Press Release

WYOMISSING, Pa., Jul 22, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Penn National Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN):

- Second Quarter Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Shareholders of $0.09 Inclusive of $0.20 of Charges -

- Establishes 2010 Third Quarter Guidance and Updates 2010 Full Year Guidance -

Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PENN: Nasdaq) today reported second quarter operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2010, as summarized below:

Review of Second Quarter 2010 Results vs. Guidance and Second Quarter 2009 Results

Peter M. Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Penn National Gaming commented, "Second quarter revenue, EBITDA, net income and EPS, adjusted for charges, exceeded guidance and reflect our success in navigating the current environment and driving operating margin improvements. Excluding a non-recurring charge at Hollywood Casino Aurora, our properties exceeded guidance by $7.4 million pre-tax or $3.9 million after-tax. Reflecting our continued corporate and property level focus on cost reductions and effective marketing programs and spending, second quarter 2010 property level EBITDA margins, excluding charges, rose by approximately 85 basis points to 28.1% compared with the same period in 2009. As we further evaluate our marketing on a customer-by-customer basis, we are adjusting our promotional offers to those players whose spend per visit has declined and expect that this and other targeted expense management efforts will result in sustainable property margins in the second half of 2010.

"In Aurora, we came to a mutual understanding with the city that reimbursing them for a city police presence on our property was an unnecessary expense given our experienced in house security team. We entered into an agreement whereby the Company will pay a total of $7 million over three years in lieu of perpetual annual payments of $1 million to have off duty Aurora police officers provide daily security at the facility. Not only is this agreement a long-term financial benefit to the company, but it will also allow the city to re-deploy police officers in a manner that can further enhance the quality of protection for the community at large. As a result of this agreement, second quarter earnings reflect a pre-tax charge of $6.6 million, $4.0 million after tax or $0.04 per share."

During the quarter Penn National incurred a pre-tax charge of $30.6 million, $19.6 million after tax or $0.18 per share, related to the original site proposed for Hollywood Casino Columbus. In May, Ohio voters passed State Issue 2 and approved the re-location of the casino to the west side of Columbus from the originally approved Arena District site. As such, Penn National intends to sell the land it owns in the Arena District and has classified that land as an asset held for sale for accounting purposes.

Mr. Carlino continued, "Throughout the quarter Penn National made excellent progress with our expansion and development initiatives in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kansas and Ohio. In addition, with our recent acquisitions of a second track in Ohio and our interest as a joint venture partner in the Maryland Jockey Club -- which includes Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park as well as significant undeveloped real estate -- Penn National is now well positioned to benefit from the potential placement of gaming devices at these properties.

"With Penn National shares trading at what we believe to be a compelling valuation, the Company repurchased 408,790 shares of its common stock in the second quarter, pursuant to our prior and current repurchase programs at an average price of $24.25. We also continued to actively manage our capital structure as we repaid the entire amount outstanding under our revolving credit facility. We terminated our revolving credit facility which was due to expire in October 2010 and have access to our extended $640.6 million revolving credit facility which is currently undrawn and matures in July 2012.

"In July, table games were added to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course and both properties experienced an immediate lift to customer visitation and revenue. Additionally, we recently opened three new restaurants at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg to address increased visitation trends following the opening of the expanded facility last summer. Despite the impact of the economy, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg has generated approximately $138 million in total EBITDA in the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2010, a 15.6% increase over the comparable prior period.

"On September 30, we expect the new Hollywood Casino Perryville in Cecil County, Maryland to open, which is a month earlier than originally estimated, thanks to the coordinated efforts of our facility design, government relations, construction and property management teams and the Maryland regulators. Hollywood Casino Perryville will be the first casino to open in Maryland following the November 2008 statewide referendum that approved VLTs. Penn National's demonstrated ability to bring this facility online in a very timely manner can serve as a model to other interested jurisdictions which can benefit from the taxes generated by our gaming operations.

"Ground breaking on Hollywood Casino Kansas City took place in the second quarter and we are currently finalizing the design of the project.

"In Ohio, the State Legislature recently passed enabling legislation, which among other things establishes a framework for gaming in Ohio, including the formation of a gaming commission. In addition, during the quarter, voters in Ohio approved State Issue 2, which allowed for the re-location of Hollywood Casino Columbus to the 123-acre site of the former General Motors/Delphi Automotive plant, which we purchased earlier this year. We immediately began design, planning, environmental remediation and other pre-construction activities for the facility and expect to conduct groundbreaking by early next year. In Toledo, the city's Planning Commission has approved our casino development plans and we expect to break ground at the 44-acre site next month, which puts us on track to open the facility in the first half of 2012. Our Ohio projects have the potential to be among the most exciting in our history and offer opportunities for excellent returns. Accordingly, early in the third quarter we announced an agreement whereby we terminated the October 2009 Funding and Option Agreement with a third party, thereby consolidating our equity interest in these facilities.

"While the economic recovery remains unpredictable, Penn National expects to continue to benefit from our focus on operations and margins, the substantial cash flow from our diversified operating base, modest maintenance cap-ex requirements and robust development pipeline. We remain confident in our ability to deploy our capital to generate significant value for our shareholders by continuing to execute on our long-term strategy of expanding and diversifying our facility portfolio through yield focused investments in existing facilities, the development of greenfield projects and, when available, accretive acquisitions. We believe this approach has served Penn National and its shareholders well and we intend to adhere to these financial and risk management strategies while remaining opportunistic in the current environment."

Development and Expansion Projects

The table below summarizes Penn National Gaming's current facility development projects:

Financial Guidance

The table below sets forth current guidance targets for financial results for the 2010 third quarter and full year, based on the following assumptions:

• Includes the results for Beulah Park and a 49% equity interest in the Maryland Jockey Club racing operations for the remainder of 2010;
• The fourth quarter 2010 includes three months of results for Hollywood Casino Perryville;
• Includes $8.9 million of pre-opening expenses for Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races table games, Hollywood Casino Perryville, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course table games, Ohio, and Empress Casino Hotel for the 2010 full year, with approximately $3.8 million of this amount to be incurred in the third quarter of 2010 and $1.8 million to be incurred in the fourth quarter of 2010;
• Excludes expected gain from insurance proceeds related to Empress Casino Hotel fire which destroyed the casino's land side entertainment pavilion;
• Depreciation and amortization charges in 2010 of $213.1 million, with $53.9 million projected to be incurred in the third quarter of 2010;
• Estimated non-cash stock compensation expenses of $25.6 million for 2010, with $6.4 million of the cost incurred in the third quarter of 2010;
• LIBOR is based on the forward curve;
• Blended income tax rate of 44.2% for 2010, with a 45.0% rate for the remainder of 2010;
• A diluted share count of approximately 106.6 million shares;
• Excludes the costs relating to the termination of the Funding and Option Agreement with Lakes Entertainment which is expected to be incurred in the third quarter of 2010; and,
• There will be no material changes in applicable legislation or regulation, world events, weather, economic conditions, or other circumstances beyond our control that may adversely affect the Company's results of operations.

Reconciliation of EBITDA to Net income attributable to the shareholders of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and subsidiaries (GAAP)

Reconciliation of Income from Operations (GAAP) to EBITDA

Reconciliation of Income from Operations (GAAP) to EBITDA

Diluted Share Count Methodology

Reflecting the issuance of 12,500 shares on October 30, 2008 of the $1.25 billion, zero coupon, Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock and the repurchase of 225 shares in the first quarter of 2010, Penn National Gaming is required to adjust its diluted weighted average outstanding share count for the purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share as follows:

• When the price of Penn National Gaming's common stock is less than $45, the diluted weighted average outstanding share count is increased by 27,277,778 shares (regardless of how much the stock price is below $45);
• When the price of Penn National Gaming's common stock is between $45 and $67, the diluted weighted average outstanding share count will be increased by an amount which can be calculated by dividing the $1.23 billion (face value) by the current price per share. This will result in an increase in the diluted weighted average outstanding share count of between 18,320,896 shares and 27,277,778 shares depending on the current share price; and,
• When the price of Penn National Gaming's common stock is above $67, the diluted weighted average outstanding share count will be increased by 18,320,896 shares (regardless of how much the stock price exceeds $67).

Repurchases of Common Stock

The repurchase of up to $200 million of Penn National Gaming's Common Stock over the twenty-four month period ending July 2010 was authorized by Penn National Gaming's Board of Directors in July 2008. On June 9, 2010, Penn National Gaming's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of Common Stock effective immediately and continuing until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2011, unless otherwise extended or shortened by the Board of Directors. This new repurchase program replaced the program authorized by the Board of Directors in July 2008.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Penn National Gaming repurchased 408,790 shares of its Common Stock in open market transactions for approximately $9.9 million at an average price of $24.25 per share

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP

EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, charges for stock compensation, impairment losses, Empress Casino Hotel fire, depreciation and amortization, gain or loss on disposal of assets, and other expenses, and inclusive of loss from unconsolidated affiliates, is not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA information is presented as a supplemental disclosure, as management believes that it is a widely used measure of performance in the gaming industry. In addition, management uses EBITDA as the primary measure of the operating performance of its properties, including the evaluation of operating personnel. EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income, as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities, as a measure of liquidity, or as any other measure of performance determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company has significant uses of cash flows, including capital expenditures, interest payments, taxes and debt principal repayments, which are not reflected in EBITDA. It should also be noted that other gaming companies that report EBITDA information may calculate EBITDA in a different manner than the Company. EBITDA is presented as a supplemental disclosure, as management believes that it is a principal basis for the valuation of gaming companies, as this measure is considered by many to be a better indicator of the Company's operating results than diluted net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and subsidiaries per GAAP. A reconciliation of the Company's EBITDA to net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and subsidiaries per GAAP, as well as the Company's EBITDA to income (loss) from operations per GAAP, is included in the accompanying financial schedules.

A reconciliation of each property's EBITDA to income (loss) from operations is included in the financial schedules herein. On a property level, EBITDA is reconciled to income (loss) from operations per GAAP, rather than net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and subsidiaries per GAAP due to, among other things, the impracticability of allocating interest expense, interest income, income taxes and certain other items to the Company's various properties on a property-by-property basis. Management believes that this presentation is more meaningful to investors in evaluating the performance of the Company's individual properties and is consistent with the reporting of other gaming companies.

Conference Call, Webcast and Replay Details

Penn National Gaming is hosting a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 10:00 am ET today, both of which are open to the general public. The conference call number is 212/271-4651; please call five minutes in advance to ensure that you are connected prior to the presentation. Questions will be reserved for call-in analysts and investors. Interested parties may also access the live call on the Internet at www.pngaming.com; allow 15 minutes to register and download and install any necessary software.

Following its completion, a replay of the call can be accessed until August 21, 2010 by dialing 800/633-8284 or 402/977-9140 (international callers). The access code for the replay is 21476471. A replay of the call can also be accessed for thirty days on the Internet at www.pngaming.com.

This press release, which includes financial information to be discussed by management during the conference call and disclosure and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures, is available on the Company's web site, www.pngaming.com in the "News" section (select link for "Press Releases").

About Penn National Gaming

Penn National Gaming owns, operates or has ownership interests in gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment. The Company presently operates twenty-two facilities in sixteen jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario. In aggregate, Penn National's operated facilities feature over 26,300 gaming machines, over 500 table games, over 2,000 hotel rooms and approximately 980,000 square feet of gaming floor space.

Penn National Gaming recently added table games to its facilities in West Virginia and Pennsylvania and expects to open the first video lottery terminal facility in the state of Maryland in Cecil County late in the third quarter. Through a joint venture, Penn National is developing a full casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, which is anticipated to open in the first half of 2012, and is also developing casinos in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio, with openings targeted for 2012.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may vary materially from expectations. Although Penn National Gaming, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. Meaningful factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, but are not limited to, risks related to the following: our ability to maintain regulatory approvals for our existing businesses and to receive regulatory approvals for our new businesses; the passage of state, federal or local legislation (including referenda) that would expand, restrict, further tax, prevent or negatively impact operations in the jurisdictions in which we do business (such as a smoking ban at any of our facilities) or in jurisdictions where we seek to do business; the activities of our competitors and the emergence of new competitors; increases in the effective rate of taxation at any of our properties or at the corporate level; delays or changes to, or cancellations of, planned capital projects at our gaming and pari-mutuel facilities or an inability to achieve the expected returns from such projects; construction factors, including delays, unexpected remediation costs, local opposition and increased cost of labor and materials; the ability to recover proceeds on significant insurance claims; our ability to identify attractive acquisition and development opportunities and to agree to terms with partners for such transactions; the costs and risks involved in the pursuit of such opportunities and our ability to complete the acquisition or development of, and achieve the expected returns from such opportunities; the availability and cost of financing; the maintenance of agreements with our horsemen, pari-mutuel clerks and other organized labor groups; the outcome of pending legal proceedings; the effects of local and national economic, credit, capital market, housing, energy conditions on the economy in general and on the gaming and lodging industries in particular; changes in accounting standards; third-party relations and approvals; our dependence on key personnel; the impact of terrorism and other international hostilities; the impact of weather; and other factors as discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

SOURCE: Penn National Gaming, Inc.

Penn National Gaming, Inc.
William J. Clifford, Chief Financial Officer
610-373-2400
or
Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated
Joseph N. Jaffoni, Richard Land, 212-835-8500
penn@jcir.com