SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments (in segment) | segment	2
Net revenues	$ 1,334,794	$ 1,291,620	$ 1,292,718
Income (loss) from operations	261,143	233,175	181,408
Accretion of discount to the relinquishment liability	0	(227)	(2,205)
Interest income	9,560	7,983	7,066
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(136,194)	(143,876)	(147,933)
Loss on modification and early extinguishment of debt	(484)	(3,987)	(62,041)
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates	(939)	(972)	(826)
Other income (expense), net	(9)	43	(27)
Net income (loss)	133,077	92,139	(24,558)
(Income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(427)	2,255	380
Net income (loss) attributable to Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority	132,650	94,394	(24,178)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	10,495	0	0
Other comprehensive income	10,495	0	0
Other comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(5,389)	0	0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority	5,106	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority	137,756	94,394	(24,178)
Capital expenditures incurred	48,962	30,024	32,628
Total assets	2,227,962	2,020,133
Operating Segments | Mohegan Sun
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	1,022,076	994,010	995,100
Income (loss) from operations	237,605	212,211	181,325
Comprehensive income (loss):
Capital expenditures incurred	39,921	24,521	19,518
Total assets	1,332,231	1,332,458
Operating Segments | Mohegan Sun Pocono
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	298,677	295,135	296,578
Income (loss) from operations	41,445	45,817	36,956
Comprehensive income (loss):
Capital expenditures incurred	7,575	5,448	3,946
Total assets	551,116	555,449
Operating Segments | Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	19,133	7,567	5,391
Income (loss) from operations	(17,907)	(24,853)	(36,873)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Capital expenditures incurred	1,466	55	9,164
Total assets	344,615	132,226
Inter-segment revenues
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ (5,092)	$ (5,092)	$ (4,351)