Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill			$ 2,289,848	$ 2,253,250	$ 2,175,507
Accumulated goodwill impairment losses			(1,281,751)	(1,263,565)	(1,263,565)
Goodwill, Net			1,008,097	989,685	911,942
Goodwill acquired			36,598	77,743
Goodwill impairment losses			(18,026)	0	0
Other			(160)
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization			84,282	65,495
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value			47,201
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)			375,405	375,405
Total intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value			506,888	500,989
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			422,606	435,494
Other intangible assets			422,606	435,494
Intangible asset amortization expense			18,900	9,300	500
Impairment of other intangible asset			0	0
Expected intangible asset amortization expense
2018			13,614
2019			8,505
2020			5,844
2021			3,599
2022			3,596
Thereafter			12,043
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value			47,201
Hollywood Casino St Louis
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			205,783
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			58,418
Other intangible assets			58,418
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			207,207
Argosy Casino Riverside
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			154,332
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			4,964
Other intangible assets			4,964
Zia Park Casino
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			142,359
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			15,339
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			110,436
Other intangible assets			110,436
Mahoning Valley Race Course
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			125,000
Other intangible assets			125,000
Penn Interactive Ventures
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			67,004
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			15,968
Other intangible assets			15,968
Hollywood Casino At Penn National Race Course
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			1,497
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			67,607
Other intangible assets			67,607
Prairie State Gaming
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			34,185
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			30,031
Other intangible assets			30,031
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			63,189
Hollywood Casino Tunica
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			44,042
First Jackpot and Resorts
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			35,929
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			567
Other intangible assets			567
Boomtown Biloxi
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			22,365
Argosy Casino Alton
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			9,863
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			8,285
Other intangible assets			8,285
Plainridge Park Casino
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			3,052
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			1,354
Others
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			597
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			1,330
Other intangible assets			1,330
Plainridge Park Casino and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
Intangible assets
Impairment of other intangible asset					$ 40,000
Tropicana Las Vegas
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill acquired		$ 14,800
Intangible assets
Deferred tax assets not recorded at acquisition date due to full valuation allowance		$ 68,000
Other intangible assets
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value			131,483	125,584
Finite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization			84,282	65,495
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value			47,201	60,089
Change in indefinite life intangible assets during the period			$ (12,900)
Weighted average remaining amortization period			4 years 10 months 24 days
Intangible asset amortization expense			$ 18,900
Expected intangible asset amortization expense
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value			47,201	60,089
Northeast | Hollywood Casino At Penn National Race Course
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			1,500
Northeast | Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			1,400
South/West | Tropicana Las Vegas
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses	$ (14,800)		(14,800)
Midwest | Argosy Casino Alton
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			9,900
Operating Segments | Northeast
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			21,242	21,242
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			303,043	303,043
Other intangible assets			303,043	303,043
Operating Segments | South/West
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			244,695	223,586
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			1,623	1,133
Other intangible assets			1,623	1,133
Operating Segments | Midwest
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			674,558	673,889
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			101,698	101,488
Other intangible assets			101,698	101,488
Other
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Net			67,602	70,968
Intangible assets
Total intangible assets, Net Book Value			16,242	29,830
Other intangible assets			16,242	$ 29,830
Other | Sanford Orlando Kennel Club
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses	$ (3,200)		$ (3,200)