Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 295,853		$ 275,898		$ 865,413		$ 792,836
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	68,700	[1]	59,000	[1]	189,800	[1]	163,100	[1]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization	(25,770)		(27,939)		(77,886)		(81,936)
Pre-opening and development costs	(2,465)		(1,201)		(7,174)		(12,171)
Share-based compensation expense	(1,500)		(1,350)		5,380		4,803
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets	0		0		0		(11,500)
Impairment of land and construction costs	0		(4,773)		0		(23,164)
Write-downs, reserves and recoveries, net	(1,310)		(345)		(7,930)		4,048
Interest Expense	(24,161)		(27,923)		(76,001)		(76,292)
Loss from equity method investment	(544)		0		(544)		0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(183)		0		(183)		(1,852)
Other non-operating income	127		68		290		224
Income tax expense (benefit)	(952)		5,355		(2,594)		7,021
Income (loss) from continuing operations	11,779		1,021		12,507		(37,377)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					110,791		123,509
Assets	1,911,592				1,911,592				1,883,794
L Auberge du Lac [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	98,200		87,050		283,103		257,092
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	29,672	[1]	23,876	[1]	79,520	[1]	69,995	[1]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					13,200		9,100
Assets	312,400				312,400				314,800
St Louis [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	98,406	[2]	92,287	[2]	288,500	[2]	249,479	[2]
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	22,343	[1],[2]	17,155	[1],[2]	63,296	[1],[2]	46,811	[1],[2]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					10,200	[2]	71,900	[2]
Assets	774,300	[2]			774,300	[2]			790,000	[2]
Boomtown New Orleans [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	32,150		34,221		102,518		103,236
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	10,254	[1]	10,634	[1]	34,227	[1]	31,676	[1]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					3,100		2,100
Assets	63,100				63,100				64,000
Balterra Casino Resort [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	42,056		40,614		117,400		115,829
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	8,675	[1]	9,499	[1]	21,938	[1]	23,669	[1]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					2,400		6,500
Assets	180,300				180,300				188,600
Boomtown Bossier City [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	21,114		21,730		65,434		67,192
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	4,626	[1]	5,000	[1]	14,638	[1]	16,270	[1]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					2,100		3,700
Assets	85,800				85,800				88,900
River Downs [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	3,927		0		8,460		0
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	(746)	[1]	0	[1]	(1,696)	[1]	0	[1]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					100	[3]	0	[3]
Assets	45,900				45,900				0
Total Allocated Segments [Member]
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	74,900	[1]	66,200	[1]	211,800	[1]	188,500	[1]
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Adjusted EBITDA [Abstract]
Adjusted EBITDA	(6,168)	[1],[4]	(7,189)	[1],[4]	(22,031)	[1],[4]	(25,446)	[1],[4]
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					79,700	[5]	30,200	[5]
Assets	449,800				449,800				437,500
Sugarcane Bay [Member]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Pre-opening and development costs	0		(100)		(200)		(1,200)
Baton Rouge [Member]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Pre-opening and development costs	(1,100)		(300)		(3,100)		(700)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment					69,600		11,300
River City [Member]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Pre-opening and development costs	0		(300)		(100)		(9,700)
Other [Member]
Other benefits (costs) [Abstract]
Pre-opening and development costs	$ (1,400)		$ (500)		$ (3,800)		$ (600)

[1] We define Adjusted EBITDA for each segment as earnings before interest income and expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, pre-opening and development expenses, non-cash share-based compensation, asset impairment costs, write-downs, reserves, recoveries, gain (loss) on sale of certain assets, loss on early extinguishment of debt, loss on sale of discontinued operations, and discontinued operations. We use Adjusted EBITDA to compare operating results among our properties and between accounting periods. Adjusted EBITDA has economic substance because it is used by management as a performance measure to analyze the performance of our business, and is especially relevant in evaluating large, long-lived casino-hotel projects because it provides a perspective on the current effects of operating decisions separated from the substantial non-operational depreciation charges and financing costs of such projects. We eliminate the results from discontinued operations as they are discontinued. We also review pre-opening and development expenses separately, as such expenses are also included in total project costs when assessing budgets and project returns, and because such costs relate to anticipated future revenues and income. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure for investors because it is an indicator of the strength and performance of ongoing business operations, including our ability to service debt and fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and operations. These calculations are commonly used as a basis for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare operating performance and value of companies within our industry. In addition, our credit agreement and bond indentures require compliance with financial measures similar to Adjusted EBITDA.

[2] Our St. Louis segment consists of Lumière Place (which includes the Lumière Place Casino, the Pinnacle-owned Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and HoteLumière) and River City.

[3] Capital expenditures for our River Downs segment includes items purchased since the initial acquisition of the racetrack in January 2011 and exclude the initial purchase price.

[4] Corporate expenses represent unallocated payroll, professional fees, travel expenses and other general and administrative expenses not directly related to our casino and hotel operations.

[5] Includes capital expenditures for our various development projects not yet reflected as operating segments, including the following: For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 2010 (in millions)L'Auberge Baton Rouge$69.6 $11.3