Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating activities
Net income	$ 473,463	$ 109,310	$ 686
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	267,062	271,214	259,461
Amortization of items charged to interest expense and interest income	6,960	7,200	6,599
Change in fair value of contingent purchase price	(6,840)	1,277	(5,374)
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment and assets held for sale	172	(2,471)	1,286
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	(18,671)	(14,337)	(14,488)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	26,450	26,300	28,150
Deferred income taxes	(517,906)	8,736	57,236
Charge for stock-based compensation	7,780	6,871	8,223
Impairment losses, provision for loan loss and unfunded loan commitments to the Jamul Tribe	107,810		40,042
Write off of debt issuance costs and discounts	5,951
Decrease (increase), net of businesses acquired
Accounts receivable	(9,186)	(5,911)	710
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(7,239)	(485)	10,345
Other assets	1,662	(4,879)	4,363
(Decrease) increase, net of businesses acquired
Accounts payable	(342)	(7,500)	2,113
Accrued expenses	23,761	1,519	7,243
Accrued interest	7,183	(746)	1,910
Accrued salaries and wages	15,783	(6,721)	8,454
Gaming, pari-mutuel, property and other taxes	8,495	3,379	3,933
Income taxes	20,448	26,008	1,443
Other current and noncurrent liabilities	46,283	(7,045)	(8,527)
Net cash provided by operating activities	459,079	411,719	413,808
Investing activities
Project capital expenditures	(25,033)	(18,740)	(136,548)
Maintenance capital expenditures	(74,228)	(78,505)	(62,692)
Insurance remediation proceeds	577
Loans to the Jamul Tribe	(845)	(184,193)	(105,658)
Funds advanced to Jamul Tribe in connection with their refinancing		(98,000)
Reimbursement of advances with Jamul Tribe		341,864
Land purchased adjacent to Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego	(1,500)	(3,065)
Repayment of note from the previous developer of the Jamul project		30,000
Purchase of note from the previous developer of the Jamul project			(24,000)
Receipts applied against nonaccrual loan to the Jamul Tribe	8,226
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment and assets held for sale	1,013	18,210	561
Additional fundings and investment in joint ventures	(500)		(2,555)
Consideration paid for acquisitions of businesses, gaming licenses, and other intangibles, net of cash acquired	(129,318)	(86,859)	(450,113)
Net cash used in investing activities	(221,608)	(79,288)	(781,005)
Financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of options	10,447	11,601	9,399
Repurchase of common stock	(24,796)
Principal payments on financing obligation with GLPI	(57,859)	(50,548)	(46,885)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs	1,430,796	122,747	562,076
Increase from financing obligation in connection with acquisition	82,600
Principal payments on long-term debt	(1,574,918)	(407,662)	(115,195)
Payments of other long-term obligations	(35,453)	(13,772)	(3,307)
Payments of contingent purchase price	(19,613)	(1,807)
Proceeds from insurance financing	11,948	13,119	4,720
Payments on insurance financing	(12,180)	(13,608)	(15,275)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(189,028)	(339,930)	395,533
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	48,443	(7,499)	28,336
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	229,510	237,009	208,673
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	277,953	229,510	237,009
Supplemental disclosure
Interest expense paid, net of amounts capitalized	452,779	452,842	434,175
Income tax (refunds received)/taxes paid	(43,067)	(11,412)	5,116
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued capital expenditures	1,890	6,749	5,890
Accrued advances to Jamul Tribe	$ 2,465	$ 6,962	$ 39,625