Challenging conventions
for over 50 years.

A year after purchasing Penn National, PNRC Corp. pioneered Telebet®, Pennsylvania’s first telephone account wagering system. This allowed customers to deposit funds in an account and place bets by phone on Penn National and simulcast races. A TV program called “Racing Alive” also began broadcasting from Penn National on race day.

Always looking for ways to expand into new areas, Penn National opened its first Off-Track Wagering (OTW) facility in Erie, PA in 1991. PNRC Corp. would operate this location until 2003 when it was purchased as part of a deal with MTR Gaming Group.

In preparation for an initial public offering, the companies involved with Penn National Race Course were reorganized and PNRC Corp. became Penn National Gaming. The company went public on the NASDAQ exchange in 1994 and Carlino’s son, Peter M. Carlino became Penn National’s first CEO. He held that position until 2013.

Beginning its transition to a diversified gaming company, Penn National acquired Charles Town Races in West Virginia in 1997. After adding video lottery terminals, the racetrack’s name was changed to Charles Town Races and Slots and became Penn National’s first expansion into another state.

Casino Magic and Boomtown Biloxi in Mississippi were acquired in 2000 and became Penn National’s first standalone casino properties. This purchase from Pinnacle Entertainment allowed Penn National to expand into Mississippi.

Penn National Gaming came in at number 59 on Fortune Magazine’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies list in 2001. Penn National would find itself on this same list the following year and be honored by being included many subsequent years after that.

30 years after its inception, Penn National expanded further and gained a foothold in new states with the acquisition of Hollywood Casinos Corp. in 2003. This purchase included casino locations in Illinois, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

In 2004, Pennsylvania passed Act 71. Known as the Racehorse Development and Gaming Act, this legislation established the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and legalized slot machines at certain race courses within the state.

Further expanding the company’s reach, Penn National Gaming purchased Argosy Gaming in 2005 for $1.4 billion. This new acquisition included casino properties in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri.

Continuing its expansion into becoming the largest regional gaming operator in the US, Tim Wilmott was named Chief Operating Officer in 2008 and Penn National Race Course was expanded with the addition of a Hollywood Casino location adjacent to the racetrack property.

Calling it “another compelling opportunity to deliver growth and returns to our shareholders by diversifying our asset base,” CEO Peter M. Carlino announced the acquisition of the M Resort in Las Vegas from the Bank of Scotland in 2011.

In 2009, Penn National was selected to develop a casino location at Kansas Speedway. In 2012, Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway opened its doors. That same year, the company opened Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino St. Louis.

Touted as a “transformational acquisition,” Penn National acquired Pinnacle Entertainment in 2018. This resulted in the addition of twelve new properties. 2018 also saw Hollywood Casino become the first Pennsylvania casino to offer sports betting.

Facing some tough resistance, Penn National Gaming finally became the first company to launch an online casino in Pennsylvania in 2019. That same year, the company also purchased the operating businesses of Margaritaville Resort Casino in Louisiana and Greektown Casino-Hotel in Detroit.

In 2021, Penn National Gaming agreed to acquire Score Media and Gaming Inc., which had been a strategic partner since 2019. This purchase helped Penn National expand its sports betting market into Ontario, Canada with theScore Bet app. This same year, Penn National donated $4.6 million to the Barstool Fund for COVID-impacted small businesses and pledged $4 million to fund STEM scholarships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

To reflect Penn National Gaming’s new position as North America’s leading provider of integrated entertainment, sports content and casino gaming experiences — the company was rebranded as PENN Entertainment. The new brand displays that we’re in the business of fun. Also in 2022, we were named to Forbes Magazine’s list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity.

In 2023, PENN launched its new and improved customer loyalty rewards program. With an emphasis on fun and earning through our new online gaming and sports betting apps, PENN Play allows members to earn rewards at over 35 destinations — and online — and redeem them for gaming, dining, shopping, hotel stays and more.