Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment information
Net revenues	$ 769,036	$ 806,247	$ 796,463	$ 776,224	$ 742,910	$ 765,597	$ 769,422	$ 756,451	$ 3,147,970	$ 3,034,380	$ 2,838,358
Adjusted EBITDA									845,946	843,829	796,349
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Depreciation and amortization									267,062	271,214	259,461
Interest expense									466,761	459,243	443,127
Interest income									(3,552)	(24,186)	(11,531)
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets									172	(2,471)	1,286
Impairment losses, provision for loan loss and unfunded loan commitments to the Jamul Tribe									107,810		40,042
Insurance recoveries									(289)	(726)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				25,100					23,963
Other									2,257	1,679	(5,872)
Contingent purchase price									(6,840)	1,277	(5,374)
Charge for stock compensation									7,780	6,871	8,223
(Loss) income from operations before income taxes									(25,044)	120,617	56,610
Income taxes									(498,507)	11,307	55,924
Net income	(338,060)	789,340	17,079	5,104	5,032	46,535	34,035	23,708	473,463	109,310	686
Capital expenditures									99,261	97,245	199,240
Total assets	5,234,812				4,974,484				5,234,812	4,974,484
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	148,912				156,176				148,912	156,176
Goodwill	1,008,097				989,685				1,008,097	989,685	911,942
Other intangible assets, net	422,606				435,494				422,606	435,494
Income (loss) from operations	26,775	$ 143,663	$ 134,989	$ 140,287	113,848	$ 139,300	$ 149,337	$ 140,531	445,714	543,016	467,846
Charge for stock compensation									7,780	6,871	8,223
Contingent purchase price									(6,840)	1,277	(5,374)
(Gain) Loss on disposal of assets									172	(2,471)	1,286
Income from unconsolidated affiliates									18,671	14,337	14,488
Kansas Entertainment
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Unconsolidated non-operating costs - HWD Kansas JV									5,866	10,311	10,377
Operating Segments | Northeast
Segment information
Net revenues									1,584,119	1,568,514	1,505,838
Adjusted EBITDA									501,271	489,070	456,599
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Capital expenditures									22,632	30,677	155,413
Total assets	821,649				861,951				821,649	861,951
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	102				76				102	76
Goodwill	21,242				21,242				21,242	21,242
Other intangible assets, net	303,043				303,043				303,043	303,043
Operating Segments | South/West
Segment information
Net revenues									604,665	546,608	478,128
Adjusted EBITDA									135,324	128,569	128,850
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Capital expenditures									42,025	30,458	16,805
Total assets	794,274				840,076				794,274	840,076
Goodwill	244,695				223,586				244,695	223,586
Other intangible assets, net	1,623				1,133				1,623	1,133
Operating Segments | Midwest
Segment information
Net revenues									907,493	877,567	833,455
Adjusted EBITDA									297,777	287,275	291,317
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Capital expenditures									29,827	30,921	22,679
Total assets	1,070,204				1,103,231				1,070,204	1,103,231
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	88,296				93,768				88,296	93,768
Goodwill	674,558				673,889				674,558	673,889
Other intangible assets, net	101,698				101,488				101,698	101,488
Other
Segment information
Net revenues									51,693	41,691	20,937
Adjusted EBITDA									(88,426)	(61,085)	(80,417)
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Capital expenditures									4,777	5,189	$ 4,343
Total assets	2,548,685				2,169,226				2,548,685	2,169,226
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	60,514				62,332				60,514	62,332
Goodwill	67,602				70,968				67,602	70,968
Other intangible assets, net	$ 16,242				$ 29,830				$ 16,242	$ 29,830