February 8, 2010 (FinancialWire) — Casino operator Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) said it has completed the purchase of 123 acres at the site of the former General Motors/Delphi Automotive plant in Columbus, Ohio.

The brownfield site is the alternate location for the development of the company’s planned development of the Hollywood Casino Columbus, which is now budgeted at around $400 million.

Voters approved casinos in Ohio’s four largest cities in November 2009. Based on discussions with Columbus government, civic, business and neighborhood leaders, Penn National agreed to seek a state constitutional amendment to relocate the authorized Columbus casino to the former Delphi Automotive plant, pending voter approval on the May 4 statewide ballot.

Penn National previously completed the purchase of around 24 acres in Columbus’ Arena District the site authorized in a November 2009 constitutional amendment — which will be put up for sale if the May ballot effort is successful.

Hollywood Casino Columbus, which is scheduled to open in the second half of 2012, will be a 180,000 square foot casino with up to 4,000 slot machines at opening, up to 100 table games and 25 poker tables, a 4,000 space parking garage, plus food and beverage outlets and entertainment lounge.

Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gaming owns and operates gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment. The company presently operates nineteen facilities in fifteen jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario.

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