Stock-Based Employee Compensation (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Compensation expense:
Stock options	$ 44,691	$ 56,462	$ 44,544
Restricted stock and stock units	18,023	1,559	1,001
Total compensation expense	62,714	58,021	45,545
Income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated statements of operations	0	0	0
Capitalized stock-based compensation on costs	576	2,797	3,509
LVSC 2004 Plan [Member]
Compensation expense:
Stock options granted	263,395	4,497,000	8,822,000
Stock options granted, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 36.31	$ 15.95	$ 3.52
Restricted stock and stock units granted	1,250,381	16
Restricted stock and stock units granted, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 45.42	$ 25.37
Stock options exercised
Intrinsic value	89,814	47,529	139
Cash received	23,238	16,455	64
Tax benefit realized for tax deductions from stock-based compensation	0
LVSC 2004 Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Compensation expense:
Restricted stock and stock units granted	42,000
Restricted stock and stock units granted, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 47.15
SCL Equity Plan [Member]
Compensation expense:
Stock options granted	9,987,291	26,189,000
Stock options granted, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 1.71	$ 1.06
Stock options exercised
Intrinsic value	1,699
Cash received	2,267
Tax benefit realized for tax deductions from stock-based compensation	$ 0