Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010 segment
Segment information
Number of reportable segments						3
Net revenues	$ 712,551	$ 687,879	$ 1,448,610	$ 1,354,902
Income (loss) from operations	128,015	140,592	270,630	263,327
Depreciation and amortization	56,791	54,230	110,128	107,388
Gain from unconsolidated affiliates	1,054	431	2,739	(1,923)
Capital expenditures	134,519	52,726	254,178	107,250
Total assets	4,782,989		4,782,989		4,606,346
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	216,478		216,478		174,116
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	1,649,516		1,649,516		1,601,952
Midwest
Segment information
Net revenues	217,975	214,403	423,086	428,214
Income (loss) from operations	47,139	69,809	93,422	122,484
Depreciation and amortization	19,645	15,609	37,197	31,252
Capital expenditures	109,079	34,532	210,959	67,738
Total assets	2,123,147		2,123,147		1,897,164
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	973,600		973,600		925,822
East/West
Segment information
Net revenues	348,652	318,614	719,281	606,997
Income (loss) from operations	76,732	69,485	160,622	129,223
Depreciation and amortization	21,784	21,116	44,026	41,683
Capital expenditures	15,882	11,461	26,541	25,455
Total assets	1,222,677		1,222,677		1,265,438
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	119		119		110
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	226,048		226,048		226,234
Southern Plains
Segment information
Net revenues	137,405	146,509	287,125	301,600
Income (loss) from operations	37,532	29,284	82,243	68,793
Depreciation and amortization	11,212	14,841	22,600	29,505
Gain from unconsolidated affiliates	1,276	(804)	2,954	(1,126)
Capital expenditures	8,881	5,426	12,813	12,054
Total assets	1,055,614		1,055,614		1,034,506
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	149,258		149,258		107,204
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	394,018		394,018		394,018
Other
Segment information
Net revenues	8,519	8,353	19,118	18,091
Income (loss) from operations	(33,388)	(27,986)	(65,657)	(57,173)
Depreciation and amortization	4,150	2,664	6,305	4,948
Gain from unconsolidated affiliates	(222)	1,235	(215)	(797)
Capital expenditures	677	1,307	3,865	2,003
Total assets	381,551		381,551		409,238
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	67,101		67,101		66,802
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	$ 55,850		$ 55,850		$ 55,878
Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Ownership interest in joint venture (as a percent)	50.00%		50.00%