Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	$ 123,361	$ 105,467	$ 235,050	$ 207,981
Charge for stock-based compensation	2,337	2,517	4,421	5,096
Impairment Losses		4,560		4,560
Depreciation and amortization	62,275	69,874	125,644	140,059
Plainridge contingent purchase price	356		707
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	371	3	525	(47)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	4,154	1,473	8,136	3,956
Nonoperating items	104,157	104,629	203,562	204,562
Adjusted EBITDA	195,382	186,833	379,761	367,465
Net revenues	700,956	652,146	1,365,094	1,293,226
Capital expenditures	71,700	43,273	120,489	80,314
Total assets	4,744,876	4,664,894	4,744,876	4,664,894	$ 4,664,894
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	173,726	179,551	173,726	179,551	$ 179,551
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	1,291,119	1,293,637	1,291,119	1,293,637
Kansas Entertainment LLC
Segment information
Nonoperating items	2,528	2,939	5,278	5,860
East Midwest
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	101,013	81,868	191,878	159,591
Impairment Losses		4,560		4,560
Depreciation and amortization	24,527	25,911	49,910	52,734
Plainridge contingent purchase price	356		707
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	78	(30)	(44)	(117)
Adjusted EBITDA	125,974	112,309	242,451	216,768
Net revenues	417,756	361,357	804,300	710,805
Capital expenditures	60,150	16,988	98,724	27,098
Total assets	1,113,643	1,007,162	1,113,643	1,007,162
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	91	94	91	94
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	427,449	427,335	427,449	427,335
West
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	15,728	15,308	31,254	32,250
Depreciation and amortization	2,086	1,692	4,259	3,241
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	144		324	65
Adjusted EBITDA	17,958	17,000	35,837	35,556
Net revenues	63,664	59,033	126,250	119,953
Capital expenditures	2,363	9,617	5,214	16,047
Total assets	331,923	287,551	331,923	287,551
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	143,386	143,242	143,386	143,242
Southern Plains
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	57,044	49,836	112,428	101,174
Depreciation and amortization	10,697	17,573	21,480	34,824
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	19	39	120	17
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	4,401	2,621	8,189	5,074
Adjusted EBITDA	74,689	73,008	147,495	146,949
Net revenues	213,689	224,726	423,958	448,483
Capital expenditures	8,003	13,990	14,451	33,333
Total assets	1,049,252	1,076,290	1,049,252	1,076,290
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	109,658	115,469	109,658	115,469
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	716,206	718,982	716,206	718,982
Southern Plains | Kansas Entertainment LLC
Segment information
Nonoperating items	2,528	2,939	5,278	5,860
Other Segments
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	(50,424)	(41,545)	(100,510)	(85,034)
Charge for stock-based compensation	2,337	2,517	4,421	5,096
Depreciation and amortization	24,965	24,698	49,995	49,260
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	130	(6)	125	(12)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	(247)	(1,148)	(53)	(1,118)
Adjusted EBITDA	(23,239)	(15,484)	(46,022)	(31,808)
Net revenues	5,847	7,030	10,586	13,985
Capital expenditures	1,184	2,678	2,100	3,836
Total assets	2,250,058	2,293,891	2,250,058	2,293,891
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	63,977	63,988	63,977	63,988
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	$ 4,078	$ 4,078	$ 4,078	$ 4,078