Acquisition and Purchase Accounting (Details) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Nov. 24, 2015	Jul. 28, 1995 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 19, 2014 USD ($)
Purchase Consideration Calculation Abstract
Cash consideration paid by ERI for MGM’s 50% equity interest and MGM’s member note			$ 72,500
Fair value of ERI’s preexisting 50% equity interest			56,500
Assumption of Silver Legacy’s long term debt(1)			87,854
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Working Capital			8,040
Purchase consideration			224,894
Estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Current and other assets			23,740
Property and equipment			184,345
Goodwill			66,826	$ 66,826
Intangible assets			6,000
Other noncurrent assets			10,809
Long-term debt			87,854
Net assets acquired			224,894
MTR Gaming
Purchase Consideration Calculation Abstract
Assumption of Silver Legacy’s long term debt(1)					$ 624,877
Purchase consideration			103,000
Estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Current and other assets					75,031
Property and equipment					289,211
Goodwill					66,826
Intangible assets					473,000
Other noncurrent assets					20,381
Total assets					924,449
Current liabilities					46,446
Long-term debt					624,877
Deferred income taxes					143,104
Other noncurrent liabilities					7,011
Total liabilities assumed					821,438
Net assets acquired					103,011
Silver Legacy Joint Venture
Purchase Consideration Calculation Abstract
Cash consideration paid by ERI for MGM’s 50% equity interest and MGM’s member note			56,500
Fair value of ERI’s preexisting 50% equity interest			56,500
Assumption of Silver Legacy’s long term debt(1)			87,854
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Working Capital			6,124
Purchase consideration		$ 3,600	206,978
Estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Current and other assets			21,625
Property and equipment			169,544
Intangible assets			5,000
Other noncurrent assets			10,809
Long-term debt			87,854
Net assets acquired			206,978
Silver Legacy Joint Venture | Member notes
Purchase Consideration Calculation Abstract
Assumption of Silver Legacy’s long term debt(1)			$ 11,500
Percentage of debt assumed			50.00
Estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Long-term debt			$ 11,500
Silver Legacy Joint Venture | Short-term Debt
Purchase Consideration Calculation Abstract
Assumption of Silver Legacy’s long term debt(1)			5,000
Estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Long-term debt			5,000
Silver Legacy Joint Venture | Long-term Debt
Purchase Consideration Calculation Abstract
Assumption of Silver Legacy’s long term debt(1)			75,500
Estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Long-term debt			75,500
Circus Reno
Purchase Consideration Calculation Abstract
Cash consideration paid by ERI for MGM’s 50% equity interest and MGM’s member note			16,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Working Capital			1,916
Purchase consideration			17,916
Estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Current and other assets			2,115
Property and equipment			14,801
Intangible assets			1,000
Net assets acquired			$ 17,916
MTR Gaming
Purchase Consideration Calculation Abstract
Purchase consideration				$ 98,011
MTR Gaming | 11.55 Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Long-term debt, gross					$ 570,700
Galleon | Silver Legacy Joint Venture
Acquisition and purchase accounting
Ownership interest held by former members of subsidiary (as a percent)	50.00%