Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets measured as fair value on a non-recurring basis
Goodwill			$ 951,953	$ 911,942	$ 874,184	$ 951,953
Total Reduction in Fair Value Recorded during the year
Goodwill	$ (249,300)					(80,821)
Long-lived assets impairment losses		$ (4,600)	$ (2,200)	0
Total				(40,042)	(159,884)	(798,305)
Intangible asset amortization expense				500	11,400	16,100
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Total Gains (Losses), Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
Pre-tax other intangible asset impairment charge	$ 311,000	4,600		40,000	74,500
Estimated salvage value		$ 300
Plainridge Racecourse
Assets measured as fair value on a non-recurring basis
Goodwill				3,000
Plainridge Racecourse | General and administrative expenses
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Total Gains (Losses), Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
Change in fair value in long term obligation, (credit) charge to general and administrative expense				$ (5,400)	700
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway And Mahoning Valley Race Course
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Total Gains (Losses), Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
Discount Rate				5.00%
Argosy Casino Sioux City
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Total Gains (Losses), Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
Pre-tax other intangible asset impairment charge						$ 3,100
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Assets measured as fair value on a non-recurring basis
Goodwill				$ 207,207
Contingent Purchase Price
Total Reduction in Fair Value Recorded during the year
Balance at beginning of the period				19,189
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Total Gains (Losses), Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
Included in earnings				(5,374)
Balance at end of the period				$ 13,815	19,189
Contingent Purchase Price | Income approach using discounted cash flow model
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Total Gains (Losses), Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
Discount Rate				8.30%
Level 1
Financial assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure				$ 237,009	208,673
Level 3
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				13,815	19,189
Revolving credit facility
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Total Gains (Losses), Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
Term loan amount outstanding				422,000	85,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Total Gains (Losses), Realized Or Unrealized [Abstract]
Term loan amount outstanding				1,259,700	807,500
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Level 1
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				1,251,975	714,556
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Level 2
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure					85,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 1
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				291,000	276,000
Other long-term obligations | Level 2
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				147,358	135,000
Nonrecurring
Total Reduction in Fair Value Recorded during the year
Goodwill					(80,821)
Intangible assets impairment losses				(40,042)	(74,603)
Long-lived assets impairment losses					(4,560)
Total				(40,042)	(159,984)
Nonrecurring | Level 3
Assets measured as fair value on a non-recurring basis
Goodwill					9,863
Intangible assets				110,436	66,703
Long-lived assets					300
Carrying Amount
Financial assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure				237,009	208,673
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				13,815	19,189
Carrying Amount | Senior Secured Credit Facility
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				1,239,049	785,683
Carrying Amount | Senior Unsecured Notes
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				296,252	295,610
Carrying Amount | Other long-term obligations
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				146,992	135,000
Fair Value
Financial assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure				237,009	208,673
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				13,815	19,189
Fair Value | Senior Secured Credit Facility
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				1,251,975	799,556
Fair Value | Senior Unsecured Notes
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				291,000	276,000
Fair Value | Other long-term obligations
Financial assets:
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure				147,358	135,000
Fair Value | Nonrecurring
Assets measured as fair value on a non-recurring basis
Goodwill					9,863
Intangible assets				$ 110,436	66,703
Long-lived assets					$ 300