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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                           PENN NATIONAL GAMING, INC.
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                                (Name of Issuer)


                          Common Stock, $0.01 par value
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                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    707569109
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                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                 Randal Nardone
                                PNG Holdings LLC
                     1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor
                            New York, New York 10105
                                 (212) 798-6100

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                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                   copies to:
                            Adam M. Turteltaub, Esq.
                          Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
                            New York, New York 10019
                                 (212) 728-8000

                                December 26, 2007
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             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

       If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to
       report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is
       filing this schedule because of ss.ss.240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or
       240.13d-1(g), check the following box:  [ ]

       Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and
       five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 240.13d-7
       for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

       * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
       person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
       securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
       would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

       The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
       deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
       that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of
       the Act (however, see the Notes).







                                  SCHEDULE 13D

---------------------------                          ---------------------------
CUSIP No.   707569109                                Page 2 of 8 Pages
---------------------------                          ---------------------------
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    1       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

            PNG Holdings LLC
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    2       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                                      (a) [ ]
                                                                      (b) [X]
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    3       SEC USE ONLY

----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    4       SOURCE OF FUNDS

            AF; see Item 3
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    5       CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
            ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)     [ ]
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    6       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

            Delaware
--------------------- --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         7      SOLE VOTING POWER

                                0
                      --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         8      SHARED VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED              2,866,335; see Items 4 and 5
BY EACH REPORTING     --------- ------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH               9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                0
                      --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                2,866,335; see Item 5
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

            2,866,335
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    12      CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
            SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

            3.3%
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

            OO
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------







                                  SCHEDULE 13D

---------------------------                          ---------------------------
CUSIP No.   707569109                                Page 3 of 8 Pages
---------------------------                          ---------------------------
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    1       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

            FIF V Voteco LLC
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    2       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                                      (a) [ ]
                                                                      (b) [X]
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    3       SEC USE ONLY

----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    4       SOURCE OF FUNDS

            N/A
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    5       CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
            ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)     [ ]
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    6       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

            Delaware
--------------------- --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         7      SOLE VOTING POWER

                                0
                      --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         8      SHARED VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED              2,821,821; see Items 4 and 5
BY EACH REPORTING     --------- ------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH               9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                0
                      --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                2,821,821; see Item 5
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

            2,821,821
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    12      CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
            SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

            3.2%
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

            OO
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------








                                  SCHEDULE 13D

---------------------------                          ---------------------------
CUSIP No.   707569109                                Page 4 of 8 Pages
---------------------------                          ---------------------------
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    1       NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
            I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

            Centerbridge Voteco LLC
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    2       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                                      (a) [ ]
                                                                      (b) [X]
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    3       SEC USE ONLY

----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    4       SOURCE OF FUNDS

            N/A
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    5       CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
            ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)     [ ]
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    6       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

            Delaware
--------------------- --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         7      SOLE VOTING POWER

                                0
                      --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         8      SHARED VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED              2,708,513; see Items 4 and 5
BY EACH REPORTING     --------- ------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH               9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                0
                      --------- ------------------------------------------------
                         10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                2,708,513; see Item 5
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

            2,708,513
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    12      CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
            SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

            3.1%
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
    14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

            OO
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------------







     This Schedule 13D (the "Schedule 13D") is being filed on behalf of PNG
Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Holdings"), FIF V Voteco
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("FIF V Voteco"), and Centerbridge
Voteco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("CB Voteco").

     The foregoing persons are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Reporting Persons." The Reporting Persons are making this single joint filing
pursuant to the agreement (the "Joint Filing Agreement") attached hereto as
Exhibit 1.

Item 1.   Security and the Issuer

     This Schedule 13D relates to the common stock, $0.01 par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), of Penn National Gaming, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation
(the "Company"). The Company's principal executive offices are located at 825
Berkshire Blvd., Suite 200, Wyomissing, PA 19610.

Item 2.   Identity and Background

     The Reporting Persons are making this joint filing because, together with
Peter M. Carlino ("Mr. Carlino"), the Reporting Persons may be deemed to
constitute a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), although neither the fact
of this filing nor anything contained herein shall be deemed to be an admission
by the Reporting Persons that such a group exists.

     Holdings was formed as a holding company through which certain funds
affiliated with Fortress Investment Group LLC and Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
intend to make their investments in PNG Acquisition Company, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Parent"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings, in connection
with the Merger (as defined below).

     FIF V Voteco is the managing member of Holdings and holds approximately 78%
of the voting membership interests in Holdings. CB Voteco holds approximately
22% of voting membership interests in Holdings.

     The address of the principal business office of Holdings and FIF V Voteco
is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor, New York, New York 10105. The
address of the principal business office of CB Voteco is 375 Park Avenue, 12th
Floor, New York, New York 10152.

     Set forth in Annex A attached hereto is a list of the managers and members
of the Reporting Persons (collectively, the "Covered Persons"), and the business
address and present principal occupation or employment of each of the Covered
Persons, and is incorporated herein by reference. Except as set forth in Annex
A, each of the Covered Persons is a United States citizen.

     During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the best
of their knowledge, none of the Covered Persons (i) has been convicted in a
criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or
(ii) has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body
of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject
to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or



prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws
or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3.   Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

     Holdings acquired beneficial ownership of the 202,336 shares of Common
Stock it holds directly pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement (as defined
below). The aggregate cash purchase price for such shares, $11,974,244.48, was
funded by affiliates of Holdings. As described in Item 4 below, the Reporting
Persons may be deemed to constitute a "group" with Mr. Carlino within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act. As a result, the Reporting
Persons' aggregate beneficial ownership also includes 2,663,999 shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Carlino, although the Reporting Persons and the
Covered Persons expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares owned by
Mr. Carlino. The source and amount of funds used to acquire such shares are
described in that certain Schedule 13D filed by Mr. Carlino on June 25, 2007, as
amended from time to time (the "Carlino Schedule 13D").

Item 4.   Purpose of Transaction.

     On June 15, 2007, the Company agreed to be acquired by Holdings, through
its wholly owned subsidiary, Parent. The acquisition will be consummated
pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, Parent and
PNG Merger Sub Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent ("Merger Sub"), dated June 15, 2007 (the "Merger Agreement"), which
provides, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth
therein, for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger"),
with the Company as the surviving corporation. As a result of the Merger, the
Company will become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings.

     In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, on June 15, 2007,
Mr. Carlino entered into a letter agreement with Holdings (the "Letter
Agreement") agreeing that he would become a member of Holdings immediately prior
to the consummation of the Merger. Pursuant to the terms of the Letter
Agreement, Mr. Carlino also agreed to enter into an employment agreement with
Holdings and the Company upon consummation of the Merger. The employment
agreement will have terms similar to his current terms of employment, continuing
his current role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr.
Carlino may also participate in an equity incentive plan of Holdings. As a
result of the foregoing, the Reporting Persons may be deemed to constitute a
"group" with Mr. Carlino within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act and, as such, the Reporting Persons' aggregate beneficial ownership includes
shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Carlino. The Reporting Persons
and the Covered Persons expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of any shares
owned by Mr. Carlino. The Reporting Persons and Mr. Carlino are making separate
Schedule 13D filings.

     On December 26, 2007, Holdings entered into an agreement (the "Stock
Purchase Agreement") with Len DeAngelo, Gene Clark and Bill Clifford, each
executives of the Company (collectively, the "Executives") pursuant to which
Holdings agreed to purchase shares of Common Stock acquired by the Executives
pursuant to the exercise of stock options, at a price equal to the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of purchase. The Stock Purchase




Agreement was entered into in connection with actions taken by the Company and
the Executives to minimize the amount of "gross-up payments" pertaining to
certain federal excise taxes that may have been owed to the Executives under the
terms of their existing employment agreements with the Company. The transactions
contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement were consummated on December 29,
2007.

     On February 4, 2008, Mr. Carlino entered into a letter agreement (the
"Trustee Letter Agreement") with respect to that certain irrevocable trust,
dated April 11, 1994 (the "Carlino Family Trust"), among Peter D. Carlino, his
eight children (including Mr. Carlino), and the former spouse of one of his
children, as settlors, and certain trustees. Prior to the Trustee Letter
Agreement, (a) Mr. Carlino had sole voting power for the election of directors
and certain other matters and (b) the majority vote of Peter D. Carlino, Mr.
Carlino, David E. Carlino, Richard J. Carlino and Harold Cramer was required in
connection with investment decisions and voting with respect to matters relating
to changes of control. Pursuant to the Trustee Letter Agreement, Mr. Carlino
irrevocably delegated to Harold Cramer and, in certain instances, to the other
three trustees of the Carlino Family Trust his authority to vote and/or dispose
of the 9,533,604 shares of Common Stock (the "Trust Shares") owned by the
Carlino Family Trust until the earlier of (i) the termination of the Merger or
the Closing otherwise failing to occur on the Closing Date, (ii) any actual or
proposed amendment to the Agreement that would be adverse to any shareholder of
the Company, or (iii) the consummation of the Merger. Mr. Carlino disclaims
beneficial ownership of the Trust Shares and, as previously noted, the Reporting
Persons and the Covered Persons disclaim beneficial ownership of any shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Carlino; however, if Mr. Carlino was
deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Trust Shares, then for the period
between December 26, 2007 (the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement) and
February 4, 2008 (the date of the Trustee Letter Agreement), the Reporting
Persons may also be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Trust Shares for
such period.

     The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement, the Stock Purchase
Agreement, the Letter Agreement and the Trustee Letter Agreement are qualified
in their entirety by reference to such agreements, copies of which are attached
to this Schedule 13D as Exhibits 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, and incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 5.   Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

     Due to their respective relationships with Holdings and with each other and
Mr. Carlino, as of January 31, 2007, (i) FIF V Voteco may be deemed to
beneficially own, in the aggregate 2,821,821 shares of Common Stock, (ii) CB
Voteco may be deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate 2,708,513 shares of
Common Stock, and (iii) Holdings may be deemed to beneficially own, in the
aggregate 2,866,335 shares of Common Stock. The totals set forth above include
2,663,999 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Carlino as described
in the Carlino Schedule 13D and, as discussed above in Item 4, do not include
the Trust Shares as to which the Reporting Persons and the Covered Persons
disclaim beneficial ownership.

     All percentages set forth in this Item 5 and in the cover pages of this
Schedule 13D are calculated on the basis of 86,882,020 shares of the Company's
Common Stock outstanding as of February 4, 2008. The 861,300 shares of the
Company's Common Stock that may be acquired upon the exercise of outstanding
options held by Mr. Carlino as reported in the Carlino Schedule 13D were deemed
outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of Common Stock
beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons.




     Neither the filing of this Schedule 13D nor any of its contents shall be
deemed to constitute an admission by any of the Reporting Persons or Covered
Persons that it is the beneficial owner of any of the Common Stock owned by Mr.
Carlino referred to herein for purposes of the Exchange Act, or for any other
purpose, and such beneficial ownership is expressly disclaimed by each Reporting
Person and Covered Person. To the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, none of
the Covered Persons directly owns any Common Stock. However, by reason of their
status as a manager or member of a Reporting Person, a Covered Person may be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of the Common Stock beneficially
owned by such Reporting Person.

     Except as set forth herein, none of the Reporting Persons, nor, to their
knowledge, any Covered Person, has made any purchase, sale or any other
transaction in the Company's Common Stock during the 60 days preceding the date
of this Schedule 13D. A description of any purchase, sale or other transaction
in the Company's Common Stock by Mr. Carlino is set forth in the Carlino
Schedule 13D.

Item 6.   Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect
          to Securities of the Issuer.

     See Item 4 of this Schedule 13D for a description of the agreements entered
into by the Reporting Persons.

Item 7.   Material to be filed as Exhibits.

Exhibit 1 - Joint Filing Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2008, by and among
the Reporting Persons.

Exhibit 2 - Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 15, 2007, by and
among the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 15, 2007.

Exhibit 3 - Stock Purchase Agreement, dated December 26, 2007, between Holdings
and Len DeAngelo, Gene Clark and Bill Clifford.

Exhibit 4 - Agreement by and between Mr. Carlino and Holdings dated June 15,
2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit C to Schedule 13D filed by Mr.
Carlino with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2007.

Exhibit 5 - Letter Agreement by and between Mr. Carlino and the other Trustees
of the Carlino Family Trust, dated as of February 4, 2008.







                                   SIGNATURES


     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of each of the undersigned's
knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned, severally and not jointly,
certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

Dated: February 4, 2008

                               PNG HOLDINGS LLC

                               By:  FIF V VOTECO LLC
                                        its managing member



                               By:  /s/ Randal Nardone
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Randal Nardone
                                    Title: Member



                               FIF V VOTECO LLC


                               By:  /s/ Randal Nardone
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Randal Nardone
                                    Title: Member



                               CENTERBRIDGE VOTECO LLC


                               By:  /s/ Mark Gallogly
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Mark Gallogly
                                    Title: Member







                                     ANNEX A

                          MANAGERS OF PNG HOLDINGS LLC

The name and principal occupation of each of the managers of PNG Holdings LLC
are listed below. Unless otherwise set forth below, the principal business
address of each of the managers of PNG Holdings LLC is 1345 Avenue of the
Americas, 46th Floor, New York, NY 10105.






------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME                            PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             
Wesley R. Edens                 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fortress
                                Investment Group LLC
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William Doniger                 Managing Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steven Price                    Senior Managing Director of Centerbridge Partners, L.P.  Principal business address
                                is 375 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10152.
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Gallogly                   Managing Principal of Centerbridge Partners, L.P.  Principal business address is 375
                                Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10152.
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           MEMBERS OF FIF V VOTECO LLC

The name and principal occupation of each of the members of FIF V Voteco LLC are
listed below. The principal business address of each of the members of FIF V
Voteco LLC is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor, New York, NY 10105.





------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME                            PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             
Wesley R. Edens                 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fortress
                                Investment Group LLC
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter L. Briger, Jr.            President and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert I. Kauffman              President - Europe and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Randal A. Nardone               Chief Operating Officer and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael E. Novogratz            President and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       MEMBERS OF CENTERBRIDGE VOTECO LLC

The name and principal occupation of each of the members of Centerbridge Voteco
LLC are listed below. The principal business address of each of the members of
Centerbridge Voteco LLC is 375 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York
10152.





------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME                            PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             
Mark Gallogly                   Managing Principal of Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey Aronson                 Managing Principal of Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------