Penn National Gaming hopes to acquire Argosy Gaming

The Illinois Gaming Board has agreed to allow Penn National Gaming Inc. to acquire Argosy Gaming co. only if the company sells two of its Illinois casinos in the next two years. The casinos in question are Empress Casino in Joliet and Alton Belle Casino. The board will decide on Thursday whether or not the merger will take place.

Penn National Gaming owns and operates many casinos and racetracks in the United States such as Hollywood Casino in Aurora, which is one of Empress' big rivals. The billion dollar company also owns casinos in Canada.