Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantors and Issuers - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities	$ 258.3	$ 268.2
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of property and equipment, net of change in construction payables	(304.0)	(161.6)
Change in restricted cash	(551.0)	(544.0)
Payments to acquire certain gaming rights		(22.7)
Payments to acquire a business, net of transaction costs and cash acquired	7.7	(19.0)
Investment in/advances to non-consolidated affiliates and other	(22.8)	(76.0)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiaries	(9.6)
Cash received in conjunction with the sale of a subsidiary, net of cash contributed	42.4
Payments to acquire investments	(36.0)	(23.8)
Proceeds from the sale and maturity of investments	27.0	14.0
Other	(6.3)	1.0
Cash flows used in investing activities	(843.0)	(832.1)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,469.4	863.8
Debt issuance costs and fees	(31.9)	(17.5)
Borrowings under lending agreements	453.0	135.0
Repayments under lending agreements	(608.0)	(135.0)
Cash paid for early extinguishments of debt	(1,450.6)	(125.9)
Scheduled debt retirements	(12.7)	(34.4)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiary	(9.6)
Proceeds from sale of additional interest in a subsidiary	32.2
Issuance of common stock in public offering, net of fees	17.4
Other	(9.2)	(1.8)
Cash flows provided by financing activities	850.0	684.2
Cash flows from discontinued operations
Cash flows from operating activities	30.2	46.7
Cash flows from investing activities	(2.3)	(3.3)
Net cash provided by discontinued operations	27.9	43.4
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	293.2	163.7
Change in cash classified as assets held for sale	1.6	2.0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	894.6	973.5
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,189.4	1,139.2
CEC (Parent Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities	262.5	169.4
Cash flows from investing activities
Payments to acquire a business, net of transaction costs and cash acquired		(108.5)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiaries	(127.7)
Other	(0.6)
Cash flows used in investing activities	(128.3)	(108.5)
Cash flows from financing activities
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiary	(127.7)
Issuance of common stock in public offering, net of fees	17.4
Other		(1.6)
Transfers (to)/from affiliates	(136.2)
(Distributions to) and transfers from Affiliates		(82.0)
Cash flows provided by financing activities	(118.8)	(83.6)
Cash flows from discontinued operations
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	15.4	(22.7)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	3.9	136.0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	19.3	113.3
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities	53.8	(62.6)
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of property and equipment, net of change in construction payables	(0.7)	(8.8)
Payments to acquire a business, net of transaction costs and cash acquired		(103.2)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiaries	(22.8)
Cash flows used in investing activities	(23.5)	(112.0)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	110.9	418.3
Assumption of debt issued by non-guarantors	1,250.0
Debt issuance costs and fees	(24.7)	(3.2)
Borrowings under lending agreements	453.0	135.0
Repayments under lending agreements	(608.0)	(135.0)
Cash paid for early extinguishments of debt	(1,095.6)
Scheduled debt retirements	(11.3)	(19.3)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiary	(22.8)
Transfers (to)/from affiliates	308.8
(Distributions to) and transfers from Affiliates		24.7
Cash flows provided by financing activities	383.1	420.5
Cash flows from discontinued operations
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	413.4	245.9
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	16.6	61.0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	430.0	306.9
Subsidiary Guarantors of Parent and Subsidiary Guaranteed Debt [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities	(82.7)	(43.9)
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of property and equipment, net of change in construction payables	(104.6)	(79.8)
Payments to acquire a business, net of transaction costs and cash acquired		(15.6)
Return of investment in subsidiary	92.5
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiaries	(9.6)
Other	(8.0)	(3.8)
Cash flows used in investing activities	(20.1)	(99.2)
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash paid for early extinguishments of debt		(1.2)
Scheduled debt retirements	(1.4)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiary	(9.6)
Other	(8.2)	(5.0)
Transfers (to)/from affiliates	0.1
(Distributions to) and transfers from Affiliates		15.6
Cash flows provided by financing activities	(19.1)	9.4
Cash flows from discontinued operations
Cash flows from operating activities	39.9	46.7
Cash flows from investing activities	(2.3)	(3.3)
Net cash provided by discontinued operations	37.6	43.4
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(84.3)	(90.3)
Change in cash classified as assets held for sale	1.6	2.0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	372.5	344.7
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	289.8	256.4
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors of Parent and Subsidiary Guaranteed Debt [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities	15.0	205.3
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of property and equipment, net of change in construction payables	(198.7)	(73.0)
Change in restricted cash	(551.0)	(544.0)
Payments to acquire certain gaming rights		(22.7)
Payments to acquire a business, net of transaction costs and cash acquired	7.7	(19.0)
Investment in/advances to non-consolidated affiliates and other	(22.8)	(76.0)
Cash received in conjunction with the sale of a subsidiary, net of cash contributed	42.4
Payments to acquire investments	(36.0)	(23.8)
Proceeds from the sale and maturity of investments	27.0	14.0
Other	2.3	4.8
Cash flows used in investing activities	(729.1)	(739.7)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,358.5	445.5
Assumption of debt issued by non-guarantors	(1,250.0)
Debt issuance costs and fees	(7.2)	(14.3)
Cash paid for early extinguishments of debt	(355.0)	(124.7)
Scheduled debt retirements		(15.1)
Proceeds from sale of additional interest in a subsidiary	32.2
Other	(1.0)	4.8
Transfers (to)/from affiliates	(114.7)
(Distributions to) and transfers from Affiliates		269.0
Cash flows provided by financing activities	662.8	565.2
Cash flows from discontinued operations
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(51.3)	30.8
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	501.6	431.8
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	450.3	462.6
Subsidiary Non-Guarantors of Parent-Only Guaranteed Debt [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities	(67.7)	161.4
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of property and equipment, net of change in construction payables	(303.3)	(152.8)
Change in restricted cash	(551.0)	(544.0)
Payments to acquire certain gaming rights		(22.7)
Payments to acquire a business, net of transaction costs and cash acquired	7.7	(34.6)
Return of investment in subsidiary	92.5
Investment in/advances to non-consolidated affiliates and other	(22.8)	(76.0)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiaries	(9.6)
Cash received in conjunction with the sale of a subsidiary, net of cash contributed	42.4
Payments to acquire investments	(36.0)	(23.8)
Proceeds from the sale and maturity of investments	27.0	14.0
Other	(5.7)	1.0
Cash flows used in investing activities	(749.2)	(838.9)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,358.5	445.5
Assumption of debt issued by non-guarantors	(1,250.0)
Debt issuance costs and fees	(7.2)	(14.3)
Cash paid for early extinguishments of debt	(355.0)	(125.9)
Scheduled debt retirements	(1.4)	(15.1)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiary	(9.6)
Proceeds from sale of additional interest in a subsidiary	32.2
Other	(9.2)	(0.2)
Transfers (to)/from affiliates	(114.6)
(Distributions to) and transfers from Affiliates		284.6
Cash flows provided by financing activities	643.7	574.6
Cash flows from discontinued operations
Cash flows from operating activities	39.9	46.7
Cash flows from investing activities	(2.3)	(3.3)
Net cash provided by discontinued operations	37.6	43.4
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(135.6)	(59.5)
Change in cash classified as assets held for sale	1.6	2.0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	874.1	776.5
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	740.1	719.0
Consolidating/ Eliminating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities	9.7
Cash flows from investing activities
Payments to acquire a business, net of transaction costs and cash acquired		227.3
Return of investment in subsidiary	(92.5)
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiaries	150.5
Cash flows used in investing activities	58.0	227.3
Cash flows from financing activities
Purchase of additional interests in subsidiary	150.5
Transfers (to)/from affiliates	(58.0)
(Distributions to) and transfers from Affiliates		(227.3)
Cash flows provided by financing activities	(58.0)	(227.3)
Cash flows from discontinued operations
Cash flows from operating activities	(9.7)
Net cash provided by discontinued operations	$ (9.7)