OPTION TO PURCHASE REAL PROPERTY




       1. In consideration  of Two Thousand and no/100 Dollars  ($2,000.00) paid
to Roosevelt Boyland DEVISEES, 3529 E. Rolling Woods Drive, Memphis,  Tennessee,
38128,  hereinafter  referred  to  as  "Seller",  receipt  of  which  is  hereby
acknowledged,  Seller hereby gives and grants to Penn National Gaming, Inc., 825
Berkshire Boulevard, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, 19610, hereinafter referred to as
"Purchaser",  and/or its assigns,  the exclusive  option to purchase the 18 acre
real property of Seller situated in the City of Memphis, County of Shelby, State
of Tennessee,  and particularly  described on Exhibit A which is attached hereto
and made a part hereof by reference.

       2.      Exercise of the option to purchase is at the sole discretion of 
Purchaser.

       3.      The period of duration of the option is thirty (30) days from the
date hereof.

       4. However,  Purchaser is also granted  additional options of up to three
hundred thirty (330)  additional days. Said options will be granted upon receipt
of the sum of $2,000.00 per 30 day period.  The first $2,000.00 must be tendered
to Seller before the  expiration  of the first thirty (30) day option,  and each
additional  $2,000.00  must be tendered to Seller before the  expiration of each
succeeding thirty (30) day period. The sum of $22,000.00 shall be deposited with
an Escrow Agent in Memphis,  Tennessee  within fourteen (14) days of the date of
this  Agreement.  Said Escrow  Agent shall be chosen by mutual  agreement of the
parties, in writing. Said funds shall be placed in an interest bearing account.

       5. Upon  failure of  Purchaser  to exercise  this option to purchase  the
property, the aforementioned  $2,000.00 and any additional option monies paid to
Seller  shall be the sole  property  of  Seller,  and there  shall be no further
liability of the parties under this agreement, one to the other.

       6.      In the event Purchaser exercises its option to purchase the 
property, all option payments, mentioned herein, will be applied to the purchase
price.

       7. The purchase  price of the subject  property is  $15,000.00  per acre,
assuming 18 acres,  subject to survey, of which all option money is a part. Said
sum shall be paid to Seller, in certified funds, at closing.  Survey shall be at
the expense of the Seller (not to exceed $300.00 Dollars).




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       8. If the Purchaser  elects to exercise its option  granted  herein,  the
Purchaser  shall notify the Seller,  in writing,  United  States  Mail,  postage
prepaid and/or hand delivery,  to Seller's address shown above prior to midnight
on the day the option or any extension thereon expires.

       9. The closing of the  purchase  shall be within  thirty (30) days of the
notice,  by Purchaser to Seller,  that Purchaser  desires to exercise the option
granted herein.

       10.  At  closing,  Seller  will  deliver  to  Purchaser  a good and valid
Warranty Deed on forms  customarily used in Memphis,  Shelby County,  Tennessee,
wherein the Seller will warrant that there are no liens or  encumbrances on said
property,  except any  subdivision  or other  restrictions  of  record,  and any
property  taxes  levied by the City of Memphis or County of Shelby.  Seller will
not grant any easements or other  encumbrances on the property after the date of
this Agreement.

       11. Any property  taxes for years prior to the tax year of closing  shall
be paid by Seller;  the property taxes for the year of closing shall be prorated
between the Seller and the Purchaser,  as of the date of closing.  Any Greenbelt
taxes  shall  be paid by  Seller.  Any  billboard  leases  will be  assigned  to
Purchaser.  All tax liens, and liens of Deeds of Trust, will be removed,  at the
sole expense of the Seller. Any labor and materialman liens will be removed,  at
the sole expense of the Seller.

       12. If Seller is unable to deliver the good and sufficient Warranty Deed,
as aforementioned, the option money paid herein shall be immediately returned to
Purchaser.

       13. At  Purchaser's  option,  Purchaser  may proceed  against  Seller for
specific performance of this Option Contract,  and if suit is necessary,  Seller
agrees to pay all reasonable costs incurred by Purchaser, including a reasonable
attorney fee.

       Executed in duplicate originals as of the 20th day of June, 1997.

SELLER



By:/s/ Dorothy Williams,INDIVIDUALLY and ATTORNEY IN FACT FOR DEVISEES ROOSEVELT
BOYLAND


PURCHASER



By: /s/ William J. Bork
PENN NATIONAL GAMING, INC.

                                                      Individual Acknowledgement





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STATE OF TENNESSEE

COUNTY OF SHELBY

       Personally  appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said State and
County,  Dorothy Williams,  Individually and as Attorney-in-Fact for Devisees of
Roosevelt  Boyland,  the  within  named  bargainor,  with  whom I am  personally
acquainted  (or  proved to me on the basis of  satisfactory  evidence),  and who
acknowledged  that she executed the within  Instrument for the purposes  therein
contained.

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                             By: /s/ R. A. Mayhall

                                  Notary Public

My Commission Expires:

February 9, 1999




                                                       Corporate Acknowledgement

STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA

COUNTY OF BERKS


       I hereby  certify that on this day before me, an officer duly  authorized
in the state  aforesaid  and in the county  aforesaid to take  acknowledgements,
personally  appeared William J. Bork , to me known to be the person described in
and who executed the foregoing  instrument as President of Penn National Gaming,
Inc., a corporation named therein,  and acknowledged  before me that he executed
the  same as such  officer,  in the  name of and for and on  behalf  of the said
corporation.

       IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
seal this 23rd day of June, 1997.




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                                       By: /s/ Susan M. Montgomery
                                                   Notary Public

My Commission Expires:

June 7, 1999
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