Note 7. Investment in Unconsolidated Investee	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Cost-method Investments, Description [Text Block]	7. Investment in Unconsolidated Investee Lakes has an investment in Rock Ohio Ventures, LLC (“Rock Ohio Ventures”), a privately-held company, that owns the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio which opened to the public on May 13, 2012, the casino development project in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Thistledown Racetrack in North Randall, Ohio. This investment is accounted for using the cost method since Lakes does not have the ability to significantly influence the operating and financial decisions of the entity. At September 30, 2012 and January 1, 2012, Lakes had invested a total of $20.2 million and $15.7 million, respectively, in Rock Ohio Ventures, which is included in investment in unconsolidated investee in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company's cost method investment is evaluated, on at least a quarterly basis, for potential other-than-temporary impairment, or when an event or change in circumstances has occurred that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment. Lakes monitors this investment for impairment by considering all information available to the Company including the economic environment, market conditions, and operational performance and other specific factors relating to the business underlying the investment. The fair value of the cost method investment is considered impracticable to estimate. The impracticability in developing such an estimate is due primarily to insufficient information necessary to prepare a valuation model to determine fair value. Lakes is not aware of any events or changes in circumstances that could have had a significant adverse effect on the fair value of this investment. As of September 30, 2012 and January 1, 2012, no impairment was identified. Lakes has the right, but not the obligation, to make additional investments up to 10% of equity required by Rock Ohio Ventures to develop its properties in Ohio in return for a corresponding equity interest in Rock Ohio Ventures (see note 15, Commitments and Contingencies).

Note 7. Investment in Unconsolidated Investee

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Cost-method Investments, Description [Text Block]

7. Investment in Unconsolidated Investee

Lakes has an investment in Rock Ohio Ventures, LLC (“Rock Ohio Ventures”), a privately-held company, that owns the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio which opened to the public on May 13, 2012, the casino development project in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Thistledown Racetrack in North Randall, Ohio. This investment is accounted for using the cost method since Lakes does not have the ability to significantly influence the operating and financial decisions of the entity. At September 30, 2012 and January 1, 2012, Lakes had invested a total of $20.2 million and $15.7 million, respectively, in Rock Ohio Ventures, which is included in investment in unconsolidated investee in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The Company's cost method investment is evaluated, on at least a quarterly basis, for potential other-than-temporary impairment, or when an event or change in circumstances has occurred that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment. Lakes monitors this investment for impairment by considering all information available to the Company including the economic environment, market conditions, and operational performance and other specific factors relating to the business underlying the investment.

The fair value of the cost method investment is considered impracticable to estimate. The impracticability in developing such an estimate is due primarily to insufficient information necessary to prepare a valuation model to determine fair value. Lakes is not aware of any events or changes in circumstances that could have had a significant adverse effect on the fair value of this investment. As of September 30, 2012 and January 1, 2012, no impairment was identified.

Lakes has the right, but not the obligation, to make additional investments up to 10% of equity required by Rock Ohio Ventures to develop its properties in Ohio in return for a corresponding equity interest in Rock Ohio Ventures (see note 15, Commitments and Contingencies).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for investments accounted for under the cost-method. The carrying amount of such investments may be adjusted, for example, distributions in excess of cost (return of capital) or for other-than-temporary impairments. The cost method and lower-of-cost or market, an adaptation of the cost method, is generally followed for most investments in noncontrolled corporations, in some corporate joint ventures, and to a lesser extent in unconsolidated subsidiaries in which the entity does not have the ability to exercise significant influence.

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