Stock-Based Employee Compensation - Stock-Based Compensation Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	$ 7,025	$ 9,342	$ 28,285	$ 36,533
Compensation cost capitalized as part of property and equipment	114	(72)	363	253
Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	$ 5,336	$ 5,010	$ 19,804	$ 20,302
Stock Option [Member] \| LVSC 2004 Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options granted (in shares)	200	0	1,311	435
Stock options granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$ 8.65	$ 0.00	$ 8.54	$ 12.04
Stock Option [Member] \| SCL Equity Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options granted (in shares)	661	0	18,407	2,744
Stock options granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$ 0.73	$ 0.00	$ 0.73	$ 0.95
Restricted Stock And Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	$ 1,689	$ 4,332	$ 8,481	$ 16,231
Restricted Stock [Member] \| LVSC 2004 Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock and stock units granted (in shares)	0	10	62	49
Restricted stock and stock units granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ 76.72	$ 42.50	$ 59.57
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| SCL Equity Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock and stock units granted (in shares)	0	0	0	119
Restricted stock and stock units granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 4.90

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Represents the compensation cost capitalized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, units, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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