Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 segment	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment information
Number of reportable segments			3
Net revenues	$ 707,044	$ 710,905	$ 2,155,654	$ 2,065,807
Income (loss) from operations	98,666	130,335	369,296	393,662
Depreciation and amortization	62,399	52,195	172,527	159,583
Gain from unconsolidated affiliates	807	17,293	3,546	15,370
Capital expenditures	110,774	96,259	364,952	203,509
Total assets	4,968,196		4,968,196		4,606,346
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	208,748		208,748		174,116
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	1,702,740		1,702,740		1,601,952
Midwest
Segment information
Net revenues	247,287	205,333	670,373	633,547
Income (loss) from operations	55,088	49,167	148,509	171,651
Depreciation and amortization	24,791	15,731	61,989	46,983
Capital expenditures	94,562	70,490	305,521	138,228
Total assets	2,275,464		2,275,464		1,897,164
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	1,026,838		1,026,838		925,822
East/West
Segment information
Net revenues	324,603	350,278	1,043,884	957,275
Income (loss) from operations	68,078	72,276	228,700	201,500
Depreciation and amortization	22,430	21,556	66,455	63,238
Capital expenditures	8,376	15,056	34,917	40,511
Total assets	1,220,582		1,220,582		1,265,438
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	87		87		110
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	226,047		226,047		226,234
Southern Plains
Segment information
Net revenues	128,604	148,722	415,729	450,322
Income (loss) from operations	26,496	36,604	108,739	105,397
Depreciation and amortization	11,028	12,735	33,627	42,240
Gain from unconsolidated affiliates	1,036	(1,973)	3,991	(3,098)
Capital expenditures	6,770	5,875	19,583	17,929
Total assets	1,054,192		1,054,192		1,034,506
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	141,794		141,794		107,204
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	394,018		394,018		394,018
Other
Segment information
Net revenues	6,550	6,572	25,668	24,663
Income (loss) from operations	(50,996)	(27,712)	(116,652)	(84,886)
Depreciation and amortization	4,150	2,173	10,456	7,122
Gain from unconsolidated affiliates	(229)	19,266	(445)	18,468
Capital expenditures	1,066	4,838	4,931	6,841
Total assets	417,958		417,958		409,238
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	66,867		66,867		66,802
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	$ 55,837		$ 55,837		$ 55,878
Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Ownership interest in joint venture (as a percent)	50.00%		50.00%