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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 10-K

(Mark One)    

ý

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

OR

o

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                             to                            

Commission file number 0-24206

Penn National Gaming, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  23-2234473
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

825 Berkshire Blvd., Suite 200
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

19610
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 373-2400
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
None   None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Series C Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share
(Title of Class)

          Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý    No o

          Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o    No ý

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý    No o

          Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer ý   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No ý

          As of June 30, 2015 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter), the aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $1.34 billion. Such aggregate market value was computed by reference to the closing price of the common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on June 30, 2015.

          The number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding as of March 10, 2016 was 81,288,782.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

          Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III.

   


Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
PART I    

ITEM 1.

 

BUSINESS

 

1
ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS   18
ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS   35
ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES   35
ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS   38
ITEM 4.   MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES   39

PART II

 

 

ITEM 5.

 

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

40
ITEM 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA   40
ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS   43
ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK   78
ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA   79
ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE   135
ITEM 9A.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES   135
ITEM 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION   139

PART III

 

 

ITEM 10.

 

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

139
ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION   139
ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS   139
ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE   139
ITEM 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES   139

PART IV

 

 

ITEM 15.

 

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

140

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IMPORTANT FACTORS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This document includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are included throughout the document, including the section entitled "Risk Factors," and relate to our business strategy, our prospects and our financial position. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," "should" or "anticipates" or the negative or other variation of these or similar words, or by discussions of future events, strategies or risks and uncertainties. Specifically, forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements concerning:

        Although Penn National Gaming, Inc. ("Penn") and its subsidiaries (together with Penn, collectively, the "Company") believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our subsidiaries and us, and accordingly, our forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors described below and in the information incorporated by reference herein. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, risks related to the following:

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        All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this document. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this document may not occur.

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PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

Overview

        We are a leading, diversified, multi-jurisdictional owner and manager of gaming and racing facilities and video gaming terminal operations with a focus on slot machine entertainment. The Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1982 as PNRC Corp. and adopted its current name in 1994, when the Company became a publicly traded company. In 1997, we began our transition from a pari-mutuel company to a diversified gaming company with the acquisition of the Charles Town property and the introduction of video lottery terminals in West Virginia. Since 1997, we have continued to expand our gaming operations through strategic acquisitions, greenfield projects, and property expansions. We, along with our joint venture partner, opened Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway on February 3, 2012. In Ohio, we have opened four new gaming properties over the last four years, including: Hollywood Casino Toledo on May 29, 2012, Hollywood Casino Columbus on October 8, 2012, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014. In addition, on November 2, 2012, we acquired Harrah's St. Louis, which we subsequently rebranded as Hollywood Casino St Louis.

        On June 24, 2015, we opened Plainridge Park Casino, an integrated racing and slots-only gaming facility in Plainville, Massachusetts. On August 25, 2015, we completed the acquisition of our first Las Vegas strip asset, Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. On September 1, 2015, we completed our acquisition of Prairie State Gaming, one of the largest video gaming terminal route operators in Illinois. In addition, we are developing a Hollywood Casino branded gaming facility on the Jamul Indian Village near San Diego, California, which we will manage upon its anticipated opening in mid-2016. Also during the year ended December 31, 2015, we established a new business line to implement our interactive gaming strategy through our new subsidiary, Penn Interactive Ventures, which included building out a new interactive team, launching our Hollywood Casino branded Play4Fun social gaming partnership with Scientific Games and establishing other partnerships that we expect to launch in 2016.

        We believe that our portfolio of assets provides us the benefit of a geographically diversified cash flow from operations. We continue to expand our gaming operations through the implementation and execution of a disciplined capital expenditure program at our existing properties, the pursuit of strategic acquisitions and the development of new gaming properties, particularly in attractive regional markets.

        In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms "we," "us," "our," the "Company" and "Penn" refer to Penn National Gaming, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Spin-Off of Real Estate Assets through a Real Estate Investment Trust

        On November 1, 2013, the Company completed its plan to separate its gaming operating assets from its real property assets by creating a newly formed, publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT"), known as Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ("GLPI"), through a tax free spin-off (the "Spin-Off"). Penn effected the Spin-Off by distributing one share of common stock of GLPI to the holders of Penn common stock and Series C Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred Stock") for every share of Penn common stock and every 1/1000th of a share of Series C Preferred Stock that they held at the close of business on October 16, 2013, the record date for the Spin-Off. Peter M. Carlino and the PMC Delaware Dynasty Trust dated September 25, 2013, a trust for the benefit of Mr. Carlino's children, also received 882,129 additional shares of GLPI common stock, in exchange for 2,167,393 shares of Penn common stock that they transferred to Penn immediately prior to the Spin-Off, and Mr. Carlino exchanged certain options to acquire Penn common stock for options to acquire GLPI common stock having the same aggregate intrinsic value. Penn engaged in these

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exchanges with Mr. Carlino and his related trust to ensure that each member of the Carlino family beneficially owned 9.9% or less of the outstanding shares of Penn common stock following the Spin-Off, so that GLPI could qualify to be taxed as a REIT for United States ("U.S.") federal income tax purposes.

        In addition, through a series of internal corporate restructurings, Penn contributed to GLPI substantially all of the assets and liabilities associated with Penn's real property interests and real estate development business, as well as all of the assets and liabilities of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville, which are referred to as the "TRS Properties." As a result of the Spin-Off, GLPI owns substantially all of Penn's former real property assets as of such date and leases back those assets (other than the TRS Properties) to Penn for use by its subsidiaries, under a "triple net" master lease agreement (the "Master Lease") (which has a fifteen-year initial term that can be extended at Penn's option for up to four five-year renewal terms), as well as owns and operates the TRS Properties. Penn continues to operate the leased gaming facilities and holds the associated gaming licenses with these facilities. As a result of the Spin-Off, the Company's results for the year ended December 31, 2013 only include the TRS Properties for the period January 1, 2013 through October 31, 2013. The TRS properties have been reported as discontinued operations in the Company's financial statements.

        The Company received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service relating to the tax treatment of the separation and the qualification of GLPI as a REIT. The private letter ruling is subject to certain qualifications and based on certain representations and statements made by the Company and certain of its shareholders. If such representations and statements are untrue or incomplete in any material respect (including as a result of a material change in the transaction or other relevant facts), the Company may not be able to rely on the private letter ruling. The Company received opinions from outside counsel regarding certain aspects of the transaction that are not covered by the private letter ruling.

        Prior to the Spin-Off, we entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement with GLPI setting forth the mechanics of the Spin-Off, certain organizational matters and other ongoing obligations of the Company and GLPI. The Company and GLPI or their respective subsidiaries, as applicable, also entered into a number of other agreements prior to the Spin-Off to provide a framework for the restructuring and for the relationships between GLPI and the Company.

Master Lease

        As of December 31, 2015, the Company leased from GLPI real property assets associated with eighteen of the Company's gaming and related facilities used in the Company's operations. The following summary of the Master Lease is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Master Lease which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as exhibit 10.20 to our Form 10-K/A. It was determined that the Master Lease did not meet the requirements of a normal leaseback under ASC 840 due to prohibited forms of continuing involvement and is therefore accounted for as a financing obligation.

        The payment structure under the Master Lease, which became effective November 1, 2013, includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual escalator of up to 2% if certain coverage ratio thresholds are met, and a component that is based on the performance of the facilities, which is prospectively adjusted, subject to a floor of zero (i) every five years by an amount equal to 4% of the average change to net revenues of all facilities under the Master Lease (other than Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo) during the preceding five years, and (ii) monthly by an amount equal to 20% of the change in net revenues of Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo during the preceding month. In addition, with the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in the third quarter of 2014,

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our annual payment related to the Master Lease increased by approximately $19 million, which approximates ten percent of the real estate construction costs paid for by GLPI related to these facilities.

        In April 2014, an amendment to the Master Lease was entered into in order to revise certain provisions relating to our Sioux City property. In accordance with the amendment, upon the cessation of gaming operations at Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014 due to the termination of its gaming license, the annual payment to GLPI was reduced by $6.2 million. Additionally, the Company finalized its calculation of the coverage ratio in accordance with the appropriate provisions of the Master Lease to determine if an annual base payment escalator is due. The calculation of the escalator resulted in an increase to our annual payment of $5.0 million and $3.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

        The Master Lease is commonly known as a triple-net lease. Accordingly, in addition to financing obligation payments, the Company is required to pay the following, among other things: (1) all facility maintenance; (2) all insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties; (3) taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties (other than taxes on the income of the lessor); and (4) all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.

        At the Company's option, the Master Lease may be extended for up to four five-year renewal terms beyond the initial fifteen-year term, on the same terms and conditions. If we elect to renew the term of the Master Lease, the renewal will be effective as to all, but not less than all, of the leased property then subject to the Master Lease, provided that the final renewal option shall only be exercisable with respect to certain of the barge-based facilities—i.e., facilities where barges serve as foundations upon which buildings are constructed to serve as gaming or related facilities or serve ancillary purposes such as access platforms or shear barges to protect a gaming facility from floating debris—following an independent third party expert's review of the total useful life of the applicable barged-based facility measured from the beginning of the initial term. If the final five-year renewal term would not cause the aggregate term to exceed 80% of the useful life of such facility, the facility shall be included in the five-year renewal. In the event that a five-year renewal of such facility would cause it to exceed 80% of the estimated useful life, such facility shall be included in the renewal for the period of time equal to but not exceeding 80% of the estimated useful life.

        We do not have the ability to terminate our obligations under the Master Lease prior to its expiration without GLPI's consent. If the Master Lease is terminated prior to its expiration other than with GLPI's consent, we may be liable for damages and incur charges such as continued lease payments through the end of the lease term and maintenance costs for the leased property.

Segment Information

        Our Chief Executive Officer and President, who is the Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") as that term is defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 280, "Segment Reporting" ("ASC 280"), measures and assesses the Company's business performance based on regional operations of various properties grouped together based primarily on their geographic locations. In January 2014, the Company named Jay Snowden as its Chief Operating Officer and the Company decided in connection with this announcement to re-align its reporting structure. Since January 2014, the Company's reportable segments are: (i) East/Midwest, (ii) West, and (iii) Southern Plains. See "Item 7—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 16—Segment Information."

        The East/Midwest reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino Bangor, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course,

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Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, which opened on August 28, 2014, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, which opened on September 17, 2014, and Plainridge Park Casino, which opened on June 24, 2015. It also includes the Company's Casino Rama management service contract. It also previously included Hollywood Casino Perryville, which was contributed to GLPI on November 1, 2013 and is reported as discontinued operations.

        The West reportable segment consists of the following properties: Zia Park Casino, M Resort, and Tropicana Las Vegas, which was acquired on August 25, 2015, as well as the Hollywood Casino Jamul—San Diego project with the Jamul Indian Village, which the Company anticipates completing in mid-2016.

        The Southern Plains reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino Aurora, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Argosy Casino Alton, Argosy Casino Riverside, Hollywood Casino Tunica, Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, Boomtown Biloxi, Hollywood Casino St. Louis, and Prairie State Gaming, which the Company acquired on September 1, 2015, and includes the Company's 50% investment in Kansas Entertainment, LLC ("Kansas Entertainment"), which owns the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway. This segment previously included Argosy Casino Sioux City, which closed on July 30, 2014 and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, which was contributed to GLPI on November 1, 2013 and is reported as discontinued operations.

        The Other category consists of the Company's standalone racing operations, namely Rosecroft Raceway, Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, and the Company's joint venture interests in Sam Houston Race Park, Valley Race Park, and Freehold Raceway. It also previously included the Company's Bullwhackers property, which was sold in July 2013. If the Company is successful in obtaining gaming operations at these locations, they would be assigned to one of the Company's regional executives and reported in their respective reportable segment. The Other category also includes the Company's corporate overhead operations, which does not meet the definition of an operating segment under ASC 280, and Penn Interactive Ventures, LLC, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary which represents its social online gaming initiatives and would meet the definition of an operating segment under ASC 280 but is currently immaterial to the Company's operations.

Properties

        Penn National Gaming, Inc. owns, operates, or has ownership interests in gaming and racing facilities and video gaming terminal operations with a focus on slot machine entertainment. As of December 31, 2015, we operated twenty-seven facilities in the following seventeen jurisdictions: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Ontario. The Company, on August 25, 2015, acquired Tropicana Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip for $357.7 million. In Illinois, the Company acquired Prairie State Gaming, a video gaming terminal operator, on September 1, 2015. The Company, along with its joint venture partner, opened Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway on February 3, 2012. In Ohio, the Company opened four new gaming properties over the last three years, including: Hollywood Casino Toledo on May 29, 2012, Hollywood Casino Columbus on October 8, 2012, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014. In addition, on November 2, 2012, the Company acquired Harrah's St. Louis, which we subsequently rebranded as Hollywood Casino St. Louis. On July 30, 2014, the Company closed its facility in Sioux City, Iowa, and on July 1, 2013, the Company sold its Bullwhackers property located in Colorado. As such, the Company no longer has any operations in Iowa and Colorado. Additionally, as a result of the Spin-Off, Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge in Louisiana and Hollywood Casino Perryville in Maryland were contributed to GLPI on November 1, 2013.

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        The real estate of the Master Lease properties described below was contributed to GLPI as part of the Spin-Off; however, Penn continues to operate the leased gaming facilities. The following table summarizes certain features of the Master Lease properties operated and managed by us as of December 31, 2015:


Master Lease Properties

 
  Location   Type of Facility   Approx.
Property
Square
Footage(1)
  Gaming
Machines
  Table
Games(2)
  Hotel
Rooms
 

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

  Charles Town, WV   Land-based gaming/Thoroughbred racing     511,249     2,640     91     153  

Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

  Lawrenceburg, IN   Dockside gaming     634,000     1,796     60     295  

Hollywood Casino Toledo

  Toledo, OH   Land-based gaming     285,335     2,045     59      

Hollywood Casino Columbus

  Columbus, OH   Land-based gaming     354,075     2,244     78      

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway

  Dayton, OH   Land-based gaming/Harness racing     191,037     990          

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

  Youngstown, OH   Land-based gaming/Thoroughbred racing     177,448     940          

Hollywood Casino St. Louis

  Maryland Heights, MO   Dockside gaming     645,270     2,110     57     502  

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

  Grantville, PA   Land-based gaming/Thoroughbred racing     451,758     2,391     55      

M Resort

  Henderson, NV   Land-based gaming     910,173     1,339     40     390  

Argosy Casino Riverside

  Riverside, MO   Dockside gaming     450,397     1,484     37     258  

Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast

  Bay St. Louis, MS   Land-based gaming     425,920     1,116     17     291  

Hollywood Casino Tunica

  Tunica, MS   Dockside gaming     315,831     1,066     20     494  

Hollywood Casino Aurora

  Aurora, IL   Dockside gaming     222,189     1,127     20      

Boomtown Biloxi

  Biloxi, MS   Dockside gaming     134,800     955     16      

Hollywood Casino Joliet

  Joliet, IL   Dockside gaming     322,446     1,100     23     100  

Hollywood Casino Bangor

  Bangor, ME   Land-based gaming/Harness racing     257,085     787     12     152  

Argosy Casino Alton(3)

  Alton, IL   Dockside gaming     241,762     838     12      

Argosy Casino Sioux City(4)

  Sioux City, IA   Dockside gaming                  

Zia Park Casino

  Hobbs, NM   Land-based gaming/Thoroughbred racing     193,645     750         154  

Total

            6,724,420     25,718     597     2,789  

(1)
Square footage includes conditioned space and excludes parking garages and barns.

(2)
Excludes poker tables.

(3)
Excludes the riverboat, which continues to be owned by Penn.

(4)
This facility was closed on July 30, 2014.

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        The following table summarizes certain features of the properties that are not subject to the Master Lease and are owned and operated, or managed, by us as of December 31, 2015:


Other Properties

 
  Location   Type of Facility   Approx.
Property
Square
Footage(1)
  Gaming
Machines
  Table
Games(2)
  Hotel
Rooms
 

Owned Properties:

                                 

Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway(3)

  Kansas City, KS   Land-based gaming     244,791     2,000     40      

Beulah Park(4)

  Grove City, OH   Thoroughbred racing                  

Freehold Raceway(5)

  Freehold, NJ   Standardbred racing     132,865              

Raceway Park(6)

  Toledo, OH   Standardbred racing                  

Rosecroft Raceway

  Oxon Hill, MD   Standardbred racing     183,950              

Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club

  Longwood, FL   Greyhound racing     58,940              

Plainridge Park Casino(7)

  Plainville, MA   Land-based gaming/Harness racing     196,473     1,250          

Sam Houston Race Park(8)

  Houston, TX   Thoroughbred racing     283,383              

Valley Race Park(8)

  Harlingen, TX   Greyhound racing     118,216              

Tropicana Las Vegas(9)

  Las Vegas, NV   Land-based gaming     1,183,984     775     36     1,470  

Managed Property:

                                 

Casino Rama(10)

  Orillia, Ontario   Land-based gaming     840,928     2,537     98     289  

VGT-route Operations:

                                 

Prairie State Gaming(11)

  Illinois   Land-based gaming     N/A     1,100          

Total

            3,243,530     7,662     174     1,759  

(1)
Square footage includes conditioned space and excludes parking garages and barns.

(2)
Excludes poker tables.

(3)
Pursuant to a joint venture with International Speedway Corporation ("International Speedway").

(4)
Operations for this property have been relocated to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course located in Austintown, Ohio. The facility closed on May 3, 2014.

(5)
Pursuant to a joint venture with Greenwood Limited Jersey, Inc., a subsidiary of Greenwood Racing, Inc.

(6)
Operations for this property have been relocated to Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway located in Dayton, Ohio. The facility closed on June 30, 2014.

(7)
Opened on June 24, 2015.

(8)
Pursuant to a joint venture with MAXXAM, Inc. ("MAXXAM").

(9)
Acquired on August 25, 2015.

(10)
Pursuant to a management contract.

(11)
Video-gaming terminal ("VGT") route operator acquired on September 1, 2015.

        As mentioned above, we organize the properties we operate, manage and own, as applicable, into three segments, East/Midwest, West and Southern Plains. Below is a description of each of our properties by segment.

East/Midwest Properties

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

        Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, within approximately a one-hour drive of the Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. markets. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races features 511,249 of property square footage with 2,640 gaming machines, 91 table games and 26 poker tables and a 153-room hotel. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races also features various dining options, including a high-end steakhouse, a sports bar and entertainment lounge, as well as an Asian themed restaurant. The complex also features live thoroughbred racing at a 3/4-mile all-weather lighted thoroughbred racetrack with a 3,000-seat grandstand, parking for 5,781 vehicles and simulcast wagering and dining.

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Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

        Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course is located in Grantville, Pennsylvania, which is 15 miles northeast of Harrisburg. Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course features 451,758 of property square footage with 2,391 slot machines, 55 table games and 16 poker tables. The facility also includes an entertainment bar and lounge, a sports bar, a buffet, a high-end steakhouse and various casual dining options, as well as a simulcast facility and viewing area for live racing. The facility has ample parking, including a five-story self-parking garage, with capacity for approximately 2,200 cars, and approximately 1,500 surface parking spaces for self and valet parking. The property includes a one-mile all-weather lighted thoroughbred racetrack and a 7/8-mile turf track. The property also includes 393 acres that are available for future expansion or development.

Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

        Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg is located on the Ohio River in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, approximately 15 miles west of Cincinnati. The Hollywood-themed casino riverboat has 634,000 square feet of property square footage with 1,796 slot machines, 60 table games and 19 poker tables. Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg also includes a 295-room hotel, as well as a restaurant, a bar, a nightclub, a sports bar, two cafes and meeting space.

        The City of Lawrenceburg Department of Redevelopment constructed a hotel and event center located less than a mile away from our Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg property. Effective in mid January 2015, by contractual agreement, the hotel and event center is owned and operated by a subsidiary of the Company. The hotel and event center includes 168 rooms, approximately 18,000 square feet of multipurpose space and 19,500 square feet of ballroom and meeting space.

Hollywood Casino Toledo

        Hollywood Casino Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and opened on May 29, 2012. Hollywood Casino Toledo is a Hollywood-themed casino featuring 285,335 of property square footage with 2,045 slot machines, 59 table games and 20 poker tables. Hollywood Casino Toledo also includes multiple food and beverage outlets, an entertainment lounge, and structured and surface parking for approximately 3,300 spaces.

Hollywood Casino Columbus

        Hollywood Casino Columbus is located in Columbus, Ohio and opened on October 8, 2012. Hollywood Casino Columbus is a Hollywood-themed casino featuring 354,075 of property square footage with 2,244 slot machines, 78 table games and 36 poker tables. Hollywood Casino Columbus also includes multiple food and beverage outlets, an entertainment lounge, and structured and surface parking for 4,616 spaces.

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway

        Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway is located in Dayton, Ohio and opened on August 28, 2014. Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway is a Hollywood-themed facility featuring 191,037 of property square footage with 990 video lottery terminals and a 5/8-mile standardbred racetrack. Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway also includes various restaurants, bars, surface parking for 1,806 spaces and other amenities.

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

        Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course is located in Youngstown, Ohio and opened on September 17, 2014. Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course is a Hollywood-themed

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facility featuring 177,448 of property square footage with 940 video lottery terminals and a one-mile thoroughbred racetrack. Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course also includes various restaurants, bars, surface parking for 1,251 spaces and other amenities.

Hollywood Casino Bangor

        Hollywood Casino Bangor, which is located in Bangor, Maine, includes 257,085 of property square footage with 787 slot machines, 12 table games and four poker tables. Hollywood Casino Bangor's amenities include a 152-room hotel with 5,119 square feet of meeting and multipurpose space, three eateries, a buffet, a snack bar and a casual dining restaurant, a small entertainment stage, and a four-story parking garage with 1,500 spaces. Bangor Raceway, which is adjacent to the property, is located at historic Bass Park and includes a one-half mile standardbred racetrack and grandstand to seat 3,500 patrons.

Plainridge Park Casino

        Plainridge Park Casino, which opened on June 24, 2015, is located 20 miles southwest of the Boston beltway just off interstate 95 in Plainville, Massachusetts. Plainridge Park Casino features 196,473 of property square footage with 1,250 gaming devices. Plainridge Park Casino offers various restaurants, bars, 1,620 structured and surface parking spaces, and other amenities. Plainridge Park Casino also includes a 5/8-mile live harness racing facility with approximate 55,000 square foot, two story clubhouse for simulcast operations and live racing viewing.

Casino Rama

        Through CHC Casinos Canada Limited ("CHC Casinos"), our indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary, we manage Casino Rama, a full service gaming and entertainment facility, on behalf of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation ("OLGC"), an agency of the Province of Ontario. Casino Rama is located on the lands of the Rama First Nation, approximately 90 miles north of Toronto. The property has 840,928 of property square footage with 2,537 gaming machines, 98 table games and 12 poker tables. In addition, the property includes a 5,000-seat entertainment facility, a 289-room hotel and 3,642 surface parking spaces.

        The Development and Operating Agreement (the "Agreement"), which we refer to as the management service contract for Casino Rama, sets out the duties, rights and obligations of CHC Casinos and our indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary, CRC Holdings, Inc. The compensation under the Agreement is a base fee equal to 2.0% of gross revenues of the casino and an incentive fee equal to 5.0% of the casino's net operating profit.

        In June 2014, we signed an agreement to extend the Casino Rama Agreement on a month-to-month basis with a 60-day notice period for up to a maximum period of forty-eight months. There can be no assurance as to how long the OLGC will continue to engage us to manage the property.

West Properties

M Resort

        The M Resort, located approximately ten miles from the Las Vegas strip in Henderson, Nevada, is situated on over 90 acres on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway. The resort features 910,173 of property square footage with 1,339 slot machines and 40 table games. The M Resort also offers 390 guest rooms and suites, six restaurants and six destination bars, more than 60,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, a 4,700 space parking facility, a spa and fitness center and a 100,000 square foot events piazza.

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Zia Park Casino

        Zia Park Casino is located in Hobbs, New Mexico and includes a casino, as well as an adjoining racetrack. The property includes 193,645 of property square footage with 750 slot machines and two restaurants. The property has a one-mile quarter/thoroughbred racetrack, with live racing from September to December, and a year-round simulcast parlor. In August 2014, we opened a new hotel, which includes 148 rooms, six suites, a board/meeting room, exercise/fitness facilities and a breakfast venue.

Tropicana Las Vegas

        The Company acquired Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015. Tropicana Las Vegas, located on the strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, is situated on a 35-acre land parcel at the corner of Tropicana Boulevard and Las Vegas Boulevard. The resort features 1,183,984 of property square footage with 775 slot machines and 36 table games. Tropicana Las Vegas offers 1,470 guest rooms, a sports book, three full services restaurants, a food court, a 1,200-seat performance theater, a 300-seat comedy club, over 100,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space, and a five-acre tropical beach event area and spa.

Southern Plains Properties

Hollywood Casino Aurora

        Hollywood Casino Aurora, part of the Chicagoland market, is located in Aurora, Illinois, the second largest city in Illinois, approximately 35 miles west of Chicago. This single-level dockside casino provides 222,189 of property square footage with 1,127 slot machines, 20 gaming tables and six poker tables. The facility features a steakhouse with a private dining room, a VIP lounge for premium players, a casino bar with video poker, a buffet, and a deli. Hollywood Casino Aurora also has a surface parking lot, two parking garages with approximately 1,500 parking spaces, and a gift shop.

Hollywood Casino Joliet

        Hollywood Casino Joliet, part of the Chicagoland market, is located on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois, approximately 40 miles southwest of Chicago. This barge-based casino provides two levels with 1,100 slot machines, 23 table games and three poker tables. The land-based pavilion includes a steakhouse, a buffet and a sports bar. The casino barge includes a deli and entertainment lounge. The complex also includes a 100-room hotel, a 1,100 space parking garage, surface parking areas with approximately 1,500 spaces and an 80-space recreational vehicle park. In total, the facility includes 322,446 of property square footage.

Argosy Casino Alton

        Argosy Casino Alton is located on the Mississippi River in Alton, Illinois, approximately 20 miles northeast of downtown St. Louis. Argosy Casino Alton is a three-deck gaming facility featuring 241,762 of property square footage with 838 slot machines and 12 table games. Argosy Casino Alton includes an entertainment pavilion and features a 214-seat buffet, a restaurant, a deli and a 475-seat main showroom. The facility also includes surface parking areas with 1,341 spaces.

Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast

        Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast (formerly Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis), which is located in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, features 425,920 of property square footage with 1,116 slot machines, 17 table games, and five poker tables. The waterfront Hollywood Hotel features 291 rooms, a 10,000 square foot ballroom, and nine separate meeting rooms offering more than 14,000 square feet of meeting space. Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast offers live concerts and various entertainment on weekends. The

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property also features The Bridges golf course, an 18-hole championship golf course. Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast has various dining facilities including a steakhouse, a buffet, a grill and a clubhouse lounge as well as an entertainment bar. Other amenities include a recreational vehicle park with 100 spaces and a gift shop, lazy river, spa, and pool cabanas.

Argosy Casino Riverside

        Argosy Casino Riverside is located on the Missouri River, approximately five miles from downtown Kansas City in Riverside, Missouri. The property features 450,397 of property square footage with 1,484 slot machines and 37 table games. This Mediterranean-themed casino and hotel features a nine-story, 258-room hotel and spa, an entertainment facility featuring various food and beverage areas, including a buffet, a steakhouse, a deli, a coffee bar, a VIP lounge and a sports/entertainment lounge and 19,000 square feet of banquet/conference facilities. Argosy Casino Riverside also has parking for approximately 3,000 vehicles, including a 1,250 space parking garage.

Hollywood Casino Tunica

        Hollywood Casino Tunica is located in Tunica, Mississippi. This single-level property features 315,831 of property square footage with 1,066 slot machines, 20 table games and six poker tables. Hollywood Casino Tunica also has a 494-room hotel and 123-space recreational vehicle park. Entertainment amenities include a steakhouse, a buffet, a grill, an entertainment lounge, a premium players' club, a themed bar facility, an indoor pool and showroom as well as banquet and meeting facilities. In addition, Hollywood Casino Tunica offers surface parking with 1,635 spaces.

Boomtown Biloxi

        Boomtown Biloxi is located in Biloxi, Mississippi and offers 134,800 of property square footage with 955 slot machines and 16 table games. It features a buffet, a steakhouse, a 24-hour grill, a noodle bar and an RV park with 50 spaces. Boomtown Biloxi also has 1,450 surface parking spaces.

Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway

        Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, our 50% joint venture with International Speedway, is located in Kansas City, Kansas and opened on February 3, 2012. The facility features 244,791 of property square footage with 2,000 slot machines, 40 table games and 12 poker tables. Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway offers a variety of dining and entertainment facilities as well as has a 1,253 space parking structure.

Hollywood Casino St. Louis

        Hollywood Casino St. Louis is located adjacent to the Missouri River in Maryland Heights, Missouri, directly off I-70 and approximately 22 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis, Missouri. The facility is situated on 248 acres along the Missouri River and features 645,270 of property square footage with 2,110 slot machines, 57 table games, 21 poker tables, a 502 guestroom hotel, nine dining and entertainment venues and structured and surface parking for approximately 4,600 spaces. At the end of 2013, we completed the transition of the property to our Hollywood Casino brand name.

Prairie State Gaming

        The Company acquired Illinois Gaming Investors, LLC, d/b/a Prairie State Gaming, a licensed video gaming terminal route operator in Illinois, on September 1, 2015. Prairie State Gaming's operations include more than 1,100 video gaming terminals across a network of approximately 270 bar and retail gaming establishments in seven distinct geographic areas throughout Illinois.

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Other Properties

Rosecroft Raceway

        Rosecroft Raceway, located approximately 13 miles south of Washington, D.C., is situated on 125 acres just outside the Washington I-495 Beltway in Prince George's county, Maryland. The Rosecroft facility features a 5/8-mile standardbred race track with a seven race paddock, a 53,000 square foot grandstand building, and a 96,000 square foot three story clubhouse building with dining facilities.

Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club

        Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club is a 1/4-mile greyhound facility located in Longwood, Florida. The facility has capacity for 6,500 patrons, with seating for 4,000 and surface parking for 2,500 vehicles. The facility conducts year-round greyhound racing and greyhound, thoroughbred, and harness racing simulcasts.

Freehold Raceway

        Through our joint venture in Pennwood Racing, Inc. ("Pennwood"), we own 50% of Freehold Raceway, located in Freehold, New Jersey. The property features a half-mile standardbred race track and a 117,715 square foot grandstand.

Sam Houston Race Park and Valley Race Park

        Our joint venture with MAXXAM owns and operates the Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas and the Valley Race Park in Harlingen, Texas, and holds a license for a planned racetrack in Laredo, Texas. Sam Houston Race Park is located 15 miles northwest from downtown Houston along Beltway 8. Sam Houston Race Park hosts thoroughbred and quarter horse racing and offers daily simulcast operations, as well as hosts various special events, private parties and meetings, concerts and national touring festivals throughout the year. Valley Race Park features 118,216 of property square footage as a dog racing and simulcasting facility located in Harlingen, Texas.

Off-track Wagering Facilities

        Our off-track wagering facilities ("OTWs") and racetracks provide areas for viewing import simulcast races of thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing, televised sporting events, placing pari-mutuel wagers and dining. We operate two OTWs in Pennsylvania, and through our joint venture in Pennwood, we own 50% of a leased OTW in Toms River, New Jersey. In addition, in accordance with an operating agreement with Pennwood, the Company constructed an OTW in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, which opened in July 2014. Per the operating agreement, this OTW is operated by us; however, Pennwood has the option to purchase the OTW once the Company has received its total investment as defined in the operating agreement.

Trademarks

        We own a number of trademarks and service marks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("U.S. PTO"), including but not limited to, "Hollywood Casino®," "Hollywood Gaming®," "Argosy®," "M Resort®," "Hollywood Poker®," "Marquee Rewards®" and "Telebet®." We believe that our rights to our marks are well established and have competitive value to our properties. We also have a number of trademark applications pending with the U.S. PTO.

        As part of our acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas in August 2015, we assumed a trademark settlement agreement with Tropicana Entertainment, LLC, an affiliate of Tropicana Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCPA) that is not related to the Company, which, subject to other terms, conditions, and advertising limitations set forth in the agreement, confirms, among other things, that (i) Tropicana Las

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Vegas owns and has the exclusive right to use the "Tropicana Las Vegas" and the "Tropicana LV" marks within 50 miles of the "Las Vegas Property" for the purpose of providing goods and services in the field of entertainment and hospitality and in the natural scope of expansion thereof (the "Services"), and for "Internet Uses" (as defined in the Agreement) without geographic limitation, (ii) Tropicana Las Vegas may advertise the Services identified by the "Tropicana Las Vegas" and the "Tropicana LV" marks worldwide provided that the advertisements explicitly reference the location of the Tropicana Las Vegas Property, and (ii) Tropicana Entertainment, LLC owns and has the exclusive right to use the "Tropicana" and "Trop" marks, in connection with a modifier indicating the type of service being provided or a modifier designating an accurate geographic location of a property, outside of the Las Vegas area, and may advertise the Services worldwide provided that the advertisements explicitly reference the location of the properties.

        Pursuant to a License Agreement with Boomtown, Inc., dated August 8, 2000, our subsidiary BTN, LLC (successor to BTN, Inc.) uses "Boomtown" and other trademarks.

Competition

        The gaming industry is characterized by an increasingly high degree of competition among a large number of operators, including riverboat casinos, dockside casinos, land-based casinos, video lottery, video gaming terminals (VGTs) at taverns in certain states, such as Illinois, as well as the potential legalization of VGTs in Pennsylvania, sweepstakes and poker machines not located in casinos, Native American gaming, emerging varieties of Internet and sports gaming, and other forms of gaming in the U.S. In a broader sense, our gaming operations face competition from all manner of leisure and entertainment activities, including: shopping; athletic events; television and movies; concerts and travel. Legalized gaming is currently permitted in various forms throughout the U.S., in several Canadian provinces and on various lands taken into trust for the benefit of certain Native Americans in the U.S. and Canada. Other jurisdictions, including states adjacent to states in which we currently have facilities (such as in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Maryland), have legalized and expanded or have plans to license additional gaming facilities in the near future. In addition, established gaming jurisdictions could award additional gaming licenses or permit the expansion or relocation of existing gaming operations. New, relocated or expanded operations by other persons will increase competition for our gaming operations and could have a material adverse impact on us. Finally, the imposition of smoking bans and/or higher gaming tax rates have a significant impact on our properties' ability to compete with facilities in nearby jurisdictions.

        Our racing operations face significant competition for wagering dollars from other racetracks and OTWs, some of which also offer other forms of gaming, as well as other gaming venues such as casinos and historic racing. Additionally, for a number of years, there has been a general decline in the number of people attending and wagering on live horse races at North American racetracks due to a number of factors, including increased competition from other wagering and entertainment alternatives and unwillingness of customers to travel a significant distance to racetracks. Our account wagering operations compete with other providers of such services throughout the country. We also may face competition in the future from new OTWs, new racetracks, instant racing, or new providers of account wagering. From time to time, states consider legislation to permit other forms of gaming. If additional gaming opportunities become available near our racing operations, such gaming opportunities could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        East/Midwest.    Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has been and will continue to be negatively impacted by competition in the Baltimore Maryland market, which includes Maryland Live! and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. Maryland Live!, a casino complex at the Anne Arundel Mills mall in Anne Arundel, Maryland, opened on June 6, 2012 with approximately 3,200 slot machines. Maryland Live! significantly increased its slot machine offerings by mid-September 2012 to approximately 4,750 slot machines, opened table games on April 11, 2013, and opened a 52 table poker room in late August

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2013. Horseshoe Casino Baltimore opened at the end of August 2014 with 2,500 video lottery terminals and more than 100 table games. In December 2013, the sixth casino license for Maryland in Prince George County was granted to MGM. MGM National Harbor, a proposed $1.3 billion casino featuring approximately 3,600 slots and 160 table games, is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2016. MGM National Harbor is anticipated to adversely impact our financial results as it will create additional competition for Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

        In November 2011, the Expanded Gaming Act was signed into law in Massachusetts, which allows up to three destination resort casinos located in three geographically diverse regions across the state and a single slots facility for one location statewide. In February 2014, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ("MGC") awarded us the slots-only gaming license and in June 2015, we opened Plainridge Park Casino. The licenses for two of three casino resorts have been awarded with the remaining license in Southeastern Massachusetts still open. A decision from the MGC on whether to issue the license is expected in April. MGM Springfield in Western Massachusetts is expected to be completed in late 2018 and Wynn Everett in Eastern Massachusetts is scheduled to open by the end of 2018. There is also a proposed tribal casino in Taunton, Massachusetts that could open within the next few years. In addition, a proposal to relocate a casino to Tiverton, Rhode Island, which is very close to the Massachusetts border, is currently being considered. The increased competition in Massachusetts will have a negative impact on the operations of Plainridge Park Casino; however, it should be the sole gaming facility in Massachusetts until 2018.

        In Ohio, voters passed a referendum in 2009 to allow four land-based casinos in four cities, one of which was in downtown Cincinnati, which is the primary feeder market for our Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg property. The Cincinnati casino opened on March 4, 2013 and has had and will continue to have an adverse impact on Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg. However, this referendum also resulted in the Company operating two of the four land-based casinos. We opened Hollywood Casino Toledo on May 29, 2012 and Hollywood Casino Columbus on October 8, 2012. Additionally, the State of Ohio approved the placement of video lottery terminals at the state's seven racetracks. On June 1, 2012, a new racino at Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio opened, which has had a negative impact on Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg's financial results and competes aggressively in the same market as Hollywood Casino Columbus. In addition, a racino at Miami Valley Gaming (formerly known as Lebanon Raceway) opened in mid-December 2013, and a racino at Belterra Park (formerly known as River Downs) opened in May 2014. Both of these racinos compete with Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg. Conversely, we have opened our own racinos in Ohio, with Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway opening on August 28, 2014 and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course opening on September 17, 2014. As a result, in a relatively short period of time, Ohio has gone from having no gaming facilities to having four casinos and seven video lottery terminal facilities. In addition, we continue to fight illegal gaming operations, such as internet sweepstakes.

        In addition, legislators in Kentucky regularly consider new gaming legislation. The commencement of gaming in Kentucky would negatively impact certain of our existing properties in the East/Midwest segment. Finally, Pennsylvania is considering the potential legalization of gaming at private clubs and taverns as well as the addition of slot machines at certain satellite locations.

        West.    Our West segment contains our M Resort property and recently acquired Tropicana Las Vegas property. M Resort and Tropicana Las Vegas compete directly with other Las Vegas hotels, resorts, and casinos, including those located on the Las Vegas Strip, on the basis of overall atmosphere, range of amenities, level of service, price, location, entertainment offered, convention and meeting facilities, shopping and restaurant facilities, theme, and size. In addition, a substantial number of customers are drawn from geographic areas outside of Las Vegas, particularly California and Arizona. Specifically, in California, we expect increasing competition from casinos operated on Native American tribal lands, which could negatively impact the Las Vegas market.

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        Southern Plains.    In Illinois, there have been perennial gaming expansion proposals introduced in the legislature, which we expect to continue. Additionally, in July 2011, the Illinois Supreme Court, in a unanimous ruling, cleared the way for the 2009 Illinois Video Gaming Act to go forward, which authorized a limited number of video gaming terminals (VGTs) in licensed bars and taverns across Illinois, subject to host community approval. In October 2012, video gambling in Illinois was officially launched with the first locations being allowed to operate VGTs. Currently, there are over 22,000 terminals at numerous locations throughout the state, which has had a negative impact on our casinos near or in Illinois. In September 2015, we purchased Prairie State Gaming, which is a licensed VGT operator in Illinois, whose operations include more than 1,100 video gaming terminals. In addition, legislators in Nebraska are currently considering VGT legislation. The commencement of gaming in Nebraska or the expansion of gaming in Illinois would negatively impact certain of our existing properties in the Southern Plains segment. In the Mississippi Gulf Coast market, a casino in D'Iberville, Mississippi opened on December 9, 2015, which will likely have an adverse effect on the financial results of our Boomtown Biloxi property.

U.S. and Foreign Revenues

        Our net revenues in the U.S. for 2015, 2014, and 2013 were approximately $2,828.1 million, $2,578.8 million, and $2,905.6 million, respectively. Our revenues from operations in Canada for 2015, 2014, and 2013 were approximately $10.3 million, $11.7 million, and $13.2 million, respectively.

Management

        The persons listed below represent executive officers of the Company.

Name
  Age   Position

Timothy J. Wilmott

    57  

President and Chief Executive Officer

Jay Snowden

    39  

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Saul V. Reibstein

    67  

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer

Carl Sottosanti

    51  

Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary

William J. Fair

    53  

Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer

        Timothy J. Wilmott.    Mr. Wilmott joined us in February 2008 as President and Chief Operating Officer and was named Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2013. In addition, in September 2014, Mr. Wilmott was appointed to the Board of Directors. Previously, Mr. Wilmott served as Chief Operating Officer of Harrah's Entertainment, a position he held for approximately four years. In this position, he oversaw the operations of all of Harrah's revenue-generating businesses, including 48 casinos, 38,000 hotel rooms and 300 restaurants. All Harrah's Division Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents of Brand Operations, Marketing and Information Technology personnel reported to Mr. Wilmott in his capacity as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to his appointment to the position of Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Wilmott served from 1997 to 2002 as Division President of Harrah's Eastern Division with responsibility for the operations of eight Harrah's properties.

        Jay Snowden.    Mr. Snowden is currently our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Snowden joined us in October 2011 as Senior Vice President-Regional Operations and in January 2014 became our Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Snowden is responsible for overseeing all of our operating businesses, as well as human resources, marketing, and information technology. Prior to joining us, Mr. Snowden was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Caesars and Harrah's in Atlantic City, and prior to that, held various leadership positions with them in St. Louis, San Diego and Las Vegas.

        Saul V. Reibstein.    Mr. Reibstein is currently our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Reibstein joined us in December 2013 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial

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Officer and became Treasurer in November 2014. From June 2011 to December 2013, Mr. Reibstein served as a member of the Company's Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board's Audit Committee. For eleven years, Mr. Reibstein served as a partner at BDO Seidman, LLP (now BDO USA, LLP), a professional services firm providing assurance, tax, financial advisory and consulting services to a wide range of publicly-traded and privately-held companies. At BDO, he was the partner in charge of the Philadelphia office from June 1997 to December 2001 and Regional Business Line Leader from December 2001 until September 2004. In 2004, Mr. Reibstein became a member of the senior management team of CBIZ, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange-listed professional services company. During his tenure at CBIZ, he held a number of positions including, most recently, Senior Managing Director with responsibility for the firm's New York practice beginning in January 2012. He also oversaw the firm's business development efforts and managed nine of the firm's business units within its Financial Services Group. In addition, since July 2010, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Vishay Precision Group, Inc., a publicly traded company, where he is Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of both the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees.

        Carl Sottosanti.    Mr. Sottosanti is currently our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. In February 2014, Mr. Sottosanti was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President and General Counsel and became Secretary in November 2014. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Sottosanti served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel since 2003. Before joining Penn, Mr. Sottosanti served for five years as General Counsel at publicly traded, Sanchez Computer Associates, Inc. and had oversight of all legal, compliance and intellectual property matters. From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Sottosanti was the Assistant General Counsel for Salient 3 Communications, Inc., a publicly traded telecommunications company. Mr. Sottosanti began his legal career in 1989 with the Philadelphia law firm Schnader Harrison, Segal & Lewis LLP.

        William J. Fair.    Mr. Fair is currently our Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer. In January 2014, Mr. Fair joined us as Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. Previously, Mr. Fair worked in development leadership positions for Universal Studios and Disney Development. Most recently, Mr. Fair was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Skiing Company, where he had oversight of ten ski mountain resorts which included ski operations, nine hotels, condominium operations, food and beverage operations, retail and rental operations, real estate brokerage and development.

Governmental Regulations

        The gaming and racing industries are highly regulated and we must maintain our licenses and pay gaming taxes to continue our operations. Each of our facilities is subject to extensive regulation under the laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdiction where it is located. These laws, rules and regulations generally concern the responsibility, financial stability and character of the owners, managers, and persons with financial interests in the gaming operations. Violations of laws or regulations in one jurisdiction could result in disciplinary action in other jurisdictions. A more detailed description of the regulations to which we are subject is contained in Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

        Our businesses are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations in addition to gaming regulations. These laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, restrictions and conditions concerning alcoholic beverages, environmental matters, employees, health care, currency transactions, taxation, zoning and building codes, and marketing and advertising. Such laws and regulations could change or could be interpreted differently in the future, or new laws and regulations could be enacted. Material changes, new laws or regulations, or material differences in interpretations by courts or governmental authorities could adversely affect our operating results.

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Employees and Labor Relations

        As of December 31, 2015, we had 18,204 full- and part-time employees.

        The Company is required to have agreements with the horsemen at the majority of its racetracks to conduct its live racing and/or simulcasting activities. In addition, in order to operate gaming machines and table games in West Virginia, the Company must maintain agreements with each of the Charles Town horsemen, pari-mutuel clerks and breeders.

        At Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, the Company renewed an agreement with the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association that expires on June 18, 2018. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races also renewed an agreement with the breeders that expires on June 30, 2016. Additionally, the pari-mutuel clerks at Charles Town are represented under a collective bargaining agreement with the West Virginia Union of Mutuel Clerks, which expired on December 31, 2010 and has been extended on a month-to-month basis.

        The Company's agreement with the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course was renewed through January 31, 2017. The Company had a collective bargaining agreement with Local 137 of the Sports Arena Employees at Penn National Race Course with respect to on-track pari-mutuel clerks and admissions personnel which expired on December 31, 2011. In August 2012, Local 137 of the Sports Arena Employees announced that they entered into a "voluntary supervision" agreement with their international union, Laborers' International Union of North America ("LIUNA") Local 108. In February 2014, a new agreement with LIUNA Local 108 for on-track and OTWs bargaining units was ratified for three years. In August 2015, the company entered into a three year collective bargaining agreement with the International Chapter of Horseshoers and Allied Equine Trades Local 947.

        The Company's agreement with the Maine Harness Horsemen Association at Bangor Raceway continued through the conclusion of the 2015 racing season.

        In March of 2014, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course entered into an agreement with the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. The term is for a period of ten years from the September 2014 commencement of video lottery terminal operations at that facility.

        In September 2015, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway entered into an agreement with the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association for racing at the property. The term is for a period of ten years from the September 2015 effective date.

        Rosecroft Raceway entered into agreements with the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association ("CSOA") and Maryland Standardbred Breeder's Association ("MSBA") as of July 5, 2011. CSOA's agreement has been extended through December 31, 2017 with certain termination provisions. The MSBA agreement has been extended through December 31, 2017 with certain termination provisions. Additionally, Rosecroft Raceway has entered into agreements with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union ("UFCW") Local 27 and the Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trade Union ("SEATU") for certain bargaining positions at the racetrack. The UFCW Local 27 agreement was ratified on December 13, 2014 and expires on November 30, 2019. The SEATU agreement expires on November 30, 2020.

        Across certain of the Company's properties, SEATU represents approximately 1,827 of the Company's employees under a National Agreement that expires on January 24, 2032 and Local Addenda that expire at various times between May 2016 and January 2024.

        SEATU agreements are in place at Hollywood Casino Joliet, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Hollywood Casino Riverside, Argosy Alton, Hollywood Casino Kansas Speedway, Hollywood Gaming Dayton, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley and Plainridge Park Casino. Argosy Alton has a wage

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reopener in May 2016; the remainder of the SEATU agreements have expiration dates in 2017 and beyond.

        At Hollywood Casino Joliet, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Local 1 represents approximately 186 employees under a collective bargaining agreement which expires on March 31, 2019. At Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo, a council comprised of the United Auto Workers and the United Steel Workers represents approximately 1,361 employees under a collective bargaining agreement which ends on November 15, 2019.

        On August 25, 2015, the Company acquired Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, which had seven existing collective bargaining agreements with the following unions: (1) Culinary & Bartenders (with a wage/reopener in 2016; expires on May 31, 2018.), (2) United Brotherhood of Carpenters (expires on July 31, 2019), (3) International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (expires on February 28, 2017), (4) International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (expires on December 31, 2018), (5) International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (expires on June 30, 2018), (6)/(7) Teamsters (front and back of the house, both expire on March 31, 2018).

        In addition, at some of the Company's properties, the Security Police and Fire Professionals of America, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 176 and 649, the LIUNA Public Serviced Employees Local 1290PE, The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Locals 447 and 264, the United Industrial, Service, Transportation, Professional and Government Workers of North America, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Teamsters Union represent certain of the Company's employees under collective bargaining agreements that expire at various times between July 2016 and September 2025. None of these additional unions represent more than 91 of the Company's employees.

Available Information

        For more information about us, visit our website at www.pngaming.com. The contents of our website are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our electronic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") (including all Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to these reports), including the exhibits, are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC.

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ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

Risks Related to Our Business

         We face significant competition from other gaming and entertainment operations.

        The gaming industry is characterized by an increasingly high degree of competition among a large number of participants, including riverboat casinos, dockside casinos, land-based casinos, video lottery, gaming at taverns in certain states, such as Illinois as well as the potential legalization in Indiana and Pennsylvania, sweepstakes and poker machines not located in casinos, Native American gaming and other forms of gaming in the U.S. Furthermore, competition from internet lotteries, sweepstakes, and other internet wagering services, which allow their customers to wager on a wide variety of sporting events and play Las Vegas-style casino games from home or in non-casino settings, could divert customers from our properties and thus adversely affect our business. Such internet wagering services are often illegal under federal law but operate from overseas locations, and are nevertheless sometimes accessible to domestic gamblers. Currently, there are proposals that would legalize internet poker and other varieties of internet gaming in a number of states and at the federal level. Several states, such as Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware, have enacted legislation authorizing intrastate internet gaming and internet gaming operations have begun in these states. Expansion of internet gaming in other jurisdictions (both legal and illegal) could further compete with our traditional operations, which could have an adverse impact on our business and result of operations.

        In a broader sense, our gaming operations face competition from all manner of leisure and entertainment activities, including: shopping; athletic events; television and movies; concerts; and travel. Legalized gaming is currently permitted in various forms throughout the U.S., in several Canadian provinces and on various lands taken into trust for the benefit of certain Native Americans in the U.S. and Canada. Other jurisdictions, including states adjacent to states in which we currently have facilities (such as in Ohio and Maryland), have recently legalized and implemented gaming. In addition, established gaming jurisdictions could award additional gaming licenses or permit the expansion or relocation of existing gaming operations. New, relocated or expanded operations by other persons could increase competition for our gaming operations and could have a material adverse impact on us.

        Gaming competition is intense in most of the markets where we operate. Recently, there has been additional significant competition in our markets as a result of the upgrading or expansion of facilities by existing market participants, the entrance of new gaming participants into a market or legislative changes. As competing properties and new markets are opened, our operating results may be negatively impacted. For example, new casinos and racinos have opened recently that compete in the same market as our Lawrenceburg property; there is increased competition to our Charles Town property from the opening of the casino complex at the Arundel Mills mall in Anne Arundel, Maryland in June 2012 and its addition of table games in the spring of 2013; the opening of Horseshoe Baltimore Casino in Baltimore, Maryland in 2014 and the expected opening of a casino at National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland are competing with our Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and to a lesser extent, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course; the opening of our joint venture casino project in Kansas in February 2012 which impacted Argosy Casino Riverside; and a casino that opened in July 2011 in Des Plaines, Illinois which negatively impacted our Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet properties. Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet have also been negatively impacted by the proliferation of gaming terminals at numerous locations throughout the state which are in the vicinity of our operations. In addition, some of our direct competitors in certain markets may have superior facilities and/or operating conditions. We expect each existing or future market in which we participate to be highly competitive. The competitive position of each of our casino properties is discussed in detail in the subsection entitled "Competition" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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         We may face disruption and other difficulties in integrating and managing facilities we have recently developed or acquired, or may develop or acquire in the future.

        We expect to continue pursuing expansion opportunities, and we regularly evaluate opportunities for acquisition and development of new properties, which evaluations may include discussions and the review of confidential information after the execution of nondisclosure agreements with potential acquisition candidates, some of which may be potentially significant in relation to our size.

        We could face significant challenges in managing and integrating our expanded or combined operations and any other properties we may develop or acquire, particularly in new competitive markets. The integration of properties we may develop or acquire will require the dedication of management resources that may temporarily divert attention from our day-to-day business. The process of integrating properties that we may acquire also could interrupt the activities of those businesses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the development of new properties may involve construction, local opposition, regulatory, legal and competitive risks as well as the risks attendant to partnership deals on these development opportunities. In particular, in projects where we team up with a joint venture partner, if we cannot reach agreement with such partners, or our relationships otherwise deteriorate, we could face significant increased costs and delays. Local opposition can delay or increase the anticipated cost of a project. Finally, given the competitive nature of these types of limited license opportunities, litigation is possible.

        Management of new properties, especially in new geographic areas (such as our 2015 opening in Plainridge, Massachusetts), may require that we increase our management resources. We cannot assure you that we will be able to manage the combined operations effectively or realize any of the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions or development projects. We also cannot assure you that if acquisitions are completed, that the acquired businesses will generate returns consistent with our expectations.

        Our ability to achieve our objectives in connection with any acquisition we may consummate may be highly dependent on, among other things, our ability to retain the senior level property management teams of such acquisition candidates. If, for any reason, we are unable to retain these management teams following such acquisitions or if we fail to attract new capable executives, our operations after consummation of such acquisitions could be materially adversely affected.

        The occurrence of some or all of the above described events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

         We may face risks related to our ability to receive regulatory approvals required to complete, or other delays or impediments to completing certain of our acquisitions.

        Our growth is fueled, in part, by the acquisition of existing gaming, racing, and development properties. In addition to standard closing conditions, our acquisitions are often conditioned on the receipt of regulatory approvals and other hurdles that create uncertainty and could increase costs. Such delays could significantly reduce the benefits to us of such acquisitions and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

         We face a number of challenges prior to opening new or upgraded gaming facilities.

        No assurance can be given that, when we endeavor to open new or upgraded gaming facilities, the expected timetables for opening such facilities will be met in light of the uncertainties inherent in the development of the regulatory framework, construction, the licensing process, legislative action and litigation. Delays in opening new or upgraded facilities could lead to increased costs and delays in receiving anticipated revenues with respect to such facilities and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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         A deterioration of our relationship with the Jamul Indian Village (the "Jamul Tribe") could cause delay or termination of the proposed development project in San Diego County and prevent or significantly impede recovery of our investment therein or in any future development projects.

        Good personal and professional relationships with the Jamul Tribe and its officials are critical to our proposed gaming operations and activities in San Diego County, including our ability to obtain, develop, execute management agreements and maintain other agreements. As a sovereign nation, the Jamul Tribe establishes its own governmental systems under which tribal officials or bodies representing the Jamul Tribe may be replaced by appointment or election or become subject to policy changes. Replacements of tribal officials or administrations, changes in policies to which the Jamul Tribe are subject, or other factors that may lead to the deterioration of our relationship with the Jamul Tribe may lead to termination of our proposed management agreement with the Jamul Tribe, which may have an adverse effect on the future results of our operations.

        In addition, we have made, and may continue to make, substantial loans to the Jamul Tribe for the construction, development, equipment and operations of the proposed development in San Diego County. It is possible that no third party funding is secured prior to the facility opening. Our only material recourse for collection of indebtedness from the Jamul Tribe or for money damages for breach or wrongful termination of a management, development, consulting or financing agreement is from revenues, if any, from casino operations.

         We lease a substantial number of our properties and financial, operational, regulatory or other potential challenges of our lessor may adversely impair our operations.

        We lease a substantial number of the properties that we operate and manage from GLPI under the Master Lease. If GLPI has financial, operational, regulatory or other challenges there can be no assurance that GLPI will be able to comply with its obligations under its agreements with us.

         We are required to pay a significant portion of our cash flows as financing payments under the Master Lease, which could adversely affect our ability to fund our operations and growth and limit our ability to react to competitive and economic changes.

        We are required to pay more than half of our cash flow from operations to GLPI pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of the Master Lease. As a result of our current significantly reduced cash flow, our ability to fund our own operations or development projects, raise capital, make acquisitions and otherwise respond to competitive and economic changes may be adversely affected. For example, our obligations under the Master Lease may:

        Any of the above listed factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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         Substantially all of our gaming and racing facilities are leased and could experience risks associated with leased property, including risks relating to lease termination, lease extensions, charges and our relationship with GLPI, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.

        We lease 18 of the gaming and racing facilities we operate pursuant to the Master Lease. The Master Lease provides that GLPI may terminate the lease for a number of reasons, including, subject to applicable cure periods, the default in any payment of rent, taxes or other payment obligations or the breach of any other covenant or agreement in the lease. Termination of the Master Lease could result in a default under our debt agreements and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations. Moreover, since as a lessee we do not completely control the land and improvements underlying our operations, GLPI as lessor could take certain actions to disrupt our rights in the facilities leased under the Master Lease which are beyond our control. If GLPI chose to disrupt our use either permanently or for a significant period of time, then the value of our assets could be impaired and our business and operations could be adversely affected. There can also be no assurance that we will be able to comply with our obligations under the Master Lease in the future.

        The Master Lease is commonly known as a triple-net lease. Accordingly, in addition to rent, we are required to pay among other things the following: (1) all facility maintenance, (2) all insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, (3) taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties (other than taxes on the income of the lessor) and (4) all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties. We are responsible for incurring the costs described in the preceding sentence notwithstanding the fact that many of the benefits received in exchange for such costs shall in part accrue to GLPI as owner of the associated facilities. In addition, if some of our leased facilities should prove to be unprofitable, we could remain obligated for lease payments and other obligations under the Master Lease even if we decided to withdraw from those locations. We could incur special charges relating to the closing of such facilities including lease termination costs, impairment charges and other special charges that would reduce our net income and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

         We may face reductions in discretionary consumer spending as a result of an economic downturn.

        Our net revenues are highly dependent upon the volume and spending levels of customers at properties we manage and as such our business has been adversely impacted by economic downturns. Decreases in discretionary consumer spending brought about by weakened general economic conditions such as, but not limited to, lackluster recoveries from recessions, high unemployment levels, higher income taxes, low levels of consumer confidence, weakness in the housing market, cultural and demographic changes, and increased stock market volatility may negatively impact our revenues and operating cash flow.

         We are or may become involved in legal proceedings that, if adversely adjudicated or settled, could impact our financial condition.

        From time to time, we are defendants in various lawsuits relating to matters incidental to our business. The nature of our business subjects us to the risk of lawsuits filed by customers, past and present employees, competitors, business partners and others in the ordinary course of business. As with all litigation, no assurance can be provided as to the outcome of these matters and, in general, litigation can be expensive and time consuming. We may not be successful in these lawsuits, which could result in settlements or damages that could significantly impact our business, financial condition and results of operations (see, for example, the lawsuits described in Item 3 below).

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         We face extensive regulation from gaming and other regulatory authorities.

        Licensing requirements.    As managers of gaming and pari-mutuel wagering facilities, we are subject to extensive state, local and, in Canada, provincial regulation. State, local and provincial authorities require us and our subsidiaries to demonstrate suitability to obtain and retain various licenses and require that we have registrations, permits and approvals to conduct gaming operations. These regulatory authorities have broad discretion, and may, for any reason set forth in the applicable legislation, rules and regulations, limit, condition, suspend, fail to renew or revoke a license or registration to conduct gaming operations or prevent us from owning the securities of any of our gaming subsidiaries or prevent another person from owning an equity interest in us. Like all gaming operators in the jurisdictions in which we operate, we must periodically apply to renew our gaming licenses or registrations and have the suitability of certain of our directors, officers and employees approved. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such renewals or approvals. Regulatory authorities have input into our operations, for instance, hours of operation, location or relocation of a facility, and numbers and types of machines. Regulators may also levy substantial fines against or seize our assets or the assets of our subsidiaries or the people involved in violating gaming laws or regulations. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        We have demonstrated suitability to obtain and have obtained all governmental licenses, registrations, permits and approvals necessary for us to operate our existing gaming and pari-mutuel facilities. We can give no assurance to you that we will be able to retain those existing licenses (for example the events related to Argosy Casino Sioux City) or demonstrate suitability to obtain any new licenses, registrations, permits or approvals. In addition, the loss of a license in one jurisdiction could trigger the loss of a license or affect our eligibility for a license in another jurisdiction. As we expand our gaming operations in our existing jurisdictions or to new areas, we may have to meet additional suitability requirements and obtain additional licenses, registrations, permits and approvals from gaming authorities in these jurisdictions. The approval process can be time-consuming and costly and we cannot be sure that we will be successful.

        Gaming authorities in the U.S. generally can require that any beneficial owner of our securities file an application for a finding of suitability. If a gaming authority requires a record or beneficial owner of our securities to file a suitability application, the owner must generally apply for a finding of suitability within 30 days or at an earlier time prescribed by the gaming authority. The gaming authority has the power to investigate such an owner's suitability and the owner must pay all costs of the investigation. If the owner is found unsuitable, then the owner may be required by law to dispose of our securities.

        In addition, our proposed development project with the Jamul Tribe near San Diego is subject to the oversight of the National Indian Gaming Commission, which administers the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 with respect to the terms and conditions of management contracts and the operation of casinos and all gaming on land held in trust for Native American tribes in the U.S.

        Potential changes in legislation and regulation of our operations.    Regulations governing the conduct of gaming activities and the obligations of gaming companies in any jurisdiction in which we have or in the future may have gaming operations are subject to change and could impose additional operating, financial or other burdens on the way we conduct our business.

        Moreover, legislation to prohibit, limit or add burdens to our business may be introduced in the future in states where gaming has been legalized. In addition, from time to time, legislators and special interest groups have proposed legislation that would expand, restrict or prevent gaming operations or which may otherwise adversely impact our operations in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Any expansion of gaming or restriction on or prohibition of our gaming operations or enactment of other adverse regulatory changes could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

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        The passage of the Smoke Free Illinois Act, which became effective January 1, 2008 and bans smoking in casinos, has adversely affected revenues and operating results at our Illinois properties. In Pennsylvania, we are currently permitted to allow smoking on only up to 50% of the gaming floor of our Grantville facility and smoking is banned in all other indoor areas. Additionally, on July 1, 2012, a state statute in Indiana became effective that imposes a state wide smoking ban in specified businesses, buildings, public places and other specified locations. The statute specifically exempts riverboat casinos, and all other gaming facilities in Indiana, from the smoking ban. However, the statute allows local government to enact a more restrictive smoking ban than the state statute and also leaves in place any more restrictive local legislation that exists as of the effective date of the statute. To date, our facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana is not subject to any such local legislation. If additional smoking bans are enacted within jurisdictions where we operate or seek to do business, our business could be adversely affected.

        Taxation and fees.    We believe that the prospect of significant revenue is one of the primary reasons that jurisdictions permit legalized gaming. As a result, gaming companies are typically subject to significant revenue based taxes and fees in addition to normal federal, state, local and provincial income taxes, and such taxes and fees are subject to increase at any time. We pay substantial taxes and fees with respect to our operations. From time to time, federal, state, local and provincial legislators and officials have proposed changes in tax laws, or in the administration of such laws, affecting the gaming industry. In addition, worsening economic conditions could intensify the efforts of state and local governments to raise revenues through increases in gaming taxes and/or property taxes. It is not possible to determine with certainty the likelihood of changes in tax laws or in the administration of such laws. Such changes, if adopted, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The large number of state and local governments with significant current or projected budget deficits makes it more likely that those governments that currently permit gaming will seek to fund such deficits with new or increased gaming taxes and/or property taxes, and worsening economic conditions could intensify those efforts. Any material increase, or the adoption of additional taxes or fees, could have a material adverse effect on our future financial results.

        Compliance with other laws.    We are also subject to a variety of other rules and regulations, including zoning, environmental, construction and land-use laws and regulations governing the serving of alcoholic beverages. If we are not in compliance with these laws, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We also deal with significant amounts of cash in our operations and are subject to various reporting and anti-money laundering regulations. Any violation of anti-money laundering laws or regulations, or any accusations of money laundering or regulatory investigations into possible money laundering activities, by any of our properties, employees or customers could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

         We have two properties that each generated 10% or more of our net revenues.

        For the year ended December 31, 2015, we had two facilities—one in Charles Town, West Virginia and one in Grantville, Pennsylvania—that each generated approximately 10% or more of our net revenues. Our ability to meet our operating and debt service requirements is dependent, in part, upon the continued success of these facilities. The operations at these facilities and any of our other facilities could be adversely affected by numerous factors, including those described in these "Risk Factors" as well as more specifically those described below:

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        In addition, although to a lesser extent than our facilities in Charles Town, West Virginia and Grantville, Pennsylvania, we anticipate meaningful contributions from Hollywood Casino St. Louis and following the relocation of our two racetracks in Ohio in the third quarter of 2014, we now have four gaming facilities in the State of Ohio. Therefore, our results will be dependent on the regional economies and competitive landscapes at these locations as well.

         We depend on our key personnel.

        We are highly dependent on the services of our executive management team and other members of our senior management team. In 2013, in connection with the Spin-Off, we experienced some turnover, including the resignation of Peter M. Carlino from his position as our Chief Executive Officer (although he retained his position as Chairman of the Board). We have promoted various individuals (including our current CEO and COO) as well as hired executives from outside the gaming industry to fill these positions. Our ability to attract and retain key personnel is affected by the competitiveness of our compensation packages and the other terms and conditions of employment, our continued ability to compete effectively against other gaming companies and our growth prospects. The loss of the services of any members of our senior management team could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

         It is unclear what long-term impact our new business structure, which has no precedent within the gaming industry, will have on our key business relationships and our ability to compete with other gaming operators.

        As a result of the completed Spin-Off, we were the first gaming operator that leases the majority of its properties from a single lessor under a master lease arrangement. As a result, it is difficult to predict whether and to what extent our relationship with GLPI, including any actual or perceived conflicts of interest on the part of our overlapping directors, will affect our relationships with suppliers, customers, regulators and our ability to compete with other gaming operators that are not subject to a master lease arrangement with a single lessor.

         Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses and compliance risks.

        Changing laws and regulations relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including SEC regulations, generally accepted accounting principles, and NASDAQ Global Select Market rules, are creating uncertainty for companies. These changing laws and regulations are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of specificity, recent issuance and/or lack of guidance. As a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. In addition, further regulation of financial institutions and public companies is possible. This could result in continuing uncertainty and higher costs regarding compliance

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matters. Due to our commitment to maintain high standards of compliance with laws and public disclosure, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards have resulted in and are likely to continue to result in increased general and administrative expense. In addition, we are subject to different parties' interpretation of our compliance with these new and changing laws and regulations. A failure to comply with any of these laws or regulations could have a materially adverse effect on us. For instance, if our gaming authorities, the SEC, our independent auditors or our shareholders and potential shareholders conclude that our compliance with the regulations is unsatisfactory, this may result in a negative public perception of us, subject us to increased regulatory scrutiny, monetary penalties or otherwise adversely affect us.

         Inclement weather and other casualty events could seriously disrupt our business and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

        The operations of our facilities are subject to disruptions or reduced patronage as a result of severe weather conditions, natural disasters and other casualty events. Because many of our gaming operations are located on or adjacent to bodies of water, these facilities are subject to risks in addition to those associated with land-based casinos, including loss of service due to casualty, forces of nature, mechanical failure, extended or extraordinary maintenance, flood, hurricane or other severe weather conditions. For example, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, two of our properties in Mississippi were closed for almost one year. Many of our casinos operate in areas which are subject to periodic flooding that has caused us to experience decreased attendance and increased operating expenses. Any flood or other severe weather condition could lead to the loss of use of a casino facility for an extended period. For instance, Hollywood Casino Tunica was closed for 25 days due to flooding. In terms of casualty events, in 2009, our Hollywood Casino Joliet was closed for approximately three months following a fire that started in the land-based pavilion at the facility. On June 25, 2009, the casino barge reopened with temporary land-based facilities, and we began construction of a new land-based pavilion, which opened in late December 2010. In addition, on May 31, 2013, Hollywood Casino St. Louis sustained damage as a result of a tornado and was forced to close for approximately fourteen hours. Hollywood Casino Toledo was closed for brief periods in 2014 and 2015 due to harsh winter conditions. Most recently, we closed Argosy Casino Alton for several days in December 2015 due to flooding. Even if adverse weather conditions do not require the closure of our facilities, those conditions make it more difficult for our customers to reach our properties, which can have an adverse impact on our operations.

         The extent to which we can recover under our insurance policies for damages sustained at our properties in the event of future inclement weather and other casualty events could adversely affect our business.

        We maintain significant property insurance, including business interruption coverage, for these and other properties. However, there can be no assurances that we will be fully or promptly compensated for losses at any of our facilities in the event of future inclement weather or casualty events. In addition, our property insurance coverage is in an amount that may be significantly less than the expected and actual replacement cost of rebuilding certain facilities "as was" if there was a total loss. The Master Lease requires us, in the event of a casualty event, to rebuild a leased property to substantially the same condition as existed immediately before such casualty event. We renew our insurance policies (other than our builder's risk insurance) on an annual basis. The cost of coverage may become so material that we may need to further reduce our policy limits, further increase our deductibles, or agree to certain exclusions from our coverage.

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         Our gaming operations rely heavily on technology services and an uninterrupted supply of electrical power. Our security systems and all of our slot machines are controlled by computers and reliant on electrical power to operate.

        Any unscheduled disruption in our technology services or interruption in the supply of electrical power could result in an immediate, and possibly substantial, loss of revenues due to a shutdown of our gaming operations. Such interruptions may occur as a result of, for example, a failure of our information technology or related systems, catastrophic events or rolling blackouts. Our systems are also vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, floods, fires, telecommunication failures, terrorist attacks, computer viruses, computer denial-of-service attacks and similar events.

         Our operations in certain jurisdictions depend on management agreements and/or leases with third parties and local governments.

        Our operations in several jurisdictions depend on land leases and/or management and development agreements with third parties and local governments. If we, or if GLPI in the case of leases pursuant to which we are the sub-lessee, are unable to renew these leases and agreements on satisfactory terms as they expire or disputes arise regarding the terms of these agreements, our business may be disrupted and, in the event of disruptions in multiple jurisdictions, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. For example, in Iowa, each gaming license is issued jointly to a gaming operator and a local charitable organization ("QSO"). The agreement between our gaming operator subsidiary in Iowa, Belle of Sioux City, L.P. ("Belle"), and its local QSO, Missouri River Historical Development, Inc. ("MRHD"), expired in early July 2012. An extension agreement with MRHD through March 2015 was signed by both parties; however, the validity of this agreement is currently the subject of litigation. Furthermore, in April 2013, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission ("IRGC") awarded a new gaming license to operate a land-based casino in Woodbury County to Sioux City Entertainment ("SCE") and SCE opened a Hard Rock branded casino on August 1, 2014. Belle challenged the denial of its gaming license renewal, which is still pending, however, on July 30, 2014, Argosy Casino Sioux City was ordered to close.

        Similarly, in the Province of Ontario, through CHC Casinos, our indirectly wholly owned subsidiary, we manage Casino Rama, a full service gaming and entertainment facility, on behalf of the OLGC, an agency of the Province of Ontario. In June 2014, we signed an agreement to extend the management agreement for Casino Rama on a month-to-month basis with a 60-day notice period for up to a maximum period of forty-eight months. No assurance can be given as to how long the OLGC will continue to engage us to manage the property.

         We are subject to environmental laws and potential exposure to environmental liabilities.

        We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations that govern our operations, including emissions and discharges into the environment, and the handling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous substances and wastes. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations could result in costs for corrective action, penalties or the imposition of other liabilities or restrictions. From time to time, we have incurred and are incurring costs and obligations for correcting environmental noncompliance matters. For example, portions of Tropicana Las Vegas are known to contain asbestos as well as other environmental conditions, which may include the presence of mold. The environmental conditions may require remediation in isolated areas. The extent of such potential conditions cannot be determined definitively. To date, none of these matters have had a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations; however, there can be no assurance that such matters will not have such an effect in the future.

        We also are subject to laws and regulations that impose liability and clean-up responsibility for releases of hazardous substances into the environment. Under certain of these laws and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of property may be liable for the costs of remediating

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contaminated soil or groundwater on or from its property, without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or caused, the contamination, as well as incur liability to third parties impacted by such contamination. The presence of contamination, or failure to remediate it properly, may adversely affect our ability to use, sell or rent property. Under our contractual arrangements with GLPI, including the Master Lease, we will generally be responsible for both past and future environmental liabilities associated with our gaming operations, notwithstanding ownership of the underlying real property having been transferred to GLPI. Furthermore, we are aware that there is or may have been soil or groundwater contamination at certain of our properties resulting from current or former operations. By way of further example, portions of Tropicana Las Vegas are known to contain asbestos as well as other environmental conditions, which may include the presence of mold. The environmental conditions may require remediation in isolated areas. The extent of such potential conditions cannot be determined definitely, and may result in additional expense in the event that additional or currently unknown conditions are detected.

        Additionally, certain of the gaming chips used at many gaming properties, including some of ours, have been found to contain some level of lead. Analysis by third parties has indicated the normal handling of the chips does not create a health hazard. We have disposed of a majority of these gaming chips. To date, none of these matters or other matters arising under environmental laws has had a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations; however, there can be no assurance that such matters will not have such an effect in the future.

         The concentration and evolution of the slot machine manufacturing industry could impose additional costs on us.

        A majority of our revenues are attributable to slot machines and related systems operated by us at our gaming facilities. It is important, for competitive reasons, that we offer the most popular and up to date slot machine games with the latest technology to our customers.

        A substantial majority of the slot machines sold in the U.S. in recent years were manufactured by a few select companies, and there has been extensive recent consolidation activity within the gaming equipment sector, including the recent acquisitions of Multimedia Games, Inc. by Global Cash Access, Bally Technologies, Inc. by Scientific Games Corporation, International Gaming Technologies by GTECH Holdings and previous acquisitions of WMS Industries Inc. by Scientific Games Corporation, which closed in October 2013, and the acquisition of SHFL Entertainment, Inc. by Bally Technologies, Inc. which closed in November 2013.

        In recent years, slot machine manufacturers have frequently refused to sell slot machines featuring the most popular games, instead requiring participation lease arrangements in order to acquire the machines. Participation slot machine leasing arrangements typically require the payment of a fixed daily rental. Such agreements may also include a percentage payment of coin-in or net win. Generally, a participation lease is substantially more expensive over the long term than the cost to purchase a new machine.

        For competitive reasons, we may be forced to purchase new slot machines or enter into participation lease arrangements that are more expensive than our current costs associated with the continued operation of our existing slot machines. If the newer slot machines do not result in sufficient incremental revenues to offset the increased investment and participation lease costs, it could hurt our profitability.

         We depend on agreements with our horsemen and pari-mutuel clerks.

        The Federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, as amended, the West Virginia Race Horse Industry Reform Act and the Pennsylvania Racing Act require that, in order to simulcast races, we have certain agreements with the horse owners and trainers at our West Virginia and Pennsylvania racetracks. In addition, West Virginia requires applicants seeking to renew their gaming license to demonstrate they have an agreement regarding the proceeds of the gaming machines with a representative of a majority of the horse owners and trainers, a representative of a majority of the pari-mutuel clerks and a representative of a majority of the horse breeders.

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        At Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, we have an agreement with the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association that expired on December 31, 2013 and has been extended on a month-to-month basis while negotiations are in progress. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races also has an agreement with the breeders that expires on June 30, 2015. Additionally, the pari-mutuel clerks at Charles Town are represented under a collective bargaining agreement with the West Virginia Union of Mutuel Clerks, which expired on December 31, 2010 and has been extended on a month-to-month basis.

        Our agreement with the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course expires on January 31, 2016. We had a collective bargaining agreement with Local 137 of the Sports Arena Employees at Penn National Race Course with respect to on-track pari-mutuel clerks and admissions personnel which expired on December 31, 2011. In August 2012, Local 137 of the Sports Arena Employees announced that they entered into a "voluntary supervision" agreement with their international union, LIUNA Local 108. In February 2014, a new agreement with LIUNA Local 108 for on-track and OTWs bargaining units was ratified for three years.

        Our agreement with the Maine Harness Horsemen Association at Bangor Raceway continued through the conclusion of the 2015 racing season. In March of 2014, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course entered into an agreement with the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. The term is for a period of ten years from the September 2014 commencement of video lottery terminal operations at that facility. The Company's agreement with the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association for racing at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway expired on December 31, 2014 but is still in effect pending the ongoing negotiations of a successor agreement. Rosecroft Raceway entered into agreements with the CSOA and MSBA as of July 5, 2011. CSOA's agreement has been extended through December 31, 2020 with certain termination provisions. The MSBA agreement has been extended through December 31, 2020. Additionally, Rosecroft Raceway has entered into agreements with the UFCW Local 27 and the SEATU for certain bargaining positions at the racetrack. The UFCW Local 27 agreement was ratified on December 13, 2014 and expires on November 30, 2019. The SEATU agreement expires on November 30, 2020.

        If we fail to present evidence of an agreement with the horsemen at a track, we will not be permitted to conduct live racing and export and import simulcasting at that track and OTWs and, in West Virginia, our video lottery license may not be renewed. In addition, our simulcasting agreements are subject to the horsemen's approval. If we fail to renew or modify existing agreements on satisfactory terms, this failure could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

         We restated certain of our previously issued financial statements, which may lead to additional risks and uncertainties, including regulatory investigations, shareholder litigation, loss of investor confidence and negative impacts on our stock price.

        We recently completed a restatement of certain of our prior period financial statements. The restatement corrected certain errors in our previously filed financial statements, including errors related to the accounting of certain complex lease transactions. We cannot be certain that the measures we have taken since we completed the restatement will ensure that restatements will not occur in the future. Our recently completed restatement and any future restatement may raise reputational issues for our business and may result in a loss of investor and partner confidence in us and have a negative impact on our stock price. In addition, we may be subject to regulatory investigations and shareholder litigation as a result of the restatement. Any such investigation or litigation, regardless of outcome, may consume a significant amount of our internal resources, including the time and attention of our management. The loss of investor and partner confidence in us or the commencement of a regulatory

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investigation or litigation as a result of the restatement could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.

         We identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting which resulted in a restatement of our financial statements, and which, if not remediated, could result in additional material misstatements in our financial statements.

        Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). As disclosed in Item 9A, management identified a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting related to the evaluation and accounting of certain complex and non-routine transactions and the calculation of impairment charges for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. A material weakness is defined as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. As a result of these material weaknesses, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013 framework). Management has developed a remediation plan designed to address these material weaknesses. If the remediation measures are insufficient to address the material weakness or if additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting are discovered or occur in the future, our consolidated financial statements may contain material misstatements and we could be required to restate our financial results.

         Work stoppages, organizing drives and other labor problems could negatively impact our future profits.

        Some of our employees are currently represented by labor unions. A lengthy strike or other work stoppages at any of our casino properties or construction projects could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Given the large number of employees, labor unions are making a concerted effort to recruit more employees in the gaming industry. In addition, organized labor may benefit from new legislation or legal interpretations by the current presidential administration. Particularly, in light of current support for changes to federal and state labor laws, we cannot provide any assurance that we will not experience additional and more successful union organization activity in the future.

         Our information technology and other systems are subject to cyber security risk including misappropriation of customer information or other breaches of information security.

        We rely on information technology and other systems to maintain and transmit customers' personal and financial information, credit card settlements, credit card funds transmissions, mailing lists and reservations information. We have taken steps designed to safeguard our customers' confidential personal information. However, our information and processes are subject to the ever-changing threat of compromised security, in the form of a risk of potential breach, system failure, computer virus, or unauthorized or fraudulent use by customers, company employees, or employees of third party vendors. The steps we take to deter and mitigate these risks may not be successful, and any resulting compromise or loss of data or systems could adversely impact operations or regulatory compliance and could result in remedial expenses, fines, litigation, disclosures, and loss of reputation, potentially impacting our financial results.

        Further, as cyber-attacks continue to evolve, we may incur significant costs in our attempts to modify or enhance our protective measures or investigate or remediate any vulnerability.

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         We have recently announced several initiatives in the social gaming space, which is a new line of business for us and a rapidly evolving and highly competitive market. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete effectively or that our new initiatives will be successful.

        We have recently announced several initiatives in the social gaming space and expect to continue to invest in and market social gaming and other mobile gaming platforms to our customers in casinos and beyond. Social gaming is a new line of business for us, which makes it difficult to assess its future prospects. Our products will compete in a rapidly evolving and highly competitive market against an increasing number of competitors, including Caesars Interactive, Churchill Downs and Zynga. Given the open nature of the development and distribution of games for electronic devices, our business will also compete with developers and distributors who are able to create and launch games and other content for these devices using relatively limited resources and with relatively limited start-up time or expertise. We have limited experience operating in this rapidly evolving marketplace and may not be able to compete effectively.

        In addition, our ability to be successful with our social gaming platform is dependent on numerous factors beyond our control that affect the social and mobile gaming industry and the online gaming industry in the United States, including the occurrence and manner of legalization of online real money gaming in the United States beyond Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey; changes in consumer demographics and public tastes and preferences; changing laws and regulations affecting social and mobile games; the reaction of regulatory bodies to social gaming initiatives by holders of gaming licenses; the availability and popularity of other forms of entertainment; any challenges to the intellectual property rights underlying our games; and outages and disruptions of our online services that may harm our business.

        Our social gaming initiatives will result in increased operating expense and increased time and attention from our management. Our social games will be complementary to our current operations and offer additional avenues of access and interaction for our customers. We do not expect our initial social gaming applications to be available for real money gaming, and we do not expect our social gaming initiatives to generate significant revenues in the near future. Our inability to ultimately monetize our investment in social gaming initiatives could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

         Our social gaming initiatives may result in increased risk of cyber attack, hacking, or other security breaches, which could harm our reputation and competitive position and which could result in regulatory actions against us or in other penalties.

        As our social gaming business grows, we will face increased cyber risks and threats that seek to damage, disrupt or gain access to our networks, our products and services, and supporting infrastructure. Such cyber risks and threats, including to virtual currencies that may be used in the games, may be difficult to detect. Any failure to prevent or mitigate security breaches or cyber risk could result in interruptions to the services we provide, degrade the user experience, and cause our users to lose confidence in our products. The unauthorized access, acquisition or disclosure of consumer information could compel us to comply with disparate breach notification laws and otherwise subject us to proceedings by governmental entities or others and substantial legal and financial liability. Our key business partners also face these same risks with respect to consumer information they collect, and data security breaches with respect to such information could cause reputational harm to them and negatively impact our ability to offer our products and services through their platforms. This could harm our business and reputation, disrupt our relationships with partners and diminish our competitive position.

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         The success of our VGT operations in Illinois is dependent on our ability to renew our contracts and expand the business.

        On September 1, 2015, we completed our acquisition of Prairie State Gaming, one of the largest VGT operators in Illinois. Our ability to compete successfully in this new line of business depends on our ability to retain existing customers and secure new establishments, both of which are dependent on the level of service and variety of products that we are able to offer to our customers. VGT contracts are renewable at the option of the owner of the applicable bar and retail gaming establishments and, as our contracts expire, we will be subject to competition for renewals. In addition, VGT operations in Illinois are subject to approval by local municipalities, and therefore our ability to retain and expand our VGT business depends, in part, on such approvals. In addition, there is a risk that the market for VGTs in Illinois could become oversaturated. If we are unable to retain our existing customers or their results suffer as a result of competition or because the market becomes oversaturated or if certain municipalities in Illinois elect to prohibit VGTs, our business and operations could be adversely impacted.

Risks Related to the Spin-Off

         If the Spin-Off, together with certain related transactions, does not qualify as a transaction that is generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we could be subject to significant tax liabilities.

        We received a private letter ruling (the "IRS Ruling") from the IRS substantially to the effect that, among other things, the Spin-Off, together with certain related transactions, will qualify as a transaction that is generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The IRS Ruling does not address certain requirements for tax-free treatment of the Spin-Off under Section 355, and we received from our tax advisors a tax opinion substantially to the effect that, with respect to such requirements on which the IRS will not rule, such requirements will be satisfied. The IRS Ruling, and the tax opinions that we expect to receive from our tax advisors, relied on and will rely on, among other things, certain representations, assumptions and undertakings, including those relating to the past and future conduct of GLPI's business, and the IRS Ruling and the opinions would not be valid if such representations, assumptions and undertakings were incorrect in any material respect.

        Notwithstanding the IRS Ruling and the tax opinions, the IRS could determine the Spin-Off should be treated as a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes if it determines any of the representations, assumptions or undertakings that were included in the request for the IRS Ruling are false or have been violated or if it disagrees with the conclusions in the opinions that are not covered by the IRS Ruling.

        If the Spin-Off fails to qualify for tax-free treatment, in general, we would be subject to tax as if we had sold the GLPI common stock in a taxable sale for its fair market value.

        Under the tax matters agreement that GLPI entered into with us, GLPI generally is required to indemnify us against any tax resulting from the Spin-Off to the extent that such tax resulted from (1) an acquisition of all or a portion of the equity securities or assets of GLPI, whether by merger or otherwise, (2) other actions or failures to act by GLPI, or (3) any of GLPI's representations or undertakings being incorrect or violated. GLPI's indemnification obligations to Penn and its subsidiaries, officers and directors will not be limited by any maximum amount. If GLPI is required to indemnify Penn or such other persons under the circumstance set forth in the tax matters agreement, GLPI may be subject to substantial liabilities and there can be no assurance that GLPI will be able to satisfy such indemnification obligations.

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         Peter M. Carlino, our Chairman, and David A. Handler, one of our directors, may have actual or potential conflicts of interest because of their positions at GLPI.

        Peter M. Carlino serves as our Chairman and as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI. In addition, David A. Handler, one of our directors, is also a director of GLPI. While we have procedures in place to address such situations, these overlapping positions could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when our or GLPI's management and directors pursue the same corporate opportunities, such as greenfield development opportunities or potential acquisition targets, or face decisions that could have different implications for us and GLPI. Further, potential conflicts of interest could arise in connection with the resolution of any dispute between us and GLPI (or its subsidiaries) regarding the terms of the agreements governing the separation and the relationship, between us and GLPI, such as under the Master Lease . Potential conflicts of interest could also arise if we and GLPI enter into any commercial or other adverse arrangements with each other in the future.

         The Spin-Off could give rise to disputes or other unfavorable effects, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.

        Disputes with third parties could arise out of the Spin-Off, and we could experience unfavorable reactions to the Spin-Off from employees, shareholders, lenders, ratings agencies, regulators or other interested parties. These disputes and reactions of third parties could lead to additional legal proceedings being instituted against us and those lawsuits could result in settlements or liability for damages which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations. In addition, disputes between us and GLPI and its subsidiaries could arise in connection with any of the agreements that we entered into with GLPI in connection with the Spin-Off, including the Master Lease, a separation and distribution agreement (the "separation and distribution agreement"), a tax matters agreement, a transition services agreement or other agreements.

         In connection with the Spin-Off, GLPI agreed to indemnify us for certain liabilities. However, there can be no assurance that these indemnities will be sufficient to insure us against the full amount of such liabilities, or that GLPI's ability to satisfy its indemnification obligation will not be impaired in the future.

        Pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement, GLPI has agreed to indemnify us for certain liabilities. However, third parties could seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities that GLPI agreed to retain, and there can be no assurance that GLPI will be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from GLPI any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses while seeking recovery from GLPI.

         A court could deem the distribution in the Spin-Off to be a fraudulent conveyance and void the transaction or impose substantial liabilities upon us.

        If the transaction is challenged by a third party, a court could deem the distribution of GLPI common shares or certain internal restructuring transactions undertaken by us in connection with the Spin-Off to be a fraudulent conveyance or transfer. Fraudulent conveyances or transfers are defined to include transfers made or obligations incurred with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud current or future creditors or transfers made or obligations incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value when the debtor was insolvent, or that rendered the debtor insolvent, inadequately capitalized or unable to pay its debts as they become due. In such circumstances, a court could void the transactions or impose substantial liabilities upon us, which could adversely affect our financial condition and our results of operations. Among other things, the court could require our shareholders to return to us some or all of the shares of our common stock issued in the distribution or require us to fund liabilities of other companies involved in the restructuring transactions for the benefit of creditors. Whether a

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transaction is a fraudulent conveyance or transfer will vary depending upon the laws of the applicable jurisdiction.

         If we and GLPI are treated by the IRS as being under common control, both we and GLPI could experience adverse tax consequences.

        If we and GLPI are treated by the IRS as being under common control, the IRS will be authorized to reallocate income and deductions between us and GLPI to reflect arm's length terms. If the IRS were to successfully establish that rents paid by us to GLPI are excessive, (1) we would be denied a deduction for the excessive portion and (2) we would be subject to a penalty on the portion deemed excessive, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations. In addition, our shareholders would be deemed to have received a distribution that was then contributed to the capital of GLPI.

Risks Related to Our Capital Structure

         Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our outstanding indebtedness.

        We incurred a substantial amount of indebtedness, as well as a significant fixed annual lease payment to GLPI, in connection with the Spin-Off and in connection with our 2015 acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas. Our substantial indebtedness and additional fixed costs via our Master Lease obligation could have important consequences to our financial health. For example, it could:

        Any of the above listed factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The terms of the debt incurred in connection with the Spin-Off do not, and any future debt may not, fully prohibit us from incurring additional debt, including debt related to facilities we develop or acquire. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.

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         Volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets and adverse changes in the global economy may negatively impact our revenues and our ability to access favorable financing terms.

        While we intend to finance expansion and renovation projects with existing cash, cash flow from operations and borrowings under our senior secured credit facility, we may require additional financing to support our continued growth. However, depending on then current economic or capital market conditions, our access to capital may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. Further, if adverse regional and national economic conditions persist or worsen, we could experience decreased revenues from our operations attributable to decreases in consumer spending levels and could fail to satisfy the financial and other restrictive covenants to which we are subject under our existing indebtedness. Finally, our borrowing costs under our senior secured credit facility are tied to LIBOR. We currently have no hedges in place to mitigate the impact of higher LIBOR rates and as such significant increases in LIBOR could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

         The availability and cost of financing could have an adverse effect on business.

        We intend to finance some of our current and future expansion, development and renovation projects and acquisitions with cash flow from operations, borrowings under our senior secured credit facility and equity or debt financings. In connection with the Spin-Off, we entered into approximately $1,550 million of new debt financing, which includes a five year revolving credit facility with a borrowing capacity of $500 million, a five year $500 million Term Loan A facility and a seven year $250 million Term Loan B facility under our senior secured credit facility and $300 million of 5.875% senior unsecured notes. In addition, following the Spin-Off, we are required by the Master Lease to, in the case of certain expansion projects, or may choose, in the case of other development projects, to provide GLPI the right to provide the financing needed for such purposes. Depending on the state of the credit markets, if we are unable to finance our current or future projects, we could have to seek alternative financing, such as through selling assets, restructuring debt, increasing our reliance on equity financing or seeking additional joint venture partners. Depending on credit market conditions, alternative sources of funds may not be sufficient to finance our expansion, development and/or renovation, or such other financing may not be available on acceptable terms, in a timely manner or at all. In addition, our existing indebtedness contains restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness. If we are unable to secure additional financing, we could be forced to limit or suspend expansion, development and renovation projects and acquisitions, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        Following an amendment to our senior secured credit facility during 2015, the capacity under our revolving credit facility, which expires in 2018, has increased to $633.2 million via a bank group that is comprised of various large financial institutions with the top four institutions providing approximately 45% of the facility. If a large percentage of our lenders were to file for bankruptcy or otherwise default on their obligations to us, we could experience decreased levels of liquidity which could have a detrimental impact on our operations, including being able to fund our current project pipeline. There is no certainty that our lenders will continue to remain solvent or fund their respective obligations under our senior secured credit facility.

         Our indebtedness imposes restrictive covenants on us that could limit our operations and lead to events of default if we do not comply with those covenants.

        Our senior secured credit facility requires us, among other obligations, to maintain specified financial ratios and to satisfy certain financial tests, including interest coverage, senior secured net leverage and total net leverage ratios. In addition, our credit facility restricts, among other things, our ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur guarantee obligations, repay certain other indebtedness or amend debt instruments, pay dividends, create liens on our assets, make investments, make acquisitions, engage in mergers or consolidations, engage in certain transactions with subsidiaries and affiliates or

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otherwise restrict corporate activities. In addition, the indenture governing the 5.875% senior unsecured notes restricts, among other things, our ability to incur additional indebtedness (excluding certain indebtedness under our credit facility), issue certain preferred stock, pay dividends or distributions on our capital stock or repurchase our capital stock, make certain investments, create liens on our assets to secure certain debt, enter into transactions with affiliates, merge or consolidate with another company, transfer and sell assets and designate our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. A failure to comply with the restrictions contained in the documentation governing any of our indebtedness, termination of the Master Lease (subject to certain exceptions) or the occurrence of certain defaults under the Master Lease could lead to an event of default thereunder that could result in an acceleration of such indebtedness. Such acceleration would likely constitute an event of default under our other indebtedness, which event of default could result in all of our debt becoming immediately due and payable and could permit certain of our lenders to foreclose on any of our assets securing such debt.

         To service our indebtedness, we will require a significant amount of cash, which depends on many factors beyond our control.

        We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us under our senior secured credit facility in amounts sufficient to enable us to fund our liquidity needs, including with respect to our indebtedness. We also may incur indebtedness related to facilities we develop or acquire prior to generating cash flow from those facilities. If those facilities do not provide us with cash flow to service that indebtedness, we will need to rely on cash flow from our other properties, which would increase our leverage. In addition, if we consummate significant acquisitions in the future, our cash requirements may increase significantly. As we are required to satisfy amortization requirements under our senior secured credit facility or as other debt matures, we may also need to raise funds to refinance all or a portion of our debt. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our debt, including our senior secured credit facility, on attractive terms, commercially reasonable terms or at all. Our future operating performance and our ability to service, extend or refinance our debt will be subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

         The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

        Our stock price may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, such as variations in operating results, actions by various regulatory agencies and legislatures, litigation, operating competition, market perceptions, progress with respect to potential acquisitions, changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts, the actions of rating agencies, the operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable to us, and news reports relating to trends in our markets or general economic conditions.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

        None.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

        The following describes our principal real estate properties by segment:

East/Midwest

        Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.    We lease 300 acres on various parcels in Charles Town and Ranson, West Virginia of which 155 acres comprise Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The facility includes a 153-room hotel and a 3/4-mile all-weather lighted thoroughbred racetrack, a training

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track, two parking garages, an employee parking lot, an enclosed grandstand/clubhouse and housing facilities for over 1,300 horses.

        Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.    We lease 574 acres in Grantville, Pennsylvania, where Penn National Race Course is located on 181 acres. The facility includes a one-mile all-weather lighted thoroughbred racetrack and a 7/8-mile turf track, a parking garage and surface parking spaces. The property also includes 393 acres surrounding the Penn National Race Course that are available for future expansion or development.

        Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg.    We lease 53 acres in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a portion of which serves as the dockside embarkation for the gaming vessel, and includes a Hollywood-themed casino riverboat, an entertainment pavilion, a 295-room hotel, two parking garages and an adjacent surface lot. In addition, we lease 53 acres on Route 50 used for remote parking. Effective January 2015, we own and operate a hotel and event center located less than a mile away from our Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg property, which includes 168 rooms, approximately 18,000 square feet of multipurpose space and 19,500 square feet of ballroom and meeting space.

        Hollywood Casino Toledo.    We lease a 44-acre site in Toledo, Ohio, where we opened Hollywood Casino Toledo on May 29, 2012. The property includes the casino as well as structured and surface parking.

        Hollywood Casino Columbus.    We lease 116 acres of land in Columbus, Ohio, where we opened Hollywood Casino Columbus on October 8, 2012. The property includes the casino as well as structured and surface parking.

        Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.    We lease 118 acres on the site of an abandoned Delphi Automotive plant in Dayton, Ohio, where we relocated Raceway Park and opened a new gaming facility on August 28, 2014. The facility includes a 5/8-mile standardbred racetrack and 1,806 parking spaces.

        Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.    We lease 193 acres in Austintown, Ohio, where we relocated Beulah Park and opened a new gaming facility on September 17, 2014. The facility includes a one-mile thoroughbred racetrack and 1,251 parking spaces.

        Hollywood Casino Bangor.    We lease the land on which the Hollywood Casino Bangor facility is located in Bangor, Maine, which consists of over 9 acres, and includes a 152-room hotel and four-story parking. In addition, we lease 25 acres located at historic Bass Park, which is adjacent to the facility, which includes a one-half mile standardbred racetrack and a grandstand with over 12,000 square feet and seating for 3,500 patrons.

        Plainridge Park Casino.    We own a 90-acre site in Plainville, Massachusetts, where we opened Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2015. The property includes the casino as well as structured and surface parking. The facility also includes a 5/8-mile live harness racing track, and a two story clubhouse.

        Casino Rama.    We do not own any of the land located at or near the casino or Casino Rama's facilities and equipment. The OLGC has a long-term ground lease with an affiliate of the Rama First Nation, for the land on which Casino Rama is situated. Under the Agreement, CHC Casinos and CRC Holdings, Inc. have been granted full access to Casino Rama during the term of the Agreement to perform the management services under the Agreement. The Casino Rama facilities are located on 61 acres.

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West

        M Resort.    We lease 88 acres on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway in Henderson, Nevada, where the M Resort is located. The M Resort property includes a 390-room hotel, a 4,700 space parking facility, and other facilities. We also lease 4 acres of land which is part of the property.

        Zia Park Casino.    Our casino adjoins the racetrack and is located on 317 acres that we lease in Hobbs, New Mexico. The property includes a one-mile quarter/thoroughbred racetrack. In August 2014, we opened a new hotel, which includes 148 rooms, six suites, a board/meeting room, exercise/fitness facilities and a breakfast venue.

        Tropicana Las Vegas.    We own 35 acres on the strip of Las Vegas, Nevada. The property includes the casino as well as a 1,470-room hotel and 2,095 parking spaces.

Southern Plains

        Hollywood Casino Aurora.    We lease a dockside barge structure and land-based pavilion in Aurora, Illinois. We lease the land, which is 0.4 acres, on which the pavilion is located and a pedestrian walkway bridge. We also lease a parking lot and two parking garages, together comprising over 2 acres.

        Hollywood Casino Joliet.    We lease 276 acres in Joliet, Illinois, which includes a barge-based casino, land-based pavilion, a 100-room hotel, a 1,100 space parking garage, surface parking areas and a recreational vehicle park.

        Argosy Casino Alton.    We lease 3.6 acres in Alton, Illinois, a portion of which serves as the dockside boarding for the Alton Belle II, a riverboat casino. The dockside facility includes an entertainment pavilion and office space, as well as surface parking areas with 1,341 spaces.

        Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast.    We lease 580 acres in the city of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The property includes a land-based casino, 18-hole golf course, a 291-room hotel, a 20-slip marina, a 100-space RV Park and other facilities.

        Argosy Casino Riverside.    We lease 41 acres in Riverside, Missouri, which includes a barge-based casino, a 258-room luxury hotel, an entertainment/banquet facility and a parking garage. We also lease 6.8 acres which is primarily used for overflow parking.

        Hollywood Casino Tunica.    We lease 68 acres of land in Tunica, Mississippi. The property includes a single-level casino, a 494-room hotel, surface parking and other land-based facilities.

        Boomtown Biloxi.    We lease 18.2 acres, most of which is utilized for the gaming location. We also lease 5 acres of submerged tidelands at the casino site from the State of Mississippi, 1.1 acres for parking, 1.2 acres of land mostly used for parking and welcome center, and 0.4 acres of undeveloped land, as well as the barge on which the casino is located and all of the land-based facilities.

        Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.    Through our joint venture with International Speedway, we own 101 acres in which Hollywood Casino sits on Turn Two of the Kansas Speedway.

        Hollywood Casino St. Louis.    We lease 248 acres along the Missouri River in Maryland Heights, Missouri, which includes a 502-room hotel and structure and surface parking.

        Prairie State Gaming.    The Company acquired Prairie State Gaming, a licensed video gaming terminal operator in Illinois, on September 1, 2015. Prairie State Gaming's operations include more than 1,100 video gaming terminals across a network of approximately 270 bar and retail gaming establishments in seven distinct geographic areas throughout Illinois.

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Other

        Rosecroft Raceway.    Rosecroft Raceway is situated on 125 acres, which we own. The Rosecroft facility features a 5/8-mile standardbred race track with a seven race paddock, a 53,000 square foot grandstand building, and a 96,000 square foot three story clubhouse building.

        Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club.    We own 26 acres in Longwood, Florida where Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club is located. The property includes a 1/4-mile racing surface, a clubhouse dining facility and a main grandstand building. Kennel facilities for up to 1,300 greyhounds are located at a leased location approximately 1/2 mile from the racetrack enclosure.

        Freehold Raceway.    Through our joint venture in Pennwood, we own a 51-acre site in Freehold, New Jersey, where Freehold Raceway is located. The property features a half-mile standardbred race track and a grandstand. In addition, through our joint venture in Pennwood, we own a 10-acre site in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, which is currently undeveloped.

        Sam Houston Race Park and Valley Race Park.    Through our joint venture with MAXXAM, we own 168 acres at Sam Houston Race Park and 71 acres at Valley Race Park. Sam Houston Race Park includes a one-mile dirt track and a 7/8-mile turf track as well as a 226,000 square foot grandstand and pavilion centre. Valley Race Park features 118,216 of property square footage as a dog racing and simulcasting facility located in Harlingen, Texas.

        Off-track Wagering Facilities.    The following is a list of our three OTWs and their locations:

Location
  Approx. Size
(Square Ft.)
  Owned/Leased   Date Opened

York, PA

    25,590   Leased   March 1995

Lancaster, PA

    24,000   Leased   July 1996

Clementon, NJ

    15,000   Leased   July 2014

        In addition, through our joint venture in Pennwood, we own 50% of a leased OTW in Toms River, New Jersey, that has 28,160 square feet.

        Corporate.    We lease 49,116 square feet of executive office and warehouse space for buildings in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania and 3,370 square feet of executive office space in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        The Company is subject to various legal and administrative proceedings relating to personal injuries, employment matters, commercial transactions and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not believe that the final outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. In addition, the Company maintains what it believes is adequate insurance coverage to further mitigate the risks of such proceedings. However, such proceedings can be costly, time consuming and unpredictable and, therefore, no assurance can be given that the final outcome of such proceedings may not materially impact the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Further, no assurance can be given that the amount or scope of existing insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover losses arising from such matters.

        The following proceedings could result in costs, settlements, damages, or rulings that materially impact the Company's consolidated financial condition or operating results. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses, claims and/or counter-claims with respect to these proceedings, and intends to vigorously defend itself or pursue its claims.

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        With the acquisition of the Tropicana Las Vegas and its associated entities in August 2015, the Company assumed litigation arising from the Bankruptcy Chapter 11 reorganization ("Bankruptcy") of Tropicana Las Vegas' former affiliate, Tropicana Entertainment Holdings, LLC ("TEH").

        In this Bankruptcy proceeding, there is an unresolved dispute related to the payment of certain professional fees and expenses totaling approximately $13.5 million. TEH takes the position that, pursuant to an Intercompany Agreement signed by TEH and Tropicana, Tropicana must reimburse TEH for a portion of certain professional fees that were incurred and paid by TEH during the Chapter 11 cases. Tropicana Las Vegas contends that it owes no reimbursement to TEH for the professional fees paid by TEH prior to effective date of the bankruptcy plan, and as a result, its potential liability in respect of such claimed professional fees and expenses should be limited to an amount below the current balance of the professional fee escrow account of approximately $3.8 million. On January 5, 2016, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order consistent with Tropicana Las Vegas's position.

        On January 19, 2016, TEH and other parties appealed the order. This appeal remains pending. At this point, management cannot predict the outcome and ultimate resolution of this disputed claim and no assurance can be provided regarding Tropicana Las Vegas's liability in this regard.

ITEM 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

        Not applicable.

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Range of Market Price

        Our common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "PENN." The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 
  High   Low  

2015

             

1/1/15-3/31/15

  $ 16.84   $ 13.19  

4/1/15-6/30/15

    18.66     14.82  

7/1/15-9/30/15

    19.50     16.04  

10/1/15-12/31/15

    18.80     14.83  

2014

             

1/1/14-3/31/14

  $ 14.16   $ 11.09  

4/1/14-6/30/14

    13.39     10.80  

7/1/14-9/30/14

    12.46     10.18  

10/1/14-12/31/14

    14.67     10.68  

        The closing sale price per share of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on March 2, 2016 was $14.02. As of March 2, 2016, there were approximately 501 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividend Policy

        Since our initial public offering of common stock in May 1994, we have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We intend to retain all of our earnings to finance the development of our business, and thus, do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Payment of any cash dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, our future earnings, operations and capital requirements, our general financial condition and general business conditions. In addition, our senior secured credit facility and senior notes restrict, among other things, our ability to pay dividends. In addition, future financing arrangements may prohibit the payment of dividends under certain conditions.

Stock Repurchase

        We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock in the fourth quarter of 2015.

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following selected consolidated financial and operating data for the five-year period ended December 31, 2015 is derived from our consolidated financial statements that have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. The selected consolidated financial and operating data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements

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and notes thereto, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the other financial information included herein.

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2015(1)   2014(2)   2013(3)   2012(4)   2011  
 
  (in thousands, except per share data)
 

Income statement data:

                               

Net revenues

  $ 2,838,358   $ 2,590,527   $ 2,777,886   $ 2,688,822   $ 2,510,373  

Total operating expenses

    2,370,512     2,333,339     3,201,754     2,291,366     2,064,767  

Income (loss) from continuing operations

    467,846     257,188     (423,868 )   397,456     445,606  

Total other expenses

    (411,236 )   (410,491 )   (202,509 )   (72,429 )   (104,082 )

(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes

    56,610     (153,303 )   (626,377 )   325,027     341,524  

Income tax (benefit) provision

    55,924     30,519     (33,580 )   137,449     127,331  

Net (loss) income from continuing operations including noncontrolling interests

    686     (183,822 )   (592,797 )   187,578     214,193  

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

                     

Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to the shareholders of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and subsidiaries

  $ 686   $ (183,822 ) $ (592,797 ) $ 187,578   $ 214,193  

Net (loss) income from discounted operations net of tax

  $   $   $ 11,545   $ 22,919   $ 26,684  

Net (loss) income attributable to the shareholders of Penn

  $ 686   $ (183,822 ) $ (581,252 ) $ 210,497   $ 240,877  

Per share data:

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Basic (loss) earnings per common share from continuing operations

  $ 0.01   $ (2.34 ) $ (7.59 ) $ 1.98   $ 2.22  

Diluted (loss) earnings per common share from continuing operations

  $ 0.01   $ (2.34 ) $ (7.59 ) $ 1.81   $ 2.00  

Basic (loss) earnings per common share from discontinued operations

    N/A     N/A   $ 0.15   $ 0.24   $ 0.28  

Diluted (loss) earnings per common share from discontinued operations

    N/A     N/A   $ 0.15   $ 0.22   $ 0.25  

Weighted shares outstanding—Basic(5)

    80,003     78,425     78,111     76,345     77,991  

Weighted shares outstanding—Diluted(5)

    90,904     78,425     78,111     103,804     107,051  

Other data:

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 398,982   $ 262,223   $ 453,767   $ 507,189   $ 567,365  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (781,005 )   (375,536 )   (180,357 )   (1,188,487 )   (338,802 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    410,359     28,991     (240,882 )   703,325     (236,508 )

Depreciation and amortization

    259,461     266,742     303,404     233,407     199,057  

Interest expense

    443,127     425,114     159,897     82,124     100,251  

Capital expenditures

    199,240     228,145     196,600     467,795     284,793  

Balance sheet data:

                               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 237,009   $ 208,673   $ 292,995   $ 260,467   $ 238,440  

Total assets

    5,138,752     4,664,894     4,467,587     5,619,383     4,586,511  

Total financing obligation

    3,564,628     3,611,513     3,534,809          

Total debt(6)

    1,710,959     1,241,430     1,044,995     2,719,508     2,034,792  

Shareholders' equity

    (678,043 )   (708,014 )   (550,852 )   2,241,590     1,963,767  

(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded other intangible assets impairment charges of $40.0 million related to the write-off of our Plainridge Park Casino gaming license and a partial write-down of the gaming license at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway due to a reduction in the long term earnings forecast at both of these locations.

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(2)
During the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges of $155.3 million as we determined that a portion of the value of our goodwill and other intangible assets was impaired due to our outlook of continued challenging regional gaming conditions which persisted in 2014 at certain properties in our Southern Plains segment, as well as for the write-off of a trademark intangible asset in the West segment. During the second quarter of 2014, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $4.6 million to write-down certain idle assets to their estimated salvage value. Interest expense on the Master Lease financing obligation, which became effective November 1, 2013, was $379.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.

(3)
We recorded impairment charges of $724.2 million, which included the impact of the spin-off, during the year ended December 31, 2013. In addition, as a result of a new gaming license being awarded for the development of an additional casino in Sioux City, Iowa to another applicant in April 2013, we recorded an impairment charge of $71.8 million for Argosy Casino Sioux City during the year ended December 31, 2013. Additionally, in conjunction with the relocation of our two racetracks in Ohio, we recorded an impairment charge of $2.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2013. Furthermore, for 2013, we incurred a $61.7 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt, transaction costs associated with the Spin-Off of $39.5 million, and interest expense on the Master Lease financing obligation of $62.1 million. Finally, we recorded a valuation allowance in the fourth quarter of 2013 of which $90.3 million was recorded as income tax provision and $599.9 million was recorded as part of the Spin-Off transaction [see Note 13—Income Taxes for additional details].

(4)
During the year ended December 31, 2012, we incurred non-deductible lobbying costs of $45.1 million associated with our unsuccessful efforts to oppose an expansion of gaming in the State of Maryland and transaction costs associated with the Spin-Off of $7.1 million.

(5)
Since we reported a loss from operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we were required to use basic weighted-average common shares outstanding, rather than diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding, when calculating diluted loss per share for those periods.

(6)
During the first quarter of 2015, the Company adopted ASU 2015-03 and retrospectively reclassified the amount of deferred financing fees previously recorded as an asset, to an offset to the Company's long-term debt.

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ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, the Company restated its audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. The impact of the restatement is reflected in Management's Discussion and Analysis of financial condition and result of operations below.

Our Operations

        We are a leading, diversified, multi-jurisdictional owner and manager of gaming and racing facilities and video gaming terminal operations. The Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1982 as PNRC Corp. and adopted its current name in 1994, when the Company became a publicly traded company. In 1997, we began our transition from a pari-mutuel company to a diversified gaming company with the acquisition of the Charles Town property and the introduction of video lottery terminals in West Virginia. Since 1997, we have continued to expand our gaming operations through strategic acquisitions, greenfield projects, and property expansions. We, along with our joint venture partner, opened Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway on February 3, 2012. In Ohio, we have opened four new gaming properties over the last four years, including: Hollywood Casino Toledo on May 29, 2012, Hollywood Casino Columbus on October 8, 2012, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014. In addition, on November 2, 2012, we acquired Harrah's St Louis, which we subsequently rebranded as Hollywood Casino St Louis. On June 24, 2015, we opened Plainridge Park Casino an integrated racing and slots-only gaming facility in Plainville, Massachusetts. On August 25, 2015 we completed the acquisition of our first Las Vegas strip asset, Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. On September 1, 2015 we completed our acquisition of Prairie State Gaming, one of the largest video gaming terminal route operators in Illinois. In addition, we are developing a Hollywood Casino branded gaming facility on the Jamul Indian Village near San Diego, California, which we will manage upon its anticipated opening in mid-2016.

        As of December 31, 2015, we owned, managed, or had ownership interests in twenty-seven facilities in the following seventeen jurisdictions: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Ontario. On July 30, 2014, the Company closed its facility in Sioux City, Iowa. In addition, Beulah Park and Raceway Park in Ohio were closed as the racetracks were relocated to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, respectively, both of which opened in the third quarter of 2014.

        The vast majority of our revenue is gaming revenue, derived primarily from gaming on slot machines (which represented approximately 86% and 84% of our gaming revenue in 2015 and 2014, respectively) and to a lesser extent, table games, which is highly dependent upon the volume and spending levels of customers at our properties. Other revenues are derived from our management service fee from Casino Rama, our transition service fees from GLPI, our hotel, dining, retail, admissions, program sales, concessions and certain other ancillary activities, and our racing operations. Our racing revenue includes our share of pari-mutuel wagering on live races after payment of amounts returned as winning wagers, our share of wagering from import and export simulcasting, and our share of wagering from our off-track wagering facilities.

        Key performance indicators related to gaming revenue are slot handle and table game drop (volume indicators) and "win" or "hold" percentage. Our typical property slot hold percentage is in the range of 6% to 10% of slot handle, and our typical table game win percentage is in the range of 14% to 27% of table game drop.

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        Slot handle is the gross amount wagered for the period cited. The win or hold percentage is the net amount of gaming wins and losses, with liabilities recognized for accruals related to the anticipated payout of progressive jackpots. Our slot hold percentages have consistently been in the 6% to 10% range over the past several years. Given the stability in our slot hold percentages, we have not experienced significant impacts to earnings from changes in these percentages.

        For table games, customers usually purchase cash chips at the gaming tables. The cash and markers (extensions of credit granted to certain credit worthy customers) are deposited in the gaming table's drop box. Table game win is the amount of drop that is retained and recorded as casino gaming revenue, with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs and for unredeemed gaming chips. As we are primarily focused on regional gaming markets, our table win percentages are fairly stable as the majority of these markets do not regularly experience high-end play, which can lead to volatility in win percentages. Therefore, changes in table game win percentages do not typically have a material impact to our earnings.

        Our properties generate significant operating cash flow, since most of our revenue is cash-based from slot machines, table games, and pari-mutuel wagering. Our business is capital intensive, and we rely on cash flow from our properties to generate operating cash to satisfy our obligations under the Master Lease, repay debt, fund capital maintenance expenditures, fund new capital projects at existing properties and provide excess cash for future development and acquisitions.

        We continue to expand our gaming operations through the implementation and execution of a disciplined capital expenditure program at our existing properties, the pursuit of strategic acquisitions and the development of new gaming properties, particularly in attractive regional markets. Additional information regarding our capital projects is discussed in detail in the section entitled "Liquidity and Capital Resources—Capital Expenditures" below.

Spin-Off of Real Estate Assets through a Real Estate Investment Trust

        On November 1, 2013, the Company completed its plan to separate its gaming operating assets from its real property assets by creating a newly formed, publicly traded REIT, known as GLPI, through a tax free Spin-Off. Penn effected the Spin-Off by distributing one share of common stock of GLPI to the holders of Penn common stock and Series C Preferred Stock for every share of Penn common stock and every 1/1000th of a share of Series C Preferred Stock that they held at the close of business on October 16, 2013, the record date for the Spin-Off. Peter M. Carlino and the PMC Delaware Dynasty Trust dated September 25, 2013, a trust for the benefit of Mr. Carlino's children, also received 882,129 additional shares of GLPI common stock, in exchange for 2,167,393 shares of Penn common stock that they transferred to Penn immediately prior to the Spin-Off. Based on the closing price of the GLPI common stock on October 30, 2013, the aggregate consideration transferred totaled $39.1 million. On that same date, based on the closing price of Penn common stock, the aggregate consideration received totaled $28.4 million. As a result, the consideration transferred exceeded the amount received by approximately $10.7 million. This excess was accounted for as a transaction cost associated with the Spin-Off within general and administrative expenses with the value of the Penn shares acquired as the cost of the treasury stock.

        Mr. Carlino also exchanged certain options to acquire Penn common stock for options to acquire GLPI common stock having the same aggregate intrinsic value. Penn engaged in these exchanges with Mr. Carlino and his related trust to ensure that each member of the Carlino family beneficially owns 9.9% or less of the outstanding shares of Penn common stock following the Spin-Off, so that GLPI can qualify to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        In addition, through a series of internal corporate restructurings, Penn contributed to GLPI substantially all of the assets and liabilities associated with Penn's real property interests and real estate development business, as well as all of the assets and liabilities of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and

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Hollywood Casino Perryville, which are referred to as the "TRS Properties." As a result of the Spin-Off, GLPI owns substantially all of Penn's former real property assets as of such date and leases back those assets (other than the TRS Properties) to Penn for use by its subsidiaries, under the Master Lease (which has a fifteen-year initial term that can be extended at Penn's option for up to four five-year renewal terms), as well as owns and operates the TRS Properties. Penn continues to operate the leased gaming facilities and hold the associated gaming licenses with these facilities. As a result of the Spin-Off, the Company's results for the year ended December 31, 2013 only include the TRS Properties for the period January 1, 2013 through October 31, 2013. The TRS properties have been reported as discontinued operations in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

        On November 1, 2013, Penn entered into a Tax Matters Agreement with GLPI, which governs the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of the two companies after the Spin-Off with respect to payment of tax liabilities, entitlement of refunds, and filing of tax returns and sets forth certain covenants and indemnities. Pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement, Penn was required to prepare and file a federal consolidated income tax return for 2013, which included a combination of Penn and GLPI legal entities for the activity prior to the Spin-Off, with any adjustments for the impact of the final consolidated income tax return recorded to either shareholders' equity or the statement of income depending on the specific item giving rise to the adjustment. In conjunction with the filing of the final 2013 federal consolidated income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, Penn recorded an decrease to shareholders' equity of $2.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2014.

        The Company received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service relating to the tax treatment of the separation and the qualification of GLPI as a REIT. The private letter ruling is subject to certain qualifications and based on certain representations and statements made by the Company and certain of its shareholders. If such representations and statements are untrue or incomplete in any material respect (including as a result of a material change in the transaction or other relevant facts), the Company may not be able to rely on the private letter ruling. The Company received opinions from outside counsel regarding certain aspects of the transaction that are not covered by the private letter ruling.

        The Company incurred transaction costs of $0.9 million, and $39.5 million (which includes the $10.7 million transaction cost related to the Carlino exchange mentioned above and in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, associated with the Spin-Off, which were included in general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations.

Segment Information

        Our Chief Executive Officer and President, who is the Company's CODM as that term is defined in ASC 280, measures and assesses the Company's business performance based on regional operations of various properties grouped together based primarily on their geographic locations. In January 2014, the Company named Jay Snowden as its Chief Operating Officer and the Company decided in connection with this announcement to re-align its reporting structure. Since January 2014, the Company's reportable segments are: (i) East/Midwest, (ii) West, and (iii) Southern Plains. The prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to the Company's new reporting structure in accordance with ASC 280.

        The East/Midwest reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino Bangor, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, which opened on August 28, 2014, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, which opened on September 17, 2014, and Plainridge Park Casino, which opened on June 24, 2015. It also includes the Company's Casino Rama management service contract. It also

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previously included Hollywood Casino Perryville which was contributed to GLPI on November 1, 2013 and is reported as discontinued operations.

        The West reportable segment consists of the following properties: Zia Park Casino, M Resort, and Tropicana Las Vegas, which was acquired on August 25, 2015, as well as the Hollywood Casino Jamul—San Diego project with the Jamul Indian Village, which the Company anticipates completing in mid-2016.

        The Southern Plains reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino Aurora, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Argosy Casino Alton, Argosy Casino Riverside, Hollywood Casino Tunica, Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, Boomtown Biloxi, Hollywood Casino St. Louis, and Prairie State Gaming, which the Company acquired on September 1, 2015, and includes the Company's 50% investment in Kansas Entertainment, which owns the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway. On July 30, 2014, the Company closed Argosy Casino Sioux City. This segment previously included Argosy Casino Sioux City, which closed on July 30, 2014 and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, which was contributed to GLPI on November 1, 2013 and is reported as discontinued operations.

        The Other category consists of the Company's standalone racing operations, namely Rosecroft Raceway, Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, and the Company's joint venture interests in Sam Houston Race Park, Valley Race Park, and Freehold Raceway. It also previously included the Company's Bullwhackers property, which was sold in July 2013. If the Company is successful in obtaining gaming operations at these locations, they would be assigned to one of the Company's regional executives and reported in their respective reportable segment. The Other category also includes the Company's corporate overhead operations, which does not meet the definition of an operating segment under ASC 280 and Penn Interactive Ventures, LLC, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary which represents its social online gaming initiatives and would meet the definition of an operating segment under ASC 280, but is currently immaterial to the Company's operations.

Executive Summary

        Recently we have begun to see improved customer spending behavior patterns at the majority of our geographically diversified regional gaming properties. Nevertheless, the expansion of newly constructed gaming facilities continues to impact the overall domestic gaming industry as well as our operating results in certain markets.

        We operate a geographically diversified portfolio comprised primarily of new and well maintained regional gaming facilities. This has allowed us to develop what we believe to be a solid base for future growth opportunities. During the third quarter of 2015, we acquired Tropicana Las Vegas, at which we plan to make additional capital improvements over the next few years. We believe this acquisition and subsequent improvements will incent our regional gaming customers who visit the Las Vegas Strip a reason to stay and game at this facility. We also believe the addition of the Tropicana Las Vegas may benefit our regional operations by allowing customers to redeem their loyalty points earned at our regional casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

        Additionally during the third quarter of 2015, we acquired Prairie State Gaming ("PSG") an Illinois video gaming terminal ("VGT") route operator, which has over 1,100 VGTs over a network of 270 bar and retail gaming establishments. The VGT market is relatively new to Illinois and we intend to leverage our gaming experience, relationships and purchasing power to improve PSG's performance and expand its network. We have also made investments in joint ventures that we believe may allow us to capitalize on additional gaming opportunities in certain states if legislation or referenda are passed that permit and/or expand gaming in these jurisdictions and we are selected as a licensee.

        Historically, the Company has been reliant on certain key regional gaming markets (for example, its results from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg). Over

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the past several years, the Company has diversified its operations via development of new facilities and acquisitions and anticipates further diversifying its reliance on specific properties as we continue to execute on our current development pipeline. For example, we expect our recently opened facility in Plainville, Massachusetts and our proposed management contract with the Jamul Indian Village outside of San Diego, California (which we expect to open in mid-2016) to generate significant free cash flow, since these properties are not part of the Master Lease and as such do not have any financing obligation.

Financial Highlights:

        We reported net revenues and income from operations of $2,838.4 million and $467.8 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to net revenues and income from operations of $2,590.5 million and $257.2 million, respectively, for the corresponding period in the prior year. The major factors affecting our results for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, were:

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Segment Developments:

        The following are recent developments that have had or will have an impact on us by segments:

East/Midwest

West

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Southern Plains

Critical Accounting Estimates

        We make certain judgments and use certain estimates and assumptions when applying accounting principles in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The nature of the estimates and assumptions are material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain factors or the susceptibility of such factors to change. We have identified the accounting for long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, income taxes and litigation, claims and assessments as critical accounting estimates, as they are the most important to our financial statement presentation and require difficult, subjective and complex judgments.

        We believe the current assumptions and other considerations used to estimate amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements are appropriate. However, if actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements, the resulting changes could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations and, in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition.

        The development and selection of the critical accounting estimates, and the related disclosures, have been reviewed with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

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Long-lived assets

        At December 31, 2015, we had a net property and equipment balance of $2,980.1 million within our consolidated balance sheet, representing 58.0% of total assets. We depreciate property and equipment on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives are determined based on the nature of the assets as well as our current operating strategy. We review the carrying value of our property and equipment for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. The factors considered by us in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and prospects, as well as the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors. For purposes of recognizing and measuring impairment in accordance with ASC 360, "Property, Plant, and Equipment," assets are grouped at the individual property level representing the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets. In assessing the recoverability of the carrying value of property and equipment, we must make assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors. If these estimates or the related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record an impairment loss for these assets. Such an impairment loss would be recognized as a non-cash component of operating income.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

        At December 31, 2015, the Company had $911.9 million in goodwill and $391.4 million in other intangible assets within its consolidated balance sheet, representing 17.7% and 7.6% of total assets, respectively, resulting from the Company's acquisition of other businesses and payment for gaming licenses. Two issues arise with respect to these assets that require significant management estimates and judgment: (i) the valuation in connection with the initial purchase price allocation; and (ii) the ongoing evaluation for impairment.

        In connection with our acquisitions, valuations are completed to determine the allocation of the purchase prices. The factors considered in the valuations include data gathered as a result of our due diligence in connection with the acquisitions, projections for future operations, and data obtained from third- party valuation specialists as deemed appropriate. Goodwill represents the future economic benefits of a business combination measured as the excess purchase price over the fair market value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, in two steps. In step 1 of the impairment test, the current fair value of each reporting unit is estimated using a discounted cash flow model which is then compared to the carrying value of each reporting unit including the allocation of the carrying value of certain consolidated obligations that benefit individual reporting units. The Company adjusts the carrying value of each reporting unit that utilizes property that is subject to the Master Lease by an allocation of a pro-rata portion of the GLPI financing obligation based on the reporting unit's estimated fair value as a percentage of the aggregate estimated fair value of all reporting units that utilize property that is subject to the Master Lease. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value in step 1 of the impairment test, then step 2 of the impairment test is performed to determine the implied fair value of goodwill for that reporting unit. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the goodwill allocated for that reporting unit, an impairment is recognized. In the event a reporting unit has a negative carrying amount, the Company first performs a qualitative evaluation to determine if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, and if so, it performs a step 2 of the impairment test to measure the amount of the impairment charge, if any.

        In accordance with ASC 350, "Intangibles-Goodwill and Other," the Company considers its gaming licenses and other various intangible assets as indefinite-life intangible assets that do not require amortization based on our future expectations to operate our gaming facilities indefinitely (notwithstanding the recent events in Iowa, which we concluded was an isolated incident and the first

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time in our history a gaming regulator has taken an action which could cause us to lose our gaming license) as well as our historical experience in renewing these intangible assets at minimal cost with various state commissions. Rather, these intangible assets are tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, by comparing the fair value of the recorded assets to their carrying amount. If the carrying amounts of the indefinite-life intangible assets exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. The Company completes its testing of its intangible assets prior to assessing the realizability of its goodwill.

        The Company assessed the fair value of its indefinite-life intangible assets (which are primarily gaming licenses) using the Greenfield Method under the income approach. The Greenfield Method estimates the fair value of the gaming license using a discounted cash flow model assuming the Company built a casino with similar utility to that of the existing facility. The method assumes a theoretical start-up company going into business without any assets other than the intangible asset being valued. As such, the value of the gaming license is a function of the following items:

        The evaluation of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets requires the use of estimates about future operating results of each reporting unit to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit and the indefinite-lived intangible assets. We must make various assumptions and estimates in performing our impairment testing. The implied fair value includes estimates of future cash flows (including an allocation of the Company's projected financing obligation payments to its reporting units) that are based on consistently applied, reasonable and supportable assumptions which represent our best estimates of the cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets including their eventual disposition. Changes in estimates, increases in our cost of capital, reductions in transaction multiples, changes in operating and capital expenditure assumptions or application of alternative assumptions and definitions could produce significantly different results. Future cash flow estimates are, by their nature, subjective and actual results may differ materially from our estimates. If our ongoing estimates of future cash flows are not met, we may have to record additional impairment charges in future accounting periods. Our estimates of cash flows are based on the current regulatory and economic climates, recent operating information and budgets of the various properties where we conduct operations. These estimates could be negatively impacted by changes in federal, state or local regulations, economic downturns, or other events affecting our properties.

        Forecasted cash flows (based on our annual operating plan as determined in the fourth quarter) can be significantly impacted by the local economy in which our reporting units operate. For example, increases in unemployment rates can result in decreased customer visitations and/or lower customer spend per visit. In addition, the impact of new legislation which approves gaming in nearby jurisdictions or further expands gaming in jurisdictions where our reporting units currently operate can result in opportunities for us to expand our operations. However, it also has the impact of increasing competition for our established properties which generally will have a negative effect on those locations' profitability once competitors become established as a certain level of cannibalization occurs absent an overall increase in customer visitations. Lastly, increases in gaming taxes approved by state regulatory bodies can negatively impact forecasted cash flows.

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        Assumptions and estimates about future cash flow levels and multiples by individual reporting units are complex and subjective. They are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions and can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors, such as industry, geopolitical and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in our business strategy, which may reallocate capital and resources to different or new opportunities which management believes will enhance our overall value but may be to the detriment of an individual reporting unit.

        Consistent with prior years, the Company's annual goodwill and other indefinite-life intangible assets impairment test is performed on October 1st of each year.

        For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded other intangible assets impairment charges of $40.0 million, as of the valuation date of October 1, 2015, related to the write-off of our Plainridge Park Casino gaming license and a partial write-down of the gaming license at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway due to a reduction in the long term earnings forecast at both of these locations.

        For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges of $155.3 million, as of the valuation date of October 1, 2014, as it determined that a portion of the value of its goodwill and other intangible assets was impaired due to the Company's outlook of continued challenging regional gaming conditions at certain properties which persisted in 2014 in its Southern Plains segment, as well as for the write-off of a trademark intangible asset in the West segment. The impairment charges by segment were as follows: Southern Plains, $153.9 million and West, $1.4 million.

        For 2013, as the Spin-Off was a significant financial event, an interim goodwill and other indefinite-life intangible assets impairment test as of November 1, 2013, the Spin-Off date, was performed. For the November 1, 2013 impairment test, the forecasted cash flows for each applicable property was updated to include the obligations to be paid to GLPI under the Master Lease. As of a result of our fourth quarter 2013 impairment testing, we recorded impairment charges of $724.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, as we determined that a portion of the value of our goodwill and other intangible assets was impaired. The impairment charge by segment was as follows: East/Midwest, $416.4 million; Southern Plains, $269.8 million; West, $1.8 million; and Other, $36.2 million.

        Additionally, as a result of a new gaming license being awarded for the development of a new casino in Sioux City, Iowa to another applicant in April 2013, we recorded an impairment charge of $71.8 million for Argosy Casino Sioux City during the three months ended June 30, 2013, as we determined that the fair value of our Sioux City reporting unit was less than its carrying amount based on the Company's analysis of the estimated future expected cash flows the Company anticipated receiving from the operations of this facility.

        Consistent with prior years, we believe at this time all of our reporting units with goodwill and other intangible assets are at risk to have impairment charges in future periods regardless of the margin by which the current fair value of our reporting units exceed their carrying value and that such margin cannot and should not be relied upon to predict which properties are most at risk for future impairment charges. This is because the revenue and earning streams in our industry can vary significantly based on various circumstances, which in many cases are outside of the Company's control, and as such are extremely difficult to predict and quantify. We have disclosed several of these circumstances in the "Risk Factors" section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For instance, changes in legislation that approves gaming in nearby jurisdictions, further expansion of gaming in jurisdictions where we currently operate, new state legislation that requires the implementation of smoking bans at our casinos or any other events outside of our control that make the customer experience less desirable.

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        Once an impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-life intangible assets has been recorded, it cannot be reversed. Because our goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets are not amortized, there may be volatility in reported income because impairment losses, if any, are likely to occur irregularly and in varying amounts. Intangible assets that have a definite- life are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives or related service contract. We review the carrying value of our intangible assets that have a definite-life for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the intangible assets that have a definite-life exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized.

        The Company's remaining goodwill and other intangible assets by reporting unit at December 31, 2015 is shown below (in thousands):

Reporting Unit
  Goodwill   Other
Intangible
Assets
 

Hollywood Casino St. Louis

  $ 205,783   $ 58,418  

Hollywood Casino Aurora

    207,207      

Argosy Casino Riverside

    154,332     4,964  

Zia Park Casino

    142,359      

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway

    15,339     110,436  

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

        125,000  

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

    1,497     67,607  

Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

    63,189      

Hollywood Casino Tunica

    44,042      

Praire State Gaming

    22,937     15,151  

Boomtown Biloxi

    22,365      

Argosy Casino Alton

    9,863     8,285  

Tropicana Las Vegas

    14,821      

Others

    8,208     1,581  

Total

  $ 911,942   $ 391,442  

Income taxes

        We account for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, "Income Taxes" ("ASC 740"). Under ASC 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and are measured at the prevailing enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences are settled or realized. ASC 740 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

        The realizability of the net deferred tax assets is evaluated quarterly by assessing the valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of the allowance, if necessary. We consider all available positive and negative evidence including projected future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. The evaluation of both positive and negative evidence is a requirement pursuant to ASC 740 in determining more-likely-than-not the net deferred tax assets will be realized. In the event the Company determines that the deferred income tax assets would be realized in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be recorded, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

        In connection with the failed spin-off-leaseback, the Company recorded real property assets and a financing obligation of $2.00 billion and $3.52 billion, respectively, on November 1, 2013, which resulted in a substantial increase to our net deferred tax assets of $599.9 million. ASC 740 suggests that additional scrutiny should be given to deferred tax assets of an entity with cumulative pre-tax losses

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during the three most recent years and is widely considered significant negative evidence that is objective and verifiable and therefore, difficult to overcome. During the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had or expected to have cumulative pre-tax losses and considered this factor in our analysis of deferred taxes. Additionally, we expect to remain in a three year cumulative loss position in the near future. As a result, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets, excluding the reversal of deferred tax liabilities related to indefinite-lived assets. We intend to continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets until there is sufficient positive evidence to support the reversal of all or some portion of these allowances.

        ASC 740 also creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions, and clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. It also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. At December 31, 2015, we had a net liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $2.2 million, of which $4.0 million is included in other liabilities and $1.8 million is included in other assets within our consolidated balance sheets. We operate within multiple taxing jurisdictions and are subject to audits in each jurisdiction. These audits can involve complex issues that may require an extended period of time to resolve. In our opinion, adequate provisions for income taxes have been made for all open periods.

Litigation, claims and assessments

        We utilize estimates for litigation, claims and assessments. These estimates are based on our knowledge and experience regarding current and past events, as well as assumptions about future events. If our assessment of such a matter should change, we may have to change the estimate, which may have an adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Results of Operations

        The following are the most important factors and trends that contribute to our operating performance:

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        The consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are summarized below:

Year Ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Revenues:

                   

Gaming

  $ 2,497,497   $ 2,297,175   $ 2,479,601  

Food, beverage and other

    485,534     432,021     450,568  

Management service fee

    10,314     11,650     13,176  

Revenues

    2,993,345     2,740,846     2,943,345  

Less promotional allowances

    (154,987 )   (150,319 )   (165,459 )

Net revenues

    2,838,358     2,590,527     2,777,886  

Operating expenses:

                   

Gaming

    1,271,679     1,146,159     1,247,515  

Food, beverage and other

    349,897     319,792     336,279  

General and administrative

    449,433     446,436     516,143  

Depreciation and amortization

    259,461     266,742     303,404  

Impairment losses

    40,042     159,884     798,305  

Insurance recoveries, net of deductible charges

        (5,674 )   108  

Total operating expenses

    2,370,512     2,333,339     3,201,754  

Income (loss) from continuing operations

  $ 467,846   $ 257,188   $ (423,868 )

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        Certain information regarding our results of operations by segment for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 is summarized below:

 
  Net Revenues   Income (loss) from Continuing
Operations
 
Year Ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013   2015   2014   2013  
 
  (in thousands)
 

East/Midwest

  $ 1,682,440   $ 1,467,380   $ 1,575,053   $ 372,698   $ 332,869   $ (57,351 )

West

    285,933     241,410     240,083     53,438     56,928     45,464  

Southern Plains

    849,049     857,447     930,762     230,337     46,395     (186,846 )

Other

    20,936     24,290     31,988     (188,627 )   (179,004 )   (225,135 )

Total

  $ 2,838,358   $ 2,590,527   $ 2,777,886   $ 467,846   $ 257,188   $ (423,868 )

Adjusted EBITDA

        Adjusted EBITDA is used by management as the primary measure of the Company's operating performance. We define adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, stock compensation, debt extinguishment charges, impairment charges, insurance recoveries and deductible charges, depreciation and amortization, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent purchase price to the previous owners of Plainridge Racecourse, gain or loss on disposal of assets, and other income or expenses. Adjusted EBITDA is also inclusive of results from discontinued operations, income or loss from unconsolidated affiliates, with our share of non-operating items (such as depreciation and amortization) added back for our joint venture in Kansas Entertainment. Adjusted EBITDA has economic substance because it is used by management as a performance measure to analyze the performance of our business, and is especially relevant in evaluating large, long-lived casino projects because it provides a perspective on the current effects of operating decisions separated from the substantial non-operational depreciation charges and financing costs of such projects. We also present adjusted EBITDA because it is used by some investors and creditors as an indicator of the strength and performance of ongoing business operations, including our ability to service debt, fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and operations. These calculations are commonly used as a basis for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare operating performance and value companies within our industry. In addition, gaming companies have historically reported adjusted EBITDA as a supplement to financial measures in accordance with GAAP. In order to view the operations of their casinos on a more stand-alone basis, gaming companies, including us, have historically excluded from their adjusted EBITDA calculations certain corporate expenses that do not relate to the management of specific casino properties. However, adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA information is presented as a supplemental disclosure, as management believes that it is a widely used measure of performance in the gaming industry, is the principal basis for the valuation of gaming companies, and that it is considered by many to be a better indicator of the Company's operating results than net income (loss) per GAAP. Management uses adjusted EBITDA as the primary measure of the operating performance of its segments, including the evaluation of operating personnel. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as alternatives to operating income, as indicators of the Company's operating performance, as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities, as measures of liquidity, or as any other measures 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 adjusted EBITDA. It should also be noted that other gaming companies that report adjusted EBITDA information may calculate this metric in a different manner than the Company and therefore, comparability may be limited.

        A reconciliation of the Company's net income (loss) per GAAP to adjusted EBITDA, as well as the Company's income (loss) from operations per GAAP to adjusted EBITDA, is included below.

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Additionally, a reconciliation of each segment's income (loss) from operations to adjusted EBITDA is also included below. On a segment level, income (loss) from operations per GAAP, rather than net income (loss) per GAAP, is reconciled to adjusted EBITDA due to, among other things, the impracticability of allocating interest expense, interest income, income taxes and certain other items to the Company's segments on a segment by segment basis. Management believes that this presentation is more meaningful to investors in evaluating the performance of the Company's segments and is consistent with the reporting of other gaming companies.

        The reconciliation of the Company's (loss) income from continuing operations per GAAP to adjusted EBITDA, as well as the Company's net (loss) income per GAAP to adjusted EBITDA, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014and 2013 was as follows:

Year Ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Net (loss) income

  $ 686   $ (183,822 ) $ (581,252 )

Income tax (benefit) provision

    55,924     30,519     (33,580 )

Other

    (5,872 )   (2,944 )   (8,004 )

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

            61,660  

Income from unconsolidated affiliates

    (14,488 )   (7,949 )   (9,657 )

Interest income

    (11,531 )   (3,730 )   (1,387 )

Interest expense

    443,127     425,114     159,897  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

            (11,545 )

(Loss) income from continuing operations

  $ 467,846   $ 257,188   $ (423,868 )

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets

    1,286     738     3,682  

Insurance recoveries, net of deductible charges

        (5,674 )   108  

Impairment losses

    40,042     159,884     798,305  

Charge for stock compensation

    8,223     10,666     22,809  

Plainridge contingent purchase price

    (5,374 )   689      

Depreciation and amortization

    259,461     266,742     303,404  

Income from unconsolidated affiliates

    14,488     7,949     9,657  

Non-operating items for Kansas JV(1)

    10,377     11,809     11,595  

Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations

            35,374  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 796,349   $ 709,991   $ 761,066  

(1)
Adjusted EBITDA excludes our share of the impact of non-operating items (such as depreciation and amortization expense) from our joint venture in Kansas Entertainment.

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        The reconciliation of each segment's (loss) income from operations to adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31, 2015
  East/Midwest   West   Southern
Plains
  Other   Total  

Income (loss) from operations

  $ 372,698   $ 53,438   $ 230,337   $ (188,627 ) $ 467,846  

Charge for stock compensation

                8,223     8,223  

Impairment losses

    40,042                 40,042  

Depreciation and amortization

    101,359     14,530     43,120     100,452     259,461  

Plainridge contingent purchase price

    (5,374 )               (5,374 )

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

    (295 )   510     735     336     1,286  

Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates

            15,289     (801 )   14,488  

Non-operating items for Kansas JV

            10,377         10,377  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 508,430   $ 68,478   $ 299,858   $ (80,417 ) $ 796,349  

 

Year ended December 31, 2014
  East/Midwest   West   Southern
Plains
  Other   Total  

Income (loss) from operations

  $ 332,869   $ 56,928   $ 46,395   $ (179,004 ) $ 257,188  

Charge for stock compensation

                10,666     10,666  

Impairment losses

    4,560     1,420     153,904         159,884  

Insurance recoveries

            (5,674 )       (5,674 )

Depreciation and amortization

    101,891     7,411     58,598     98,842     266,742  

Plainridge contingent purchase price

    689                 689  

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

    (75 )   211     624     (22 )   738  

Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates

            10,720     (2,771 )   7,949  

Non-operating items for Kansas JV

            11,809         11,809  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 439,934   $ 65,970   $ 276,376   $ (72,289 ) $ 709,991  

 

Year ended December 31, 2013
  East/Midwest   West   Southern
Plains
  Other   Total  

(Loss) income from operations

  $ (57,351 ) $ 45,464   $ (186,846 ) $ (225,135 ) $ (423,868 )

Charge for stock compensation

                22,809     22,809  

Impairment losses

    416,380     1,812     341,683     38,430     798,305  

Insurance deductible charges, net of recoveries

            108         108  

Depreciation and amortization

    142,442     11,883     108,201     40,878     303,404  

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets

    774     2,365     853     (310 )   3,682  

Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates

            10,735     (1,078 )   9,657  

Non-operating items for Kansas JV

            11,595         11,595  

Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations

    15,334         20,040         35,374  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 517,579   $ 61,524   $ 306,369   $ (124,406 ) $ 761,066  

2015 Compared to 2014

        Adjusted EBITDA for our East/Midwest segment increased by $68.5 million, or 15.6%, for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to the opening of Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2015, a full year of operations for Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, which together increased adjusted EBITDA by 67.0 million, improved results from Hollywood Casino Columbus and

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Hollywood Casino Toledo and a property tax refund received in the first quarter of 2015 for $2.0 million, all of which were partially offset by decreased adjusted EBITDA at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg primarily due to competition discussed below.

        Adjusted EBITDA for our Southern Plains segment increased by $23.5 million, or 8.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to increased EBITDA at Hollywood St. Louis as a result of a $15.4 million property tax credit and the acquisition of Prairie State Gaming on September 1, 2015.

        Adjusted EBITDA for our West segment increased by $2.5 million, or 3.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to improved results at M Resort and the acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015, partially offset by decreased adjusted EBITDA at Zia Park as low oil prices have affected the economy in this area.

        Adjusted EBITDA for Other declined by $8.1 million, or 11.2%, for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to increased corporate overhead costs 12.6 million, primarily due to higher cash-settled stock-based compensation charges of $13.3 million mainly due to stock price increases for Penn and GLPI common stock during 2015 compared to stock price declines in 2014, as well as increased bonus accruals, all of which was partially offset by lower lobbying costs of $7.2 million due to the Massachusetts campaign in 2014.

2014 Compared to 2013

        Adjusted EBITDA for our East/Midwest segment decreased by $77.6 million, or 15.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to competition discussed below, which impacted Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, weakened regional economic conditions for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, and a $15.3 million decline in adjusted EBITDA due to the contribution of Hollywood Casino Perryville to GLPI on November 1, 2013, all of which was partially offset by the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014 and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014. Additionally, results for the year ended December 31, 2014 included pre-opening costs of $10.2 million for both Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, as well as the Plainville project in Massachusetts, which the Company expects to open in June 2015.

        Adjusted EBITDA for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $30.0 million, or 9.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily from a $20.0 million decline in adjusted EBITDA due to the contribution of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge to GLPI on November 1, 2013, and decreased adjusted EBITDA for Argosy Casino Sioux City primarily due to its closure on July 30, 2014.

        Adjusted EBITDA for our West segment increased by $4.4 million, or 7.2%, for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to a termination charge associated with the Spin-Off of $3.8 million incurred in the third quarter of 2013.

        Adjusted EBITDA for Other improved by $52.1 million, or 41.9%, for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to lower Spin-Off transaction and development costs of $40.7 million, lower costs on cash-settled stock based awards of $13.9 million primarily due to the favorable impact from declines in GLPI's stock price for GLPI awards held by Penn employees and the fact that certain members of Penn's executive management team transferred their employment to GLPI as part of the Spin-Off, and higher transition service fees received from GLPI of $1.2 million, all of which was partially offset by higher lobbying costs of $3.5 million.

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Revenues

        Revenues for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   Variance   Percentage
Variance
 

Gaming

  $ 2,497,497   $ 2,297,175   $ 200,322     8.7 %

Food, beverage and other

    485,534     432,021     53,513     12.4 %

Management service fee

    10,314     11,650     (1,336 )   (11.5 )%

Revenues

    2,993,345     2,740,846     252,499     9.2 %

Less promotional allowances

    (154,987 )   (150,319 )   (4,668 )   3.1 %

Net revenues

  $ 2,838,358   $ 2,590,527   $ 247,831     9.6 %

 

Year ended December 31,
  2014   2013   Variance   Percentage
Variance
 

Gaming

  $ 2,297,175   $ 2,479,601   $ (182,426 )   (7.4 )%

Food, beverage and other

    432,021     450,568     (18,547 )   (4.1 )%

Management service fee

    11,650     13,176     (1,526 )   (11.6 )%

Revenues

    2,740,846     2,943,345     (202,499 )   (6.9 )%

Less promotional allowances

    (150,319 )   (165,459 )   15,140     (9.2 )%

Net revenues

  $ 2,590,527   $ 2,777,886   $ (187,359 )   (6.7 )%

        In our business, revenue is driven by discretionary consumer spending, which has been impacted by a slow economic recovery that has resulted in declines in the labor force participation rate, and increased stock market and commodity price volatility. The expansion of newly constructed gaming facilities has also increased competition in many regional markets (including at some of our key facilities). However, recently we have seen signs of stabilization at the majority of our properties and have seen low single digit increases in customer spending.

        We have no certain mechanism for determining why consumers choose to spend more or less money at our properties from period to period and as such cannot quantify a dollar amount for each factor that impacts our customers' spending behaviors. However, based on our experience, we can generally offer some insight into the factors that we believe were likely to account for such changes. In instances where we believe one factor may have had a significantly greater impact than the other factors, we have noted that as well. However, in all instances, such insights are based only on our reasonable judgment and professional experience, and no assurance can be given as to the accuracy of our judgments.

Gaming revenue

2015 Compared with 2014

        Gaming revenue increased by $200.3 million, or 8.7%, to $2,497.5 million in 2015, primarily due to the variances explained below.

        Gaming revenue for our East/Midwest segment increased by $199.9 million in 2015, primarily due to the opening of Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2015, which generated $88.0 million of gaming revenue, a full year of operations Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, which generated increased gaming revenue of $63.5 million and $58.6 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015. These increases were partially offset by decreased gaming revenue at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg primarily due to the continued impact of competition in Ohio, namely the opening of a casino in Cincinnati in March 2013 and the

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openings of a racino at Belterra Park in May 2014 and our own Dayton, Ohio facility in August 2014, and decreased gaming revenue at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races primarily due to increased competition from the Baltimore Maryland market, which includes Maryland Live! and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, which opened at the end of August 2014.

        Gaming revenue for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $11.8 million in 2015, primarily due to decreased gaming revenue at Argosy Casino Sioux City of $25.5 million due to its closure on July 30, 2014, and decreased gaming revenues at Hollywood Casino Aurora, Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast and Boomtown Biloxi primarily due to competition. These decreases were partially by offset increased gaming revenues from the acquisition of Prairie State Gaming on September 1, 2015 and increased gaming revenue at Hollywood Casino St. Louis and Argosy Riverside.

        Gaming revenue for our West segment increased by $12.2 million in 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015.

2014 Compared with 2013

        Gaming revenue decreased by $182.4 million, or 7.4%, to $2,297.2 million in 2014, primarily due to the variances explained below.

        Gaming revenue for our East/Midwest segment decreased by $103.4 million in 2014, primarily due to decreased gaming revenue at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races of $64.0 million primarily due to the continued impact of the opening of a casino complex at the Arundel Mills mall in Maryland in 2012, which added table games in April 2013 and a 52 table poker room in late August 2013, decreased gaming revenue at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg of $71.9 million primarily due to new competition, namely a new casino that opened in March 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio and to a lesser extent the openings of a racino at Miami Valley Gaming in mid-December 2013, a racino at Belterra Park in May 2014, and our own Dayton facility in late August 2014, and decreased gaming revenue at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course of $19.6 million primarily due to regional economic conditions. These decreases were partially offset by the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014 and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014, which generated $28.6 million and $27.3 million, respectively, of gaming revenue for the year December 31, 2014.

        Gaming revenue for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $74.5 million in 2014, due to decreased gaming revenue at Argosy Casino Sioux City of $23.4 million primarily due to its closure on July 30, 2014, and general softness in the regional markets in which our Southern Plains properties compete, as well as additional competition from video lottery terminals in Illinois.

Food, beverage and other revenue

2015 Compared with 2014

        Food, beverage and other revenue increased by $53.5 million, or 12.4%, to $485.5 million in 2015 primarily due to the variances explained below.

        Food, beverage and other revenue for our East/Midwest segment increased by $19.8 million in 2015, primarily due to increased food, beverage and other revenue from the opening of Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2015, which had food, beverage and other revenue of $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, and a full year of operations at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, which together had increased food, beverage and other revenue of $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

        Food, beverage and other revenue for our West segment increased by $36.9 million in 2015, primarily due to increased food, beverage and other revenue from the acquisition of Tropicana Las

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Vegas on August 25, 2015, which had food beverage and other revenue of $30.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

2014 Compared with 2013

        Food, beverage and other revenue decreased by $18.5 million, or 4.1%, to $432.0 million in 2014, primarily due to the variances explained below.

        Food, beverage and other revenue for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $10.4 million in 2014, primarily due to decreased food, beverage and other revenue at Hollywood Casino St. Louis primarily due to reduced complimentaries offered to customers.

        Food, beverage and other revenue for our East/Midwest segment decreased by $5.7 million in 2014, primarily due to decreased food, beverage and other revenue at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races of $5.9 million and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg of $6.5 million primarily due to the competition mentioned above, decreased food, beverage and other revenue at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course of $5.9 million primarily due to regional economic conditions and the closure of one of its OTWs in August 2013, all of which were partially offset by the acquisition of Plainridge Racecourse in 2014, which had food, beverage and other revenue of $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, and the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014 and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014, which together generated $6.5 million of food, beverage and other revenue for the year ended December 31, 2014. The first quarter of 2014 compared to the prior year was also impacted by adverse weather on racing for Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

Promotional allowances

        The retail value of accommodations, food and beverage, and other services furnished to guests without charge is included in gross revenues and then deducted as "promotional allowances." Our promotional allowance levels are determined based on various factors such as our marketing plans, competitive factors, economic conditions, and regulations.

2015 Compared with 2014

        Promotional allowances increased by $4.7 million, or 3.1%, to $155.0 million in 2015, primarily due to increased promotional allowances from the acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015.

2014 Compared with 2013

        Promotional allowances decreased by $15.1 million, or 9.2%, to $150.3 million in 2014, primarily due to decreased promotional allowances at Hollywood Casino St. Louis primarily due to reduced complimentaries offered to customers, decreased promotional allowances at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg primarily due to reduced redemptions.

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Operating Expenses

        Operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   Variance   Percentage
Variance
 

Gaming

  $ 1,271,679   $ 1,146,159   $ 125,520     11.0 %

Food, beverage and other

    349,897     319,792     30,105     9.4 %

General and administrative

    449,433     446,436     2,997     0.7 %

Depreciation and amortization

    259,461     266,742     (7,281 )   (2.7 )%

Impairment losses

    40,042     159,884     (119,842 )   (75.0 )%

Insurance recoveries, net of deductible charges

        (5,674 )   5,674     (100.0 )%

Total operating expenses

  $ 2,370,512   $ 2,333,339   $ 37,173     1.6 %

 

Year ended December 31,
  2014   2013   Variance   Percentage
Variance
 

Gaming

  $ 1,146,159   $ 1,247,515   $ (101,356 )   (8.1 )%

Food, beverage and other

    319,792     336,279     (16,487 )   (4.9 )%

General and administrative

    446,436     516,143     (69,707 )   (13.5 )%

Depreciation and amortization

    266,742     303,404     (36,662 )   (12.1 )%

Impairment losses

    159,884     798,305     (638,421 )   (80.0 )%

Insurance deductible charges, net of recoveries

    (5,674 )   108     (5,782 )   (5,353.7 )%

Total operating expenses

  $ 2,333,339   $ 3,201,754   $ (868,415 )   (27.1 )%

Gaming expense

2015 Compared with 2014

        Gaming expense increased by $125.5 million, or 11.0%, to $1,271.7 million in 2015, primarily due to the variances explained below.

        Gaming expense for our East/Midwest segment increased by $111.5 million in 2015, primarily due to the opening of Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2015 and a full year of operations for Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, partially offset by an overall decrease in gaming taxes resulting from decreased taxable gaming revenue as mentioned above at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg.

        Gaming expense for our Southern Plains segment increased by $5.9 million in 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of Prairie State Gaming on September 1, 2015 and an overall increase in gaming taxes resulting from increased taxable gaming revenue at Hollywood Casino St. Louis, Argosy Riverside and Hollywood Casino Joliet, partially offset by the closure of Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014 and an overall decrease in gaming taxes resulting from decreased taxable gaming revenue at Hollywood Casino Aurora, Argosy Casino Alton and Boomtown Biloxi.

        Gaming expense for our West segment increased by $7.2 million in 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015.

2014 Compared with 2013

        Gaming expense decreased by $101.4 million, or 8.1%, to $1,146.2 million in 2014, primarily due to the variances explained below.

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        Gaming expense for our East/Midwest segment decreased by $57.2 million in 2014, primarily due to an overall decrease in gaming taxes resulting from decreased taxable gaming revenue mentioned above at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, in addition to an overall decrease in payroll costs at these properties, and decreased marketing costs at Hollywood Casino Columbus primarily due to realignment of costs. These decreases were partially offset by the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014 and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014.

        Gaming expense for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $40.0 million in 2014, primarily due to an overall decrease in gaming taxes resulting from decreased taxable gaming revenue mentioned above at our properties in the Southern Plains segment, in addition to an overall decrease in payroll and marketing costs, and the closure of Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014.

Food, beverage and other expense

2015 Compared with 2014

        Food, beverage and other expense increased by $30.1 million, or 9.4%, to $349.9 million in 2015, primarily due to the variances explained below.

        Food, beverage and other expense for our East/Midwest segment increased by $14.1 million in 2015, primarily due to increased food, beverage and other expense from the opening of Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2015 and a full year of operations for Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway

        Food, beverage and other expense for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $4.8 million in 2015, primarily due to decreased food, beverage and other expense at Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, Hollywood Casino Joliet and Boomtown Biloxi due to lower food and beverage costs and the closure of Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014, partially offset by increased food and beverage costs at Hollywood Casino St. Louis.

        Food, beverage and other expense for our West segment increased by $23.4 million in 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015.

2014 Compared with 2013

        Food, beverage and other expense decreased by $16.5 million, or 4.9%, to $319.8 million in 2014, primarily due to the variances explained below.

        Food, beverage and other expense for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $13.1 million in 2014, primarily due to decreased food, beverage and other expense at Hollywood Casino St. Louis primarily due to lower food and beverage costs as well as payroll costs and lower payroll costs at Hollywood Casino Joliet due to cost containment measures.

        Food, beverage and other expense for our East/Midwest segment increased by $0.9 million in 2014, primarily due to decreased food, beverage and other expense at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course primarily due to lower food and beverage costs and payroll costs, all of which were partially offset by the acquisition of Plainridge Racecourse in 2014 and the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014 and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014. The first quarter of 2014 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year was also impacted by reduced purse expense due to adverse weather conditions at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

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General and administrative expense

        General and administrative expenses include items such as compliance, facility maintenance, utilities, property and liability insurance, surveillance and security, and certain housekeeping services, as well as all expenses for administrative departments such as accounting, purchasing, human resources, legal and internal audit. General and administrative expenses also include lobbying expenses.

2015 Compared with 2014

        General and administrative expenses increased by $3.0 million, or 0.7%, to $449.4 million in 2015, primarily due to the variances explained below.

        General and administrative expenses for Other increased by $6.2 million in 2015, primarily due to higher cash-settled stock-based compensation charges of $13.3 million mainly due to stock price increases for Penn and GLPI common stock during 2015 compared to stock price declines in 2014, partially offset by lower lobbying expenses of $7.2 million due to the Massachusetts campaign in 2014.

        General and administrative expenses for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $29.7 million in 2015, primarily due to favorable property tax settlements of $15.4 million, closure of Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014, as well as cost containment measures at Hollywood Casino Aurora, Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast and Boomtown Biloxi.

        General and administrative expenses for our West segment increased by $11.8 million in 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015.

        General and administrative expenses for our East/Midwest segment increased by $14.7 million in 2015, primarily due to the opening of Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2014 and a full year of operations at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood gaming at Dayton Raceway, partially offset by a favorable $5.4 million adjustment in the fair value of the contingent purchase price for Plainridge Racecourse.

2014 Compared with 2013

        General and administrative expenses decreased by $69.7 million, or 13.5%, to $446.4 million in 2014, primarily due to the variances explained below.

        General and administrative expenses for Other decreased by $66.6 million in 2014, primarily due to lower Spin-Off transaction and development costs of $40.7 million, lower costs on cash-settled stock based awards of $13.9 million primarily due to the favorable impact from declines in GLPI's stock price for GLPI awards held by Penn employees and the fact that certain members of Penn's executive management team transferred their employment to GLPI as part of the Spin-Off, lower stock-based compensation costs of $12.1 million primarily due to lower aggregate executive compensation following the Spin-Off, and a reduction in various other items due to cost containment measures, all of which was partially offset by higher lobbying costs of $3.5 million.

        General and administrative expenses for our Southern Plains segment decreased by $10.3 million in 2014, primarily due to decreased rental expense for leases assigned to GLPI in conjunction with the Spin-Off, and the closure of Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014. In addition, the majority of our Southern Plains properties had decreased payroll costs for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

        General and administrative expenses for our West segment decreased by $3.7 million in 2014, primarily due to a termination charge associated with the Spin-Off of $3.8 million incurred in the third quarter of 2013.

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        General and administrative expenses for our East/Midwest segment increased by $10.8 million in 2014, primarily due to the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014 and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014, as well as the acquisition of Plainridge Racecourse in 2014. In addition, the majority of our East/Midwest properties had decreased payroll costs for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

Depreciation and amortization expense

2015 Compared with 2014

        Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $7.3 million, or 2.7%, to $259.5 million in 2015, primarily due to the closure of Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014, which had $10.1 million of depreciation expense in the year ended December 31, 2014. Additionally, we recorded lower depreciation expense at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg primarily due to assets purchased for the 2009 expansion being fully depreciated in July 2014 and lower depreciation expense at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course primarily due to assets purchased for the 2008 opening being fully depreciated in February 2015, which were partially offset by the openings of Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2015 and full year of operations at Tropicana Las Vegas, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood gaming at Dayton Raceway.

2014 Compared with 2013

        Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $36.7 million, or 12.1%, to $266.7 million in 2014, due to higher depreciation expense of $18.3 million in 2013 due to certain assets, mainly slots and furniture, fixtures and equipment, being fully depreciated at several of our properties, primarily Hollywood Casino Joliet, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Hollywood Casino Bangor and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, as well as lower gaming license intangible amortization and depreciation expense of $7.6 million at Argosy Casino Sioux City with the awarding of the gaming license to another gaming operator in April 2013 (see Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for further details). Additionally, the reclassification of the assets of our Beulah Park and Raceway Park facilities as assets held for sale at December 31, 2013 resulted in lower depreciation expense of $9.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.

Impairment losses

        For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded other intangible assets impairment charges of $40.0 million related to the write-off of our Plainridge Park Casino gaming license and a partial write-down of the gaming license at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway due to a reduction in the long term earnings forecast at both of these locations.

        During the three months ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges of $155.3 million, respectively, as it determined that a portion of the value of its goodwill and other intangible assets was impaired due to the Company's outlook of continued challenging regional gaming conditions which persisted in 2014 at certain properties in its Southern Plains segment, as well as for the write-off of a trademark intangible asset in the West segment. The impairment charges by segment were as follows: Southern Plains, $153.9 million and West, $1.4 million. During the three months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $4.6 million in the East/Midwest segment to write-down certain idle assets to an estimated salvage value.

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        During the three months ended December 31, 2013, we recorded impairment charges of $724.2 million, as we determined that a portion of the value of our goodwill and other intangible assets was impaired. The impairment charge by segment was as follows: East/Midwest, $416.4 million; Southern Plains, $269.8 million; West, $1.8 million and Other, $36.2 million.

        Additionally, as a result of a new gaming license being awarded for the development of a new casino in Sioux City, Iowa to another applicant in April 2013, we recorded an impairment charge of $71.8 million in the Southern Plains segment for Argosy Casino Sioux City for the three months ended June 30, 2013, as we determined that the fair value of our Sioux City reporting unit was less than its carrying amount based on the Company's analysis of the estimated future expected cash flows the Company anticipated receiving from the operations of the Sioux City facility. In addition, in conjunction with the relocation of our two racetracks in Ohio, we recorded an impairment charge of $2.2 million in Other during the three months ended December 31, 2013 for the parcels of land that the racetracks resided on, as the land was reclassified as held for sale.

Insurance recoveries, net of deductible charges

        Insurance recoveries for the year ended December 31, 2014 were related to an insurance gain in our Southern Plains segment of $5.7 million for the 2013 tornado damage at Hollywood Casino St. Louis.

        Insurance deductible charges, net of recoveries during the year ended December 31, 2013 were related to a net insurance loss in our Southern Plains segment of $0.1 million for the tornado damage at Hollywood Casino St. Louis.

Other income (expenses)

        Other income (expenses) for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   Variance   Percentage
Variance
 

Interest expense

  $ (443,127 ) $ (425,114 ) $ (18,013 )   4.2 %

Interest income

    11,531     3,730     7,801     209.1 %

Income from unconsolidated affiliates

    14,488     7,949     6,539     82.3 %

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

                N/A  

Other

    5,872     2,944     2,928     99.5 %

Total other expenses

  $ (411,236 ) $ (410,491 ) $ (745 )   0.2 %

 

Year ended December 31,
  2014   2013   Variance   Percentage
Variance
 

Interest expense

  $ (425,114 ) $ (159,897 ) $ (265,217 )   165.9 %

Interest income

    3,730     1,387     2,343     168.9 %

Income from unconsolidated affiliates

    7,949     9,657     (1,708 )   (17.7 )%

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

        (61,660 )   61,660     N/A  

Other

    2,944     8,004     (5,060 )   (63.2 )%

Total other expenses

  $ (410,491 ) $ (202,509 ) $ (207,982 )   102.7 %

Interest expense

        Interest expense increased by $18.0 million, or 4.2%, to $443.1 million in 2015, due to $6.6 million for the accretion of the relocation fees associated with our two racinos in Ohio, both of which opened

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in the third quarter of 2014, and higher borrowings on the Term Loan A portion of the senior secured credit facility for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to prior year.

        Interest expense increased by $265.2 million, or 165.9%, to $425.1 million in 2014, due to the full year impact of expense recognized under our financing obligation with GLPI which was $379.2 million incurred in 2014 compared to $62.1 million in 2013 partially offset by lower levels of indebtedness subsequent to the Spin-Off.

Interest income

        Interest income increased by $7.8 million, or 209.1%, to $11.5 million in 2015, primarily due to higher interest accrued on the loan to the Jamul Tribe (see Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements for further details).

        Interest income increased by $2.3 million, or 168.9%, to $3.7 million in 2014, primarily due to higher interest accrued on the loan to the Jamul Tribe (see Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements for further details).

Income from unconsolidated affiliates

        Income from unconsolidated affiliates increased by $6.5 million, or 82.3%, to $14.5 million in 2015, primarily due to increased earnings related to our joint venture in Kansas Entertainment primarily due to growth in its market share as the property continues to improve its efficiency from its February 2012 opening.

        Income from unconsolidated affiliates decreased by $1.7 million, or 17.7%, to $7.9 million in 2014, primarily due to our portion of the loss in the joint venture with Cordish Companies in New York. We anticipate this joint venture will be dissolved in 2015 and our investment has been written down to zero at December 31, 2014.

Other

        Other changed by $2.9 million, or 99.5%, to $5.9 million in 2015 compared to 2014 primarily due to increased foreign currency translation gains for the year ended December 31, 2015.

        Other changed by $(5.1) million, or (63.2)%, to $2.9 million in 2014 compared to 2013 primarily due to the contribution of management service fees from TRS Properties for the year ended December 31, 2013. Before the Spin-Off to GLPI, TRS Properties were contributing management service fees equal to 3% of net revenues.

Taxes

        Our income tax expense from continuing operations was $55.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to an income tax expense of $30.5 million in the prior year period. Our effective tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income from continuing operations before income taxes) was 98.8% for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to (19.9)% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company's effective tax rate in the current year is higher than the federal statutory tax rate of 35% due to the effect permanent items such as lobbying as well as a decrease in the non deductible portion of our goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges, increase in state taxes, increase in reserves for unrecognized tax benefits and the increase in our valuation allowance during the year compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. Our effective tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income from continuing operations before income taxes) was (19.9)% for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to a tax benefit of 5.4% for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our low levels of pre-tax earnings has magnified the impact on our effective tax rate from non-deductible expenses such as lobbying, increases in reserves for uncertain tax

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positions, changes in our valuation allowance and a decrease in the non-deductible portion of our goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges during the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

        Our effective income tax rate can vary from period to period depending on, among other factors, the geographic and business mix of our earnings and the level of our tax credits. Additionally our effective tax rate is significantly impacted by non-deductible impairment charges and changes in our deferred tax assets that result from principal reductions in our GLPI financing obligation since the Company has recorded a valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets. Certain of these and other factors, including our history and projections of pre-tax earnings, are taken into account in assessing our ability to realize our net deferred tax assets.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Historically and prospectively, our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources have been and will be cash flow from operations, borrowings from banks and proceeds from the issuance of debt and equity securities.

        Net cash provided by operating activities was $399.0 million, $262.2 million, and $453.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities of $136.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, was comprised primarily of an increase in cash receipts from customers of $244.1 million, offset by an increase in cash paid to suppliers and vendors of $78.1 million and an increase in cash paid to employees of $40.8 million. The increase in cash receipts collected from our customers, cash paid to suppliers and vendors, and cash paid to employees for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the prior year was primarily due to the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014, and Plainridge Park Casino on June 24, 2015, as well as the acquisitions of Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015 and Prairie State Gaming on September 1, 2015, partially offset by the closure of Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014.

        Net cash used in investing activities totaled $781.0 million, $375.5 million, and $180.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase in net cash used in investing activities of $405.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, was primarily due to our acquisitions of Tropicana Las Vegas and Prairie State Gaming for a total of $399.5 million in 2015, increased advances to the Jamul tribe of $58.6 million, purchase of a subordinated promissory note from the previous developer of the Jamul project for $24.0 million, and a return of cash in escrow in the first quarter of 2014 of $18.0 million, all of which were partially offset by our Massachusetts gaming license payment of $25.0 million in March 2014, the acquisition of Plainridge Racecourse in April 2014 for $42.0 million, and decreased capital maintenance expenditures of $20.7 million, as well as decreased capital project expenditures of $8.2 million primarily due to decreased expenditures in 2015 for a new hotel at Zia Park Casino and the new Ohio racinos, all of which opened in 2014, partially offset by increased expenditures in 2015 for Plainridge Park Casino, which opened in June 2015.

        Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities totaled $410.4 million, $29.0 million, and $(240.9) million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase in net cash provided by financing activities of $381.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, was primarily due to higher net borrowings on our long-term debt of $391.5 million and lower principal payments on long-term obligations of $11.7 million, both of which were partially offset by lower proceeds from insurance financing of $24.2 million.

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Capital Expenditures

        Capital expenditures are accounted for as either capital project or capital maintenance (replacement) expenditures. Capital project expenditures are for fixed asset additions that expand an existing facility or create a new facility. Capital maintenance expenditures are expenditures to replace existing fixed assets with a useful life greater than one year that are obsolete, worn out or no longer cost effective to repair.

        The following table summarizes our capital project expenditures by segment for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 
  Actual(1)  
 
  (in millions)
 

East/Midwest(2)

  $ 134.2  

West

    0.8  

Southern Plains

    1.5  

Other

     

Total

  $ 136.5  

(1)
Excludes licensing and relocation fees and is net of reimbursements.

(2)
Capital expenditures from our East/Midwest segment related to the construction cost of Plainridge Park Casino which opened June 24, 2015, construction costs of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course which opened on September 17, 2014, and constructions costs at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway which opened on August 28, 2014.

        On February 28, 2014, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission awarded the Company a Category Two slots-only gaming license, and on June 24, 2015, the Company opened Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, Massachusetts. Plainridge Park Casino is a $266 million (which is inclusive of an increase to our original budget of $225 million principally due to our decision to purchase rather than lease certain games and equipment for $27.7 million as well as $9 million higher than anticipated pre-opening costs and cage cash requirements) fully integrated racing and gaming facility featuring live harness racing and simulcasting with 1,250 gaming devices, various dining and entertainment options, structured and surface parking, and a two story clubhouse with approximately 55,000 square feet. As of December 31, 2015, total cumulative costs were $262.8 million, which includes a $25 million gaming license fee, which was paid in March 2014, and the acquisition of Plainridge Racecourse for $42.4 million, which was paid in April 2014.

        Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, with a $161 million budget, inclusive of a $75 million relocation fee and $50 million license fee, opened on September 17, 2014. Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, with a $165 million budget, inclusive of a $75 million relocation fee and $50 million license fee, opened on August 28, 2014. The $75 million relocation fee for each Ohio racetrack is based on the present value of the contractual obligation, of which $7.5 million was paid upon opening, with 18 additional semi-annual payments of $4.8 million due beginning one year after opening. For the license fee for each Ohio racetrack, we paid $10 million in the second quarter of 2014 as well as $15 million upon opening and paid the remaining license fee of $25 million on the one year anniversary of the commencement of gaming. As of December 31, 2015, Penn has incurred cumulative costs of $104.0 million and $94.4 million for the Mahoning Valley facility and the Dayton facility, respectively, which includes the payments made to date for the relocation fee and license fee previously mentioned. As part of the spin-off transaction that was effective November 1, 2013, GLPI was responsible for certain real estate related construction costs for the Mahoning Valley facility and the Dayton facility, and as such, these facilities are now subject to the Master Lease.

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        During the year ended December 31, 2015, we spent $62.3 million for capital maintenance expenditures, with $24.8 million at our East/Midwest segment, $8.2 million at our West segment, $25.0 million at our Southern Plains segment, and $4.3 million for Other. The majority of the capital maintenance expenditures were for slot machines and slot machine equipment.

        Cash generated from operations and cash available under the revolving credit facility portion of our senior secured credit facility funded our capital projects, capital maintenance expenditures and the Jamul Tribe project in 2015 to date.

        The following table summarizes our expected capital project expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2016 by segment:

 
  Total for 2016(1)  
 
  (in millions)
 

East/Midwest(2)

  $ 3.7  

West(3)

    27.7  

Southern Plains

     

Total

  $ 31.4  

(1)
Excludes licensing and relocation fees.

(2)
Expected capital expenditures in 2016 for our East/Midwest segment includes $3.7 million, for final construction related costs for the Plainridge Park Casino.

(3)
Expected capital expenditures in 2016 for our West segment includes $27.7 million, for renovation costs at the Tropicana Las Vegas.

Jamul Tribe

        Advances to the Jamul Tribe, which totaled $197.7 million and $62.0 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, are accounted for as a loan on the consolidated balance sheet and as such is not included in the capital expenditures table presented above. The budget for this development project is $390 million. We expect the project to be completed in mid-2016 which will include the construction of a three-story gaming and entertainment facility of approximately 200,000 square feet featuring over 1,700 slot machines, 43 live table games, including poker, multiple restaurants, bars and lounges and a partially enclosed parking structure with over 1,800 spaces. The Company has been and will continue to explore other financing options to provide more permanent, lower cost terms for the Jamul Tribe.

        In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company acquired for $24 million pre-existing indebtedness of the Jamul Tribe at a significant discount from a successor to a previous developer of the project. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further details.

Debt

        On October 30, 2013, the Company entered into a new senior secured credit facility. This facility consists of a five year $500 million revolver, a five year $500 million Term Loan A facility, and a seven year $250 million Term Loan B facility. The Term Loan A facility was priced at LIBOR plus a spread (ranging from 2.75% to 1.25%) based on the Company's consolidated total net leverage ratio as defined in the new senior secured credit facility. The Term Loan B facility was priced at LIBOR plus 2.50%, with a 0.75% LIBOR floor. In connection with the repayment of the previous senior secured credit facility, the Company recorded a $21.5 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt for the

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year ended December 31, 2013 related to debt issuance costs write-offs and the write-off of the discount on the Term Loan B facility of the previous senior secured credit facility.

        On April 28, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement to amend its senior secured credit facility. In August 2015, the amendment to the senior secured credit facility went into effect increasing the capacity under an existing five year revolver from $500 million to $633.2 million and increased the existing five year $500 million Term Loan A facility by $146.7 million. The seven year $250 million Term Loan B facility remained unchanged.

        The Company's senior secured credit facility had a gross outstanding balance of $1,259.7 million at December 31, 2015, consisting of a $592.7 million Term Loan A facility, a $245.0 million Term Loan B facility, and $422.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility. This compares with a $807.5 million gross outstanding balance at December 31, 2014 which consisted of a $475.0 million Term Loan A facility and an $85.0 million Term Loan B facility. Additionally, at December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company was contingently obligated under letters of credit issued pursuant to the senior secured credit facility with face amounts aggregating $23.4 million and $23.0 million, respectively, resulting in $187.7 million and $392.0 million of available borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, under the revolving credit facility.

        The payment and performance of obligations under the senior secured credit facility are guaranteed by a lien on and security interest in substantially all of the cash, equity and personal property (other than excluded property such as gaming licenses) of the Company and its subsidiaries.

        In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company redeemed all of its $325 million 83/4% senior subordinated notes, which were due in 2019 ("83/4% Notes"). In connection with this redemption, the Company recorded a $40.2 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2013 related to debt issuance costs write-offs of $5.5 million and the call premium on the 83/4% Notes of $34.7 million.

        On October 30, 2013, the Company completed an offering of $300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes that mature on November 1, 2021 (the "5.875% Notes") at a price of par. Interest on the 5.875% Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The 5.875% Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The 5.875% Notes will not be guaranteed by any of the Company's subsidiaries except in the event that the Company in the future issues certain subsidiary-guaranteed debt securities. The Company may redeem the 5.875% Notes at any time, and from time to time, on or after November 1, 2016, at the declining redemption premiums set forth in the indenture governing the 5.875% Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. Prior to November 1, 2016, the Company may redeem the 5.875% Notes at any time, and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 5.875% Notes redeemed plus a "make-whole" redemption premium described in the indenture governing the 5.875% Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. In addition, the 5.875% Notes may be redeemed prior to November 1, 2016 from net proceeds raised in connection with an equity offering as long as the Company pays 105.875% of the principal amount of the 5.875% Notes, redeems the 5.875% Notes within 180 days of completing the equity offering, and at least 60% of the 5.875% Notes originally issued remains outstanding.

        The Company used the proceeds of the new senior secured credit facility, new 5.875% Notes, and cash on hand, to repay its previous senior secured credit facility, to fund the cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its 83/4% Notes and the related consent solicitation to make certain

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amendments to the indenture governing the 83/4% Notes, to satisfy and discharge such indenture, to pay related fees and expenses and for working capital purposes.

        The Company's Master Lease with GLPI that became effective November 1, 2013 was accounted for as a financing obligation and totaled $3.56 billion and $3.61 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company assumed a term of 35 years as it was determined that the lease term should include all option periods since renewal was reasonably assured given the high percentage of earnings from the Master Lease properties operations to the Company and the lack of alternative economically feasible leasing options for such real estate. The future minimum lease payments at lease inception were discounted at 9.7% which represents the estimated incremental borrowing rate over the term of the lease. The financing obligation decreased by $46.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the prior year due to principal payment reductions. Interest expense recognized for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 totaled $390.1 million and $379.2 million, respectively.

        Immediately before the Spin-Off on October 30, 2013, while GLPI was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, GLPI raised $2.35 billion of debt financing, which was part of the net assets contributed to GLPI as part of the Spin-Off. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

        Other long term obligations at December 31, 2015 and 2014 of $147.0 million and $135.0 million, respectively, included $131.7 million and $135.0 million, respectively, related to the relocation fees for Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and $15.3 million related to the repayment obligation of a hotel and event center located near Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg at December 31, 2015; all of which are more fully described below.

        In June 2013, the Company finalized the terms of its memorandum of understanding with the State of Ohio, which included an agreement by the Company to pay a relocation fee in return for being able to relocate its existing racetracks in Toledo and Grove City to Dayton and Mahoning Valley, respectively. Upon opening of these two racinos in Ohio in the third quarter of 2014, the relocation fee for each new racino was recorded at the present value of the contractual obligation, which was calculated to be $75 million based on the 5% discount rate included in the agreement. The relocation fee for each facility is payable as follows: $7.5 million upon the opening of the facility and eighteen semi-annual payments of $4.8 million beginning one year from the commencement of operations. This obligation is accreted to interest expense at an effective yield of 5.0%. The amount included in interest expense related to this obligation was $6.7 million and $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

        The City of Lawrenceburg Department of Redevelopment recently completed construction of a hotel and event center located less than a mile away from Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg. Effective in mid-January 2015, by contractual agreement, a repayment obligation for the hotel and event center was assumed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in the amount of $15.3 million, which was financed through a loan with the City of Lawrenceburg Department of Redevelopment. The Company is obligated to make annual payments on the loan of approximately $1 million for twenty years beginning January 2016. This obligation is accreted to interest expense at its effective yield of 3.0%. The amount included in interest expense related to this obligation was $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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        In September 2012, the Company received $10 million under a subscription agreement entered into between A3 Gaming Investments, LLC, an investment vehicle owned by the previous owner of the M Resort ("A3 Gaming Investments"), and LV Gaming Ventures, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and holder of the assets of the M Resort ("LV Gaming Ventures"). The subscription agreement entitled A3 Gaming Investments to invest in a limited liability membership interest in LV Gaming Ventures, which was scheduled to mature on October 1, 2016. The investment entitled A3 Gaming Investments to annual payments and a settlement value based on the earnings levels of the M Resort. In accordance with ASC 480, "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity," the Company determined that this obligation was a financial instrument and as such should be recorded as a liability within debt. Changes in the settlement value, if any, were accreted to interest expense through the maturity date of the instrument. In September 2013, the Company entered into an agreement to terminate the subscription agreement, which was repaid on October 22, 2013 for $16 million. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded a charge of $3.8 million, and $2.2 million in interest expense on this instrument.

        Capital leases are primarily comprised of a ten year corporate airplane lease that expires in August 2016, which has a ten year renewal option. The lease obligation has been recorded at the lessor's initial cost of the plane, of $24.9 million at both December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, since the agreement has broad based default provisions that could result in potential damages equal to this amount. The lease obligation was classified as a capital lease based on the provisions of ASC 840 "Leases" which requires that the remedies for events of default under the provision described in this scenario be included in the minimum lease payment calculation for purposes of lease classification and that the probability of such an event of default will occur is not relevant to this determination.

        The Company's senior secured credit facility and $300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes require us, among other obligations, to maintain specified financial ratios and to satisfy certain financial tests, including fixed charge coverage, interest coverage, senior leverage and total leverage ratios. In addition, the Company's senior secured credit facility and $300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes restrict, among other things, its ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur guarantee obligations, amend debt instruments, pay dividends, create liens on assets, make investments, engage in mergers or consolidations, and otherwise restrict corporate activities.

        At December 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all required financial covenants. In connection with the recent restatement of the Company's consolidated financial statements, the Company received a waiver from its lenders under its senior secured credit facility to file its consolidated financial statements with the SEC by March 15, 2016.

        The Spin-Off has had and will continue to have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, capital structure and management. For a discussion of these impacts, see "Spin-Off of Real Estate Assets through a Real Estate Investment Trust" and "Risk Factors" of this report. Based on our current level of operations, we believe that cash generated from operations and cash on hand, together with amounts available under our senior secured credit facility, will be adequate to meet our anticipated Master Lease obligations, debt service requirements, capital expenditures and working capital needs for the foreseeable future. However, we cannot be certain that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, that our anticipated earnings projections will be realized, or that future borrowings will be available under our senior secured credit facility or otherwise will be available to enable us to service our indebtedness, including the senior secured credit facility and the

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$300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes, to retire or redeem the $300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes when required or to make anticipated capital expenditures. In addition, we expect a majority of our future growth to come from acquisitions of gaming properties at reasonable valuations, greenfield projects, jurisdictional expansions and property expansion in under-penetrated markets. If we consummate significant acquisitions in the future or undertake any significant property expansions, our cash requirements may increase significantly and we may need to make additional borrowings or complete equity or debt financings to meet these requirements. Our future operating performance and our ability to service or refinance our debt will be subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Capital Structure" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the risks related to our capital structure.

        We have historically maintained a capital structure comprising a mix of equity and debt financing. We vary our leverage to pursue opportunities in the marketplace and in an effort to maximize our enterprise value for our shareholders. We expect to meet our debt obligations as they come due through internally generated funds from operations and/or refinancing them through the debt or equity markets prior to their maturity.

Commitments and Contingencies

        At December 31, 2015, there was approximately $187.7 million available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility. The following table presents our contractual cash obligations at December 31, 2015:

 
  Payments Due By Period  
 
  Total   2016   2017-2018   2019-2020   2021 and After  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Senior secured credit facility

                               

Principal

  $ 1,259,740   $ 51,895   $ 970,345   $ 237,500   $  

Interest(1)

    116,395     41,357     56,380     18,658      

5.875% senior unsecured notes

                               

Principal

    300,000                 300,000  

Interest

    105,750     17,625     35,250     35,250     17,625  

Purchase obligations

    87,111     62,654     14,223     6,464     3,770  

Capital expenditure commitments(2)

    2,023     2,023              

Capital leases

    28,666     26,814     1,785     67      

Financing obligation to GLPI(3)

    10,848,146     389,496     768,212     649,638     9,040,800  

Operating leases

    27,625     4,223     5,873     2,698     14,831  

Ohio Payments(4)

    245,406     31,224     60,448     62,448     91,285  

Other liabilities reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheets(5)

    13,779     13,779              

Total

  $ 13,034,641   $ 641,090   $ 1,912,516   $ 1,012,723   $ 9,468,311  

(1)
The interest rates associated with the variable rate components of our senior secured credit facility are estimated, based on the forward LIBOR curves plus the current spread based on our current levels of indebtedness over LIBOR as of December 31, 2015. The contractual amounts to be paid on our variable rate obligations are affected by changes in market interest rates and changes in our spreads which are based on our leverage ratios. Future changes in such ratios will impact the contractual amounts to be paid.

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(2)
The Company anticipates spending approximately $31.4 million for future construction projects over the next year, of which the Company has been contractually committed to spend approximately $2.0 million at year-end.

(3)
Reflects the undiscounted future minimum lease payments to GLPI over the lease term, including renewal options. The amounts above exclude contingent payments (See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion).

(4)
The Company agreed to pay $110 million (of which $80.0 million remains to be paid) to the State of Ohio over ten years in return for certain clarifications from the State of Ohio with respect to various financial matters and limits on competition within the ten year time period. This amount also includes the remaining portion of the relocation fees to be paid associated with our two new facilities in Dayton and Mahoning Valley, Ohio (See Note 10 and Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements).

(5)
Primarily represents liabilities associated with reward programs that can be redeemed for cash, free play or services. Does not include any liability for unrecognized tax benefits, as the Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the period of cash settlement with the respective taxing authority. Additionally, it does not include an estimate of the payments associated with our contingent obligation to the former owners of Plainridge Racecourse (see Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements), as these amounts will be determined based on the annual performance of this facility once it becomes operational.

        The following table presents our material commercial commitments as of December 31, 2015 for the following future periods:

 
  Total Amounts
Committed
  2016   2017-2018   2019-2020   2021 and After  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Letters of Credit(1)

  $ 23,444   $ 23,444   $   $   $  

Total

  $ 23,444   $ 23,444   $   $   $  

(1)
The available balance under the revolving credit portion of our senior secured credit facility is reduced by outstanding letters of credit.

New Accounting Pronouncements

        In February 2016, the FASB issued its new lease accounting guidance. Under the new guidance, ASU 2016-02, Leases, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The new lease guidance simplifies the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessor's obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee's right to use, or control use of, a specified asset for the lease term for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the adoption date. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, ending after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for any interim or annual financial statements net yet issued. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. Management is currently assessing the impact the new lease guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

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        In November 2015, the FASB issued guidance that requires entities to present deferred tax assets (DTAs) and deferred tax liabilities (DTLs) as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The amended guidance simplifies the current guidance, which requires entities to separately present DTAs and DTLs as current and noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. For public entities, the amendments are effective after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted for any interim or annual financial statements not yet issued. Entities are permitted to apply the amendment either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company early adopted FASB accounting standard ASU 2015-17 to simplify the presentation of deferred taxes. The Company is applying the amendment on a retrospective basis and, therefore, the December 31, 2014 balance sheet has been reclassified to reflect the change in accounting principle. This change in accounting principle decreased the current deferred tax assets and decreased noncurrent deferred tax liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2014 by $40.3 million.

        In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations as part of its simplification initiative. Under previous guidance, when an acquirer identified an adjustment to provisional amounts during the measurement period, it was required to revise comparative information for prior periods, as if the accounting for the business combination had been completed as of the acquisition date. Under the new guidance, an acquirer must recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The effect resulting from the change to provisional amounts must be calculated as if the accounting had been completed as of the acquisition date and must be recorded in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined and not retrospectively. The guidance also requires disclosure on the face of the income statement or in the notes thereto, of the portion of the amount recorded in the current period that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years and for interim periods within those fiscal years after December 15, 2015. The ASU must be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. Management plans to implement this change in accounting principle in 2016 and does not anticipate a material impact from this new guidance.

        In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15. Given the absence of authoritative guidance within ASU 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance cost as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. This is only a clarification to the April 2015 ASU noted below, which we have early adopted in 2015.

        In April 2015, the FASB issued revised guidance to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet. The revised guidance requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with the existing presentation of debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by this revised guidance, and therefore there is no impact to the statement of income. The revised guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of this revised guidance is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. An entity should apply the revised guidance on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the revised guidance. The Company has elected to early adopt the revised guidance and as such debt issuance costs are now presented as a direct reduction of long-term debt on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 4 for further information regarding debt issuance costs.

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        In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02 with new consolidation guidance which modifies the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The main provisions of the new guidance include modifying the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs or voting interest entities, the evaluation of fees paid to a decision maker or a service provider as a variable interest, and the effect of fee arrangements and related parties on the primary beneficiary determination, as well as provides a scope exception for certain investment funds. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. A reporting entity may apply the new guidance using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. A reporting entity also may apply the new guidance retrospectively. Management is in the process of assessing the impact of the new guidance on existing consolidation conclusions and equity method investments, but does not anticipate any change.

        In May 2014, the FASB issued new revenue recognition guidance, which will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve the core principle, the new guidance implements a five-step process for customer contract revenue recognition. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This new guidance was originally to be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, and early adoption is prohibited. In April 2015, the FASB issued a one-year deferral of the effective date of this new guidance resulting in it now being effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2018. Entities can transition to the new guidance either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Management is currently assessing the impact the new revenue recognition guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

        The table below provides information at December 31, 2015 about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For debt obligations, the table presents notional amounts maturing during the year and the related weighted-average interest rates by maturity dates. Notional amounts are used to calculate the contractual payments to be exchanged by maturity date and the weighted-average interest rates are based on implied forward LIBOR rates at December 31, 2015.

 
  2016   2017   2018   2019   2020   Thereafter   Total   Fair Value
12/31/15
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Long-term debt:

                                                 

Fixed rate

  $   $   $   $   $   $ 300,000   $ 300,000   $ 291,000  

Average interest rate

                                  5.88 %            

Variable rate

 
$

51,895
 
$

68,360
 
$

901,984
 
$

2,500
 
$

235,000
 
$

 
$

1,259,739
 
$

1,251,975
 

Average interest rate(1)

    3.28 %   3.33 %   1.80 %   4.70 %   4.14 %   0.00 %            

(1)
Estimated rate, reflective of forward LIBOR plus the spread over LIBOR applicable to variable-rate borrowing.

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ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors
Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

        We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 15, 2016, expressed an adverse opinion thereon.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

   

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 15, 2016

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Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 
  December 31,  
 
  2015   2014  

Assets

             

Current assets

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 237,009   $ 208,673  

Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,428 and $2,004 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively

    45,186     41,618  

Prepaid expenses

    76,784     70,785  

Other current assets

    13,497     11,189  

Total current assets

    372,476     332,265  

Property and equipment, net

    2,980,068     2,669,732  

Other assets

             

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates

    168,149     179,551  

Goodwill

    911,942     874,184  

Other intangible assets, net

    391,442     419,453  

Advances to the Jamul Tribe

    197,722     62,048  

Other assets

    116,953     87,318  

Total other assets

    1,786,208     1,622,554  

Total assets

  $ 5,138,752   $ 4,624,551  

Liabilities

             

Current liabilities

             

Current portion of financing obligation to GLPI

  $ 50,548   $ 46,884  

Current maturities of long-term debt

    92,108     30,853  

Accounts payable

    72,816     43,136  

Accrued expenses

    93,666     133,092  

Accrued interest

    7,091     5,163  

Accrued salaries and wages

    98,671     84,034  

Gaming, pari-mutuel, property, and other taxes

    57,486     51,972  

Insurance financing

    3,125     13,680  

Other current liabilities

    82,263     75,773  

Total current liabilities

    557,774     484,587  

Long-term liabilities

             

Long-term financing obligation to GLPI, net of current portion

    3,514,080     3,564,629  

Long-term debt, net of current maturities and debt issuance costs

    1,618,851     1,210,577  

Deferred income taxes

    107,921     38,290  

Noncurrent tax liabilities

        7,035  

Other noncurrent liabilities

    18,169     27,447  

Total long-term liabilities

    5,259,021     4,847,978  

Shareholders' equity (deficit)

             

Series B Preferred stock ($.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 2014)

         

Series C Preferred stock ($.01 par value, 18,500 shares authorized, 8,624 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 2014)

         

Common stock ($.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 83,056,668 and 81,329,210 shares issued and 80,889,275 and 79,161,817 shares outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively)

    830     813  

Treasury stock, at cost (2,167,393 shares held at December 31, 2015 and 2014)

    (28,414 )   (28,414 )

Additional paid-in capital

    988,686     956,146  

Retained deficit

    (1,634,591 )   (1,635,277 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (4,554 )   (1,282 )

Total shareholders' equity (deficit)

    (678,043 )   (708,014 )

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit)

  $ 5,138,752   $ 4,624,551  

   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  

Revenues

                   

Gaming

  $ 2,497,497   $ 2,297,175   $ 2,479,601  

Food, beverage and other

    485,534     432,021     450,568  

Management service fee

    10,314     11,650     13,176  

Revenues

    2,993,345     2,740,846     2,943,345  

Less promotional allowances

    (154,987 )   (150,319 )   (165,459 )

Net revenues

    2,838,358     2,590,527     2,777,886  

Operating expenses

                   

Gaming

    1,271,679     1,146,159     1,247,515  

Food, beverage and other

    349,897     319,792     336,279  

General and administrative

    449,433     446,436     516,143  

Depreciation and amortization

    259,461     266,742     303,404  

Impairment losses

    40,042     159,884     798,305  

Insurance recoveries, net of deductible charges

        (5,674 )   108  

Total operating expenses

    2,370,512     2,333,339     3,201,754  

Income (loss) from operations

    467,846     257,188     (423,868 )

Other income (expenses)

                   

Interest expense

    (443,127 )   (425,114 )   (159,897 )

Interest income

    11,531     3,730     1,387  

Income from unconsolidated affiliates

    14,488     7,949     9,657  

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

            (61,660 )

Other

    5,872     2,944     8,004  

Total other expenses

    (411,236 )   (410,491 )   (202,509 )

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

    56,610     (153,303 )   (626,377 )

Income tax provision (benefit)

    55,924     30,519     (33,580 )

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

    686     (183,822 )   (592,797 )

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

            11,545  

Net income (loss)

  $ 686   $ (183,822 ) $ (581,252 )

Earnings per common share—Basic:

                   

Basic income (loss) from continuing operations

  $ 0.01   $ (2.34 ) $ (7.59 )

Discontinued operations, net of tax

  $   $   $ 0.15  

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

  $ 0.01   $ (2.34 ) $ (7.44 )

Earnings per share—Diluted:

                   

Basic income (loss) from continuing operations

  $ 0.01   $ (2.34 ) $ (7.59 )

Discontinued operations, net of tax

  $   $   $ 0.15  

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

  $ 0.01   $ (2.34 ) $ (7.44 )

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

    80,003     78,425     78,111  

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

    90,904     78,425     78,111  

   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands)

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  

Net income (loss)

  $ 686   $ (183,822 ) $ (581,252 )

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

                   

Foreign currency translation adjustment during the period

    (3,272 )   (1,665 )   (1,245 )

Change in fair value of corporate debt securities

                   

Unrealized holding losses on corporate debt securities arising during the period

            (98 )

Less: Reclassification adjustments for gains included in net loss

            (1,296 )

Change in fair value of corporate debt securities, net

            (1,394 )

Other comprehensive loss

    (3,272 )   (1,665 )   (2,639 )

Comprehensive loss

  $ (2,586 ) $ (185,487 ) $ (583,891 )

   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)
(in thousands, except share data)

 
  Preferred Stock   Common Stock    
   
   
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
  Total
Shareholders'
Equity
(Deficit)
 
 
  Treasury
Stock
  Additional
Paid-In
Capital
  Retained
(Deficit)
Earnings
 
 
  Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount  

Balance, December 31, 2012

    12,275   $     77,446,601   $ 774   $   $ 1,451,960   $ 785,834   $ 3,022   $ 2,241,590  

Repurchase of Preferred Stock

    (6,498 )                   (649,518 )           (649,518 )

Exchange Series B Preferred Stock for Series C Preferred Stock

    2,847                                  

Share-based compensation arrangements, net of tax benefits of $10,771

            2,509,185     25         85,090             85,115  

Impact of stock exchange with Company's former CEO and related family trust, (See Note 2)

            (2,167,393 )       (28,414 )   37,803     1,306         10,695  

Impact of Spin-Off and financing obligation to Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (See Note 2)

                            (1,654,843 )       (1,654,843 )

Change in fair value of corporate debt securities

                                (1,394 )   (1,394 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                                (1,245 )   (1,245 )

Net loss

                            (581,252 )       (581,252 )

Balance, December 31, 2013

    8,624         77,788,393     799     (28,414 )   925,335     (1,448,955 )   383     (550,852 )

Share-based compensation arrangements, net of tax benefits of $10,360

            1,373,424     14         30,811             30,825  

Impact of Spin-Off to Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc., (See Note 2)

                            (2,500 )       (2,500 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                                (1,665 )   (1,665 )

Net loss

                            (183,822 )       (183,822 )

Balance, December 31, 2014

    8,624         79,161,817     813     (28,414 )   956,146     (1,635,277 )   (1,282 )   (708,014 )

Share-based compensation arrangements, net of tax benefits of $14,826

            1,727,458     17         32,540             32,557  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                                (3,272 )   (3,272 )

Net income

                            686         686  

Balance, December 31, 2015

    8,624   $     80,889,275   $ 830   $ (28,414 ) $ 988,686   $ (1,634,591 ) $ (4,554 ) $ (678,043 )

   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  

Operating activities

                   

Net income (loss)

  $ 686   $ (183,822 ) $ (581,252 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

                   

Depreciation and amortization

    259,461     266,742     315,297  

Amortization of items charged to interest expense

    6,599     6,040     8,112  

Accretion of settlement values on long term obligations and change in contingent puchase price liability

    (5,374 )   689     5,024  

Transaction cost for Carlino exchange

            10,695  

Loss on sale of fixed assets

    1,286     738     3,652  

Income from unconsolidated affiliates

    (14,488 )   (7,949 )   (9,657 )

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

    28,150     23,000     21,500  

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

            26,782  

Deferred income taxes

    57,236     2,908     (137,396 )

Charge for stock-based compensation

    8,223     10,666     22,809  

Impairment losses and write downs

    40,042     163,184     798,305  

Gain on investment in corporate debt securities

            (1,516 )

Gain on sale of Bullwhackers

            (444 )

Decrease (increase), net of businesses acquired

                   

Accounts receivable

    710     10,046     5,034  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    10,345     (13,305 )   786  

Other assets

    4,363     141     (36,956 )

Increase (decrease), net of businesses acquired

                   

Accounts payable

    2,113     2,028     (2,175 )

Accrued expenses

    7,243     (19,512 )   (25,551 )

Accrued interest

    1,910     136     (15,030 )

Accrued salaries and wages

    8,454     (2,530 )   (2,317 )

Gaming, pari-mutuel, property and other taxes

    3,933     (44 )   (1,592 )

Income taxes

    (13,383 )   5,193     35,713  

Other current and noncurrent liabilities

    (6,404 )   9,923     10,950  

Other noncurrent tax liabilities

    (2,123 )   (12,049 )   2,994  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    398,982     262,223     453,767  

Investing activities

                   

Capital project expenditures, net of reimbursements

    (136,548 )   (144,707 )   (119,051 )

Capital maintenance expenditures

    (62,692 )   (83,438 )   (80,862 )

Advances to Jamul Tribe

    (105,658 )   (47,093 )   (5,602 )

Purchase of note from the previous developer of the Jamul project

    (24,000 )        

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

    561     1,665     3,837  

Proceeds from investment in corporate debt securities

            6,870  

Proceeds related to damaged property and equipment

            2,203  

Proceeds from sale of Bullwhackers, net of cash on hand

            4,996  

Investment in joint ventures

    (2,555 )   (1,285 )   (675 )

Decrease in cash in escrow

        18,000     8,000  

Acquisitions of gaming and other licenses

    (50,605 )   (76,596 )   (1,603 )

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

    (399,508 )   (42,082 )   1,530  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (781,005 )   (375,536 )   (180,357 )

Financing activities

                   

Proceeds from exercise of options

    9,399     9,799     51,535  

Repurchase of preferred stock

            (649,518 )

Cash contributed to GLPI in connection with Spin-Off

            (240,202 )

Principal payments on financing obligation with GLPI

    (46,885 )   (42,222 )   (7,363 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs

    562,076     104,935     4,745,790  

Principal payments on long-term debt

    (115,195 )   (49,541 )   (4,135,059 )

Payments of other long-term obligations

    (3,307 )   (15,000 )   (16,000 )

Proceeds from insurance financing

    4,720     28,888     19,233  

Payments on insurance financing

    (15,275 )   (18,228 )   (20,069 )

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

    14,826     10,360     10,771  

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    410,359     28,991     (240,882 )

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    28,336     (84,322 )   32,528  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    208,673     292,995     260,467  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

  $ 237,009   $ 208,673   $ 292,995  

Supplemental disclosure

                   

Interest expense paid, net of amounts capitalized

  $ 434,175   $ 418,544   $ 167,157  

Income taxes paid

  $ 5,116   $ 23,185   $ 69,758  

   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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        Non-cash transactions:    In January 2015, a repayment obligation for a hotel and event center near Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg was assumed by a subsidiary of the Company, which was financed through a loan with the City of Lawrenceburg Department of Redevelopment. This non-cash transaction increased property and equipment, net and total debt by $15.3 million. See Note 10 for further detail.

        For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized an increase to the financing obligation and real property assets of $118.9 million related to the remaining real estate construction costs that were funded by Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. for the Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course facilities which opened in the third quarter of 2014. In addition during this same period, the Company recognized an increase to other intangible assets and debt of $150.0 million related to the relocation fees for Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning (see Note 10). Lastly, the Company increased other intangible assets and accrued expenses for $50.0 million related to the unpaid gaming license fees for Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course. In conjunction with the purchase of Plainridge Racecourse in April 2014, the Company increased its acquired assets and other noncurrent liabilities by $18.5 million for the fair value of the contingent purchase price consideration at the time of acquisition. The remaining portion of the purchase price was paid in cash.

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Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.     Business and Basis of Presentation

        Penn National Gaming, Inc. ("Penn") and together with its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") is a diversified, multi-jurisdictional owner and manager of gaming and racing facilities and video gaming terminal operations with a focus on slot machine entertainment. The Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1982 as PNRC Corp. and adopted its current name in 1994, when the Company became a publicly traded company. In 1997, we began our transition from a pari-mutuel company to a diversified gaming company with the acquisition of the Charles Town property and the introduction of video lottery terminals in West Virginia. Since 1997, we have continued to expand our gaming operations through strategic acquisitions, greenfield projects, and property expansions. We, along with our joint venture partner, opened Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway on February 3, 2012. In Ohio, we have opened four new gaming properties over the last four years, including: Hollywood Casino Toledo on May 29, 2012, Hollywood Casino Columbus on October 8, 2012, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014. In addition, on November 2, 2012, we acquired Harrah's St Louis, which we subsequently rebranded as Hollywood Casino St Louis. On June 24, 2015, we opened Plainridge Park Casino an integrated racing and slots-only gaming facility in Plainville, Massachusetts. On August 25, 2015, we completed the acquisition of our first Las Vegas strip asset, Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. On September 1, 2015 we completed our acquisition of Prairie State Gaming, one of the largest video gaming terminal route operators in Illinois. In addition, we are developing a Hollywood Casino branded gaming facility on the Jamul Indian Village near San Diego, California, which we will manage upon its anticipated opening in mid-2016.

        As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned, managed, or had ownership interests in twenty-seven facilities in the following seventeen jurisdictions: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Ontario. On July 30, 2014, the Company closed its facility in Sioux City, Iowa. In addition, Beulah Park and Raceway Park in Ohio were closed as the racetracks were relocated to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, respectively, both of which opened in the third quarter of 2014.

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses for the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

        On March 7, 2016, the Company filed with the SEC restated consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, as well as for the interim periods ended March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015, respectively. The restatement of the Company's audited financial statements primarily results from the Company's accounting for its November 1, 2013 spin-off of real estate assets to Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ("GLPI") under the Master Lease Agreement, which had been previously recognized as a sale-leaseback. Upon further consideration, the Company did not meet all of the requirements for sale-leaseback accounting under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 840, "Leases", and therefore the transaction should be accounted for as a financing transaction rather than a distribution of assets followed by an operating lease. Specifically, the lease contains provisions that would indicate that the Company has prohibited forms of continuing involvement in the leased property such that sale-leaseback accounting would not be permitted. As a result, the Company is precluded

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from derecognizing the real estate assets and is instead required to recognize a financing obligation for the minimum lease payments due under the Master Lease. The restated consolidated balance sheets therefore include an adjustment to property and equipment, net for the carrying value of the real property assets leased from GLPI of $2.04 billion at December 31, 2014, and additional liabilities of $3.61 billion at December 31, 2014, representing the present value of the future minimum lease payments due to GLPI under the Master Lease. Consequently, the restated consolidated statements of operations no longer report rent expense for the obligations under the Master Lease, but rather include interest expense associated with the financing obligation and depreciation expense related to the real estate assets, along with the periodic reduction of the financing obligation reflected in the consolidated balance sheets. The lease payment amounts previously recorded as rent expense were $421.4 million and $69.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increases to interest expense and depreciation expense as a result of the restatement were $379.2 million and $89.8 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014, and $62.1 million and $14.8 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013.

        Additionally, this change in accounting treatment resulted in adjustments to the carrying values of the Company's reporting units as well as differences in the allocation of the GLPI financing obligation to the impacted reporting units, which changed each reporting unit's fair value. The resultant changes to the Company's previously recognized impairment charges are described below.

        As part of its restatement, the Company also identified certain other errors affecting the consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:

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2.     Spin-Off of Real Estate Assets through a Real Estate Investment Trust

        On November 1, 2013, the Company completed its plan to separate its gaming operating assets from its real property assets by creating a newly formed, publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT"), known as Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ("GLPI"), through a tax free spin-off (the "Spin-Off"). Penn effected the Spin-Off by distributing one share of common stock of GLPI to the holders of Penn common stock and Series C Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred Stock") for every share of Penn common stock and every 1/1000th of a share of Series C Preferred Stock that they held at the close of business on October 16, 2013, the record date for the Spin-Off. See Note 14 for further information on the Series C Preferred Stock. Peter M. Carlino and the PMC Delaware Dynasty Trust dated September 25, 2013, a trust for the benefit of Mr. Carlino's children, also received 882,129 additional shares of GLPI common stock, in exchange for 2,167,393 shares of Penn common stock that they transferred to Penn immediately prior to the Spin-Off. Based on the closing price of the GLPI common stock on October 30, 2013, the aggregate consideration transferred totaled $39.1 million. On that same date, based on the closing price of Penn common stock, the aggregate consideration received totaled $28.4 million. As a result, the consideration transferred exceeded the amount received by approximately $10.7 million. This excess was accounted for as a transaction cost

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associated with the Spin-Off within general and administrative expenses with the value of the Penn shares acquired as the cost of the treasury stock.

        Mr. Carlino also exchanged certain options to acquire Penn common stock for options to acquire GLPI common stock having the same aggregate intrinsic value. Penn engaged in these exchanges with Mr. Carlino and his related trust to ensure that each member of the Carlino family beneficially owns 9.9% or less of the outstanding shares of Penn common stock following the Spin-Off, so that GLPI can qualify to be taxed as a REIT for United States ("U.S.") federal income tax purposes.

        In addition, on November 1, 2013, Penn entered into a Master Lease with GLPI in which it spun-off certain real property assets which was accounted for as a financing obligation (see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements), and contributed the assets and liabilities of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville, which are referred to as the "TRS Properties." The assets and liabilities were contributed to GLPI based on their historical carrying values. The impact of the spin-off to stockholders' equity (deficit) is shown below. This amount excludes $2.0 billion of property and equipment, net that was not derecognized due to the failed spin-off-leaseback (in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 240,202  

Current deferred income tax assets

    6,157  

Other current assets

    3,116  

Property and equipment, net

    115,731  

Goodwill

    75,521  

Other intangible assets

    9,577  

Debt issuance costs

    39,862  

Other assets

    36,378  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (16,055 )

Income taxes

    (5,296 )

Other current liabilities

    (12,312 )

Long-term debt

    (2,350,000 )

Long-term deferred income tax liabilities

    (4,248 )

Sub total

    (1,861,367 )

Adjustment for GLPI financing obligation

    3,516,210  

Net impact of Spin-Off

  $ 1,654,843  

        As a result of the Spin-Off, GLPI owns substantially all of Penn's former real property assets and leases back those assets (other than the TRS Properties) to Penn for use by its subsidiaries, under a "triple net" master lease agreement (the "Master Lease") (which has a fifteen-year initial term that can be extended at Penn's option for up to four five-year renewal terms), as well as owns and operates the TRS Properties. Penn continues to operate the leased gaming facilities and hold the associated gaming licenses with these facilities.

        On November 1, 2013, Penn entered into a Tax Matters Agreement with GLPI, which governs the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of the two companies after the Spin-Off with respect to payment of tax liabilities, entitlement of refunds, and filing of tax returns and sets forth certain covenants and indemnities. Pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement, Penn was required to prepare and file a federal consolidated income tax return for 2013, which included a combination of Penn and GLPI legal entities for the activity prior to the Spin-Off, with any adjustments for the impact of the final consolidated income tax return recorded to either shareholders' equity or the statement of income depending on the specific item giving rise to the adjustment. In conjunction with the filing of the final 2013 federal consolidated income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, Penn recorded a decrease to shareholders' equity of $2.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2014.

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        The Company incurred transaction costs of $0.9 million, and $39.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, associated with the Spin-Off, which were included in general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations.

        The Company received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service relating to the tax treatment of the separation and the qualification of GLPI as a REIT. The private letter ruling is subject to certain qualifications and based on certain representations and statements made by the Company and certain of its shareholders. If such representations and statements are untrue or incomplete in any material respect (including as a result of a material change in the transaction or other relevant facts), the Company may not be able to rely on the private letter ruling. The Company received opinions from outside counsel regarding certain aspects of the transaction that are not covered by the private letter ruling.

3.     Principles of Consolidation

        The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Penn and its subsidiaries. Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates, that do not meet the consolidation criteria of the authoritative guidance for voting interest, controlling interest or variable interest entities ("VIEs"), are accounted for under the equity method. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

4.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

        The Company considers all cash balances and highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

Concentration of Credit Risk

        Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, and accounts receivable.

        The Company's policy is to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution, and place investments with financial institutions evaluated as being creditworthy, or in short-term money market and tax-free bond funds which are exposed to minimal interest rate and credit risk. The Company has bank deposits and overnight repurchase agreements that exceed federally-insured limits.

        Concentration of credit risk, with respect to casino receivables, is limited through the Company's credit evaluation process. The Company issues markers to approved casino customers only following credit checks and investigations of creditworthiness. Marker balances issued to approved casino customers were $4.7 million at December 31, 2015, compared to $4.9 million at December 31, 2014.

        The Company's receivables of $45.2 million and $41.6 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, primarily consist of $5.2 million and $4.6 million, respectively, due from the West Virginia Lottery for gaming revenue settlements and capital reinvestment projects at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, $5.4 million and $6.8 million, respectively, for reimbursement of expenses paid on behalf of Casino Rama, $5.1 million and $2.9 million, respectively, for racing settlements due from simulcasting at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, $3.2 million and $2.9 million, respectively, for reimbursement of payroll expenses paid on behalf of the Company's joint venture in Kansas, and markers issued to customers mentioned above.

        Accounts are written off when management determines that an account is uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts previously written off are recorded when received. An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined to reduce the Company's receivables to their carrying value, which approximates fair value.

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The allowance is estimated based on historical collection experience, specific review of individual customer accounts, and current economic and business conditions. Historically, the Company has not incurred any significant credit-related losses.

Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs that neither add materially to the value of the asset nor appreciably prolong its useful life are charged to expense as incurred. Gains or losses on the disposal of property and equipment are included in the determination of income.

        Depreciation of property and equipment is recorded using the straight- line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Land improvements

  15 years

Building and improvements

  5 to 31 years

Furniture, fixtures, and equipment

  3 to 31 years

        All construction costs funded by Penn considered to be an improvement to the real property assets financed with GLPI under the Master Lease are recorded as leasehold improvements. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the related lease term.

        The estimated useful lives are determined based on the nature of the assets as well as the Company's current operating strategy.

        The Company reviews the carrying value of its property and equipment for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. The factors considered by the Company in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and prospects, as well as the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors. For purposes of recognizing and measuring impairment in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 360, "Property, Plant, and Equipment," assets are grouped at the individual property level representing the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets. In assessing the recoverability of the carrying value of property and equipment, the Company must make assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors. If these estimates or the related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record an impairment loss for these assets. Such an impairment loss would be recognized as a non-cash component of operating income.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        At December 31, 2015, the Company had $911.9 million in goodwill and $391.4 million in other intangible assets within its consolidated balance sheet, respectively, resulting from the Company's acquisition of other businesses and payment for gaming licenses. Two issues arise with respect to these assets that require significant management estimates and judgment: (i) the valuation in connection with the initial purchase price allocation; and (ii) the ongoing evaluation for impairment.

        In connection with the Company's acquisitions, valuations are completed to determine the allocation of the purchase prices. The factors considered in the valuations include data gathered as a result of the Company's due diligence in connection with the acquisitions, projections for future operations, and data obtained from third-party valuation specialists as deemed appropriate. Goodwill represents the future economic benefits of a business combination measured as the excess purchase

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price over the fair market value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, in two steps. In step 1 of the impairment test, the current fair value of each reporting unit is estimated using a discounted cash flow model which is then compared to the carrying value of each reporting unit. The Company adjusts the carrying value of each reporting unit that utilizes property that is subject to the Master Lease by an allocation of a pro-rata portion of the GLPI financing obligation based on the reporting unit's estimated fair value as a percentage of the aggregate estimated fair value of all reporting units that utilize property that is subject to the Master Lease. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value in step 1 of the impairment test, then step 2 of the impairment test is performed to determine the implied fair value of goodwill for that reporting unit. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the goodwill allocated for that reporting unit, an impairment is recognized. In the event a reporting unit has a negative carrying amount, the Company first performs a qualitative evaluation to determine if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, and if so, it performs a step 2 of the impairment test to measure the amount of the impairment charge, if any.

        In accordance with ASC 350, "Intangibles-Goodwill and Other," the Company considers its gaming licenses and other various intangible assets as indefinite-life intangible assets that do not require amortization based on the Company's future expectations to operate its gaming facilities indefinitely (notwithstanding the recent events in Iowa which the Company concluded was an isolated incident and the first time in the Company's history a gaming regulator has taken an action which could cause it to lose its gaming license) as well as its historical experience in renewing these intangible assets at minimal cost with various state commissions. Rather, these intangible assets are tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, by comparing the fair value of the recorded assets to their carrying amount. If the carrying amounts of the indefinite-life intangible assets exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. The Company completes its testing of its intangible assets prior to assessing the realizability of its goodwill.

        The Company assessed the fair value of its indefinite-life intangible assets (which are primarily gaming licenses) using the Greenfield Method under the income approach. The Greenfield Method estimates the fair value of the gaming license using a discounted cash flow model assuming the Company built a casino with similar utility to that of the existing facility. The method assumes a theoretical start-up company going into business without any assets other than the intangible asset being valued. As such, the value of the gaming license is a function of the following items:

        The evaluation of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets requires the use of estimates about future operating results of each reporting unit to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit and the indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company must make various assumptions and estimates in performing its impairment testing. The implied fair value includes estimates of future cash flows (including an allocation of the Company's projected financing obligation to its reporting units) that are based on reasonable and supportable assumptions which represent the Company's best estimates of the cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets including their eventual disposition. Changes in estimates, increases in the Company's cost of capital, reductions in transaction

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multiples, changes in operating and capital expenditure assumptions or application of alternative assumptions and definitions could produce significantly different results. Future cash flow estimates are, by their nature, subjective and actual results may differ materially from the Company's estimates. If the Company's ongoing estimates of future cash flows are not met, the Company may have to record additional impairment charges in future accounting periods. The Company's estimates of cash flows are based on the current regulatory and economic climates, recent operating information and budgets of the various properties where it conducts operations. These estimates could be negatively impacted by changes in federal, state or local regulations, economic downturns, or other events affecting the Company's properties.

        Forecasted cash flows (based on the Company's annual operating plan as determined in the fourth quarter) can be significantly impacted by the local economy in which its reporting units operate. For example, increases in unemployment rates can result in decreased customer visitations and/or lower customer spend per visit. In addition, the impact of new legislation which approves gaming in nearby jurisdictions or further expands gaming in jurisdictions where the Company's reporting units currently operate can result in opportunities for the Company to expand its operations. However, it also has the impact of increasing competition for the Company's established properties which generally will have a negative effect on those locations' profitability once competitors become established as a certain level of cannibalization occurs absent an overall increase in customer visitations. Lastly, increases in gaming taxes approved by state regulatory bodies can negatively impact forecasted cash flows.

        Assumptions and estimates about future cash flow levels and multiples by individual reporting units are complex and subjective. They are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions and can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors, such as industry, geopolitical and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in the Company's business strategy, which may reallocate capital and resources to different or new opportunities which management believes will enhance its overall value but may be to the detriment of an individual reporting unit.

        Once an impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-life intangible assets has been recorded, it cannot be reversed. Because the Company's goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets are not amortized, there may be volatility in reported income because impairment losses, if any, are likely to occur irregularly and in varying amounts. Intangible assets that have a definite-life are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives or related service contract. The Company reviews the carrying value of its intangible assets that have a definite-life for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the intangible assets that have a definite-life exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized.

Failed Spin-Off-Leaseback Financing Obligation

        The Company's spin-off of real property assets and corresponding Master Lease Agreement with GLPI on November 1, 2013 did not meet all of the requirements for sale-leaseback accounting treatment under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 840 "Leases" and therefore is accounted for as a financing obligation rather than a distribution of assets followed by an operating lease. Specifically, the Master Lease contains provisions that would indicate the Company has prohibited forms of continuing involvement in the leased assets which are not a normal leaseback. As a result of the failed spin-off-leaseback accounting, the Company calculated a financing obligation at the inception of the Master Lease based on the future minimum lease payments discounted at 9.70%. The discount rate represents the estimated incremental borrowing rate over the lease term of 35 years, which included renewal options that were reasonably assured of being exercised given the high percentage of the Company's earnings that are derived from the Master Lease properties operations to the Company and the lack of alternative economically feasible leasing options for such real estate. The minimum lease payments are recorded as interest expense and in part as a payment of principal reducing the financing

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obligation. Contingent rentals are recorded as additional interest expense. The real property assets in the transaction remain on the consolidated balance sheets and continue to be depreciated over the remaining useful lives.

Debt Issuance Costs

        Debt issuance costs that are incurred by the Company in connection with the issuance of debt are deferred and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the contractual term of the underlying indebtedness. These costs are classified as a direct reduction of long-term debt on the Company's consolidated balance sheets in accordance with guidance issued in April 2015 by the FASB to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet.

Other Comprehensive Income

        The Company accounts for comprehensive income in accordance with ASC 220, "Comprehensive Income," which establishes standards for the reporting and presentation of comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements. The Company presents comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the only component of accumulated other comprehensive income was foreign currency translation adjustments.

Income Taxes

        The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, "Income Taxes" ("ASC 740"). Under ASC 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and are measured at the prevailing enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences are settled or realized. ASC 740 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

        The realizability of the net deferred tax assets is evaluated quarterly by assessing the valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of the allowance, if necessary. The Company considers all available positive and negative evidence including projected future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. The evaluation of both positive and negative evidence is a requirement pursuant to ASC 740 in determining more-likely-than-not the net deferred tax assets will be realized. In the event the Company determines that the deferred income tax assets would be realized in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be recorded, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

        ASC 740 also creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions, and clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. It also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

Revenue Recognition and Promotional Allowances

        Gaming revenue consists mainly of slot and video lottery gaming machine revenue as well as to a lesser extent table game and poker revenue. Gaming revenue is the aggregate net difference between gaming wins and losses, with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs, for "ticket-in, ticket-out" coupons in the customers' possession, and for accruals related to the anticipated payout of progressive jackpots. Progressive slot machines, which contain base jackpots that

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increase at a progressive rate based on the number of coins played, are charged to revenue as the amount of the jackpots increases. Table game revenue is the aggregate of table drop adjusted for the change in aggregate table chip inventory. Table drop is the total dollar amount of the currency, coins, chips, tokens and outstanding markers (credit instruments) that are removed from the live gaming tables.

        Food, beverage and other revenue, including racing revenue, is recognized as services are performed. Racing revenue includes the Company's share of pari-mutuel wagering on live races after payment of amounts returned as winning wagers, its share of wagering from import and export simulcasting, and its share of wagering from its off-track wagering facilities ("OTWs').

        Revenue from the management service contract for Casino Rama is based upon contracted terms and is recognized when services are performed.

        Revenues are recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with ASC 605-50, "Revenue Recognition—Customer Payments and Incentives." The Company records certain sales incentives and points earned in point-loyalty programs as a reduction of revenue.

        The retail value of accommodations, food and beverage, and other services furnished to guests without charge is included in gross revenues and then deducted as promotional allowances. The estimated cost of providing such promotional allowances is primarily included in food, beverage and other expense.

        The amounts included in promotional allowances for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  

Rooms

  $ 34,708   $ 33,513   $ 36,132  

Food and beverage

    111,144     106,908     118,143  

Other

    9,135     9,898     11,184  

Total promotional allowances

  $ 154,987   $ 150,319   $ 165,459  

        The estimated cost of providing such complimentary services for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  

Rooms

  $ 4,199   $ 3,664   $ 5,971  

Food and beverage

    44,012     44,325     48,431  

Other

    3,582     3,635     4,072  

Total cost of complimentary services

  $ 51,793   $ 51,624   $ 58,474  

Player Loyalty Programs

        The Company has a nationwide branding initiative and loyalty program, called Marquee Rewards.

        Marquee Rewards allows customers to earn points that are redeemable for slot play and complementaries. Complimentaries are usually in the form of monetary discounts and other rewards which generally can only be redeemed at our restaurant, hotel, retail and spa facilities. These points expire on a monthly basis after six months of inactivity. Customers earn points for their play across the vast majority of the Company's casinos and can concurrently redeem them at our regional casinos.

        The Company's player loyalty liability recorded within accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets was $13.8 million and $13.1 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. These liabilities are based on expected redemption rates and the estimated costs of the services or

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merchandise to be provided. These assumptions are periodically evaluated by comparing historical redemption experience and projected trends.

Gaming and Racing Taxes

        The Company is subject to gaming and pari-mutuel taxes based on gross gaming revenue and pari-mutuel revenue in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company primarily recognizes gaming and pari-mutuel tax expense based on the statutorily required percentage of revenue that is required to be paid to state and local jurisdictions in the states where or in which wagering occurs. In certain states in which the Company operates, gaming taxes are based on graduated rates. The Company records gaming tax expense at the Company's estimated effective gaming tax rate for the year, considering estimated taxable gaming revenue and the applicable rates. Such estimates are adjusted each interim period. If gaming tax rates change during the year, such changes are applied prospectively in the determination of gaming tax expense in future interim periods. Finally, the Company recognizes purse expense based on the statutorily required percentage of revenue that is required to be paid out in the form of purses to the winning owners of horse races run at the Company's racetracks in the period in which wagering occurs. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, these expenses, which are recorded primarily within gaming expense in the consolidated statements of operations, were $980.9 million, $886.7 million, and $964.6 million, respectively.

Payments related to the Master Lease

        As of December 31, 2015, the Company financed with GLPI real property assets associated with eighteen of the Company's gaming and related facilities used in the Company's operations.

        The payment structure under the Master Lease, which became effective November 1, 2013, includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual escalator of up to 2% if certain coverage ratio thresholds are met, and a component that is based on the performance of the facilities, which is prospectively adjusted, subject to a floor of zero (i) every five years by an amount equal to 4% of the average change to net revenues of all facilities under the Master Lease (other than Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo) during the preceding five years, and (ii) monthly by an amount equal to 20% of the change in net revenues of Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo during the preceding month. In addition, with the openings of Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in the third quarter of 2014, the Company's annual payments related to the Master Lease increased by approximately $19 million, which approximates ten percent of the real estate construction costs paid for by GLPI related to these facilities.

        In April 2014, an amendment to the Master Lease was entered into in order to revise certain provisions relating to the Sioux City property. In accordance with the amendment, upon the cessation of gaming operations at Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014 due to the termination of its gaming license, the annual payment to GLPI was reduced by $6.2 million. Additionally, the Company finalized its calculation of the coverage ratio in accordance with the appropriate provisions of the Master Lease to determine if an annual base payment escalator is due. The calculation of the escalator resulted in an increase to the Company's annual payment of $5.0 million and $3.2 million starting on November 1, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The net impact of the two items above resulted in lower interest expense on the Company's financing obligation with GLPI.

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        The Master Lease is commonly known as a triple-net lease. Accordingly, in addition to the required payments to GLPI, the Company is required to pay the following, among other things: (1) all facility maintenance; (2) all insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties; (3) taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties (other than taxes on the income of the lessor); and (4) all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties. At the Company's option, the Master Lease may be extended for up to four five-year renewal terms beyond the initial fifteen-year term, on the same terms and conditions.

        Total payments made to GLPI under the Master Lease were $437.0 million, $421.4 million and $69.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Earnings Per Share

        The Company calculates earnings per share ("EPS") in accordance with ASC 260, "Earnings Per Share" ("ASC 260"). Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stock by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the additional dilution for all potentially-dilutive securities such as stock options and unvested restricted shares.

        At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company had outstanding 8,624 shares of Series C Preferred Stock. The Company determined that the preferred stock qualified as a participating security as defined in ASC 260 since these securities participate in dividends with the Company's common stock. In accordance with ASC 260, a company is required to use the two-class method when computing EPS when a company has a security that qualifies as a "participating security." The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. A participating security is included in the computation of basic EPS using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, basic EPS for the Company's common stock is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stock by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS for the Company's common stock is computed using the more dilutive of the two-class method or the if-converted method.

        Since the Company's preferred shareholders are not obligated to fund the losses of the Company nor is the contractual principal of the Series C Preferred Stock reduced as a result of losses incurred by the Company, no allocation of the Company's undistributed losses resulting from the net loss for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is required. As such, since the Company reported a net loss for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, it was required by ASC 260 to use basic weighted-average common shares outstanding which totaled 78.4 million and 78.1 million for those respective periods, rather than diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding, when calculating diluted EPS.

        The following table sets forth the allocation of net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 under the two class method:

Year ended December 31,
  2015  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Net income

  $ 686  

Net income applicable to preferred stock

    67  

Net income applicable to common stock

  $ 619  

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        The following table reconciles the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic EPS to the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of diluted EPS for the year ended December 31, 2015:

Year ended December 31,
  2015  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Determination of shares:

       

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

    80,003  

Assumed conversion of dilutive employee stock-based awards

    2,217  

Assumed conversion of restricted stock

    60  

Diluted weighted-average common share outstanding before participating security

    82,280  

Assumed conversion of preferred stock

    8,624  

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

    90,904  

        Options to purchase 1,635,929 shares, 6,633,622 shares and 7,316,713 shares were outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they were antidilutive.

        The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the Company's common stock for the year ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands, except per share data):

Year ended December 31,
  2015  

Calculation of basic EPS:

       

Net income applicable to common stock

  $ 619  

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

    80,003  

Basic EPS

  $ 0.01  

Calculation of diluted EPS using two class method:

   
 
 

Net income applicable to common stock

  $ 619  

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding before participating security

    82,280  

Diluted EPS

  $ 0.01  

Stock-Based Compensation

        The Company accounts for stock compensation under ASC 718, "Compensation-Stock Compensation," which requires the Company to expense the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. This expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period following the date of grant.

        The fair value for stock options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires management to make certain assumptions. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury spot rate with a term equal to the expected life assumed at the date of grant. Expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of the Company's stock price over a period of 5.45 years, in order to match the expected life of the options at the grant date. Historically, at the grant date, there has been no expected dividend yield assumption since the Company has not paid any cash dividends on its common stock since its initial public offering in May 1994 and since the Company intends to retain all of its earnings to finance the development of its business for the foreseeable future. The weighted-average expected life was based on the contractual term of the stock option and expected employee exercise dates, which was based on the historical and expected exercise behavior of the Company's employees.

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        The following are the weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  

Risk-free interest rate

    1.54 %   1.68 %   1.08 %

Expected volatility

    36.68 %   44.80 %   46.27 %

Dividend yield

             

Weighted-average expected life (years)

    5.45     5.45     6.57  

        See Note 15 for a discussion on the impact of the Spin-Off on the Company's stock-based equity awards.

Segment Information

        The Company's Chief Executive Officer and President, who is the Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") as that term is defined in ASC 280, "Segment Reporting" ("ASC 280"), measures and assesses the Company's business performance based on regional operations of various properties grouped together based primarily on their geographic locations. In January 2014, the Company named Jay Snowden as its Chief Operating Officer and the Company decided in connection with this announcement to re-align its reporting structure. Since January 2014, the Company's reportable segments are: (i) East/Midwest, (ii) West, and (iii) Southern Plains.

        The East/Midwest reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino Bangor, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, which opened on August 28, 2014, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, which opened on September 17, 2014, and Plainridge Park Casino, which opened on June 24, 2015. It also includes the Company's Casino Rama management service contract. It also previously included Hollywood Casino Perryville which was contributed to GLPI on November 1, 2013 and is reported as discontinued operations.

        The West reportable segment consists of the following properties: Zia Park Casino, M Resort, and Tropicana Las Vegas, which was acquired on August 25, 2015, as well as the Hollywood Casino Jamul—San Diego project with the Jamul Indian Village, which the Company anticipates completing in mid-2016.

        The Southern Plains reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino Aurora, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Argosy Casino Alton, Argosy Casino Riverside, Hollywood Casino Tunica, Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, Boomtown Biloxi, Hollywood Casino St. Louis, and Prairie State Gaming, which the Company acquired on September 1, 2015, and includes the Company's 50% investment in Kansas Entertainment, LLC ("Kansas Entertainment"), which owns the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway. This segment previously included Argosy Casino Sioux City, which closed on July 30, 2014 and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, which was contributed to GLPI on November 1, 2013 and is reported as discontinued operations.

        The Other category consists of the Company's standalone racing operations, namely Rosecroft Raceway, Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, and the Company's joint venture interests in Sam Houston Race Park, Valley Race Park, and Freehold Raceway. It also previously included the Company's Bullwhackers property, which was sold in July 2013. If the Company is successful in obtaining gaming operations at these locations, they would be assigned to one of the Company's regional executives and reported in their respective reportable segment. The Other category also includes the Company's corporate overhead operations, which does not meet the definition of an operating segment under ASC 280 and Penn Interactive Ventures, LLC, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary which represents

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its social online gaming initiatives and would meet the definition of an operating segment under ASC 280, but is currently immaterial to the Company's operations.

        The prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to the Company's new reporting structure in accordance with ASC 280. See Note 16 for further information with respect to the Company's segments.

Statements of Cash Flows

        The Company has presented the consolidated statements of cash flows using the indirect method, which involves the reconciliation of net (loss) income to net cash flow from operating activities.

Acquisitions

        The Company accounts for its acquisitions in accordance with ASC 805, "Business Combinations." The results of operations of acquisitions are included in the consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition.

Variable Interest Entities

        In accordance with the authoritative guidance of ASC 810, "Consolidation" ("ASC 810"), the Company consolidates a VIE if the Company is the primary beneficiary, defined as the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. A variable interest is a contractual, ownership or other interest that changes with changes in the fair value of the VIE's net assets exclusive of variable interests. To determine whether a variable interest the Company holds could potentially be significant to the VIE, the Company considers both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of its involvement with the VIE. The Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE or the holder of a significant variable interest in a VIE on an on-going basis for each such interest.

Certain Risks and Uncertainties

        The Company faces intense gaming competition in most of the markets where its properties operate. Various states are currently considering or implementing legislation to legalize or expand gaming. Such legislation presents potential opportunities for the Company to establish new properties; however, this also presents potential competitive threats to the Company's existing properties. For example, the Company's two facilities—one in Charles Town, West Virginia and one in Grantville, Pennsylvania—that each generated approximately 10% or more of our net revenues will face or have faced new sources of significant competition in the near term. Namely, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and, to a lesser extent, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course faced increased competition from the Baltimore, Maryland market, which includes Maryland Live! and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, which opened at the end of August 2014. Additionally, a fourth quarter 2016 opening of a casino operated by MGM in Prince George's County, Maryland will also negatively impact the operations at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

        The Company's operations are dependent on its continued licensing by state gaming commissions. The loss of a license, in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates, could have a material adverse effect on future results of operations.

        The Company is dependent on each gaming property's local market for a significant number of its patrons and revenues. If economic conditions in these areas deteriorate or additional gaming licenses are awarded in these markets, the Company's results of operations could be adversely affected.

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        The Company is dependent on the economy of the U.S. in general, and any deterioration in the national economic, energy, credit and capital markets could have a material adverse effect on future results of operations.

        The Company is dependent upon a stable gaming and admission tax structure in the locations that it operates in. Any change in the tax structure could have a material adverse affect on future results of operations.

5.     New Accounting Pronouncements

        In February 2016, the FASB issued its new lease accounting guidance. Under the new guidance, ASU 2016-02, Leases, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The new lease guidance simplifies the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessor's obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee's right to use, or control use of, a specified asset for the lease term for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the adoption date. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, ending after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for any interim or annual financial statements net yet issued. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. Management is currently assessing the impact the new lease guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

        In November 2015, the FASB issued guidance that requires entities to present deferred tax assets (DTAs) and deferred tax liabilities (DTLs) as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The amended guidance simplifies the current guidance, which requires entities to separately present DTAs and DTLs as current and noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. For public entities, the amendments are effective after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted for any interim or annual financial statements not yet issued. Entities are permitted to apply the amendment either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company early adopted FASB accounting standard ASU 2015-17 to simplify the presentation of deferred taxes. The Company is applying the amendment on a retrospective basis and, therefore, the December 31, 2014 balance sheet has been reclassified to refect the change in accounting principle. This change in accounting principle decreased the current deferred tax assets and decreased noncurrent deferred tax liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2014 by $40.3 million.

        In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations as part of its simplification initiative. Under previous guidance, when an acquirer identified an adjustment to provisional amounts during the measurement period, it was required to revise comparative information for prior periods, as if the accounting for the business combination had been completed as of the acquisition date. Under the new guidance, an acquirer must recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The effect resulting from the change to provisional amounts must be calculated as if the accounting had been completed as of the acquisition date and must be recorded in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined and not retrospectively. The guidance also requires disclosure on the face of the income statement or in the notes thereto, of the portion of the amount recorded in the current period that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years and for interim periods within those fiscal years after December 15, 2015. The ASU must be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. Management plans

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to implement this change in accounting principle in 2016 and does not anticipate a material impact from this new guidance.

        In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15. Given the absence of authoritative guidance within ASU 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance cost as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. This is only a clarification to the April 2015 ASU noted below, which we have early adopted in 2015.

        In April 2015, the FASB issued revised guidance to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet. The revised guidance requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with the existing presentation of debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by this revised guidance, and therefore there is no impact to the statement of income. The revised guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of this revised guidance is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. An entity should apply the revised guidance on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the revised guidance. The Company has elected to early adopt the revised guidance and as such debt issuance costs are now presented as a direct reduction of long-term debt on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. See Note 4 for further information regarding debt issuance costs.

        In February 2015, the FASB issued new consolidation guidance to modify the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The main provisions of the new guidance include modifying the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs or voting interest entities, the evaluation of fees paid to a decision maker or a service provider as a variable interest, and the effect of fee arrangements and related parties on the primary beneficiary determination, as well as provides a scope exception for certain investment funds. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. A reporting entity may apply the new guidance using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. A reporting entity also may apply the new guidance retrospectively. Management is in the process of assessing the impact of the new guidance on existing consolidation conclusions and equity method investments.

        In May 2014, the FASB issued new revenue recognition guidance, which will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve the core principle, the new guidance implements a five-step process for customer contract revenue recognition. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This new guidance was originally to be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, and early adoption is prohibited. In April 2015, the FASB issued a one-year deferral of the effective date of this new guidance resulting in it now being effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2018. Entities can transition to the new guidance either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Management is currently assessing the impact the new revenue recognition guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

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6.     Acquisitions and Other Recent Business Ventures

Tropicana Las Vegas

        On August 25, 2015, the Company acquired 100% of Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from Trilliant Gaming Nevada, Inc. for the purchase price of $357.7 million. The purchase price for this cash transaction was funded by revolving commitments under the Company's existing senior secured credit facility and approximately $280 million of incremental commitments under an amended senior secured credit facility. The preliminary purchase price allocation resulted in an increase to property and equipment, net, current assets, goodwill, other assets, current liabilities and other liabilities, of $365.5 million, $16.0 million, $14.8 million, $4.6 million, $25.8 million, and $17.4 million, respectively based on their estimated fair values at August 25, 2015. The results of the Tropicana Las Vegas facility have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date.

        Tropicana Las Vegas, located on the strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, is situated on a 35-acre land parcel at the corner of Tropicana Boulevard and Las Vegas Boulevard. The resort features 1,183,984 of property square footage with 775 slot machines and 36 table games. Tropicana Las Vegas offers 1,470 guest rooms, a sports book, three full services restaurants, a food court, a 1,200-seat performance theater, a 300-seat comedy club, over 100,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space, and a five-acre tropical beach event area and spa. We believe this acquisition fulfills our strategic objective of obtaining a presence on the Las Vegas Strip.

Prairie State Gaming

        On September 1, 2015, the Company acquired 100% of Prairie State Gaming ("PSG") from The Robert H. Miller Trust and Illinois Funding, LLC in an all cash transaction. The transaction was funded by revolving commitments under the Company's amended senior secured credit facility. The results of Prairie State Gaming have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. The Company recorded $22.9 million and $15.7 million in goodwill and other intangible assets, respectively, from this transaction.

        PSG is one of the largest slot-route operators in Illinois with operations including more than 1,100 video gaming terminals across a network of 270 bar and retail gaming establishments throughout Illinois. We intend to leverage our gaming experience, relationships, and purchasing power to improve PSG's performance and expand its network.

        The unaudited pro forma financial information for the periods set forth below gives effect to the two acquisitions described above as if they had occurred as of January 1, 2014. This incorporates the impacts on depreciation and amortization expense resulting from the Company's purchase accounting adjustments to the acquired assets and liabilities. The pro forma information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that actually would have been achieved had the acquisitions been consummated as of that time ($ in thousands):

Pro Forma Financial Information (Unaudited)

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014  

Net Revenues

  $ 177,806   $ 172,800  

Loss from continuing operations

    (5,092 )   (13,079 )

        The acquisitions of Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and PSG resulted in an increase to the Company's reported net revenues of $57.3 million and a decrease of $3.0 million to income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015. Additionally, prior to the acquisition

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dates, the Company incurred transaction costs of $1.9 million, which were reported in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Jamul Indian Village

        On April 5, 2013, the Company announced that, subject to final National Indian Gaming Commission approval, it and the Jamul Indian Village of California (the "Tribe") had entered into definitive agreements to jointly develop a Hollywood Casino-branded casino on the Tribe's trust land in San Diego County, California. The definitive agreements were entered into to: (i) secure the development, management, and branding services of the Company to assist the Tribe during the pre-development and entitlement phase of the project; (ii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Company will provide a loan or loans to the Tribe to fund certain development costs; and (iii) create an exclusive arrangement between the parties.

        The Tribe is a federally recognized Indian Tribe holding a government-to-government relationship with the U.S. through the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs and possessing certain inherent powers of self-government. The Tribe is the beneficial owner of approximately six acres of reservation land located within the exterior boundaries of the State of California held by the U.S. in trust for the Tribe (the "Property"). The Tribe exercises jurisdiction over the Property pursuant to its powers of self-government and consistent with the resolutions and ordinances of the Tribe. The arrangement between the Tribe and the Company provides the Tribe with the expertise, knowledge and capacity of a proven developer and operator of gaming facilities and provides the Company with the exclusive right to administer and oversee planning, designing, development, construction management, and coordination during the development and construction of the project as well as the management of a gaming facility on the Property.

        The proposed $390 million development project will include a three-story gaming and entertainment facility of approximately 200,000 square feet featuring over 1,700 slot machines, 43 live table games, including poker, multiple restaurants, bars and lounges and a partially enclosed parking structure with over 1,800 spaces. In mid-January 2014, the Company announced the commencement of construction activities at the site and it is anticipated that the facility will open in mid-2016. The Company currently provides financing to the Tribe in connection with the project and, upon opening, will manage and provide branding for the casino. The Company has a conditional loan commitment to the Tribe (that can be terminated under certain circumstances) for up to $400 million and anticipates it will fund approximately $390 million related to this development.

        The Company is accounting for the development agreement and related loan commitment letter with the Tribe as a loan (the "Senior Loans") with accrued interest in accordance with ASC 310, "Receivables." The Senior Loans represent advances made by the Company to the Tribe for the development and construction of a gaming facility for the Tribe on reservation land. As such, the Tribe will own the casino and its related assets and liabilities. San Diego Gaming Ventures, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) is a separate legal entity established to account for the Senior Loans and, upon completion of the project and subsequent commencement of gaming operations on the Property, will be the Penn entity which receives management and licensing fees from the Tribe. The Company's Senior Loans with the Tribe totaled $197.7 million and $62.0 million, which includes accrued interest of $13.9 million, and $3.3 million, at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Collectability of the Senior Loans will be derived from the revenues of the casino operations once the project is completed. Based on the Company's current progress with this project, the Company believes collectability of the Senior Loans is highly certain. However, in the event that the Company's internal projections related to the profitability of this project and/or the timing of the opening are inaccurate, the Company may be required to record a reserve related to the collectability of the Senior Loans.

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        The Company considered whether the arrangement with the Tribe represents a variable interest that should be accounted for pursuant to the VIE subsections of ASC 810. The Company noted that the scope and scope exceptions of ASC 810-10-15-12(e) states that a reporting entity shall not consolidate a government organization or financing entity established by a government organization (other than certain financing entities established to circumvent the provisions of the VIE subsections of ASC 810). Based on the status of the Tribe as a government organization, the Company believes its arrangement with the Tribe is not within the scope defined by ASC 810.

        Additionally, in December 2015, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase a $60 million subordinated promissory note from the previous developer of the Jamul Indian Village project for $24 million (the "Loans"). Interest on the Loans, as of the effective date and at all times thereafter until the Senior Loans have been paid in full, shall accrue as follows: as of the effective date, no interest shall accrue initially; at the opening date, interest shall accrue at a simple fixed rate of 4.25% per annum. The Loans are subordinated to the Senior Loans, and payments on the Loans may only be made after all necessary payments are made on the Senior Loans subject to certain limitations. The Company recorded the Loans at its acquisition price of $24 million, which was considered to be its fair value. The Company has concluded that the $24 million carrying value, which is recorded within other assets on the consolidated balance sheets, represents the expected cash flows to be received from the loan as of December 31, 2015. The Company will evaluate the collectability of the Loans in subsequent interim periods, with increases in expected cash flows being recognized prospectively through yield adjustments and decreases in expected future cash flows being recognized immediately as an impairment of the carrying value.

Plainridge Racecourse Acquisition

        In September 2013, the Company entered into an option and purchase agreement to purchase Plainridge Racecourse in Massachusetts with the sellers having no involvement in the business or operations from that date forward. The Company subsequently began to operate Plainridge Racecourse effective January 1, 2014 pursuant to a temporary operations agreement. On February 28, 2014, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission awarded the Company a Category Two slots-only gaming license, and in early March 2014, the Company exercised its option to purchase Plainridge Racecourse. This acquisition reflects the continuing efforts of the Company to expand its gaming operations through the development of new gaming properties. The fixed portion of the purchase price was paid on April 11, 2014. The option and purchase agreement also contained contingent purchase price consideration that is calculated based on the actual earnings of the gaming operations over the first ten years of operations. The first payment will be made 60 days after the completion of the first four full fiscal quarters of operation, and every year for nine years after the first payment. The fair value of this liability was determined to be $13.8 million and $19.2 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, based on an income approach from the Company's internal earning projections and was discounted at a rate consistent with the risk a third party market participant would require holding the identical instrument as an asset. This liability is included in other current and other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. At each reporting period, the Company assesses the fair value of this obligation and changes in its value are recorded in earnings. The amount included in general and administrative expense related to the change in fair value of this obligation was a credit of $5.4 million and a charge of $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The purchase price allocation resulted in an increase in land and buildings of $57.9 million and $3.0 million of goodwill.

        Plainridge Park Casino, which opened on June 24, 2015, is located 20 miles southwest of the Boston beltway just off interstate 95 in Plainville, Massachusetts. Plainridge Park Casino features 196,473 of property square footage with 1,250 gaming devices. Plainridge Park Casino offers various restaurants, bars, 1,620 structured and surface parking spaces, and other amenities. Plainridge Park

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Casino also includes a 5/8-mile live harness racing facilitiy with approximate 55,000 square foot, two story clubhouse for simulcast operations and live racing viewing.

7.     Investment In and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliates

        As of December 31, 2015, investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates primarily included the Company's 50% investment in Kansas Entertainment, which is a joint venture with International Speedway Corporation ("International Speedway"), its 50% interest in Freehold Raceway, and its 50% joint venture with MAXXAM, Inc. ("MAXXAM") that owns and operates racetracks in Texas. These investments are more fully described below.

Kansas Joint Venture

        The Company has a 50% investment in Kansas Entertainment, which owns the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway. Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is a Hollywood-themed facility which features 244,791 of property square footage with 2,000 slot machines, 40 table games and 12 poker tables, a 1,253 space parking structure, as well as a variety of dining and entertainment facilities. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company's investment balance was $103.6 million and $115.5 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company received distributions from Kansas Entertainment totaling $27.2 million, $23.0 million and $21.5 million, respectively, which the Company deemed to be returns on its investment based on the source of those cash flows from the normal business operations of Kansas Entertainment.

        The Company determined that Kansas Entertainment qualified as a VIE at December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company did not consolidate its investment in Kansas Entertainment at, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, as the Company determined that it did not qualify as the primary beneficiary of Kansas Entertainment at, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, primarily as it did not have the ability to direct the activities of Kansas Entertainment that most significantly impacted Kansas Entertainment's economic performance without the input of International Speedway. In addition, the Company determined that International Speedway had substantive participating rights in Kansas Entertainment at, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Texas Joint Venture

        The Company has a 50% interest in a joint venture with MAXXAM, which owns and operates the Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas and the Valley Race Park in Harlingen, Texas, and holds a license for a planned racetrack in Laredo, Texas. Sam Houston Race Park hosts thoroughbred and quarter horse racing and offers daily simulcast operations, and Valley Race Park features dog racing and simulcasting.

        The Company determined that the Texas joint venture did not qualify as a VIE at December 31, 2015 and 2014. Using the guidance for entities that are not VIEs, the Company determined that it did not have a controlling financial interest in the joint venture at, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, primarily as it did not have the ability to direct the activities of the joint venture that most significantly impacted the joint venture's economic performance without the input of MAXXAM. Therefore, the Company did not consolidate its investment in the joint venture at, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

New Jersey Joint Venture

        Through its joint venture with Greenwood Limited Jersey, Inc. ("Greenwood"), the Company owns 50% of Freehold Raceway, located in Freehold, New Jersey. The property features a half-mile standardbred race track and a grandstand.

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        The Company determined that the New Jersey joint venture did not qualify as a VIE at December 31, 2015 and 2014. Using the guidance for entities that are not VIEs, the Company determined that it did not have a controlling financial interest in the joint venture at, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, primarily as it did not have the ability to direct the activities of the joint venture that most significantly impacted the joint venture's economic performance without the input of Greenwood. Therefore, the Company did not consolidate its investment in the joint venture at, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

8.     Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment, net, consists of the following:

December 31,
  2015   2014  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Property and equipment—non-leased

             

Land and improvements

  $ 288,910   $ 42,350  

Building and improvements

    396,497     173,043  

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

    1,303,153     1,213,143  

Leasehold improvements

    129,012     120,984  

Construction in progress

    9,175     69,367  

    2,126,747     1,618,887  

Less Accumulated depreciation

    (1,093,115 )   (988,490 )

    1,033,632     630,397  

Property and equipment—leased

             

Land and improvements

    382,246     382,702  

Building and improvements

    2,219,018     2,219,018  

    2,601,264     2,601,720  

Less accumulated depreciation

    (654,828 )   (562,385 )

    1,946,436     2,039,335  

Property and equipment, net

  $ 2,980,068   $ 2,669,732  

        During the year ended December 31, 2015, total property and equipment, net increased by $310.3 million primarily due to the acquisitions of Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and Prairie State Gaming on August 25, 2015 and September 1, 2015, respectively and construction costs for the development of Plainridge Park Casino as well as normal capital maintenance expenditures, all of which were partially offset by the reclassification of the assets at Rosecroft Raceway facility as assets held for sale as of December 31, 2015, the disposal of certain assets at our Charles Town and Joliet properties, and depreciation expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015.

        Depreciation expense, for property and equipment as well as capital leases, totaled $258.9 million, $255.4 million, and $287.3 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013. Depreciation expense on the Master Lease assets was $92.4 million, $89.8 million and $14.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 respectively. Interest capitalized in connection with major construction projects was $1.8 million, $0.9 million, and $1.4 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded no long-lived asset impairment charges. During the second quarter of 2014, the Company recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $4.6 million to write-down certain idle assets to their estimated salvage value. During the fourth quarter of 2013, in connection with the relocation of the Company's two racetracks in Ohio, the Company recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $2.2 million for the parcels of land that the racetracks resided on.

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9.     Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        Goodwill consists mainly from the acquisitions of Boomtown Biloxi in August 2000, Hollywood Casino Corporation in March 2003, Argosy Gaming Company in October 2005, Zia Park Casino in April 2007, Hollywood Casino St. Louis in November 2012, Tropicana Las Vegas in August 2015, and Prairie State Gaming in September 2015. A reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at December 31, 2013:

       

Goodwill

  $ 2,134,697  

Accumulated goodwill impairment losses

    (1,182,744 )

Goodwill, net

  $ 951,953  

Goodwill acquired

    3,052  

Goodwill impairment losses

    (80,821 )

Balance at December 31, 2014:

       

Goodwill

  $ 2,137,749  

Accumulated goodwill impairment losses

    (1,263,565 )

Goodwill, net

  $ 874,184  

Goodwill acquired

    37,758  

Balance at December 31, 2015:

       

Goodwill

  $ 2,175,507  

Accumulated goodwill impairment losses

    (1,263,565 )

Goodwill, net

  $ 911,942  

        Indefinite-life intangible assets consist mainly of gaming licenses. The table below presents the gross carrying value, accumulated amortization, and net book value of each major class of other intangible assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

 
  December 31, 2015   December 31, 2014  
 
  (in thousands)
 
 
  Gross
Carrying
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Book
Value
  Gross
Carrying
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Book
Value
 

Indefinite-life intangible assets

  $ 375,405   $   $ 375,405   $ 418,991   $   $ 418,991  

Argosy Casino Sioux City gaming license

    20,949     20,949         20,949     20,949      

Other intangible assets

    72,223     56,186     16,037     56,126     55,664     462  

Total

  $ 468,577   $ 77,135   $ 391,442   $ 496,066   $ 76,613   $ 419,453  

        Total other intangible assets decreased by $28.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily due to impairment charges discussed below and amortization for the year ended December 31, 2015 partially offset by $15.7 million of customer relationship intangibles amortizing over ten years related to the acquisition of Prairie State Gaming on September 1, 2015.

        In June 2013, the Company finalized the terms of its memorandum of understanding with the State of Ohio, which included an agreement by the Company to pay a relocation fee in return for being able to relocate its existing racetracks in Toledo and Grove City to Dayton and Austintown, respectively. Upon opening of these facilities in 2014, the relocation fee for each new racino was recorded at the present value of the contractual obligation, which was calculated to be $75 million based on the 5% discount rate included in the agreement (See Note 10 for further details on the

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obligation). In addition, the gaming license fee of $50 million for each Ohio racino has been paid ($25 million for each facility in 2014, and $25 million for each facility in 2015).

        For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded other intangible assets impairment charges of $40.0 million, as of the valuation date of October 1, 2015, related to the write-off of our Plainridge Park Casino gaming license and a partial write-down of the gaming license at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway due to a reduction in the long term earnings forecast at both of these locations.

        For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges of $80.8 million and $74.5 million, respectively, as of valuation date of October 1, 2014 (the date of its annual impairment test), as it determined that a portion of the value of its goodwill and other intangible assets was impaired due to the Company's outlook of continued challenging regional gaming conditions at certain properties which persisted in 2014 in its Southern Plains segment, as well as for the write off of a trademark intangible asset in the West segment.

        For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges of $249.3 million and $311.0 million, respectively, as of valuation date of October 1, 2013 (the date of its annual impairment test), and $30.9 million and $133.1 million, respectively, as of valuation date of November 1, 2013 (the Spin Off date), as it determined that portions of the value of its goodwill and other intangible assets were impaired. Subsequent to the Spin Off, the Company is responsible monthly for a single significant financing payment to GLPI under the Master Lease. For impairment valuation purposes, the Company allocates the financing payment to its reporting units that utilize property that is subject to the Master Lease.

        Additionally, as a result of a new gaming license being awarded for the development of a new casino in Sioux City, Iowa to another applicant in April 2013, the Company recorded a goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charge of $68.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively, for Argosy Casino Sioux City during the year ended December 31, 2013, as the Company determined that the fair value of its Sioux City reporting unit was less than its carrying amount based on the Company's analysis of the estimated future expected cash flows the Company anticipated receiving from the operations of the Sioux City facility. Furthermore, the remaining gaming license for Argosy Casino Sioux City of $20.9 million at time of the impairment was accounted for as a definite lived intangible asset and was amortized on a straight line basis through June 2014, the opening date of the new facility.

        The Company's intangible asset amortization expense was $0.5 million, $11.4 million, and $16.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        The following table presents expected intangible asset amortization expense based on existing intangible assets at December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

2016

  $ 1,755  

2017

    1,685  

2018

    1,673  

2019

    1,673  

2020

    1,673  

Thereafter

    7,578  

Total

  $ 16,037  

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        The Company's remaining goodwill and other intangible assets by reporting unit at December 31, 2015 is shown below (in thousands):

Reporting Unit
  Goodwill   Other Intangible
Assets
 

Hollywood Casino St. Louis

  $ 205,783   $ 58,418  

Hollywood Casino Aurora

    207,207      

Argosy Casino Riverside

    154,332     4,964  

Zia Park Casino

    142,359      

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway

    15,339     110,436  

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

        125,000  

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

    1,497     67,607  

Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

    63,189      

Hollywood Casino Tunica

    44,042      

Praire State Gaming

    22,937     15,151  

Boomtown Biloxi

    22,365      

Argosy Casino Alton

    9,863     8,285  

Tropicana Las Vegas

    14,821      

Others

    8,208     1,581  

Total

  $ 911,942   $ 391,442  

10.   Long-term Debt

        Long-term debt, net of current maturities, is as follows:

December 31,
  2015   2014  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Senior secured credit facility

  $ 1,259,740   $ 807,500  

$300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes due November 1, 2021

    300,000     300,000  

Other long-term obligations

    146,992     135,000  

Capital leases

    28,466     25,137  

    1,735,198     1,267,637  

Less current maturities of long-term debt

    (92,108 )   (30,853 )

Less net discounts

    (686 )   (1,056 )

Less debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $13.3 million and $6.8 million, respectively

    (23,553 )   (25,151 )

  $ 1,618,851   $ 1,210,577  

        The following is a schedule of future minimum repayments of long-term debt as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

2016

  $ 91,998  

2017

    83,926  

2018

    916,889  

2019

    18,021  

2020

    251,213  

Thereafter

    373,151  

Total minimum payments

  $ 1,735,198  

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Senior Secured Credit Facility

        On October 30, 2013, the Company entered into a new senior secured credit facility. The new senior secured credit facility consists of a five year $500 million revolver, a five year $500 million Term Loan A facility, and a seven year $250 million Term Loan B facility. The Term Loan A facility was priced at LIBOR plus a spread (ranging from 2.75% to 1.25%) based on the Company's consolidated total net leverage ratio as defined in the new senior secured credit facility. The Term Loan B facility was priced at LIBOR plus 2.50%, with a 0.75% LIBOR floor. In connection with the repayment of the previous senior secured credit facility, the Company recorded a $21.5 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2013 related to debt issuance costs write-offs and the write-off of the discount on the Term Loan B facility of the previous senior secured credit facility.

        On April 28, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement to amend its senior secured credit facility. In August 2015, the amendment to the senior secured credit facility went into effect increasing the capacity under an existing five year revolver from $500 million to $633.2 million and increased the existing five year $500 million Term Loan A facility by $146.7 million. The seven year $250 million Term Loan B facility remained unchanged.

        The Company's senior secured credit facility had a gross outstanding balance of $1,259.7 million at December 31, 2015, consisting of a $592.7 million Term Loan A facility, a $245.0 million Term Loan B facility, and $422.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility. This compares with a $807.5 million gross outstanding balance at December 31, 2014 which consisted of a $475 million Term Loan A facility, a $247.5 million Term Loan B facility and $85.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility. Additionally, at December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company was contingently obligated under letters of credit issued pursuant to the senior secured credit facility with face amounts aggregating $23.4 million and $23.0 million, respectively, resulting in $187.7 million and $392.0 million of available borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, under the revolving credit facility.

        The payment and performance of obligations under the senior secured credit facility are guaranteed by a lien on and security interest in substantially all of the assets (other than excluded property such as gaming licenses) of the Company and its subsidiaries.

Redemption of 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes

        In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company redeemed all of its $325 million 83/4% senior subordinated notes, which were due in 2019 ("83/4% Notes"). In connection with this redemption, the Company recorded a $40.2 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2013 related to debt issuance costs write-offs of $5.5 million and the call premium on the 83/4% Notes of $34.7 million.

5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes

        On October 30, 2013, the Company completed an offering of $300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes that mature on November 1, 2021 (the "5.875% Notes") at a price of par. Interest on the 5.875% Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The 5.875% Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The 5.875% Notes will not be guaranteed by any of the Company's subsidiaries except in the event that the Company in the future issues certain subsidiary-guaranteed debt securities. The Company may redeem the 5.875% Notes at any time, and from time to time, on or after November 1, 2016, at the declining redemption premiums set forth in the indenture governing the 5.875% Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. Prior to November 1, 2016, the Company may redeem the 5.875% Notes at any time, and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 5.875%

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Notes redeemed plus a "make-whole" redemption premium described in the indenture governing the 5.875% Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. In addition, the 5.875% Notes may be redeemed prior to November 1, 2016 from net proceeds raised in connection with an equity offering as long as the Company pays 105.875% of the principal amount of the 5.875% Notes, redeems the 5.875% Notes within 180 days of completing the equity offering, and at least 60% of the 5.875% Notes originally issued remains outstanding.

        The Company used the proceeds of the new senior secured credit facility, new 5.875% Notes, and cash on hand, to repay its previous senior secured credit facility, to fund the cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its 83/4% Notes and the related consent solicitation to make certain amendments to the indenture governing the 83/4% Notes, to satisfy and discharge such indenture, to pay related fees and expenses and for working capital purposes.

GLPI indebtedness

        Immediately before the Spin-Off on October 30, 2013, while GLPI was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, GLPI raised $2.35 billion of debt financing, which was part of the net assets contributed to GLPI as part of the Spin-Off. See Note 2 for further discussion.

Other Long-Term Obligations

        Other long term obligations at December 31, 2015 and 2014 of $147.0 million and $135.0 million, respectively, included $131.7 million and $135.0 million, respectively, related to the relocation fees for Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and $15.3 million related to the repayment obligation of a hotel and event center located near Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg at December 31, 2015; all of which are more fully described below.

Ohio Relocation Fees

        In June 2013, the Company finalized the terms of its memorandum of understanding with the State of Ohio, which included an agreement by the Company to pay a relocation fee in return for being able to relocate its existing racetracks in Toledo and Grove City to Dayton and Mahoning Valley, respectively. Upon opening of these two racinos in Ohio in the third quarter of 2014, the relocation fee for each new racino was recorded at the present value of the contractual obligation, which was calculated to be $75 million based on the 5% discount rate included in the agreement. The relocation fee for each facility is payable as follows: $7.5 million upon the opening of the facility and eighteen semi-annual payments of $4.8 million beginning one year from the commencement of operations. This obligation is accreted to interest expense at an effective yield of 5.0%. The amount included in interest expense related to this obligation was $6.7 million and $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Event Center

        The City of Lawrenceburg Department of Redevelopment recently completed construction of a hotel and event center located less than a mile away from Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg. Effective in mid-January 2015, by contractual agreement, a repayment obligation for the hotel and event center was assumed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in the amount of $15.3 million, which was financed through a loan with the City of Lawrenceburg Department of Redevelopment. The Company is obligated to make annual payments on the loan of approximately $1 million for twenty years beginning January 2016. This obligation is accreted to interest expense at its effective yield of 3.0%. The amount included in interest expense related to this obligation was $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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Other

        In September 2012, the Company received $10 million under a subscription agreement entered into between A3 Gaming Investments, LLC, an investment vehicle owned by the previous owner of the M Resort ("A3 Gaming Investments"), and LV Gaming Ventures, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and holder of the assets of the M Resort ("LV Gaming Ventures"). The subscription agreement entitled A3 Gaming Investments to invest in a limited liability membership interest in LV Gaming Ventures, which was scheduled to mature on October 1, 2016. The investment entitled A3 Gaming Investments to annual payments and a settlement value based on the earnings levels of the M Resort. In accordance with ASC 480, "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity," the Company determined that this obligation was a financial instrument and as such should be recorded as a liability within debt. Changes in the settlement value, if any, were accreted to interest expense through the maturity date of the instrument. In September 2013, the Company entered into an agreement to terminate the subscription agreement, which was repaid on October 22, 2013 for $16 million. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded a charge of $3.8 million, and $2.2 million in interest expense on this instrument.

Capital Leases

        Capital leases are primarily comprised of a ten year corporate airplane lease that expires in August 2016, which has a ten year renewal option. The lease obligation has been recorded at the lessor's initial cost of the plane, of $24.9 million at both December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, since the agreement has broad based default provisions that could result in potential damages equal to this amount. The lease obligation was classified as a capital lease based on the provisions of ASC 840 "Leases" which requires that the remedies for events of default under the provision described in this scenario be included in the minimum lease payment calculation for purposes of lease classification and that the probability of such an event of default will occur is not relevant to this determination

Debt Issuance Costs

        As discussed in Note 4, the Company elected to early adopt accounting guidance issued in April 2015 to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs. This change in accounting principle was implemented retrospectively as of March 31, 2015. Debt issuance costs that are incurred by the Company in connection with the issuance of debt are deferred and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the contractual term of the underlying indebtedness. The Company has reclassified debt issuance costs as a direct reduction to the related debt obligation on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2014.

Covenants

        The Company's senior secured credit facility and $300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes require us, among other obligations, to maintain specified financial ratios and to satisfy certain financial tests, including fixed charge coverage, interest coverage, senior leverage and total leverage ratios. In addition, the Company's senior secured credit facility and $300 million 5.875% senior unsecured notes restrict, among other things, its ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur guarantee obligations, amend debt instruments, pay dividends, create liens on assets, make investments, engage in mergers or consolidations, and otherwise restrict corporate activities.

        At December 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all required financial covenants. In connection with the recent restatement of the Company's consolidated financial statements, the Company received a waiver from its lenders under its senior secured credit facility to file its consolidated financial statements with the SEC by March 15, 2016.

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11.   Master Lease Financing Obligation

        The Company's lease obligation with GLPI that is described in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements is accounted for as a financing obligation. The obligation was calculated at the inception of the transaction based on the future minimum lease payments discounted at 9.70%, which represents the estimated incremental borrowing rate over the lease term, including renewal options, that were reasonably assured of being exercised and the funded construction of certain leased real estate assets in development at the date of the Spin-Off. Total payments to GLPI under the Master Lease were $437.0 million, $421.4 million and $69.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, of which $390.1 million, $379.2 million and $62.1 million respectively, were recognized as interest expense. The interest expense recognized for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 includes $43.5 million, $40.9 million and $6.7 million, respectively from contingent payments associated with the monthly variable components for Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo.

        In April 2014, an amendment to the Master Lease was entered into in order to revise certain provisions relating to the Sioux City property. In accordance with the amendment, upon the cessation of gaming operations at Argosy Casino Sioux City on July 30, 2014 due to the termination of its gaming license, the annual payment to GLPI was reduced by $6.2 million. Additionally, the Company finalized its calculation of rent coverage in accordance with the appropriate provisions of the Master Lease to determine if an annual base payment escalator is due. The calculation of the escalator resulted in an increase to the Company's annual payment of $5.0 million and $3.2 million starting November 1, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Both of these items were recognized through yield adjustments to our financing obligation which reduced interest expense.

        The future minimum payments related to the Master Lease financing obligation with GLPI, at December 31, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):

2016

  $ 389,496  

2017

    389,496  

2018

    378,716  

2019

    324,819  

2020

    324,819  

Thereafter

    9,040,800  

Total minimum payments

    10,848,146  

Less amounts representing interest at 9.70%

    (7,671,269 )

Plus residual values

    387,751  

Present value of future minimum payments

    3,564,628  

Less current portion of financing obligation

    (50,548 )

Long-term portion of financing obligation

  $ 3,514,080  

12.   Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

Bankruptcy Litigation

        With the acquisition of the Tropicana Las Vegas and its associated entities ("Tropicana Las Vegas") in August 2015, the Company has assumed litigation arising from the Bankruptcy Chapter 11 reorganization ("Bankruptcy") of Tropicana's former affiliate, Tropicana Entertainment Holdings, LLC ("TEH").

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        In this Bankruptcy proceeding, there is an unresolved dispute related to the payment of certain professional fees and expenses totaling approximately $13.5 million. TEH takes the position that, pursuant to an Intercompany Agreement signed by TEH and Tropicana, Tropicana must reimburse TEH for a portion of certain professional fees that were incurred and paid by TEH during the Chapter 11 cases. Tropicana Las Vegas contends that it owes no reimbursement to TEH for the professional fees paid by TEH prior to effective date of the bankruptcy plan, and as a result, its potential liability in respect of such claimed professional fees and expenses should be limited to the current balance of a professional fee escrow account of approximately $3.8 million.

        On January 5, 2016, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order consistent with Tropicana Las Vegas's position. On January 19, 2016, TEH and other parties appealed the order. This appeal remains pending. At this point, management cannot predict the outcome of this disputed claim and no assurance can be provided regarding Tropicana Las Vegas's liability in this regard.

        The Company is subject to various legal and administrative proceedings relating to personal injuries, employment matters, commercial transactions and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not believe that the final outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. In addition, the Company maintains what it believes is adequate insurance coverage to further mitigate the risks of such proceedings. However, such proceedings can be costly, time consuming and unpredictable and, therefore, no assurance can be given that the final outcome of such proceedings may not materially impact the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Further, no assurance can be given that the amount or scope of existing insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover losses arising from such matters.

        The following proceedings could result in costs, settlements, damages, or rulings that materially impact the Company's consolidated financial condition or operating results. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses, claims and/or counter-claims with respect to these proceedings, and intends to vigorously defend itself or pursue its claims.

Operating Lease Commitments

        The Company is liable under numerous operating leases for various assets, including but not limited to automobiles, and other equipment. Total rental expense under these other lease agreements was $37.9 million, $33.3 million, and $36.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        The future minimum lease commitments relating to the base lease rent portion of noncancelable operating leases at December 31, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):

Year ending December 31,
  Total  

2016

  $ 4,223  

2017

    3,205  

2018

    2,668  

2019

    1,632  

2020

    1,066  

Thereafter

    14,831  

Total

  $ 27,625  

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Capital Expenditure Commitments

        The Company's current construction program for 2016 includes capital expenditures of approximately $31.4 million, of which the Company was contractually committed to spend approximately $2.0 million at December 31, 2015.

Purchase obligations

        The Company has obligations to purchase various goods and services totaling $87.1 million at December 31, 2015, of which $62.7 million will be incurred in 2016.

Employee Benefit Plans

        The Company maintains a qualified retirement plan under the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which covers all eligible employees. The plan enables participating employees to defer a portion of their salary in a retirement fund to be administered by the Company. The Company makes a discretionary match contribution, where applicable, of 50% of employees' elective salary deferrals, up to a maximum of 6% of eligible employee compensation. The matching contributions for the qualified retirement plan for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $5.0 million, $4.7 million, and $4.6 million, respectively.

        The Company also has a defined contribution plan, the Charles Town Races Future Service Retirement Plan, covering substantially all of its union employees at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races makes annual contributions to this plan for the eligible union employees and to the Penn National Gaming, Inc. 401(k) Plan for the eligible non-union employees for an amount equal to the amount accrued for retirement expense, which is calculated as 0.25% of the daily mutual handle, 1.0% of net video lottery revenue up to a base and, after the base is met, it reverts to 0.5% and 0.84% of table and poker revenue, respectively. The contributions for the two plans at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $2.9 million, $3.0 million, and $3.6 million, respectively.

        The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that covers most management and other highly-compensated employees. This plan was effective March 1, 2001. The plan allows the participants to defer, on a pre-tax basis, a portion of their base annual salary and/or their annual bonus, and earn tax-deferred earnings on these deferrals. The plan also provides for matching Company contributions that vest over a five-year period. The Company has established a Trust, and transfers to the Trust, on a periodic basis, an amount necessary to provide for its respective future liabilities with respect to participant deferral and Company contribution amounts. The Company's matching contributions for the non-qualified deferred compensation plan for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $2.0 million, $1.9 million, and $2.3 million, respectively. The Company's deferred compensation liability, which was included in other current liabilities within the consolidated balance sheets, was $52.7 million and $61.4 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Labor Agreements

        The Company is required to have agreements with the horsemen at the majority of its racetracks to conduct its live racing and/or simulcasting activities. In addition, in order to operate gaming machines and table games in West Virginia, the Company must maintain agreements with each of the Charles Town horsemen, pari-mutuel clerks and breeders.

        At Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, the Company renewed an agreement with the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association that expires on June 18, 2018. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races also renewed an agreement with the breeders that expires on

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June 30, 2016. Additionally, the pari-mutuel clerks at Charles Town are represented under a collective bargaining agreement with the West Virginia Union of Mutuel Clerks, which expired on December 31, 2010 and has been extended on a month-to-month basis.

        The Company's agreement with the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course was renewed through January 31, 2017. The Company had a collective bargaining agreement with Local 137 of the Sports Arena Employees at Penn National Race Course with respect to on-track pari-mutuel clerks and admissions personnel which expired on December 31, 2011. In August 2012, Local 137 of the Sports Arena Employees announced that they entered into a "voluntary supervision" agreement with their international union, Laborers' International Union of North America ("LIUNA") Local 108. In February 2014, a new agreement with LIUNA Local 108 for on-track and OTWs bargaining units was ratified for three years. In August 2015, the company entered into a three year collective bargaining agreement with the International Chapter of Horseshoers and Allied Equine Trades Local 947.

        The Company's agreement with the Maine Harness Horsemen Association at Bangor Raceway continued through the conclusion of the 2015 racing season.

        In March of 2014, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course entered into an agreement with the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. The term is for a period of ten years from the September 2014 commencement of video lottery terminal operations at that facility.

        In September 2015, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway entered into an agreement with the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association for racing at the property. The term is for a period of ten years from the September 2015 effective date.

        Rosecroft Raceway entered into agreements with the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association ("CSOA") and Maryland Standardbred Breeder's Association ("MSBA") as of July 5, 2011. CSOA's agreement has been extended through December 31, 2017 with certain termination provisions. The MSBA agreement has been extended through December 31, 2017 with certain termination provisions. Additionally, Rosecroft Raceway has entered into agreements with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union ("UFCW") Local 27 and the Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trade Union ("SEATU") for certain bargaining positions at the racetrack. The UFCW Local 27 agreement was ratified on December 13, 2014 and expires on November 30, 2019. The SEATU agreement expires on November 30, 2020.

        Across certain of the Company's properties, SEATU represents approximately 1,827 of the Company's employees under a National Agreement that expires on January 24, 2032 and Local Addenda that expire at various times between May 2016 and January 2024.

        SEATU agreements are in place at Hollywood Casino Joliet, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Hollywood Casino Riverside, Argosy Alton, Hollywood Casino Kansas Speedway, Hollywood Gaming Dayton, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley and Plainridge Park Casino. Argosy Alton has a wage reopener in May 2016; the remainder of the SEATU agreements have expiration dates in 2017 and beyond.

        At Hollywood Casino Joliet, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Local 1 represents approximately 186 employees under a collective bargaining agreement which expires on March 31, 2019. At Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo, a council comprised of the United Auto Workers and the United Steel Workers represents approximately 1,361 employees under a collective bargaining agreement which ends on November 15, 2019.

        On August 25, 2015, the Company acquired Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel & Casino who had an existing agreement with the Culinary & Bartenders Union which expires on May 31, 2018.

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        In addition, at some of the Company's properties, the Security Police and Fire Professionals of America, the International Brotherhood of Electronic Workers Locals 176 and 649, the LIUNA Public Serviced Employees Local 1290PE, The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Locals 447 and 264, the United Industrial, Service, Transportation, Professional and Government Workers of North America, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Teamsters Union represent certain of the Company's employees under collective bargaining agreements that expire at various times between July 2016 and September 2025. None of these additional unions represent more than 91 of the Company's employees.

        If the Company fails to maintain operative agreements with the horsemen at a track, it will not be permitted to conduct live racing and export and import simulcasting at that track and OTWs and, in West Virginia, the Company will not be permitted to operate its gaming machines and table games unless the state intervenes or changes the statute. In addition, the Company's simulcasting agreements are subject to the horsemen's approval. If the Company fails to renew or modify existing agreements on satisfactory terms, this failure could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. Except for the closure of the facilities at Penn National Race Course and its OTWs from February 16, 1999 to March 24, 1999 due to a horsemen's strike, and a few days at other times and locations, the Company has been able to maintain the necessary agreements. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to maintain the required agreements.

13.   Income Taxes

        The following table summarizes the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying value of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, which are recorded at the prevailing enacted tax rate that will be in effect when these differences are settled or realized. These temporary differences result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. The Company assessed all available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of our existing deferred tax assets. In connection with the failed spin-off-leaseback, the Company continued to record real property assets and a financing obligation of $2.00 billion and $3.52 billion, respectively, on November 1, 2013, which resulted in a substantial increase to our net deferred tax assets of $599.9 million. ASC 740 suggests that additional scrutiny should be given to deferred taxes of an entity with cumulative pre-tax losses during the three most recent years and is widely considered significant negative evidence that is objective and verifiable and therefore, difficult to overcome. During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had or expected to have cumulative pre-tax losses and considered this factor in our analysis of deferred taxes. Additionally, the Company was in a three year cumulative loss position at December 31, 2015 and expects to remain in this position in the near future. As a result of these facts, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets on November 1, 2013, excluding the reversal of deferred tax liabilities related to indefinite-lived assets. The valuation allowance recorded at December 31, 2013 included $599.9 million in deferred tax assets recorded in connection with the Spin-Off. The Company intends to continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets until there is sufficient objectively verifiable positive evidence to support the realization of all or some portion of these deferred tax assets.

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        The components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Deferred tax assets:

             

Stock-based compensation expense

  $ 36,243   $ 44,458  

Accrued expenses

    59,196     58,483  

Intangibles

    11,590     38,959  

Financing obligation to GLPI

    1,374,268     1,394,575  

Unrecognized tax benefits

    9,858     10,837  

Net operating losses

    81,109     11,895  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

        590  

Gross deferred tax assets

    1,572,264     1,559,797  

Less valuation allowance

    (844,258 )   (744,449 )

Net deferred tax assets

    728,006     815,348  

Deferred tax liabilities:

             

Property, plant and equipment, non-leased

    (80,930 )   (61,803 )

Property, plant and equipment, leased

    (750,407 )   (787,580 )

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

    (3,024 )   (4,255 )

Accumulated other comprehensive gain

    (1,566 )    

Net deferred tax liabilities

    (835,927 )   (853,638 )

Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities, net

  $ (107,921 ) $ (38,290 )

        The realizability of the net deferred tax assets is evaluated quarterly by assessing the need for a valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of the allowance, if necessary. The Company gives appropriate consideration to all available positive and negative evidence including projected future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. The evaluation of both positive and negative evidence is a requirement pursuant to ASC 740 in determining the net deferred tax assets will be realized. In the event the Company determines that the deferred income tax assets would be realized in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be recorded, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

        Following the ownership change of the Tropicana Las Vegas on August 25, 2015, we acquired federal net operating loss carry-forwards and general business credit carryforwards in the amount of $190.9 million and $0.9 million, which will expire on various dates from 2029 through 2035. These tax attributes are subject to limitations under the Internal Revenue Code and underlying Treasury Regulations, however we believe it is more likely than not that the benefit from these tax attributes will not be realized. In the recognition of this risk, we have provided a full valuation allowance on the acquired deferred tax assets related to these net operating and general business credit carryforwards. In the event our assumptions change, which allows the Company to realize these acquired tax attributes, the benefits related to any reversal of the valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2015, will be recognized as a reduction of income tax expense.

        For state income tax reporting, the Company has gross state net operating loss carry-forwards aggregating approximately $202.0 million available to reduce future state income taxes, primarily for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the States of Missouri, New Mexico and Ohio localities as of December 31, 2015. The tax benefit associated with these net operating loss carry-forwards is approximately $9.9 million. Due to statutorily limited operating loss carry-forwards and income and loss projections in the applicable jurisdictions, a full valuation allowance has been recorded to reflect the

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net operating losses which are not presently expected to be realized. If not used, substantially all the carry-forwards will expire at various dates from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2035.

        Also, certain subsidiaries have accumulated gross state net operating loss carry-forwards aggregating approximately $1.2 billion for which no benefit has been recorded as they are attributable to uncertain tax positions and excess tax benefits from stock option deductions. The unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2015 attributable to these net operating losses was approximately $69.4 million. Due to the uncertain tax position and excess tax benefits from stock option deductions, these net operating losses are not included as components of deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2015. In the event of any benefit from realization of these net operating losses, $11.4 million would be treated as an increase to equity, and the remainder would be treated as a reduction of tax expense. If not used, substantially all the carry-forwards will expire at various dates from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2035.

        Additionally, included in the Company's full valuation allowance is $2.3 million for federal capital losses that will expire if not used via the realization of capital gains by December 31, 2033. Overall the Company's valuation allowance at December 31, 2015 increased from December 31, 2014 by a net amount of $99.8 million primarily due to the acquired deferred tax assets related to the Tropicana's tax attributes of $68.2 million and other deferred tax assets during the year of $31.6 million.

        The provision for income taxes charged to operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Current tax (benefit) expense

                   

Federal

  $ (5,158 ) $ 14,275   $ 96,273  

State

    133     5,821     2,835  

Foreign

    3,713     7,515     4,708  

Total current

    (1,312 )   27,611     103,816  

Deferred tax expense (benefit)

                   

Federal

    51,817     2,357     (137,803 )

State

    5,419     551     407  

Total deferred

    57,236     2,908     (137,396 )

Total income tax provision (benefit)

  $ 55,924   $ 30,519   $ (33,580 )

        The following table reconciles the statutory federal income tax rate to the actual effective income tax rate for 2015, 2014 and 2013:

Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  

Percent of pretax income

                   

Federal taxes

    35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

State and local income taxes

    6.1 %   1.6 %   1.5 %

Permanent differences

    5.8 %   (20.9 )%   (16.8 )%

Foreign

    5.2 %   (2.2 )%   (0.6 )%

Valuation allowance

    55.3 %   (31.1 )%   (14.0 )%

Other miscellaneous items

    (8.6 )%   (2.3 )%   0.3 %

    98.8 %   (19.9 )%   5.4 %

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Year ended December 31,
  2015   2014   2013  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Amount of pretax income

                   

Federal taxes

  $ 19,814   $ (53,656 ) $ (219,232 )

State and local income taxes

    3,435     (2,470 )   (9,163 )

Permanent differences

    3,276     32,019     104,592  

Foreign

    2,955     3,337     3,685  

Valuation allowance

    31,288     47,703     92,242  

Other miscellaneous items

    (4,844 )   3,586     (5,704 )

  $ 55,924   $ 30,519   $ (33,580 )

        A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount for the liability for unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 
  Unrecognized
tax benefits
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Unrecognized tax benefits

  $ 49,594  

Cumulative advance deposits on account

    (28,030 )

Balance at December 31, 2013

  $ 21,564  

Additions based on current year positions

   
1,142
 

Additions based on prior year positions

    4,038  

Decreases due to settlements and/or reduction in reserves

    (5,097 )

Currency translation adjustments

    (4,844 )

Settlement payments

    (356 )

Unrecognized tax benefits

    44,477  

Cumulative advance deposits on account

    (37,441 )

Balance at December 31, 2014

  $ 7,036  

Additions based on current year positions

    561  

Additions based on prior year positions

    6,371  

Decreases due to settlements and/or reduction in reserves

    (4,743 )

Currency translation adjustments

    (9,097 )

Settlement payments

    (4,000 )

Unrecognized tax benefits

    33,569  

Cumulative advance deposits on account

    (31,371 )

Balance at December 31, 2015

  $ 2,198  

        The Company is required under ASC 740 to disclose its accounting policy for classifying interest and penalties, the amount of interest and penalties charged to expense each period, as well as the cumulative amounts recorded in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company will continue to classify any income tax-related penalties and interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in taxes on income within the consolidated statements of operations.

        During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded $0.6 million of tax reserves and accrued interest related to current year uncertain tax positions. In regards to prior year tax positions, the Company recorded $6.4 million of tax reserves and accrued interest and reversed $3.7 million and $1.0 million of previously recorded tax reserves and accrued interest, respectively, for uncertain tax positions that have settled and/or closed. The unrecognized tax benefits in the table above of $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 are recorded within our consolidated balance sheets

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as $4.0 million in other liabilities and $1.8 million in other assets. Overall, the Company recorded a net tax expense of $1.8 million in connection with its uncertain tax positions for the year ended December 31, 2015.

        Included in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $10.0 million and $10.7 million, respectively, of tax positions that, if reversed, may not affect the effective tax rate as a result of the Company's full valuation allowance.

        Included in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $3.0 million and $2.5 million of currency translation gains for foreign currency tax positions and advance deposits on account, respectively.

        During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized approximately $1.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of interest and penalties, net of deferred taxes. In addition, due to settlements and/or reductions in previously recorded liabilities, the Company had reductions in previously accrued interest and penalties of $0.7 million, net of deferred taxes. These accruals are included in noncurrent tax liabilities and prepaid expenses within the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

        The Company is currently in various stages of the examination process in connection with its open audits. Generally, it is difficult to determine when these examinations will be closed, but the Company reasonably expects that its ASC 740 liabilities will not significantly change over the next twelve months. The Company anticipates that a payment of $4.0 million will be made by the end of 2016.

        As of December 31, 2015, the Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for the tax years 2012, 2013, and 2014. In addition, the Company is subject to state and local income tax examinations for various tax years in the taxing jurisdictions in which the Company operates.

        At December 31, 2015 and 2014, prepaid expenses within the consolidated balance sheets included prepaid income taxes of $48.9 million and $34.2 million, respectively.

14.   Shareholders' Equity

Preferred Equity Investment

        On June 15, 2007, the Company announced that it had entered into a merger agreement that, at the effective time of the transactions contemplated thereby, would have resulted in the Company's shareholders receiving $67.00 per share. Specifically, the Company, PNG Acquisition Company Inc. ("Parent") and PNG Merger Sub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), announced that they had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 15, 2007 (the "Merger Agreement"), that provided, among other things, for Merger Sub to be merged with and into the Company, as a result of which the Company would have continued as the surviving corporation and would have become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Parent is indirectly owned by certain funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC ("Fortress") and Centerbridge Partners, L.P. ("Centerbridge").

        On July 3, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with certain affiliates of Fortress and Centerbridge, terminating the Merger Agreement. In connection with the termination of the Merger Agreement, the Company agreed to receive a total of $1.475 billion, consisting of a nonrefundable $225 million cash termination fee and a $1.25 billion, zero coupon, preferred equity investment (the "Investment"). On October 30, 2008, the Company closed the sale of the Investment and issued 12,500 shares of the Series B Preferred Stock. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company repurchased 225 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for $11.2 million.

        As part of the Spin-Off described further in Note 2, the Company entered into an agreement (the "Exchange Agreement") with FIF V PFD LLC, an affiliate of Fortress, providing for the exchange of

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shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock for shares of a new class of preferred stock, Series C Preferred Stock, in contemplation of the Spin-Off.

        The Exchange Agreement provided Fortress with the right to exchange its 9,750 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for fractional shares of Series C Preferred Stock at an exchange ratio that treated each such fractional share (and therefore each share of common stock into which such fractional share was convertible) as worth $67 per share, which was the "ceiling price" at which the shares of Series B Preferred Stock were redeemable by the Company at maturity. Any shares of Series B Preferred Stock that were not exchanged for shares of Series C Preferred Stock prior to the second business day before October 16, 2013, the record date established for the distribution of GLPI common stock in the Spin-Off, were automatically exchanged for shares of Series C Preferred Stock on such date. Subsequently, the Company had the right to purchase from Fortress, prior to the record date for the Spin-Off, a number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, at a price of $67 per fractional share of Series C Preferred Stock, such that, immediately following the consummation of the Spin-Off, Fortress would not own more than 9.9% of GLPI's common stock.

        On October 11, 2013, the Company completed its exchange and repurchase transactions with Fortress and repurchased all of the 2,300 shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by Centerbridge at par and issued to the affiliate of Fortress 14,553 shares of non-voting Series C Preferred Stock in order to redeem all of the previously outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock. The Company then repurchased 5,929 shares of Series C Preferred Stock from Fortress. Additionally, in February 2013, the Company repurchased 225 shares of Series B Preferred Stock from WF Investment Holdings, LLC at a slight discount to par. In these transactions, the Company paid a total of $649.5 million, which was primarily funded by borrowings under the revolving credit facility, to the affiliates of Fortress, Centerbridge and WF Investment Holdings, LLC, As a result of these transactions, there are currently no outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Fortress holds 8,624 shares of Series C Preferred Stock.

        Under the terms of the Statement with Respect to Shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Series C Designation"), the Series C Preferred Stock is nonvoting stock, provided, however, that the Series C Designation cannot be altered or amended so as to adversely affect any right or privilege held by the holders of Series C shares without the consent of a majority of the shares of Series C then outstanding. Holders of Series C shares will participate in dividends paid to the holders of common stock of the Company on an as-converted basis. Each share of Series C will automatically convert into 1,000 shares of common stock upon sale to a third party not affiliated with the original holder.

        The following table below discloses the changes in each class of the Company's preferred stock for the year ended December 31, 2013. No changes in the Company's preferred stock occurred in the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 
  Series B
Preferred Stock
  Series C
Preferred Stock
 

Shares outstanding at December 31, 2012

    12,275      

Repurchase of Series B Preferred Stock

    (2,525 )    

Impact of exchange transaction

    (9,750 )   14,553  

Repurchase of Series C Preferred Stock

        (5,929 )

Shares outstanding at December 31, 2013

        8,624  

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Impact of Spin-Off

        See Note 2 for details of net assets contributed to GLPI in connection with the Spin-Off, which occurred on November 1, 2013, as well as the exchange transaction with Peter M. Carlino and the PMC Delaware Dynasty Trust.

15.   Stock-Based Compensation

        On April 16, 2003, the Company's Board of Directors adopted and approved the 2003 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the "2003 Plan"). On May 22, 2003, the Company's shareholders approved the 2003 Plan. The 2003 Plan was effective June 1, 2003 and permitted the grant of options to purchase common stock and other market-based and performance-based awards. Up to 12,000,000 shares of common stock were available for awards under the 2003 Plan. The 2003 Plan provided for the granting of both incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and nonqualified stock options, which do not so qualify. The exercise price per share may be no less than (i) 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date an option is granted for incentive stock options and (ii) 85% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date an option is granted for nonqualified stock options. However the shares which remained available for issuance under such plan as of November 12, 2008 are no longer available for issuance and all future equity awards will be pursuant to the 2008 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the "2008 Plan") described below.

        On August 20, 2008, the Company's Board of Directors adopted and approved the 2008 Plan. On November 12, 2008, the Company's shareholders approved the 2008 Plan. The 2008 Plan permits the Company to issue stock options (incentive and/or non-qualified), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, phantom stock units and other equity and cash awards to employees. Non- employee directors are eligible to receive all such awards, other than incentive stock options. On June 9, 2011, the Company's shareholders approved an amendment to the 2008 Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued by 2,350,000 to 9,250,000, and on June 12, 2014 the Company's shareholders approved an amendment to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued from 9,250,000 to 16,350,000. Awards of stock options and stock appreciation rights will be counted against the 16,350,000 limit as one share of common stock for each share granted. However, each share awarded in the form of restricted stock, or any other full value stock award, will be counted as issuing 2.44 shares of common stock for purposes of determining the number of shares available for issuance under the plan. Any awards that are not settled in shares of common stock shall not count against this limit. At December 31, 2015, there were 5,480,017 options available for future grants under the 2008 Plan.

        In connection with the Spin-Off of GLPI, the Company's employee stock options and cash-settled stock appreciation rights ("SARs") were converted into two awards, an award in Penn with an adjusted exercise price and an award in GLPI. The number of options and SARs and the exercise price of each converted award were adjusted to preserve the same intrinsic value of the awards that existed immediately prior to the Spin-Off. As such, no incremental compensation expense was recorded as a result of this conversion. In addition, holders of outstanding restricted stock awards and cash-settled phantom stock unit awards ("PSUs") received an additional share of restricted stock or PSUs in GLPI common stock at the Spin-Off so that the intrinsic value of these awards were equivalent to those that existed immediately prior to the Spin-Off. The unrecognized compensation costs associated with GLPI restricted stock awards, GLPI PSUs, GLPI stock options and GLPI SARs held by Penn employees will continue to be recognized on the Company's financial statements over the awards remaining vesting periods.

        The unrecognized compensation costs associated with GLPI restricted stock awards, GLPI PSUs, GLPI stock options and GLPI SARs held by former Penn employees (including but not limited to the

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Company's former Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development) who are now employed by GLPI effective November 1, 2013, will be recorded on GLPI's financial statements.

        Stock options that expire between April 6, 2016 and November 30, 2022, have been granted to officers, directors, employees, and predecessor employees to purchase common stock at prices ranging from $6.34 to $18.61 per share. All options were granted at the fair market value of the common stock on the date the options were granted and have contractual lives ranging from 7 to 10 years. The Company issues new authorized common shares to satisfy stock option exercises as well as restricted stock lapses.

        The following table contains information on stock options issued under the plans for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 
  Number of
Option Shares
  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
  Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (in years)
  Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2014

    6,633,622   $ 8.12              

Granted

    1,752,833     13.50              

Exercised

    (1,931,946 )   6.76              

Canceled

    (72,933 )   11.64              

Outstanding at December 31, 2015

    6,381,576   $ 9.97     3.57   $ 40,029  

        The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $4.85 and $4.95, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 was $19.5 million, $8.2 million, and $46.0 million, respectively.

        At December 31, 2015, there were 3,739,257 shares that were exercisable, with a weighted-average exercise price of $8.13, a weighted-average remaining contractual term of 2.19 years, and an aggregate intrinsic value of $30.3 million.

        The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2015:

 
  Exercise Price Range   Total  
 
  $6.34 to
$9.52
  $9.53 to
$14.36
  $14.41 to
$18.61
  $6.34 to
$18.61
 

Outstanding options

                         

Number outstanding

    3,330,058     2,878,346     173,172     6,381,576  

Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years)

    2.18     5.01     6.38     3.57  

Weighted-average exercise price

  $ 7.71   $ 12.20   $ 16.34   $ 9.97  

Exercisable options

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Number outstanding

    3,083,777     654,480     1,000     3,739,257  

Weighted-average exercise price

  $ 7.62   $ 10.52   $ 14.41   $ 8.13  

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        The following table contains information on restricted stock awards issued under the plans for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 
  Number of Award
Shares
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2014

    132,497  

Awarded

    57,406  

Released

    (47,502 )

Canceled

    (15,405 )

Outstanding at December 31, 2015

    126,996  

        Stock-based compensation expenses for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 totaled $8.2 million, $10.7 million and $22.8 million, respectively, and are included within the consolidated statements of operations under general and administrative expense. The decrease for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, is primarily due to lower aggregate executive compensation following the Spin-Off.

        At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the total compensation cost related to nonvested awards not yet recognized equaled $11.2 million, $10.9 million and $20.0 million, respectively, including $8.8 million, $7.3 million and $13.2 million for stock options, respectively, and $2.4 million, $3.6 million and $6.8 million for restricted stock, respectively. This cost is expected to be recognized over the remaining vesting periods, which will not exceed five years.

        The Company's PSUs, which vest over a period of three to five years, entitle employees and directors to receive cash based on the fair value of the Company's common stock on the vesting date. The PSUs are accounted for as liability awards and are re-measured at fair value each reporting period until they become vested with compensation expense being recognized over the requisite service period in accordance with ASC 718-30, "Compensation—Stock Compensation, Awards Classified as Liabilities." The Company has a liability, which is included in accrued salaries and wages within the consolidated balance sheets, associated with its PSUs of $7.8 million and $8.2 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

        For PSUs held by Penn employees, there was $16.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost at December 31, 2015 that will be recognized over the grants remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.70 years. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized $14.1 million, $8.3 million, and $11.9 million of compensation expense associated with these awards, respectively. Amounts paid by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 on these cash-settled awards totaled $14.5 million, $6.9 million, and $6.6 million, respectively.

        For the Company's SARs, the fair value of the SARs is calculated during each reporting period and estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the various inputs discussed in Note 4. The Company's SARs, which vest over a period of four years, are accounted for as liability awards since they will be settled in cash. The Company has a liability, which is included in accrued salaries and wages within the consolidated balance sheets, associated with its SARs of $8.0 million and $6.3 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

        For SARs held by Penn employees, there was $5.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost at December 31, 2015 that will be recognized over the awards remaining weighted average vesting period of 2.57 years. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recognized a $5.1 million compensation benefit associated with these awards. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized $2.9 million and $7.5 million, respectively, of compensation benefit and compensation expense associated with these awards. The reason for the increase was due to an increase in the stock prices of GLPI and Penn common stock during 2015. Amounts paid by the Company for

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the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 on these cash-settled awards totaled $3.4 million, $2.2 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

16.   Segment Information

        The following tables (in thousands) present certain information with respect to the Company's segments. Intersegment revenues between the Company's segments were not material in any of the periods presented below. The income (loss) from operations by segment presented below does not include allocations for corporate overhead costs or expenses associated with utilizing property subject to the Master Lease.

Year Ended December 31, 2015
  East/Midwest   West   Southern Plains   Other(1)   Total  

Income (loss) from operations

  $ 372,698   $ 53,438   $ 230,337   $ (188,627 ) $ 467,846  

Charge for stock compensation

                8,223     8,223  

Impairment losses

    40,042                 40,042  

Depreciation and amortization

    101,359     14,530     43,120     100,452     259,461  

Plainridge contingent purchase price

    (5,374 )               (5,374 )

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

    (295 )   510     735     336     1,286  

Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates

            15,289     (801 )   14,488  

Non-operating items for Kansas JV

            10,377         10,377  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 508,430   $ 68,478   $ 299,858   $ (80,417 ) $ 796,349  

 

Year ended December 31, 2014
  East/Midwest   West   Southern Plains   Other(1)   Total  

Income (loss) from operations

  $ 332,869   $ 56,928   $ 46,395   $ (179,004 ) $ 257,188  

Charge for stock compensation

                10,666     10,666  

Impairment losses

    4,560     1,420     153,904         159,884  

Insurance recoveries

            (5,674 )       (5,674 )

Depreciation and amortization

    101,891     7,411     58,598     98,842     266,742  

Plainridge contingent purchase price

    689                 689  

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

    (75 )   211     624     (22 )   738  

Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates

            10,720     (2,771 )   7,949  

Non-operating items for Kansas JV

            11,809         11,809  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 439,934   $ 65,970   $ 276,376   $ (72,289 ) $ 709,991  

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Year ended December 31, 2013
  East/Midwest   West   Southern Plains   Other(1)   Total  

(Loss) income from operations

  $ (57,351 ) $ 45,464   $ (186,846 ) $ (225,135 ) $ (423,868 )

Charge for stock compensation

                22,809     22,809  

Impairment losses

    416,380     1,812     341,683     38,430     798,305  

Insurance deductible charges, net of recoveries

            108         108  

Depreciation and amortization

    142,442     11,883     108,201     40,878     303,404  

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets

    774     2,365     853     (310 )   3,682  

Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates

            10,735     (1,078 )   9,657  

Non-operating items for Kansas JV

            11,595         11,595  

Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations

    15,334         20,040         35,374  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 517,579   $ 61,524   $ 306,369   $ (124,406 ) $ 761,066  

 

 
  East/Midwest   West   Southern Plains   Other(1)   Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Year ended December 31, 2015

                               

Net revenues

  $ 1,682,440   $ 285,933   $ 849,049   $ 20,936   $ 2,838,358  

Capital expenditures

    159,352     8,991     26,554     4,343     199,240  

Year ended December 31, 2014

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Net revenues

  $ 1,467,380   $ 241,410   $ 857,447   $ 24,290   $ 2,590,527  

Capital expenditures

    144,320     28,251     49,607     5,967     228,145  

Year ended December 31, 2013

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Net revenues

  $ 1,575,053   $ 240,083   $ 930,762   $ 31,988   $ 2,777,886  

Capital expenditures

    105,354     9,802     76,319     5,125     196,600  

Balance sheet at December 31, 2015

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Total assets

    1,036,940     842,712     1,098,306     2,160,794     5,138,752  

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates

    84         103,608     64,457     168,149  

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

    387,474     158,339     753,345     4,226     1,303,384  

Balance sheet at December 31, 2014

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Total assets

    1,007,162     287,551     1,076,290     2,253,548     4,624,551  

Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates

    94         115,469     63,988     179,551  

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

    427,335     143,242     718,982     4,078     1,293,637  

(1)
Includes depreciation expense associated with the real property assets under the Master Lease with GLPI. In addition, total assets include these assets. The interest expense associated with the financing obligation is reflected in the other category. Net revenues and income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates relate to the Company's stand-alone racing operations, namely Rosecroft Raceway, Sanford Orlando Kennel Club and the Company's Texas and New Jersey joint ventures (see Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements) which do not have gaming operations. It also previously included the Company's Bullwhackers property, which was sold in July 2013.

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        Management uses adjusted EBITDA as the primary measure of the operating performance of its segments, including the evaluation of operating personnel and is especially relevant in evaluating large, long lived casino projects because they provide a perspective on the current effects of operating decisions separated from the substantial non-operational depreciation charges and financing costs of such projects. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, stock compensation, debt extinguishment charges, impairment charges, insurance recoveries and deductible charges, depreciation and amortization, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent purchase price to the previous owners of Plainridge Racecourse, gain or loss on disposal of assets, and other income or expenses. Adjusted EBITDA is also inclusive of results from discontinued operations, income or loss from unconsolidated affiliates, with our share of non-operating items (such as depreciation and amortization) added back for our joint venture in Kansas Entertainment. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as alternatives to operating income, as indicators of the Company's operating performance, as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities, as measures of liquidity, or as any other measures 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 adjusted EBITDA.

17.   Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

        The following table summarizes the quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:

 
  Fiscal Quarter  
 
  First   Second   Third   Fourth  
 
  (in thousands, except per share data)
 

2015

                         

Net revenues

  $ 664,138   $ 700,956   $ 739,297   $ 733,967  

Income from operations

    111,689     123,361     142,172     90,624  

Net income (loss)

    1,869     2,983     4,900     (9,066 )

Earnings (loss) per common share:

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

  $ 0.02   $ 0.03   $ 0.06   $ (0.11 )

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

  $ 0.02   $ 0.03   $ 0.05   $ (0.11 )

 

 
  Fiscal Quarter  
 
  First   Second   Third   Fourth  
 
  (in thousands, except per share data)
 

2014

                         

Net revenues

  $ 641,080   $ 652,146   $ 645,940   $ 651,361  

Income (loss) from operations

    102,514     105,467     105,853     (56,646 )

Net income (loss)

    580     (19,273 )   (15,348 )   (149,781 )

Earnings (loss) per common share:

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

  $ 0.01   $ (0.25 ) $ (0.20 ) $ (1.90 )

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

  $ 0.01   $ (0.25 ) $ (0.20 ) $ (1.90 )

        For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded other intangible assets impairment charges of $40.0 million related to the write-off of our Plainridge Park Casino gaming license and a partial write-down of the gaming license at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway due to a reduction in the long term earnings forecast at both of these locations.

        During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company recorded goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges of $155.3 million, as it determined that a portion of the value of its goodwill and other intangible assets was impaired due to the Company's outlook of continued challenging regional

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gaming conditions which persisted in 2014 at certain properties in its Southern Plains segment, as well as for the write-off of a trademark intangible asset in the West segment. During the second quarter of 2014, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $4.6 million to write-down certain idle assets to their estimated salvage value.

        During the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2015, the Company incurred interest expense related to the Master Lease of $96.4 million, $97.7 million, $97.8 million and $98.2 million, respectively.

        During the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2014, the Company incurred interest expense related to the Master Lease of $93.1 million, $94.0 million, $94.6 million and $97.5 million, respectively.

18.   Related Party Transactions

        The Company currently leases executive office buildings in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania from affiliates of its Chairman of the Board of Directors. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $1.2 million, $1.1 million, and $1.1 million, respectively. The leases for the office space all expire in May 2019. The future minimum lease commitments relating to these leases at December 31, 2015 are $4.1 million.

        In connection with the Spin-Off, the Company, Mr. Carlino and the PMC Delaware Dynasty Trust entered into a share transaction. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the share exchange transaction.

        Also in connection with the Spin-Off, as more particularly described in Notes 2 and 14 to the consolidated financial statements, on October 11, 2013, the Company completed its previously disclosed exchange and repurchase transactions with Fortress, which is an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, and Centerbridge. Wesley R. Edens, a member of our Board of Directors from 2008 until the Spin-Off, serves as Co-Chairman of Fortress Investment Group, LLC. In the transactions, on October 11, 2013, Penn (i) issued 14,553 shares of its Series C preferred stock to Fortress in exchange for all of the 9,750 shares of Penn's Series B preferred stock held by Fortress, (ii) repurchased 5,929 of its Series C preferred stock from Fortress for cash consideration of $397.2 million and (iii) repurchased all of the 2,300 shares of Penn's Series B preferred stock held by Centerbridge for cash consideration of $230.0 million.

19.   Fair Value Measurements

        ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures," establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes fair value measurements based on the types of inputs used for the various valuation techniques (market approach, income approach, and cost approach). The levels of the hierarchy are described below:

        The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.

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        The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate:

        The fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents approximates the carrying value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, due to the short maturity of the cash equivalents.

        The fair value of the Company's Term Loan A and B components of its senior secured credit facility and senior unsecured notes is estimated based on quoted prices in active markets and as such is a Level 1 measurement. The fair value of the remainder of the Company's senior secured credit facility approximates its carrying value as it is revolving, variable rate debt and as such is a Level 2 measurement.

        Other long term obligations at December 31, 2015 include the relocation fees for Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, and the repayment obligation of a hotel and event center located near Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg. The fair value of the relocation fees for Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course approximates its carrying value as the discount rate of 5.0% approximates the market rate of similar debt instruments and as such is a Level 2 measurement. Finally, the fair value of the repayment obligation for the hotel and event center is estimated based on a rate consistent with comparable municipal bonds and as such is a Level 2 measurement.

        Other liabilities at December 31, 2015, include the contingent purchase price consideration related to the purchase of Plainridge Racecourse. The fair value of the Company's contingent purchase price consideration related to its Plainridge Racecourse acquisition is estimated based on an income approach using a discounted cash flow model and as such is a Level 3 measurement. At each reporting period, the Company assesses the fair value of this obligation and changes in its value are recorded in earnings. The amount included in general and administrative expenses related to the change in fair value of this obligation was a credit of $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and a charge of $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.

        The carrying amounts and estimated fair values by input level of the Company's financial instruments during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):

 
  December 31, 2015  
 
  Carrying
Amount
  Fair Value   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3  

Financial assets:

                               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 237,009   $ 237,009   $ 237,009   $   $  

Financial liabilities:

                               

Long-term debt

                               

Senior secured credit facility

    1,239,049     1,251,975     1,251,975          

Senior unsecured notes

    296,252     291,000     291,000          

Other long-term obligations

    146,992     147,358         147,358      

Other liabilities

    13,815     13,815                 13,815  

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  December 31, 2014  
 
  Carrying
Amount
  Fair Value   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3  

Financial assets:

                               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 208,673   $ 208,673   $ 208,673   $   $  

Financial liabilities:

                               

Long-term debt

                               

Senior secured credit facility          

    785,683     799,556     714,556     85,000      

Senior unsecured notes

    295,610     276,000     276,000          

Other long-term obligations

    135,000     135,000         135,000      

Other liabilities

    19,189     19,189             19,189  

        The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 liabilities (in thousands):

 
  Twelve Months Ended
December 31, 2015
 
 
  Liabilities  
 
  Contingent
Purchase Price
 

Balance at December 31, 2014

  $ 19,189  

Total (gains) (realized or unrealized):

       

Included in earnings

    (5,374 )

Balance at December 31, 2015

  $ 13,815  

        The following table summarizes the significant unobservable inputs used in calculating fair value for our Level 3 liabilities:

 
  Valuation
Technique
  Unobservable
Input
  Rate  

Contingent purchase price

  Discounted cash flow   Discount rate     8.30 %

        The following tables set forth the assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):

 
  Balance Sheet Location   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Balance at
December 31,
2015 Total
  Total Reduction
in Fair Value
Recorded during
the year ended
December 31,
2015
 

Assets:

                                   

Intangible assets

  Other intangible assets   $   $   $ 110,436   $ 110,436   $ (40,042 )

                                (40,042 )

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  Balance Sheet Location   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Balance at
December 31,
2014 Total
  Total Reduction
in Fair Value
Recorded during
the year ended
December 31,
2014
 

Assets:

                                   

Goodwill

  Goodwill   $   $   $ 9,863   $ 9,863   $ (80,821 )

Intangible assets

  Other intangible assets             66,703     66,703     (74,603 )

Long-lived assets

  Other assets             300     300     (4,560 )

                              $ (159,984 )

Goodwill and intangible assets

        The valuation technique used to measure the fair value of goodwill and intangible assets was the income approach. See Note 4 for a description of the inputs and the information used to develop the inputs in calculating the fair value measurements of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets.

        For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded other intangible assets impairment charges of $40.0 million, as of the valuation date of October 1, 2015, related to the write-off of our Plainridge Park Casino gaming license and a partial write-down of the gaming license at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway due to a reduction in the long term earnings forecast at both of these locations.

        For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charges of $80.8 million and $74.5 million, respectively, as of the valuation date of October 1, 2014, as it determined that a portion of the value of its goodwill and other intangible assets was impaired due to the Company's outlook of continued challenging regional gaming conditions at certain properties which persisted in 2014 in its Southern Plains segment, as well as for the write-off of a trademark intangible asset in the West segment.

Long-lived assets

        The valuation technique used to measure the fair value of long-lived assets was the market approach. See Note 4 for a description of the inputs and the information used to develop the inputs in calculating the fair value measurements of long-lived assets.

        During the second quarter of 2014, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $4.6 million to write-down certain idle assets to their estimated salvage value of $0.3 million.

20.   Insurance Recoveries and Deductibles

Hollywood Casino St. Louis Tornado

        On May 31, 2013, Hollywood Casino St. Louis sustained damage as a result of a tornado and was forced to close for approximately fourteen hours. At the time of the tornado, the Company carried property insurance coverage with a limit of $600 million for both property damage and business interruption applicable to this event. This coverage included a $2.5 million property damage deductible and two days of business interruption deductible for the peril of a tornado.

        The Company received $8.7 million in insurance proceeds related to the tornado at Hollywood Casino St. Louis, with $5.7 million received in 2014 and $3.0 million received in 2013. As the insurance recovery amount exceeded the net book value of assets believed to be damaged or destroyed and other costs incurred as a result of the tornado at Hollywood Casino St. Louis in 2013, the Company recorded a gain of $5.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2014. During the third quarter of 2014, the

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insurance claim for the tornado at Hollywood Casino St. Louis was settled and no further proceeds will be received.

        During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded a $2.5 million loss for the property damage insurance deductible, which was partially offset by a $2.4 million gain recorded for proceeds received that exceeded the net book value of assets believed to be damaged or destroyed and other costs incurred as a result of the tornado at Hollywood Casino St. Louis.

21.   Discontinued Operations

        On November 1, 2013, as part of the Spin-Off with GLPI, Penn contributed all the assets and liabilities of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville, which are referred to as the "TRS Properties." The results of operations of the TRS Properties are presented as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

        The results of our discontinued operations are summarized as follows:

 
  2013  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Major classes of line items constituting pretax income of discontinued operations

       

Revenue

  $ 140,868  

Operating expenses

    117,355  

Other expense items

    4,202  

Pretax income of discontinued operations

    19,311  

Income tax provision

    7,766  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

  $ 11,545  

        Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities from discontinued operations were $11.1 million, $(3.2) million, and $(3.4) million for the year-ended December 31, 2013.

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ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

        None.

ITEM 9A.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

        The Company's management, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as of December 31, 2015. Based on this evaluation, as described below, management identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financing reporting. As a result of these material weaknesses, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that as of December 31, 2015 the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, evaluated and reported, as applicable, within the time periods specified in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

        The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)). Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

        Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, and concluded that it was not effective as of December 31, 2015 due to the material weaknesses described below. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013 framework).

        We did not maintain effective controls and procedures over the evaluation and accounting of certain complex and non-routine transactions including lease transactions. Specifically, we did not maintain ad sufficient complement of personnel, including third party consultants, with an appropriate level of knowledge and experience to challenge our application of GAAP commensurate with the nature and complexity of certain of our transactions, to prevent or detect and correct material misstatements in a timely manner.

        In addition, we did not maintain effective controls and procedures over the calculation of impairment charges for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Specifically, our review controls were not designed with a sufficient level of precision and executed by personnel, with appropriate level of experience to detect material errors in the methodologies used and in the calculation of the impairment charges that were recognized in our consolidated financial statements.

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        As disclosed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included within this annual report, these material weaknesses resulted in material misstatements in our previously issued consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

        As a result of these material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company's internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on the criteria set forth in the 2013 Framework.

        The Company completed its acquisitions of Tropicana Las Vegas and Prairie State Gaming on August 25, 2015 and September 1, 2015, respectively. Since the Company has not yet fully incorporated the internal controls and procedures of Tropicana Las Vegas and Prairie State Gaming into the Company's internal control over financial reporting, management excluded Tropicana Las Vegas and Prairie State Gaming from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. Collectively, these two acquisitions constituted approximately 9% of the Company's total consolidated assets and approximately 2% of the Company's consolidated net revenues as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015, respectively.

        Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, which is included on page 117 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Management's Plans for Remediation

        Management became aware of these material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and took immediate actions to remediate the material weaknesses.

        The Company has initiated a compensating control over the proper application of GAAP to complex and non-routine transactions, which includes the involvement of third party consultants with relevant knowledge and experience to assist the Company with the evaluation of the accounting for highly technical accounting matters. The Company currently expects to have this material weakness remediated no later than December 31, 2016, once we have obtained sufficient evidence that the newly designed and implemented controls are operating effectively.

        With respect to the material weakness over the accounting for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment measurement, the Company has designed and implemented additional controls during 2015. This includes the involvement of a third party consultant to provide the Company with the appropriate level of expertise to assist in the review of the assessment at a sufficient level of precision. The Company currently expects to remediate this material weakness remediated no later than December 31, 2016, once we have obtained sufficient evidence that the newly designed and implemented controls are operating effectively.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

        There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2015, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors
Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries

        We have audited Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries' management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

        As indicated in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management's assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Tropicana Las Vegas and Prairie Statement Gaming, which are included in the 2015 consolidated financial statements of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and subsidiaries and collectively constituted approximately 9% of the Company's total assets as of December 31, 2015, and approximately 2% of the Company's net revenues from the acquisition date through December 31, 2015. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and subsidiaries also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Tropicana Las Vegas and Prairie State Gaming.

        A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weaknesses have been identified and included in management's assessment.

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Management has identified a material weakness in controls related to accounting for certain complex and non-routine transactions, including lease transactions. Management has also identified a material weakness in controls over the calculation of impairment charges for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries' as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders' equity (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. These material weaknesses were considered in determining the nature, timing and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2015 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated March 15, 2016, which expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

        In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weaknesses described above on the achievement of the objectives on the control criteria, Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on the COSO criteria.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 15, 2016
   

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ITEM 9B.    OTHER INFORMATION

        None


PART III

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

        The remaining information required by this item concerning directors is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for its 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "2016 Proxy Statement"), to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2015, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Act. Information required by this item concerning executive officers is included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        The information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 2016 Proxy Statement.

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS

        The information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 2016 Proxy Statement.

ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

        The information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 2016 Proxy Statement.

ITEM 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

        The information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 2016 Proxy Statement.

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PART IV

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) 1 and 2.   Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules. The following is a list of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and supplementary data filed as part of Item 8 hereof:

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

 

 

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.

3.    Exhibits, Including Those Incorporated by Reference.

 

 

The exhibits to this Report are listed on the accompanying index to exhibits and are incorporated herein by reference or are filed as part of this annual report on Form 10-K.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

    PENN NATIONAL GAMING, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ TIMOTHY J. WILMOTT

Timothy J. Wilmott
Chief Executive Officer and President

Dated: March 15, 2016

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
 
Title
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ TIMOTHY J. WILMOTT

Timothy J. Wilmott
 

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

  March 15, 2016

/s/ SAUL V. REIBSTEIN

Saul V. Reibstein

 

Executive Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

March 15, 2016

/s/ PETER M. CARLINO

Peter M. Carlino

 

Chairman of the Board

 

March 15, 2016

/s/ DAVID A. HANDLER

David A. Handler

 

Director

 

March 15, 2016

/s/ JOHN M. JACQUEMIN

John M. Jacquemin

 

Director

 

March 15, 2016

/s/ HAROLD CRAMER

Harold Cramer

 

Director

 

March 15, 2016

/s/ RONALD J. NAPLES

Ronald J. Naples

 

Director

 

March 15, 2016

/s/ BARBARA Z. SHATTUCK KOHN

Barbara Z. Shattuck Kohn

 

Director

 

March 15, 2016

/s/ JANE SCACCETTI

Jane Scaccetti

 

Director

 

March 15, 2016

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit   Description of Exhibit
  3.1(a)   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Penn National Gaming, Inc., filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State on October 15, 1996. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's registration statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-63780, dated June 25, 2001).

 

3.1(b)

 

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Penn National Gaming, Inc., filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State on November 13, 1996. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's registration statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-63780, dated June 25, 2001).

 

3.1(c)

 

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Penn National Gaming, Inc., filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State on July 23, 2001. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001).

 

3.1(d)

 

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Penn National Gaming, Inc., filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State on December 28, 2007. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 2, 2008).

 

3.1(e)

 

Statement with Respect to Shares of Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock of Penn National Gaming, Inc., filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State on July 9, 2008. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on July 9, 2008).

 

3.1(f)

 

Statement with Respect to Shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock of Penn National Gaming, Inc. dated as of January 17, 2013. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8- K, filed on January 18, 2013).

 

3.2

 

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Penn National Gaming, Inc., as amended on December 10, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on December 11, 2014).

 

4.1

 

Specimen copy of Common Stock Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003).

 

4.2

 

Specimen copy of Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008).

 

4.3

 

Indenture, dated as of August 14, 2009, between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, relating to the 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on August 14, 2009).

 

4.3(a)

 

Form of Penn National Gaming, Inc. 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2013).

 

4.3(b)

 

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 29, 2013, between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2013).

 

4.4

 

Indenture, dated as of October 30, 2013 between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee, relating to the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2021. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2013).

Table of Contents

Exhibit   Description of Exhibit
  4.5   Form of Note for 5.875% Senior Notes due 2021. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2013).

 

4.6

 

Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of July 3, 2008, by and among Penn National Gaming, Inc., FIF V PFD LLC, Centerbridge Capital Partners, L.P., DB Investment Partners, Inc. and Wachovia Investment Holdings, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on July 9, 2008).

 

4.6(a)

 

Supplementary Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of January 16, 2013, by and between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and FIF V PFD LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 18, 2013).

 

9.1

 

Form of Trust Agreement of Peter D. Carlino, Peter M. Carlino, Richard J. Carlino, David E. Carlino, Susan F. Harrington, Anne de Lourdes Irwin, Robert M. Carlino, Stephen P. Carlino and Rosina E. Carlino Gilbert. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-77758, dated May 26, 1994).

 

10.1#

 

Penn National Gaming, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006).

 

10.2#

 

Penn National Gaming, Inc. 2003 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company's Proxy Statement dated April 22, 2003 filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).

 

10.3#

 

Penn National Gaming, Inc. 2008 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on June 13, 2014).

 

10.4#

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Certificate for the Penn National Gaming, Inc. 2008 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008).

 

10.5#

 

Form of Restricted Stock Award for the Penn National Gaming, Inc. 2008 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009).

 

10.6#

 

Form of Phantom Stock Unit Award for Penn National Gaming, Inc. 2008 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009).

 

10.7#

 

Form of Stock Appreciation Rights for the Penn National Gaming, Inc. 2008 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014).

 

10.8#

 

Executive Agreement dated June 13, 2014 by and between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Timothy J. Wilmott (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on June 19, 2014).

 

10.9#

 

Executive Agreement dated June 13, 2014 by and between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Jay A. Snowden. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on June 19, 2014).

 

10.10#

 

Employment Agreement dated November 25, 2013 between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Saul V. Reibstein. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 25, 2013).

 

10.11#

 

Employment Agreement dated December 17, 2013 by and between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and William J. Fair. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2015.)

Table of Contents

Exhibit   Description of Exhibit
  10.12#   Executive Agreement dated June 13, 2014, by and between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Carl Sottosanti. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2015.)

 

10.13#

 

Executive Agreement dated June 17, 2014 between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and John V. Finamore. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2015.)

 

10.14

 

Exchange Agreement, dated as of January 16, 2013, by and between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and FIF V PFD LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on January 18, 2013).

 

10.15

 

Exchange Agreement dated October 30, 2013, by and among Peter M. Carlino, the Commonwealth Trust Company, Trustee of the PMC Delaware Dynasty Trust, Penn National Gaming, Inc and Gaming and Leisure Properties,  Inc. dated September 25, 2013. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 5, 2013).

 

10.16

 

Separation and Distribution Agreement by and between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. dated November 1, 2013. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 7, 2013).

 

10.17

 

Tax Matters Agreement between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. dated as of November 1, 2013. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 7, 2013).

 

10.18

 

Transition Services Agreement dated November 1, 2013 between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 7, 2013).

 

10.19

 

Employee Matters Agreement dated November 1, 2013 between Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 7, 2013).

 

10.20

 

Master Lease between GLP Capital L.P. and Penn Tenant LLC dated November 1, 2013. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 7, 2013).

 

10.20(a)

 

First Amendment to the Master Lease. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014).

 

10.20(b)

 

Second Amendment to the Master Lease. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014).

 

10.21

 

Lease dated January 25, 2002 between Wyomissing Professional Center II, LP and Penn National Gaming, Inc. for portion of the Wyomissing Corporate Office. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004).

 

10.21(a)

 

Commencement Agreement, dated May 21, 2002, in connection with Lease dated January 25, 2002 between Wyomissing Professional Center II, LP and Penn National Gaming, Inc. for portion of the Wyomissing Corporate Office. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(a) to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004).

 

10.21(b)

 

First Lease Amendment, dated December 4, 2002, to Lease dated January 25, 2002 between Wyomissing Professional Center II, LP and Penn National Gaming, Inc. for portion of the Wyomissing Corporate Office. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(b) to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004).

Table of Contents

Exhibit   Description of Exhibit
  10.22   Lease dated August 22, 2003 between The Corporate Campus at Spring Ridge 1250, L.P. and Penn National Gaming, Inc. for portion of the Wyomissing Corporate Office. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004).

 

10.23

 

Amended and Restated Lease dated April 5, 2005 between Wyomissing Professional Center III, Limited Partnership and Penn National Gaming, Inc. for portion of the Wyomissing Corporate Office. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on April 8, 2005).

 

10.24

 

Lease dated April 5, 2005 between Wyomissing Professional Center, Inc. and Penn National Gaming, Inc. for portion of the Wyomissing Corporate Office. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on April 8, 2005).

 

10.25

 

Credit Agreement, dated October 30, 2013, by and among Penn National Gaming, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, the L/C Lenders Party thereto, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Fifth Third Bank, as Joint Bookrunners for the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and UBS Securities LLC, as Joint Bookrunners for the Term B Facility and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Fifth Third Bank, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Manufactures & Traders Trust Company, Nomura Securities International, Inc. RBS Securities Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and U.S. Bank N.A., as Documentation Agent. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2013).

 

10.25(a)

 

First Amendment and Incremental Joinder Agreement, dated April 28, 2015, with certain subsidiaries of Penn National Gaming, Inc. party thereto as guarantors and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent, swingline lender and letter of credit issuer. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on April 29, 2015).

 

10.26

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2013 by and between Penn National Gaming Inc., JP Morgan Securities LLC and the other initial purchasers named therein (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2013).

 

10.27

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2009, among Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC and RBS Securities Inc., each for itself and on behalf of each of the other initial purchasers. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on August 14, 2009).

 

10.28

 

Riverboat Gaming Development Agreement between the City of Lawrenceburg, Indiana and Indiana Gaming Company, L.P. dated as of April 13, 1994, as amended by Amendment Number One to Riverboat Development Agreement between the City of Lawrenceburg, Indiana and Indiana Gaming Company L.P., dated as of December 28, 1995. (Incorporated by reference to Argosy Gaming Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995).

 

10.29(a)

 

Second Amendment to Riverboat Gaming Development Agreement between City of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and the Indiana Gaming Company, L.P. dated August 20, 1996. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 (a) to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005).

Table of Contents

Exhibit   Description of Exhibit
  10.29(b)   Third Amendment to Riverboat Gaming Development Agreement between City of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and the Indiana Gaming Company, L.P. dated June 24, 2004. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Argosy Gaming Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004).

 

10.30

 

Lottery Gaming Facility Management Contract dated August 25, 2009 between the Kansas Lottery and Kansas Entertainment, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 19, 2010).

 

10.31

 

Development Agreement dated as of September 8, 2009 by and between the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas Entertainment, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 19, 2010).

 

10.32

 

Agreement dated April 7, 2006 by and between PNGI Charles Town Gaming Limited Liability Company and the West Virginia Union of Mutuel Clerks, Local 553, Service Employees International Union, AFL—CIO. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on April 24, 2006).

 

10.32

 

Agreement dated February 20, 2009 between PNGI Charles Town Gaming Limited Liability Company and Charles Town HBPA, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008).

 

10.33

 

Equity Interest Purchase Agreement dated May 7, 2012 by and among Penn National Gaming, Inc., Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc., Harrah's Maryland Heights Operating Company, Players Maryland Heights Nevada, LLC, and Harrah's Maryland Heights, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).

 

10.34

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 28, 2015, by and among Penn National Gaming, Inc., Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Inc., LV Merger Sub, Inc. and Trilliant Gaming Nevada Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on April 29, 2015).

 

10.35#

 

Penn National Gaming, Inc. Performance Share Program. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 11, 2016).

 

10.36#

 

Form of Performance Shares Award Certificate for the Penn National Gaming, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 11, 2016).

 

21.1*

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

 

23.1*

 

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

31.1*

 

CEO Certification pursuant to rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

31.2*

 

CFO Certification pursuant to rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

32.1*

 

CEO Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.2*

 

CFO Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.

 

99.1*

 

Description of Governmental Regulation.

Table of Contents

Exhibit   Description of Exhibit
  101   Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and (vi) the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.

#
Compensation plans and arrangements for executives and others.

*
Filed herewith.



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Exhibit 21.1

Subsidiaries of Penn National Gaming, Inc. (a Pennsylvania corporation)

Name of Subsidiary
  State or Other
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation

Alton Casino, LLC (d/b/a Argosy Casino Alton)

  Illinois

HC Bangor, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Bangor)

  Maine

Belle of Sioux City, L.P. 

  Iowa

Beulah Park Gaming Ventures, Inc (d/b/a Beulah Park)

  Ohio

BSLO, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast)

  Mississippi

BTN, LLC (d/b/a Boomtown Biloxi)

  Mississippi

Casino Rama Services, Inc. 

  Ontario

Central Ohio Gaming Ventures, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Columbus)

  Ohio

CHC (Ontario) Supplies Limited

  Nova Scotia

CHC Casinos Canada Limited

  Nova Scotia

CHC Casinos Corp. 

  Florida

Crazy Horses, Inc (d/b/a Raceway Park)

  Ohio

CRC Holdings, Inc. 

  Florida

Dayton Real Estate Ventures, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway)

  Ohio

Delvest, LLC

  Delaware

eBetUSA.com, Inc. 

  Delaware

Gaming Jet Services, LLC

  Delaware

HC Joliet, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Joliet)

  Illinois

Hollywood Casinos, LLC

  Delaware

HC Aurora, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Aurora)

  Illinois

Houston Gaming Ventures, Inc. 

  Texas

HWCC—Tunica, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Tunica)

  Texas

Illinois Gaming Investors, LLC (d/b/a Prairie State Gaming)

  Delaware

Indiana Gaming Company, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg)

  Indiana

Iowa Gaming Company, LLC. 

  Iowa

Kansas Entertainment, LLC

  Delaware

LVGV, LLC (d/b/a M Resort)

  Nevada

Maryland Gaming Ventures, Inc

  Delaware

Massachusetts Gaming Ventures, LLC

  Delaware

Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course)

  Pennsylvania

Ohio Racing Company

  Ohio

Penn ADW, LLC

  Delaware

Penn Hollywood Kansas, Inc. 

  Delaware

Penn Interactive Ventures, LLC

  Delaware

Penn National GSFR, LLC

  Delaware

Penn National Holdings, LLC

  Delaware

Penn NJ OTW, LLC

  New Jersey

Penn Sanford, LLC (d/b/a Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club)

  Delaware

Penn Tenant, LLC

  Pennsylvania

Penn Ventures Japan K.K

  Japan

Pennsylvania National Turf Club, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course)

  Pennsylvania

Pennwood Racing, Inc. 

  Delaware

PHK Staffing, LLC

  Delaware

Plainville Gaming and Redevelopment, LLC (d/b/a Plainridge Park Casino)

  Delaware

PM Texas, LLC

  Delaware

PNGI Charles Town Gaming, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races)

  West Virginia

Prairie State Amusements, LLC

  Delaware

Prince George's Racing Ventures, LLC (d/b/a Rosecroft Raceway)

  Delaware

Raceway Park, Inc (d/b/a Raceway Park)

  Ohio

San Diego Gaming Ventures, LLC

  Delaware

SDGV Staffing, LLC

  Delaware

SOKC, LLC (d/b/a Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club)

  Delaware

St. Louis Gaming Ventures, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino St. Louis)

  Delaware

Name of Subsidiary
  State or Other
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation

The Missouri Gaming Company, LLC (d/b/a Argosy Casino Riverside)

  Missouri

The Shops at Tropicana Las Vegas, LLC

  Nevada

Toledo Gaming Ventures, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Toledo)

  Ohio

Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Inc (d/b/a Tropicana Las Vegas)

  Delaware

Tropicana Las Vegas, Inc

  Nevada

Tropicana Las Vegas Intermediate Holdings, Inc

  Delaware

Youngstown Real Estate Ventures, LLC (d/b/a Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course)

  Ohio

Zia Park, LLC (d/b/a Zia Park Casino)

  Delaware



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Subsidiaries of Penn National Gaming, Inc. (a Pennsylvania corporation)

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Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

of our reports dated March 15, 2016, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries, included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2015.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 15, 2016




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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OR 15d-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

I, Timothy J. Wilmott, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Penn National Gaming, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of the annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 15, 2016   /s/ TIMOTHY J. WILMOTT

    Name:   Timothy J. Wilmott
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President



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CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OR 15d-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OR 15d-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

I, Saul V. Reibstein, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Penn National Gaming, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of the annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 15, 2016   /s/ SAUL V. REIBSTEIN

    Name:   Saul V. Reibstein
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer



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CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OR 15d-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

        In connection with the Annual Report of Penn National Gaming, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Timothy J. Wilmott, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 that, to my knowledge:

    /s/ TIMOTHY J. WILMOTT

Timothy J. Wilmott
Chief Executive Officer and President
March 15, 2016



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CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

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EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002,
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

        In connection with the Annual Report of Penn National Gaming, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Saul V. Reibstein, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 that, to my knowledge:

    /s/ SAUL V. REIBSTEIN

Saul V. Reibstein
Chief Financial Officer
March 15, 2016



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CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002, 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

Exhibit 99.1

 

Description of Governmental Regulations

 

General

 

The ownership, operation, and management of our gaming and racing facilities are subject to significant regulation under the laws and regulations of each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Gaming laws are generally based upon declarations of public policy designed to protect gaming consumers and the viability and integrity of the gaming industry. Gaming laws also may be designed to protect and maximize state and local revenues derived through taxes and licensing fees imposed on gaming industry participants, as well as to enhance economic development and tourism. To accomplish these public policy goals, gaming laws establish procedures to ensure that participants in the gaming industry meet certain standards of character and fitness. In addition, gaming laws require gaming industry participants to:

 

·                  ensure that unsuitable individuals and organizations have no role in gaming operations;

·                  establish procedures designed to prevent cheating and fraudulent practices;

·                  establish and maintain responsible accounting practices and procedures;

·                  maintain effective controls over their financial practices, including establishing minimum procedures for internal fiscal affairs and the safeguarding of assets and revenues;

·                  maintain systems for reliable record keeping;

·                  file periodic reports with gaming regulators;

·                  ensure that contracts and financial transactions are commercially reasonable, reflect fair market value and are arms-length transactions; and

·                  establish programs to promote responsible gaming.

 

Typically, a state regulatory environment is established by statute and is administered by a regulatory agency with broad discretion to regulate the affairs of owners, managers, and persons with financial interests in gaming operations. Among other things, gaming authorities in the various jurisdictions in which we operate:

 

·                  adopt rules and regulations under the implementing statutes;

·                  interpret and enforce gaming laws;

·                  impose disciplinary sanctions for violations, including fines and penalties;

·                  review the character and fitness of participants in gaming operations and make determinations regarding their suitability or qualification for licensure;

·                  grant licenses for participation in gaming operations;

·                  collect and review reports and information submitted by participants in gaming operations;

·                  review and approve transactions, such as acquisitions or change-of-control transactions of gaming industry participants, securities offerings and debt transactions engaged in by such participants; and

·                  establish and collect fees and taxes.

 

Any change in the laws or regulations of a gaming jurisdiction could have a material adverse effect on our gaming operations.

 

Licensing and Suitability Determinations

 

Gaming laws require us, each of our subsidiaries engaged in gaming operations, certain of our directors, officers and employees, and in some cases, certain of our shareholders and holders of our debt securities, to obtain licenses from gaming authorities. Licenses typically require a determination that the applicant qualifies or is suitable to hold the license. Gaming authorities have broad discretion in determining whether an applicant qualifies for licensing or should be deemed suitable. Criteria used in determining whether to grant a license to conduct gaming operations, while varying between jurisdictions, generally include consideration of factors such as:

 

·                  the good character, honesty and integrity of the applicant;

 



 

·                  the financial stability, integrity and responsibility of the applicant, including whether the operation is adequately capitalized in the state and exhibits the ability to maintain adequate insurance levels;

·                  the quality of the applicant’s casino facilities;

·                  the amount of revenue to be derived by the applicable state from the operation of the applicant’s casino;

·                  the applicant’s practices with respect to minority hiring and training; and

·                  the effect on competition and general impact on the community.

 

In evaluating individual applicants, gaming authorities consider the individual’s business experience and reputation for good character, the individual’s criminal history and the character of those with whom the individual associates.

 

Many gaming jurisdictions limit the number of licenses granted to operate casinos within the state, and some states limit the number of licenses granted to any one gaming operator. Licenses under gaming laws are generally not transferable without regulatory approval. Licenses in most of the jurisdictions in which we conduct gaming operations are granted for limited durations and require renewal from time to time. There can be no assurance that any of our licenses will be renewed. The failure to renew any of our licenses could have a material adverse effect on our gaming operations.

 

In addition, our Development and Operating Agreement with respect to the operation of Casino Rama was extended in June 2014 on a month-to-month basis with a 60-day notice period for a maximum period of forty-eight months. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (“OLGC”) has announced plans to explore bids for new operating contracts and privatization plans in Ontario, including at Casino Rama. As a result, there is no assurance how long the OLGC will continue to engage us to manage the property.

 

In addition to us and our direct and indirect subsidiaries engaged in gaming operations, gaming authorities may investigate any individual who has a material relationship to or material involvement with any of these entities to determine whether such individual is suitable or should be licensed. Our officers, directors and certain key employees must file applications with the gaming authorities and may be required to be licensed, qualify or be found suitable in many jurisdictions. Gaming authorities may deny an application for licensing for any cause which they deem reasonable. Qualification and suitability determinations require submission of detailed personal and financial information followed by a thorough investigation. The applicant must pay all the costs of the investigation. Changes in licensed positions must be reported to gaming authorities and in addition to their authority to deny an application for licensure, qualification or a finding of suitability, gaming authorities have jurisdiction to disapprove a change in a corporate position.

 

If one or more gaming authorities were to find that an officer, director or key employee fails to qualify or is unsuitable for licensing or unsuitable to continue having a relationship with us, we would be required to sever all relationships with such person. In addition, gaming authorities may require us to terminate the employment of any person who refuses to file appropriate applications.

 

Moreover, in many jurisdictions, certain of our stockholders or holders of our debt securities may be required to undergo a suitability investigation similar to that described above. Many jurisdictions require any person who acquires beneficial ownership of more than a certain percentage of our voting securities, typically 5%, to report the acquisition to gaming authorities, and gaming authorities may require such holders to apply for qualification or a finding of suitability. Most gaming authorities, however, allow an “institutional investor” to apply for a waiver. An “institutional investor” is generally defined as an investor acquiring and holding voting securities in the ordinary course of business as an institutional investor, and not for the purpose of causing, directly or indirectly, the election of a member of our board of directors, any change in our corporate charter, bylaws, management, policies or operations, or those of any of our gaming affiliates, or the taking of any other action which gaming authorities find to be inconsistent with holding our voting securities for passive investment purposes only. Even if a waiver is granted, an institutional investor generally may not take any action inconsistent with its status when the waiver was granted without once again becoming subject to the foregoing reporting and application obligations.

 

Generally, any person who fails or refuses to apply for a finding of suitability or a license within the prescribed period after being advised it is required by gaming authorities may be denied a license or found

 



 

unsuitable, as applicable. Any stockholder found unsuitable or denied a license and who holds, directly or indirectly, any beneficial ownership of our voting securities beyond such period of time as may be prescribed by the applicable gaming authorities may be guilty of a criminal offense. Furthermore, we may be subject to disciplinary action if, after we receive notice that a person is unsuitable to be a stockholder or to have any other relationship with us or any of our subsidiaries, we: (i) pay that person any dividend or interest upon our voting securities; (ii) allow that person to exercise, directly or indirectly, any voting right conferred through securities held by that person; (iii) pay remuneration in any form to that person for services rendered or otherwise; or (iv) fail to pursue all lawful efforts to require such unsuitable person to relinquish his voting securities including, if necessary, the immediate purchase of said voting securities for cash at fair market value.

 

The gaming jurisdictions in which we operate also require that suppliers of certain goods and services to gaming industry participants be licensed and require us to purchase and lease gaming equipment, and certain supplies and services only from licensed suppliers.

 

Violations of Gaming Laws

 

If we or our subsidiaries violate applicable gaming laws, our gaming licenses could be limited, conditioned, suspended or revoked by gaming authorities, and we and any other persons involved could be subject to substantial fines. Further, a supervisor or conservator can be appointed by gaming authorities to operate our gaming properties, or in some jurisdictions, take title to our gaming assets in the jurisdiction, and under certain circumstances, earnings generated during such appointment could be forfeited to the applicable state or states. Furthermore, violations of laws in one jurisdiction could result in disciplinary action in other jurisdictions. As a result, violations by us of applicable gaming laws could have a material adverse effect on our gaming operations.

 

Some gaming jurisdictions prohibit certain types of political activity by a gaming licensee, its officers, directors and key people. A violation of such a prohibition may subject the offender to criminal and/or disciplinary action.

 

Reporting and Record-keeping Requirements

 

We are required periodically to submit detailed financial and operating reports and furnish any other information about us and our subsidiaries which gaming authorities may require. Under federal law, we are required to record and submit detailed reports of currency transactions involving greater than $10,000 at our casinos as well as any suspicious activity that may occur at such facilities. We are required to maintain a current stock ledger which may be examined by gaming authorities at any time. If any securities are held in trust by an agent or by a nominee, the record holder may be required to disclose the identity of the beneficial owner to gaming authorities. A failure to make such disclosure may be grounds for finding the record holder unsuitable. Gaming authorities may require certificates for our securities to bear a legend indicating that the securities are subject to specified gaming laws.

 

Review and Approval of Transactions

 

Substantially all material loans, leases, sales of securities and similar financing transactions by us and our subsidiaries must be reported to and in some cases approved by gaming authorities. Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries may make a public offering of securities without the prior approval of certain gaming authorities. Changes in control through merger, consolidation, stock or asset acquisitions, management or consulting agreements, or otherwise are subject to receipt of prior approval of gaming authorities. Entities seeking to acquire control of us or one of our subsidiaries must satisfy gaming authorities with respect to a variety of stringent standards prior to assuming control. Gaming authorities may also require controlling stockholders, officers, directors and other persons having a material relationship or involvement with the entity proposing to acquire control to be investigated and licensed as part of the approval process relating to the transaction.

 

Because of regulatory restrictions, our ability to grant a security interest in any of our gaming assets is limited and subject to receipt of prior approval by certain gaming authorities.

 



 

License Fees and Gaming Taxes

 

We pay substantial license fees and taxes in many jurisdictions, including some of the counties and cities in which our operations are conducted, in connection with our casino gaming operations, computed in various ways depending on the type of gaming or activity involved. Depending upon the particular fee or tax involved, these fees and taxes are payable with varying frequency. License fees and taxes are based upon such factors as:

 

·                  a percentage of the gross gaming revenues received;

·                  the number of gaming devices and table games operated;

·                  admission fees for customers boarding our riverboat casinos; and

·                  one time fees payable upon the initial receipt of license and fees in connection with the renewal of license.

 

In many jurisdictions, gaming tax rates are graduated, such that they increase as gross gaming revenues increase. Furthermore, tax rates are subject to change, sometimes with little notice, and such changes could have a material adverse effect on our gaming operations.

 

In addition to taxes specifically unique to gaming, we are required to pay all other applicable taxes.

 

Operational Requirements

 

In most jurisdictions, we are subject to certain requirements and restrictions on how we must conduct our gaming operations. In many states, we are required to give preference to local suppliers and include minority and women-owned businesses as well as organized labor in construction projects to the maximum extent practicable as well as in general vendor business activity. Similarly, we may be required to give employment preference to minorities, women and in-state residents in certain jurisdictions.

 

Some gaming jurisdictions also prohibit a distribution, except to allow for the payment of taxes, if the distribution would impair the financial viability of the gaming operation. Moreover, many jurisdictions require a gaming operation to maintain insurance and post bonds in amounts determined by their gaming authority.

 

In addition, our ability to conduct certain types of games, introduce new games or move existing games within our facilities may be restricted or subject to regulatory review and approval. Some of our operations are subject to restrictions on the number of gaming positions we may have and the maximum wagers allowed to be placed by our customers.

 

In Mississippi, we are required to include a 500 car parking facility in close proximity to each casino complex and infrastructure facilities that will amount to at least twenty five percent of the casino cost. This requirement has recently been increased for any new casinos in Mississippi.

 

In Pennsylvania, the holder of a Category 1 license is required to create a fund to be used for the improvement and maintenance of the backside area of the racetrack. A Category 1 licensee must deposit into the fund a minimum of $5,000,000 over the initial five year period of the license and an amount not less than $250,000 or more than $1,000,000 annually for the five years thereafter. We have reached an agreement with the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association on the allocation of these funds.

 

Riverboat Casinos

 

In addition to all other regulations generally applicable to the gaming industry generally, certain of our riverboat casinos are also subject to regulations applicable to vessels operating on navigable waterways, including regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard, or alternative inspection requirements. These requirements set limits on the operation of the vessel, mandate that it must be operated by a minimum complement of licensed personnel, establish periodic inspections, including the physical inspection of the outside hull, and establish other mechanical and operations rules. In addition, the riverboat casinos may be subject to future U.S. Coast Guard regulations, or alternative security procedures, designed to increase homeland security which could affect some of our properties and require significant expenditures to bring such properties into compliance.

 



 

Racetracks

 

We conduct horse racing operations at our thoroughbred racetracks in Charles Town, West Virginia, Grantville, Pennsylvania, Hobbs, New Mexico, Austintown, Ohio, and at our harness racetracks in Bangor, Maine, Dayton, Ohio, Fort Washington, Maryland and Plainville, Massachusetts. Through a joint venture agreement we have an ownership interest in a harness racetrack in Freehold, New Jersey, along with two off-track wagering facilities and a minority interest in an account wagering operations.  In Texas, we have a joint venture agreement for the operation of a thoroughbred track in Houston and a greyhound racing facility in Harlingen.  We conduct greyhound racing in Seminole County, Florida, at our Sanford Orlando facility. In Pennsylvania, we operate three off-track wagering facilities and conduct account wagering operations through our pari-mutuel licensees in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. We currently operate video lottery terminals and table games at the Charles Town, West Virginia racetrack, and operate video lottery terminals at our racetracks in Austintown, Ohio and Dayton, Ohio. We operate slot machines and table games at our Grantville, Pennsylvania racetrack, operate slot machines and table games in Bangor, Maine at a facility located near the racetrack and operate slot machines at our Hobbs, New Mexico racetrack. Generally, our slot and table operations at racetracks are regulated in the same manner as our gaming operations in other jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions, our ability to conduct gaming operations may be conditioned on the maintenance of agreements or certain arrangements with horsemen’s or labor groups or meeting minimum live racing requirements.

 

Regulations governing our horse racing operations are, in most jurisdictions, administered separately from the regulations governing gaming operations, with separate licenses and license fee structures. The racing authorities responsible for regulating our racing operations have broad oversight authority, which may include: annually reviewing and granting racing licenses and racing dates; approving the opening and operation of off track wagering facilities; approving simulcasting activities; licensing all officers, directors, racing officials and certain other employees of a racing licensee; and approving certain contracts entered into by a racing licensee affecting racing, pari-mutuel wagering, account wagering and off track wagering operations.

 

Indian Gaming

 

On April 5, 2013, we announced that we and the Jamul Indian Village (the “Jamul Tribe”) have entered into definitive agreements for a management contract to jointly develop a Hollywood Casino-branded casino and resort on the Jamul Tribe’s trust land in San Diego County, California, which is located approximately 20 miles east of downtown San Diego.

 

The terms and conditions of management contracts and the operation of casinos and gaming on Indian land in the United States are subject to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (the “IGRA”), which is administered by the National Indian Gaming Commission (the “NIGC”). The IGRA is subject to interpretation by the NIGC and may be subject to judicial and legislative clarification or amendment.

 

The IGRA requires NIGC approval of management contracts for gaming on Indian lands, as well as the review of all agreements collateral to the management contracts. Management contracts which are not so approved are void. The NIGC will not approve a management contract if a director or a 10% stockholder of the management company: (i) is an elected member of the governing body of the Native American tribe which is the party to the management contract; (ii) has been or subsequently is convicted of a felony or gaming offense; (iii) has knowingly and willfully provided materially important false information to the NIGC or the tribe; (iv) has refused to respond to questions from the NIGC; or (v) is a person whose prior history, reputation and associations pose a threat to the public interest or to effective gaming regulation and control, or create or enhance the chance of unsuitable activities in gaming or the business and financial arrangements incidental thereto. In addition, the NIGC will not approve a management contract if the management company or any of its agents have attempted to unduly influence any decision or process of tribal government relating to gaming, or if the management company has materially breached the terms of the management contract or the tribe’s gaming ordinance or resolution, or a trustee, exercising the skill and due diligence that a trustee is commonly held to, would not approve the management contract.

 

A management contract can be approved only after the NIGC determines that the contract provides, among other things, for: (i) adequate accounting procedures and verifiable financial reports, which must be furnished to the tribe; (ii) tribal access to the daily operations of the gaming enterprise, including the right to verify daily gross revenues and income; (iii) minimum guaranteed payments to the tribe, which must have priority over the retirement

 



 

of development and construction costs; (iv) a ceiling on the repayment of such development and construction costs; and (v) a contract term not exceeding five years and a management fee not exceeding 30% of net revenues (as determined by the NIGC), provided that the NIGC may approve up to a seven-year term and a management fee not to exceed 40% of net revenues if the NIGC is satisfied that the capital investment required, and the income projections for the particular gaming activity require the larger fee and longer term. There is no periodic or ongoing review of approved contracts by the NIGC. The only post-approval action that could result in possible modification or cancellation of a contract would be as the result of an enforcement action taken by the NIGC based on a violation of the law or an issue affecting suitability. On January 24, 2014, the NIGC staff made a preliminary determination that terms of the management agreement between the Company and the Jamul Tribe are consistent with IGRA and the regulations of the NIGC, subject to a final determination by the NIGC that the Company and its executive management team are deemed suitable and the project obtains the requisite federal environmental approvals.

 

Indian tribes are sovereign with their own governmental systems that have primary regulatory authority over activities within the tribes’ jurisdiction. Therefore, persons engaged in gaming activities, including the Company, are subject to the provisions of tribal ordinances and regulations. The Jamul Tribe has a Class III gaming ordinance that was approved by the NIGC on July 1, 2013. Tribal gaming ordinances are subject to review by the NIGC under certain circumstances. The NIGC may determine that some or all of the ordinances require amendment, and/or that additional requirements, including additional licensing requirements, may be imposed on us. The possession of valid licenses from the Jamul Tribe is an ongoing condition of our agreement with the Jamul Tribe.