Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Net revenues:
Big Fish Games	$ 103,540	$ 0	$ 299,969	$ 0
Casinos	82,679	81,623	251,864	249,788
TwinSpires	50,346	46,266	156,409	149,426
Racing	38,867	41,055	218,741	231,069
Other	4,333	4,539	12,931	13,813
Net revenues	279,765	173,483	939,914	644,096
Operating expenses:
Big Fish Games	80,005	0	245,610	0
Casinos	60,821	60,436	182,664	184,487
TwinSpires	33,475	31,872	102,863	102,260
Racing	40,918	46,492	152,525	175,195
Other	4,924	5,837	15,830	17,885
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,643	18,175	68,250	58,306
Calder exit costs	12,737	2,298	13,490	2,298
Research and development	9,950	0	30,029	0
Acquisition-related charges	2,810	0	17,410	0
Insurance recoveries, net of losses	0	0	0	(431)
Operating income	9,482	8,373	111,243	104,096
Other income (expense):
Interest income	8	6	232	15
Interest expense	(6,740)	(5,173)	(21,336)	(15,107)
Equity in gains of unconsolidated investments	2,389	1,057	8,244	5,853
Gain on sale of equity investment	0	0	(5,817)	0
Miscellaneous, net	(186)	114	(346)	482
Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(4,529)	(3,996)	(7,389)	(8,757)
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	4,953	4,377	103,854	95,339
Income tax provision	(750)	(846)	(46,165)	(35,175)
Net earnings	$ 4,203	$ 3,531	$ 57,689	$ 60,164
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Basic	$ 0.24	$ 0.21	$ 3.28	$ 3.44
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Diluted	$ 0.24	$ 0.20	$ 3.26	$ 3.40
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	17,347	17,020	17,316	17,322
Diluted (in shares)	17,769	17,303	17,715	17,670
Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation, net of tax effect	$ 58	$ 0	$ (357)	$ 0
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)	58	0	(357)	0
Comprehensive earnings	$ 4,261	$ 3,531	$ 57,332	$ 60,164