Segment Information - Information About Reported Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Off_Track_Betting_Palors Segments	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments | Segments	5
Net revenues from external customers	$ 409,239	$ 303,472	$ 660,149	$ 470,613
Intercompany net revenues	0	0	0	0
Adjusted Segment EBITDA	158,886	118,117	209,024	143,715
Adjusted Corporate EBITDA	(1,687)	(1,141)	(3,554)	(2,247)
Insurance Recoveries, Net of Losses	0	0	0	431
Acquisition Related Contingent Consideration Costs	(8,200)	0	(14,600)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue of Acquisition	(8,220)	0	(21,096)	0
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	(3,372)	(3,113)	(6,095)	(8,354)
MVG interest expense, net	(536)	(597)	(1,090)	(1,137)
Other Nonrecurring Expense	(777)	(450)	5,361	(477)
Depreciation and Amortization	(27,270)	(15,760)	(54,677)	(31,044)
Interest Income (Expense), Net	(7,106)	(4,956)	(14,372)	(9,925)
Income tax provision	(46,674)	(34,767)	(45,415)	(34,329)
Net earnings	55,044	57,333	53,486	56,633
Foreign currency translation, net of tax effect	(28)	0	(415)	0
Comprehensive earnings	$ 55,016	57,333	53,071	56,633
Arlington Park
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Off Track Betting Palors | Off_Track_Betting_Palors	10
Fair Grounds
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Off Track Betting Palors | Off_Track_Betting_Palors	12
Big Fish Games [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	$ 104,526	0	196,429	0
Adjusted Segment EBITDA	28,238	0	48,264	0
Casino Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	83,770	81,779	169,185	168,165
Adjusted Segment EBITDA	27,955	26,174	56,742	53,425
Casino Segment [Member] | Calder Casinos
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	19,786	19,873	40,165	40,456
Casino Segment [Member] | Fair Grounds Slots
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	9,053	9,586	20,535	21,370
Casino Segment [Member] | VSI
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	9,389	8,479	18,573	17,233
Casino Segment [Member] | Harlows Casino
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	12,050	11,777	25,730	26,228
Casino Segment [Member] | Oxford Acquisition [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	20,958	19,402	38,461	36,921
Casino Segment [Member] | Riverwalk Casino
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	12,534	12,662	25,721	25,957
TwinSpires [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	60,748	57,076	106,063	103,160
Intercompany net revenues	250	244	547	474
Adjusted Segment EBITDA	16,717	14,087	27,907	24,037
Racing Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	155,436	159,435	179,874	190,014
Intercompany net revenues	6,870	7,070	8,919	9,403
Adjusted Segment EBITDA	85,195	78,079	75,998	67,829
Racing Segment [Member] | Churchill Downs
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	126,792	118,348	128,800	120,490
Intercompany net revenues	5,384	4,945	5,617	5,173
Racing Segment [Member] | Arlington Park
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	18,119	21,193	23,931	27,315
Intercompany net revenues	1,486	1,777	2,444	2,794
Racing Segment [Member] | Calder
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	717	9,714	1,391	17,738
Intercompany net revenues	0	351	0	707
Racing Segment [Member] | Fair Grounds
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	9,808	10,180	25,752	24,471
Intercompany net revenues	0	(3)	858	729
Other Investments Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	4,502	4,778	8,107	8,615
Intercompany net revenues	1,093	1,210	1,888	2,108
Adjusted Segment EBITDA	781	(223)	113	(1,576)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	257	404	491	659
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany net revenues	$ (8,213)	$ (8,524)	$ (11,354)	$ (11,985)