Segment Information - Information About Reported Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Off_Track_Betting_Palors Segments	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments | Segments	5
Net revenues from external customers	$ 279,765	$ 173,483	$ 939,914	$ 644,096
Intercompany net revenues	0	0	0	0
Total segment Adjusted EBITDA	72,296	33,907	281,320	177,622
Corporate Adjusted EBITDA	(1,685)	(1,398)	(5,239)	(3,645)
Insurance recoveries, net of losses	0	0	0	431
Big Fish Games acquisition charges	(2,810)	0	(17,410)	0
Big Fish Games changes in deferred revenue	(10,907)	0	(32,003)	0
Share-based compensation	(4,485)	(2,213)	(10,580)	(10,567)
Calder exit costs	(12,737)	(2,298)	(13,490)	(2,298)
MVG interest expense, net	(535)	(819)	(1,625)	(1,956)
Other charges and recoveries, net	0	(355)	6,114	(832)
Depreciation and amortization	(27,452)	(17,280)	(82,129)	(48,324)
Interest (expense) income, net	(6,732)	(5,167)	(21,104)	(15,092)
Income tax provision	(750)	(846)	(46,165)	(35,175)
Net earnings	4,203	3,531	57,689	60,164
Foreign currency translation, net of tax effect	58	0	(357)	0
Comprehensive earnings	$ 4,261	3,531	57,332	60,164
Arlington Park
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Off Track Betting Palors | Off_Track_Betting_Palors	10
Fair Grounds
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Off Track Betting Palors | Off_Track_Betting_Palors	12
Big Fish Games [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	$ 103,540	0	299,969	0
Total segment Adjusted EBITDA	33,295	0	81,559	0
Casino Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	82,679	81,623	251,864	249,788
Total segment Adjusted EBITDA	25,037	24,937	81,779	78,362
Casino Segment [Member] | Calder Casinos
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	18,561	18,104	58,726	58,560
Casino Segment [Member] | Fair Grounds Slots
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	8,789	9,453	29,324	30,823
Casino Segment [Member] | VSI
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	9,011	8,008	27,584	25,241
Casino Segment [Member] | Harlows Casino
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	11,741	12,197	37,471	38,425
Casino Segment [Member] | Oxford Acquisition [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	22,338	21,887	60,799	58,808
Casino Segment [Member] | Riverwalk Casino
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	12,003	11,974	37,724	37,931
Casino Segment [Member] | Saratoga Casino Holdings, LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	236	0	236	0
TwinSpires [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	50,346	46,266	156,409	149,426
Intercompany net revenues	234	240	781	714
Total segment Adjusted EBITDA	13,759	11,098	41,666	35,135
Racing Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	38,867	41,055	218,741	231,069
Intercompany net revenues	2,361	2,694	11,280	12,097
Total segment Adjusted EBITDA	283	(1,229)	76,281	66,600
Racing Segment [Member] | Churchill Downs
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	7,863	8,021	136,663	128,511
Intercompany net revenues	685	678	6,302	5,851
Racing Segment [Member] | Arlington Park
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	24,978	26,974	48,909	54,289
Intercompany net revenues	1,665	2,001	4,109	4,795
Racing Segment [Member] | Calder
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	638	786	2,029	18,524
Intercompany net revenues	0	0	0	707
Racing Segment [Member] | Fair Grounds
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	5,388	5,274	31,140	29,745
Intercompany net revenues	11	15	869	744
Other Investments Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	4,093	4,249	12,200	12,864
Intercompany net revenues	792	829	2,680	2,937
Total segment Adjusted EBITDA	(78)	(899)	35	(2,475)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues from external customers	240	290	731	949
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany net revenues	$ (3,387)	$ (3,763)	$ (14,741)	$ (15,748)