Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 01, 2013
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill acquired			$ 3,052,000
Balance at the beginning of the period, Goodwill gross			2,133,719,000	2,214,546,000
Balance at the beginning of the period, Accumulated goodwill impairment losses			(1,641,321,000)	(833,857,000)
Goodwill, Beginning Balance			492,398,000	1,380,689,000
Goodwill impairment losses			(212,193,000)	(807,464,000)
Contribution of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge to GLPI				(75,521,000)
Other			(5,675,000)	(5,306,000)
Balance at the end of the period, Goodwill gross		2,133,719,000	2,131,096,000	2,133,719,000	2,214,546,000	2,131,096,000
Balance at the end of the period, Accumulated goodwill impairment losses		(1,641,321,000)	(1,853,514,000)	(1,641,321,000)	(833,857,000)	(1,853,514,000)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		492,398,000	277,582,000	492,398,000	1,380,689,000	277,582,000
Intangible assets
Indefinite-life intangible assets		349,224,000	370,100,000	349,224,000		370,100,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization		66,190,000	76,613,000	66,190,000		76,613,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value			462,000			462,000
Intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value		425,838,000	447,175,000	425,838,000		447,175,000
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total		359,648,000	370,562,000	359,648,000		370,562,000
Change in indefinite life intangible assets during the period			10,900,000
Other intangible assets		359,648,000	370,562,000	359,648,000		370,562,000
Pre-tax goodwill impairment charge			212,193,000	807,464,000
Intangible asset amortization expense			11,400,000	16,100,000	800,000
Other intangible asset impairment charge, pre-tax	4,600,000	2,200,000	104,300,000
Expected future amortization expense
2016			33,000			33,000
2017			66,000			66,000
2018			66,000			66,000
2019			66,000			66,000
Thereafter			231,000			231,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value			462,000			462,000
Goodwill		492,398,000	277,582,000	492,398,000	1,380,689,000	277,582,000
Other intangible assets		359,648,000	370,562,000	359,648,000		370,562,000
Spinoff
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses				(738,800,000)
Intangible assets
Pre-tax goodwill impairment charge				738,800,000
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway And Mahoning Valley Race Course
Intangible assets
Gaming license fee	10,000,000		100,000,000			15,000,000
Gaming license payable due one year from commencement of operations			50,000,000			50,000,000
Gaming license fee terms			1 year
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			15,339,000			15,339,000
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			50,000,000			50,000,000
Other intangible assets			50,000,000			50,000,000
Gaming license payable due one year from commencement of operations			25,000,000			25,000,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			15,339,000			15,339,000
Other intangible assets			50,000,000			50,000,000
Mahoning Valley Race Course
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			50,000,000			50,000,000
Other intangible assets			50,000,000			50,000,000
Gaming license payable due one year from commencement of operations			25,000,000			25,000,000
Expected future amortization expense
Other intangible assets			50,000,000			50,000,000
Plainridge Park Casino Member
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			3,052,000			3,052,000
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			25,297,000			25,297,000
Other intangible assets			25,297,000			25,297,000
Gaming license fee			25,000,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			3,052,000			3,052,000
Other intangible assets			25,297,000			25,297,000
Hollywood Casino St Louis
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			77,072,000			77,072,000
Other intangible assets			77,072,000			77,072,000
Expected future amortization expense
Other intangible assets			77,072,000			77,072,000
Argosy Casino Riverside
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			32,122,000			32,122,000
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			4,964,000			4,964,000
Other intangible assets			4,964,000			4,964,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			32,122,000			32,122,000
Other intangible assets			4,964,000			4,964,000
Zia Park Casino
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			144,171,000			144,171,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			144,171,000			144,171,000
Hollywood Casino Joliet
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			6,886,000			6,886,000
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			44,464,000			44,464,000
Other intangible assets			44,464,000			44,464,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			6,886,000			6,886,000
Other intangible assets			44,464,000			44,464,000
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			1,497,000			1,497,000
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			67,607,000			67,607,000
Other intangible assets			67,607,000			67,607,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			1,497,000			1,497,000
Other intangible assets			67,607,000			67,607,000
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			50,000,000			50,000,000
Other intangible assets			50,000,000			50,000,000
Expected future amortization expense
Other intangible assets			50,000,000			50,000,000
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			37,687,000			37,687,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			37,687,000			37,687,000
Argosy Casino Sioux City
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses				(68,700,000)
Intangible assets
Pre-tax goodwill impairment charge				68,700,000
Other intangible asset impairment charge, pre-tax				3,100,000
Other Reporting Units
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			5,158,000			5,158,000
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total			1,158,000			1,158,000
Other intangible assets			1,158,000			1,158,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			5,158,000			5,158,000
Other intangible assets			1,158,000			1,158,000
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville | Spinoff
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Beginning Balance							75,500,000
Goodwill, Ending Balance							75,500,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							75,500,000
Argosy Casino Sioux City Facility
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses				(68,700,000)
Intangible assets
Pre-tax goodwill impairment charge				68,700,000
Boomtown Biloi Facility
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			22,365,000			22,365,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			22,365,000			22,365,000
Hollywood Casino Tunica
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance			9,305,000			9,305,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill			9,305,000			9,305,000
Argosy Casino Sioux City gaming license | Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville | Spinoff
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value							9,600,000
Expected future amortization expense
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value							9,600,000
Argosy Casino Sioux City gaming license | Argosy Casino Sioux City Facility
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value		20,949,000	20,949,000	20,949,000		20,949,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization		12,569,000	20,949,000	12,569,000		20,949,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value		8,380,000		8,380,000
Expected future amortization expense
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value		8,380,000		8,380,000
Other Intangible Assets
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value		55,665,000	56,126,000	55,665,000		56,126,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization		53,621,000	55,664,000	53,621,000		55,664,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value		2,044,000	462,000	2,044,000		462,000
Expected future amortization expense
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value		2,044,000	462,000	2,044,000		462,000
Other Intangible Assets | Spinoff
Intangible assets
Other intangible asset impairment charge, pre-tax				$ 319,600,000