Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Depreciation and amortization	$ 56,852	$ 66,483	$ 175,801	$ 205,688
Interest expense	114,844	118,236	346,457	350,000
Interest income	(246)	(304)	(736)	(3,185)
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	3,220	96	3,223	103
Provision (recovery) for loan loss and unfunded loan commitments to the JIVDC and impairment losses		24,317	(16,367)	29,952
Insurance recoveries			(68)
Cash-settled stock award variance	(1,692)	1,583	(1,354)	12,839
Pre-opening and significant transaction costs	5,187	1,848	17,159	4,593
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and modification costs	311		3,772	23,390
Other	1,435	236	1,479	2,202
Contingent purchase price	407	(20,716)	1,743	(16,794)
Charge for stock compensation	2,915	1,853	8,847	5,827
Income from operations before income taxes	45,195	30,276	175,551	60,882
Income taxes	9,070	(759,064)	40,001	(750,641)
Net income	36,125	789,340	135,550	811,523
Segment information
Capital expenditures	24,003	27,282	56,961	70,242
Total assets	5,083,842		5,083,842		$ 5,234,812
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	124,653		124,653		148,912
Goodwill	1,008,891		1,008,891		1,008,097
Other intangible assets, net	472,968		472,968		422,606
Net revenues	789,651	806,247	2,432,649	2,378,934
Adjusted EBITDA	229,699	225,218	719,351	680,067
Kansas Entertainment
Other operating costs and other expenses (income)
Unconsolidated non-operating costs - Kansas JV	$ 1,271	1,310	$ 3,844	4,570
Segment information
Ownership interest in joint venture (as a percent)	50.00%		50.00%
Penn Interactive Ventures | Maximum
Segment information
Percent of net revenue	2.00%		2.00%
Percent of income from operations	2.00%		2.00%
Percent of total assets	2.00%		2.00%
Operating Segments | Northeast
Segment information
Capital expenditures	$ 9,921	5,621	$ 21,397	15,144
Total assets	809,208		809,208		821,649
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	105		105		102
Goodwill	21,242		21,242		21,242
Other intangible assets, net	360,643		360,643		303,043
Net revenues	398,818	401,818	1,235,973	1,200,382
Adjusted EBITDA	128,910	127,644	397,844	384,094
Operating Segments | South/West
Segment information
Capital expenditures	4,616	12,681	13,352	33,227
Total assets	763,654		763,654		794,274
Goodwill	244,695		244,695		244,695
Other intangible assets, net	690		690		1,623
Net revenues	152,988	160,153	477,653	453,123
Adjusted EBITDA	38,910	35,046	130,608	106,436
Operating Segments | Midwest
Segment information
Capital expenditures	8,493	7,935	17,869	19,611
Total assets	1,072,406		1,072,406		1,070,204
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	84,891		84,891		88,296
Goodwill	674,558		674,558		674,558
Other intangible assets, net	98,998		98,998		101,698
Net revenues	227,907	232,051	688,452	685,236
Adjusted EBITDA	77,760	76,044	237,923	229,640
Other
Segment information
Capital expenditures	973	1,045	4,343	2,260
Total assets	2,438,574		2,438,574		2,548,685
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	39,657		39,657		60,514
Goodwill	68,396		68,396		67,602
Other intangible assets, net	12,637		12,637		$ 16,242
Net revenues	9,938	12,225	30,571	40,193
Adjusted EBITDA	$ (15,881)	$ (13,516)	$ (47,024)	$ (40,103)