Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) item	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of geographic regions | item		3
Number of reportable segments	3	3
Revenues and expenses
Gain on sale or disposition of property			$ 71	$ 1
Equity in net income (losses) of unconsolidated affiliate				(518)
ACQUISITION CHARGES			(520)	(84)
Other Cost of Operating Revenue			6,074	2,867
Depreciation and amortization			(16,204)	(14,469)
OPERATING INCOME			18,263	12,084
Reconciliations to Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
Operating Income			18,263	12,084
Unallocated income and expenses:
Interest expense, net			(12,991)	(17,232)
Gain on early retirement of debt, net			(66)
Provision for income taxes			(1,836)	(1,016)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ERI, INC.			3,370	(6,164)
Capital Expenditures			10,624	7,495
Total Assets	$ 1,286,068	$ 1,286,068	1,286,068		$ 1,325,008
Eliminations for the period
Net investment in and advances to other segment	1,286	1,286	1,286		1,286
Nevada
Unallocated income and expenses:
Total Assets	358,406	358,406	358,406		376,760
Louisiana
Unallocated income and expenses:
Total Assets	131,514	131,514	131,514		135,403
Eastern
Unallocated income and expenses:
Capital Expenditures			5,103	5,486
Total Assets	859,318	859,318	859,318		883,344
Nevada | Nevada
Revenues and expenses
Other Cost of Operating Revenue				1
Eldorado Reno | Nevada
Unallocated income and expenses:
Capital Expenditures			2,842	1,389
Eldorado Shreveport | Louisiana
Unallocated income and expenses:
Capital Expenditures			1,350	620
Total Reportable Segments
Revenues and expenses
Revenue, Net			213,566	167,451
Expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization			(178,650)	(140,297)
Gain on sale or disposition of property			71	1
Equity in net income (losses) of unconsolidated affiliate				(518)
ACQUISITION CHARGES			(520)	(84)
Depreciation and amortization			(16,204)	(14,469)
OPERATING INCOME			18,263	12,084
Reconciliations to Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
Operating Income			18,263	12,084
Unallocated income and expenses:
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ERI, INC.			18,263	12,084
Corporate
Revenues and expenses
Other Cost of Operating Revenue				(1)
Unallocated income and expenses:
Interest expense, net			(12,991)	(17,232)
Gain on early retirement of debt, net			(66)
Provision for income taxes			(1,836)	(1,016)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ERI, INC.			3,370	(6,164)
Capital Expenditures			1,329
Total Assets	450,819	450,819	450,819		495,202
Operating segment | Nevada | Nevada
Revenues and expenses
Revenue, Net			72,771	23,753
Expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization			(61,777)	(21,322)
Gain on sale or disposition of property			34
Equity in net income (losses) of unconsolidated affiliate				(518)
Depreciation			(5,463)	(1,933)
OPERATING INCOME			5,565	(19)
Reconciliations to Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
Operating Income			5,565	(19)
Operating segment | Eldorado Shreveport | Louisiana
Revenues and expenses
Revenue, Net			34,442	34,634
Expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization			(25,995)	(27,516)
Gain on sale or disposition of property			1
Depreciation and amortization			(1,946)	(1,919)
OPERATING INCOME			6,502	5,199
Reconciliations to Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
Operating Income			6,502	5,199
Operating segment | MTR Gaming | Eastern
Revenues and expenses
Revenue, Net			106,353	109,064
Expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization			(83,974)	(87,299)
Gain on sale or disposition of property			36	1
Depreciation and amortization			(8,684)	(10,525)
OPERATING INCOME			13,731	11,241
Reconciliations to Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
Operating Income			13,731	11,241
Operating segment | Corporate
Revenues and expenses
Corporate expenses			(6,904)	(4,160)
ACQUISITION CHARGES			(520)	(84)
Depreciation and amortization			(111)	(92)
OPERATING INCOME			(7,535)	(4,337)
Reconciliations to Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
Operating Income			(7,535)	$ (4,337)
Eliminating entries
Unallocated income and expenses:
Total Assets	(513,989)	(513,989)	(513,989)		(565,701)
Eliminations for the period
Reclass deferred tax assets against deferred tax liabilities					1,080
Eliminating entries | Eldorado Shreveport
Eliminations for the period
Due from Affiliate, Current	8,482	8,482	8,482		8,482
Eliminating entries | MTR Gaming
Eliminations for the period
Due from Affiliate, Current	5,000	5,000	5,000		5,000
Eliminating entries | Corporate
Eliminations for the period
Accrued Interest on Intercompany Loan	4,375	4,375	4,375		11,521
Due from Affiliate, Current	351,318	351,318	351,318		394,804
Accrued interest on the above intercompany loan	4,375	4,375	4,375		11,521
Eliminating entries | Silver Legacy
Eliminations for the period
Net investment in and advances to other segment	56,500	56,500	56,500		56,500
Eliminating entries | Silver Legacy Circus Reno
Eliminations for the period
Due from Affiliate, Current	$ 88,314	$ 88,314	$ 88,314		$ 88,314