Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain reclassifications of prior year presentations have been made to conform to the current period presentation.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, all of which are normal and recurring, considered necessary for a fair presentation and have been included herein. The results of operations for these interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for other quarters, for the full year or any future period. The executive decision maker of our Company reviews operating results, assesses performance and makes decisions on a “significant market” basis. Management views each of our casinos as an operating segment. Operating segments are aggregated based on their similar economic characteristics, types of customers, types of services and products provided, and their management and reporting structure. Prior to the Elgin and Tropicana acquisitions, the Company’s principal operating activities occurred in four geographic regions and reportable segments. Following the Elgin and Tropicana acquisitions, a fifth segment, Central, was added. The reportable segments are based on the similar characteristics of the operating segments within the regions in which they operate: West, Midwest, South, East, and Central. (See Note 16 for a listing of properties included in each segment). The presentation of information herein for periods prior to our acquisitions of Elgin and Tropicana and after our acquisitions of Elgin and Tropicana are not fully comparable because the results of operations for Elgin and Tropicana are not included for periods prior to August 7, 2018 and October 1, 2018, respectively. Additionally, the Company closed on its sales of Presque Isle Downs and Nemacolin in January 2019 and March 2019, respectively. (See Note 5). These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Pronouncements Implemented in 2019 In February 2016 (as amended through December 2018), the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 codified as Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases, (“ASC 842”) which addresses the recognition and measurement of leases. Under the new guidance, for all leases, at the commencement date, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease. The liability is measured on a discounted basis. Lessees will also recognize a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to control the use of a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The effective date is for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. ASC 842 requires a transition adoption election using either 1) a modified retrospective approach with periods prior to the adoption date being recast or 2) a prospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment recognized to the opening balance of retained earnings on the adoption date with prior periods continuing to be reported under prior lease accounting guidance. The Company adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019 using the prospective approach, and therefore, comparative periods will continue to be reported under prior lease accounting guidance consistent with previously issued financial statements. We elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within ASC 842, which among other things, allowed us to carry forward the historical lease identification, lease classification and treatment of initial direct costs for leases entered into prior to January 1, 2019. We also made an accounting policy election to not record short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on the balance sheet for all classes of underlying assets. We have also elected to not adopt the hindsight practical expedient for determining lease terms. Our operating leases, in which we are the lessee, are recorded on the balance sheet as a ROU asset with a corresponding lease liability. The lease liability will be remeasured each reporting period with a corresponding change to the ROU asset. ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases totaled $282.4 million and $287.1 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2019. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on net income; however, upon adoption we recorded a cumulative adjustment to our retained earnings of $4.7 million, net of tax, primarily related to the Company’s lease and management agreements at its Bettendorf location. (See Note 2 for more information). Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s other financing leases. Pronouncements to Be Implemented in Future Periods In June 2016 (modified in November 2018), the FASB issued ASU No 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses related to timing on recognizing impairment losses on financial assets. The new guidance lowers the threshold on when losses are incurred, from a determination that a loss is probable to a determination that a loss is expected. The change in guidance will be applicable to our evaluation of the CRDA investments (see Note 8). The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is allowed for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Adoption of the guidance requires a modified-retrospective approach and a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings to the first reporting period that the update is effective. We expect to adopt the new guidance on January 1, 2020 and currently we do not expect a cumulative effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract. This amendment aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). This generally means that an intangible asset is recognized for the software license and, to the extent that the payments attributable to the software license are made over time, a liability also is recognized. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the entity should account for the arrangement as a service contract. This generally means that the fees associated with the hosting element (service) of the arrangement are expensed as incurred. The amendment is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption allowed. We expect to adopt the new guidance on January 1, 2020 and are evaluating the qualitative and quantitative effects of the new guidance. We do not believe it will have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No 2018-14, Compensation –Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General. This amendment improves disclosures over defined benefit plans and is effective for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2020 with early adoption allowed. We anticipate adopting this amendment during the first quarter of 2021, and do not expect it to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This amendment modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements and is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption allowed. The Company is evaluating the qualitative and quantitative effect the new guidance will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Certain reclassifications of prior year presentations have been made to conform to the current period presentation.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, all of which are normal and recurring, considered necessary for a fair presentation and have been included herein. The results of operations for these interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for other quarters, for the full year or any future period.

The executive decision maker of our Company reviews operating results, assesses performance and makes decisions on a “significant market” basis. Management views each of our casinos as an operating segment. Operating segments are aggregated based on their similar economic characteristics, types of customers, types of services and products provided, and their management and reporting structure. Prior to the Elgin and Tropicana acquisitions, the Company’s principal operating activities occurred in four geographic regions and reportable segments. Following the Elgin and Tropicana acquisitions, a fifth segment, Central, was added. The reportable segments are based on the similar characteristics of the operating segments within the regions in which they operate: West, Midwest, South, East, and Central. (See Note 16 for a listing of properties included in each segment).

The presentation of information herein for periods prior to our acquisitions of Elgin and Tropicana and after our acquisitions of Elgin and Tropicana are not fully comparable because the results of operations for Elgin and Tropicana are not included for periods prior to August 7, 2018 and October 1, 2018, respectively. Additionally, the Company closed on its sales of Presque Isle Downs and Nemacolin in January 2019 and March 2019, respectively. (See Note 5).

These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Pronouncements Implemented in 2019

In February 2016 (as amended through December 2018), the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 codified as Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases, (“ASC 842”) which addresses the recognition and measurement of leases. Under the new guidance, for all leases, at the commencement date, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease. The liability is measured on a discounted basis. Lessees will also recognize a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to control the use of a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The effective date is for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. ASC 842 requires a transition adoption election using either 1) a modified retrospective approach with periods prior to the adoption date being recast or 2) a prospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment recognized to the opening balance of retained earnings on the adoption date with prior periods continuing to be reported under prior lease accounting guidance.

The Company adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019 using the prospective approach, and therefore, comparative periods will continue to be reported under prior lease accounting guidance consistent with previously issued financial statements. We elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within ASC 842, which among other things, allowed us to carry forward the historical lease identification, lease classification and treatment of initial direct costs for leases entered into prior to January 1, 2019. We also made an accounting policy election to not record short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on the balance sheet for all classes of underlying assets. We have also elected to not adopt the hindsight practical expedient for determining lease terms.

Our operating leases, in which we are the lessee, are recorded on the balance sheet as a ROU asset with a corresponding lease liability. The lease liability will be remeasured each reporting period with a corresponding change to the ROU asset. ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases totaled $282.4 million and $287.1 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2019. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on net income; however, upon adoption we recorded a cumulative adjustment to our retained earnings of $4.7 million, net of tax, primarily related to the Company’s lease and management agreements at its Bettendorf location. (See Note 2 for more information). Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s other financing leases.

Pronouncements to Be Implemented in Future Periods

In June 2016 (modified in November 2018), the FASB issued ASU No 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses related to timing on recognizing impairment losses on financial assets. The new guidance lowers the threshold on when losses are incurred, from a determination that a loss is probable to a determination that a loss is expected. The change in guidance will be applicable to our evaluation of the CRDA investments (see Note 8). The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is allowed for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Adoption of the guidance requires a modified-retrospective approach and a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings to the first reporting period that the update is effective. We expect to adopt the new guidance on January 1, 2020 and currently we do not expect a cumulative effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract. This amendment aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). This generally means that an intangible asset is recognized for the software license and, to the extent that the payments attributable to the software license are made over time, a liability also is recognized. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the entity should account for the arrangement as a service contract. This generally means that the fees associated with the hosting element (service) of the arrangement are expensed as incurred. The amendment is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption allowed. We expect to adopt the new guidance on January 1, 2020 and are evaluating the qualitative and quantitative effects of the new guidance. We do not believe it will have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No 2018-14, Compensation –Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General. This amendment improves disclosures over defined benefit plans and is effective for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2020 with early adoption allowed. We anticipate adopting this amendment during the first quarter of 2021, and do not expect it to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This amendment modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements and is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption allowed. The Company is evaluating the qualitative and quantitative effect the new guidance will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.