Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PENN: Nasdaq) (the “Company,” “Penn National,” or “Penn National Gaming”) announced today that Richard St. Jean has been named General Manager of Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego. Mr. St. Jean, who currently serves as General Manager of Hollywood Casino Toledo, will also assume an oversight role at Zia Park Casino Hotel & Racetrack in Hobbs, New Mexico. The Company also named Frank Quigley, until recently the interim General Manager of Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario, as General Manager of Hollywood Casino Toledo. Both appointments are subject to customary regulatory approvals and are expected to be effective in early June 2015.

Mr. St. Jean will have full responsibility for the opening and management of the planned $360 million Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego, which will be owned by the Jamul Indian Village of California and managed by Penn National Gaming. The new property, situated approximately 20 miles east of downtown San Diego off State Route 94, is scheduled to open in mid-2016 and is expected to feature 1,700 slot machines and 43 live table games along with multiple food and beverage options. Mr. St. Jean will also oversee the Company’s efforts to recruit and train approximately 1,000 employees who will serve at the property upon its opening. In addition, he will assume an oversight role at the Company’s Zia Park Casino Hotel & Racetrack, where he will work closely with recently named General Manager Hussain Mahrous to drive continued growth at the property, which saw the addition of a new 154-room hotel in August 2014.

Richard St. Jean served four years as General Manager of Hollywood Casino Toledo, where he led the team credited with the successful May 2012 opening and ramp of operations at the Company’s $300 million facility. He joined Penn National in May 2011 following a 16-year career at Station Casinos during which he served in a number of roles, including President of Native American Gaming, Vice President and General Manager of Development, and a variety of property management roles. Mr. St. Jean’s nearly 30-year career has also included roles at The Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.

Jay Snowden, Chief Operating Officer of Penn National Gaming, commented, “Richard has the ideal background and experience to join the Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego team and lead the effort to prepare for the opening of our newest property. Richard’s track record of operational success and team building in Toledo speaks for itself and he has demonstrated his ability to drive excellence across all areas of property operation. In addition, Richard knows and understands the Native American gaming business based on his experience at Station Casinos. We believe this experience is a great match as we establish Penn National’s foundation in a new market while providing the Jamul Indian Village of California the opportunity to become economically self-sufficient.”

Frank Quigley rejoined Penn National in January 2015 as interim General Manager of Casino Rama. Previously, he served as General Manager of Penn National facilities in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, and Louisiana. Prior to joining Penn National in 2003, he served as Vice President of Slot Operations at Harrah’s Showboat Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey and for over 20 years at Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City, where he ascended from dealer to the rank of Vice President of Table Games/Credit/Security.

“We are extremely excited to have Frank Quigley back on the team,” said Mr. Snowden. “He brings a strong record of accomplishment at Penn National Gaming to his new role in Toledo and has extensive experience with our diverse base of regional gaming operations. Gaming is clearly in Frank’s blood and we believe his knowledge of the Company’s goals and operating strategies will ensure that our Toledo property can continue to grow.”

About Penn National Gaming

Penn National Gaming owns, operates or has ownership interests in gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment. At March 31, 2015, the Company operated twenty-six facilities in seventeen jurisdictions, including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Ontario. At March 31, 2015, in aggregate, Penn National Gaming’s operated facilities featured approximately 31,000 gaming machines, 760 table games and 3,100 hotel rooms.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as “expects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should” or “anticipates” or the negative or other variations of these or similar words, or by discussions of future events, strategies or risks and uncertainties, including future plans, strategies, performance, developments, acquisitions, capital expenditures, and operating results. Actual results may vary materially from expectations. These forward looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Penn National Gaming and its subsidiaries, including, with respect to the proposed Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego, particular risks associated with financing a project of this type, sovereign immunity, local opposition (including several pending lawsuits), and building a complex project on a relatively small parcel; as well as market conditions affecting local markets, and the risks associated with construction projects (such as delays and unexpected costs), and accordingly, any forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as well as any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, each as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur.