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24/09/2003

PENN National Gaming Names Eric Schippers Vice President, Public Affairs

Wyomissing, PA (September 24, 2003) ? Penn National Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) today announced that Eric Schippers has been named vice president, public affairs, a new position at the company. Schippers? appointment reflects Penn National?s commitment to strengthening its relationships with key constituents, including lawmakers, the media and the general public.

Schippers brings over 12 years of public affairs, public relations and public advocacy experience to his position at Penn National, including the presentation of many issues to the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. In his new position, Schippers will be responsible for Penn National?s government affairs, corporate communications and media relations. In addition, Schippers will serve as spokesperson for the company.

?Eric will be instrumental in assuring that our operating activities and the financial benefits that they bring to the local and regional economies that we serve are well understood,? said Kevin DeSanctis, Penn National President and Chief Operating Officer. ?Penn National is contributing to significant economic development through the creation of quality careers and our need for local goods and services to keep our properties at the forefront of the markets they serve. We appreciate the strong ?local partnerships? we have developed with many regional legislators which have enabled our investments in facilities, upgrades and personnel to deliver both quality entertainment centers and economic engines for the regions we serve. Eric?s background, which includes extensive public affairs experience and expertise with legislative and legal matters will enable Penn National to proactively address tax policies and our other interests in the state and federal legislatures.?

Mr. Schippers added, ?Penn National has emerged as the fastest growing company in the gaming industry and at the same time has garnered respect in many of the regions it serves based on its commitment to managing highly maintained, high performing properties staffed by the best local talent. I am excited to be joining the company, as its emphasis on corporate responsibility and integrity have proven to be an excellent foundation for growth and solid relations with community leaders and regulators. I look forward to further improving our lines of communication with the media and the public, and to working with the legislatures to ensure a stable business environment in which we can continue to grow our business to benefit the states in which we operate, their citizens and our shareholders.

Throughout his career, Schippers has worked extensively on issues before the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. In addition, he has frequently provided commentary on legislative and legal matters, appearing on CNN?s ?Inside Politics with Judy Woodruff,? FOX News Channel?s ?FOX & Friends,? MSNBC?s ?Buchanan and Press,? C-SPAN?s ?Washington Journal, as well as National Public Radio?s ?All Things Considered.? He has also been a regular guest on a number of nationally syndicated radio shows and has been a regular contributor of op-eds and articles to major news publications and scholarly journals, including The Wall Street Journal and The National Law Journal.

Prior to joining Penn National, Schippers was, since 1998, head of the Alexandria, Va.-based Center for Individual Freedom (http://www.cfif.org), a non-partisan constitutional advocacy group that is a leading voice on many of the nation?s preeminent legal and legislative issues. He has also worked for Burson-Marsteller, one of the world?s largest international public relations firms, representing numerous Fortune 500 clients in the areas of media relations, public affairs, crisis communications and constituency relations.

Schippers received his Bachelor of Arts degree in international affairs from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1992.

Penn National Gaming owns and operates: three Hollywood Casino properties located in Aurora, Illinois, Tunica, Mississippi and Shreveport, Louisiana; Charles Town Races & Slots? in Charles Town, West Virginia; two Mississippi casinos, the Casino Magic - Bay St. Louis hotel, casino, golf resort and marina in Bay St. Louis and the Boomtown Biloxi casino in Biloxi; the Casino Rouge, a riverboat gaming facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Bullwhackers casino properties in Black Hawk, Colorado. Penn National also owns two racetracks and eleven off-track wagering facilities in Pennsylvania; the racetrack at Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia; a 50% interest in the Pennwood Racing Inc. joint venture which owns and operates Freehold Raceway in New Jersey; and operates Casino Rama, a gaming facility located approximately 90 miles north of Toronto, Canada, pursuant to a management contract.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may vary materially from expectations. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from the Company's expectations. Meaningful factors which could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, but are not limited to, risks related to the following: successful completion of capital projects; the activities of the Company's competitors; the existence of attractive acquisition candidates; the Company's ability to maintain regulatory approvals for its existing businesses and to receive regulatory approvals for its new businesses; the passage of state or federal legislation that would expand, restrict, further tax or prevent gaming operations in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; the Company's dependence on key personnel; the Company's inability to realize the benefits of the integration of Hollywood Casino Corporation or any other acquired entity; the maintenance of agreements with the Company's horsemen and pari-mutuel clerks; the impact of terrorism and other international hostilities and other factors as discussed in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

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Contact:
Eric Schippers
Vice President of Public Affairs
855 Berkshire Boulevard
Wyomissing, PA 19610
610/378-8321
eric.schippers@pngaming.com

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