Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	$ 90,624	$ 142,172	$ 123,361	$ 111,689	$ (56,646)	$ 105,853	$ 105,467	$ 102,514	$ 467,846	$ 257,188	$ (423,868)
Charge for stock compensation									8,223	10,666	22,809
Impairment losses									40,042	159,884	798,305
Insurance (recoveries) deductible charges, net										(5,674)	108
Depreciation and amortization									259,461	266,742	303,404
Plainridge contingent purchase price									(5,374)	689
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets									1,286	738	3,682
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates									14,488	7,949	9,657
Non-operating items									411,236	410,491	202,509
Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations											35,374
Adjusted EBITDA									796,349	709,991	761,066
Net revenues	733,967	$ 739,297	$ 700,956	$ 664,138	651,361	$ 645,940	$ 652,146	$ 641,080	2,838,358	2,590,527	2,777,886
Capital expenditures									199,240	228,145	196,600
Total assets	5,138,752				4,624,551				5,138,752	4,624,551
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	168,149				179,551				168,149	179,551
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	1,303,384				1,293,637				1,303,384	1,293,637
Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Non-operating items									10,377	11,809	11,595
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	103,600				115,500				103,600	115,500
East/Midwest
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations									372,698	332,869	(57,351)
Impairment losses									40,042	4,560	416,380
Depreciation and amortization									101,359	101,891	142,442
Plainridge contingent purchase price									(5,374)	689
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets									(295)	(75)	774
Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations											15,334
Adjusted EBITDA									508,430	439,934	517,579
Net revenues									1,682,440	1,467,380	1,575,053
Capital expenditures									159,352	144,320	105,354
Total assets	1,036,940				1,007,162				1,036,940	1,007,162
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	84				94				84	94
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	387,474				427,335				387,474	427,335
West
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations									53,438	56,928	45,464
Impairment losses										1,420	1,812
Depreciation and amortization									14,530	7,411	11,883
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets									510	211	2,365
Adjusted EBITDA									68,478	65,970	61,524
Net revenues									285,933	241,410	240,083
Capital expenditures									8,991	28,251	9,802
Total assets	842,712				287,551				842,712	287,551
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	158,339				143,242				158,339	143,242
Southern Plains
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations									230,337	46,395	(186,846)
Impairment losses										153,904	341,683
Insurance (recoveries) deductible charges, net										(5,674)	108
Depreciation and amortization									43,120	58,598	108,201
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets									735	624	853
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates									15,289	10,720	10,735
Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations											20,040
Adjusted EBITDA									299,858	276,376	306,369
Net revenues									849,049	857,447	930,762
Capital expenditures									26,554	49,607	76,319
Total assets	1,098,306				1,076,290				1,098,306	1,076,290
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	103,608				115,469				103,608	115,469
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	753,345				718,982				753,345	718,982
Southern Plains | Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Non-operating items									10,377	11,809	11,595
Other
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations									(188,627)	(179,004)	(225,135)
Charge for stock compensation									8,223	10,666	22,809
Impairment losses											38,430
Depreciation and amortization									100,452	98,842	40,878
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets									336	(22)	(310)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates									(801)	(2,771)	(1,078)
Adjusted EBITDA									(80,417)	(72,289)	(124,406)
Net revenues									20,936	24,290	31,988
Capital expenditures									4,343	5,967	$ 5,125
Total assets	2,160,794				2,253,548				2,160,794	2,253,548
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	64,457				63,988				64,457	63,988
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	$ 4,226				$ 4,078				$ 4,226	$ 4,078