Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment information
Net revenues	$ 816,085	$ 776,224
Adjusted EBITDA	242,546	227,445
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Depreciation and amortization	60,390	70,236
Interest expense	115,740	114,996
Interest income	(249)	(2,646)
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets	55	(45)
Impairment losses	618
Cash-settled stock award variance	(7,462)	5,164
Pre-opening and significant transaction costs	6,093	571
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and modification costs	882	23,390
Other	(4)	1,793
Contingent purchase price	1,134	2,560
Charge for stock compensation	2,929	2,173
Income from operations before income taxes	61,126	7,302
Income taxes	15,689	2,198
Net income	45,437	5,104
Segment information
Capital expenditures	11,813	17,156
Total assets	5,165,533		$ 5,234,812
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	147,658		148,912
Goodwill	1,008,097		1,008,097
Other intangible assets, net	469,578		422,606
Kansas Entertainment
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Unconsolidated non-operating costs - Kansas JV	1,294	1,951
Operating Segments | Northeast
Segment information
Net revenues	414,167	393,465
Adjusted EBITDA	132,007	126,574
Segment information
Capital expenditures	3,487	3,990
Total assets	813,232		821,649
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	105		102
Goodwill	21,242		21,242
Other intangible assets, net	353,143		303,043
Operating Segments | South/West
Segment information
Net revenues	161,296	139,820
Adjusted EBITDA	45,049	36,341
Segment information
Capital expenditures	3,412	8,622
Total assets	783,634		794,274
Goodwill	244,695		244,695
Other intangible assets, net	978		1,623
Operating Segments | Midwest
Segment information
Net revenues	230,086	228,338
Adjusted EBITDA	81,155	78,106
Segment information
Capital expenditures	3,732	4,331
Total assets	1,081,046		1,070,204
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	87,610		88,296
Goodwill	674,558		674,558
Other intangible assets, net	100,798		101,698
Other
Segment information
Net revenues	10,536	14,601
Adjusted EBITDA	(15,665)	(13,576)
Segment information
Capital expenditures	1,182	$ 213
Total assets	2,487,621		2,548,685
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	59,943		60,514
Goodwill	67,602		67,602
Other intangible assets, net	$ 14,659		$ 16,242