Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	$ 134,989	$ 149,337	$ 275,276	$ 289,868
Charge for stock compensation	1,801	1,582	3,974	3,037
Depreciation and amortization	68,969	66,182	139,205	132,202
Contingent purchase price	1,362	119	3,922	(1,081)
Loss (gain) loss on disposal of assets	52	441	7	(660)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	5,021	3,548	9,569	8,157
Impairment losses on Loans to the Jamul Tribe	5,635		5,635
Adjusted EBITDA	219,138	223,780	440,848	436,664
Net revenues	796,463	769,422	1,572,687	1,525,873
Capital expenditures	25,804	22,165	42,960	43,534
Total assets	4,984,019		4,984,019		$ 4,974,484
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	152,913		152,913		156,176
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	1,456,219		1,456,219		1,425,179
Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Non-operating items	1,309	2,571	3,260	5,141
Operating Segments | Northeast
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	108,119	103,695	210,752	204,616
Depreciation and amortization	21,525	23,209	44,548	46,202
Contingent purchase price	277	119	1,182	(1,081)
Loss (gain) loss on disposal of assets	(45)	(14)	(31)	7
Adjusted EBITDA	129,876	127,009	256,451	249,744
Net revenues	405,099	401,516	798,564	794,722
Capital expenditures	5,533	8,268	9,523	15,387
Total assets	808,144		808,144		861,951
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	76		76		76
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	324,285		324,285		324,285
Operating Segments | South/West
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	20,062	27,622	47,180	53,607
Depreciation and amortization	9,353	8,839	18,570	17,604
Loss (gain) loss on disposal of assets	(1)	11	5	(14)
Impairment losses on Loans to the Jamul Tribe	5,635		5,635
Adjusted EBITDA	35,049	36,472	71,390	71,197
Net revenues	153,151	140,108	292,970	276,076
Capital expenditures	11,924	6,726	20,546	14,311
Total assets	876,910		876,910		840,076
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	260,978		260,978		224,719
Operating Segments | Midwest
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	59,283	57,446	120,813	115,670
Depreciation and amortization	9,508	9,460	19,179	19,028
Contingent purchase price	16		25
Loss (gain) loss on disposal of assets	88	(52)	29	(45)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	5,286	3,744	10,290	8,462
Adjusted EBITDA	75,490	73,169	153,596	148,256
Net revenues	224,847	220,256	453,185	441,334
Capital expenditures	7,345	6,348	11,676	12,330
Total assets	1,081,316		1,081,316		1,103,231
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	91,058		91,058		93,768
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	778,056		778,056		775,377
Operating Segments | Midwest | Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Non-operating items	1,309	2,571	3,260	5,141
Other
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	(52,475)	(39,426)	(103,469)	(84,025)
Charge for stock compensation	1,801	1,582	3,974	3,037
Depreciation and amortization	28,583	24,674	56,908	49,368
Contingent purchase price	1,069		2,715
Loss (gain) loss on disposal of assets	10	496	4	(608)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	(265)	(196)	(721)	(305)
Adjusted EBITDA	(21,277)	(12,870)	(40,589)	(32,533)
Net revenues	13,366	7,542	27,968	13,741
Capital expenditures	1,002	$ 823	1,215	$ 1,506
Total assets	2,217,649		2,217,649		2,169,226
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	61,779		61,779		62,332
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	$ 92,900		$ 92,900		$ 100,798