SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K/A

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 15, 1997

                           PENN NATIONAL GAMING, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



          Pennsylvania                     0-24206           23-2234473
(State or other jurisdiction of          (Commission        (I.R.S.Employer
 incorporation or organization)           File Number)      Identification No)




               825 Berkshire Blvd. Wyomissing, PA       19610
            (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code 610-373-2400

























Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

(a)          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESSES ACQUIRED.  The following
financial statements of Charles Town Races Inc. and Charles Town Racing Limited 
Partnership are filed as part of this Current Report  on Form 8 -K:

                                                                        Page No.

      Report of Independent Accountants                                   *

      Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1994                    *
      And 1995 and at September 30, 1996 (unaudited)

      Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained                      *
      Earnings for the years ended December 31, 1993,  1994 and 
      1995 and for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 (unaudited)

      Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years                  *
      ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and for the
      nine months ended September 30, 1996  (unaudited)

      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                          *



(b)            PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION.  The following unaudited
pro forma combined financial information is filed as part of this
Current  Report  on Form 8-K:

      Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information              *

      Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet                      *

      Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income                *

      Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated                           *
      Financial Statements

*             Incorporated by reference to the corresponding items included in
Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(File No. 333-18861)  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 11, 1997


















(c)   Exhibits.


Exhibit No.       Description

2.1               Amended and Restated Option Agreement dated as of
                  February 17, 1995 among Charles Town Races, Inc., Charles
                  Town Racing Limited Partnership, and PNGI Charles Town Gaming
                  Limited Liability Company. (*)

2.2               Transfer, Assignment and Assumption Agreement and Bill of
                  Sale dated January 15, 1997 among Charles Town Races, Inc.,
                  Charles Town Racing Limited Partnership, and PNGI Charles
                  Town Gaming Limited Liability Company. (*)

2.3               Closing Agreement dated January 15, 1997 among Charles Town
                  Races, Inc., Charles Town Racing Limited Partnership, and
                  PNGI Charles Town Gaming Limited Liability Company. (*)

2.4               Amended and Restated Operating Agreement dated as of December
                  31, 1996 among Penn National Gaming of West Virginia, Inc.,
                  Bryant Development Company and PNGI Charles Town Gaming
                  Limited Liability Company. (*)

2.5               Letter dated January 14, 1997 from Peter M. Carlino to James
                  A. Reeder. (*)

2.6               First Amendment and Consent dated as of January 7, 1997 among
                  the Company, Bankers Trust Company as Agent, CoreStates Bank,
                  N.A. as Co-Agent, and certain banks party to the Credit
                  Agreement dated as of November 27, 1996. (*)

23.5              Consent of Leonard J. Miller & Associates **


*     Previously filed

**    Filed herewith









                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements 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/ Robert S. Ippolito
Robert S. Ippolito  Chief Financial Officer,
      Secretary/Treasurer

Date: March 25, 1997












































                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.       Description

2.1               Amended and Restated Option Agreement dated as of
                  February 17, 1995 among Charles Town Races, Inc., Charles
                  Town Racing Limited Partnership, and PNGI Charles Town Gaming
                  Limited Liability Company. (*)

2.2               Transfer, Assignment and Assumption Agreement and Bill of
                  Sale dated January 15, 1997 among Charles Town Races, Inc.,
                  Charles Town Racing Limited Partnership, and PNGI Charles
                  Town Gaming Limited Liability Company. (*)

2.3               Closing Agreement dated January 15, 1997 among Charles Town
                  Races, Inc., Charles Town Racing Limited Partnership, and
                  PNGI Charles Town Gaming Limited Liability Company. (*)

2.4               Amended and Restated Operating Agreement dated as of December
                  31, 1996 among Penn National Gaming of West Virginia, Inc.,
                  Bryant Development Company and PNGI Charles Town Gaming
                  Limited Liability Company. (*)

2.5               Letter dated January 14, 1997 from Peter M. Carlino to James
                  A. Reeder. (*)

2.6               First Amendment and Consent dated as of January 7, 1997 among
                  the Company, Bankers Trust Company as Agent, CoreStates Bank,
                  N.A. as Co-Agent, and certain banks party to the Credit
                  Agreement dated as of November 27, 1996. (*)

23.5              Consent of Leonard J. Miller & Associates **


*     Previously filed

**    Filed herewith













                                  EXHIBIT 23.5


                             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
                          CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


Penn National Gaming, Inc.
825 Berkshire Boulevard
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania


      We hereby  consent to the inclusion in the current report on Form 8-K/A of
Penn National Gaming,  Inc. dated March 25, 1997 to be filed with the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  of our report  dated  April 8,  1996,relating  to the
consolidated  financial  statements of Charles Town Races, Inc. and Charles Town
Racing Limited  Partnership as of December 31, 1994 and 1995 and for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1995.


                              /s/  LEONARD J. MILLER & ASSOCIATES, CHARTERED

                                   LEONARD J. MILLER & ASSOCIATES,  CHARTERED


Baltimore, Maryland
March 25, 1997