Other
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	8,257		25,121
Other \| Northeast \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	9,926		31,064
Other \| South/West \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	5,435		16,702
Other \| Midwest \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenues	5,855		15,982
Loyalty credit
Customer-related Liabilities
Customer-related liability	21,400		21,400		$ 24,700
Advance payments on goods and services yet to be provided and unpaid wagers
Customer-related Liabilities
Customer-related liability	19,200		19,200			$ 21,200
Long-term customer-related liability	$ 800		$ 800			$ 1,300