<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-04-015490
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040727
<FILING-DATE>20040729
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PENN NATIONAL GAMING INC
<CIK>0000921738
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7990
<IRS-NUMBER>232234473
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>PA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>825 BERKSHIRE BLVD STE 200
<STREET2>WYOMISSING PROFESSIONAL CENTER
<CITY>WYOMISSING
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>19610
<PHONE>6103732400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>825 BERSHIRE BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE 200
<CITY>WYOMISSING
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>19610
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HANDLER DAVID A
<CIK>0001218092
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-24206
<FILM-NUMBER>04939370
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>825 BERKSHIRE BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE 200
<CITY>WYOMISSING
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>19610
<PHONE>6103732400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>825 BERKSHIRE BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE 200
<CITY>WYOMISSING
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>19610
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921738</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENN NATIONAL GAMING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PENN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218092</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANDLER DAVID A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>825 BERKSHIRE BLVD SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WYOMISSING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19610</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2790</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Foundation</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All Transactions on this form 4 were made pursuant to a stock trading plan, dated April 23, 2004, established pursuant to rule 10b5-1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is also the indirect beneficial owner of 2,790 shares owned by The Grosevnor Foundation of which the reporting person is an officer and director.  The reporting person gifted these shares to the foundation on February 13, 2004.  The Grosevnor Foundation sold such shares on July 27, 2004 pursuant to a trading plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Also ownes 30,000 shares directly</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Robert S Ippolito as attorney-in-fact for David A Handler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
