Penn National Park History

On September 27 2006, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in Harrisburg, Pa., approved a permanent Category 1 slot machine license for the track’s parent company Penn National Gaming, Inc. The original Penn National Race Course grandstand opened with a crowd of 10,686 on August 30,1972. It hosted its final live racing program on April 8, 2006.

Construction has begun on the new 365,000 square foot state-of-the-art integrated racing and gaming operation Hollywood Casino at Penn National (HCPN). It will feature live thoroughbred racing and full-card simulcasting all the year round. The initial phase of operations will also include a food court with four outlets, a sports bar, trackside dining, and lounge, bar and entertainment areas on the gaming level. The facility will open with 2,000 slot machines and be sized to accommodate another thousand. A five-story parking garage with valet service parking will be connected to HCPN.