Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009 President Casino [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 President Casino [Member] Gaming Licenses [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Boomtown Reno [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Boomtown Reno [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Atlantic City [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Atlantic City [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Atlantic City [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Casino Magic Argentina [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Casino Magic Biloxi [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Casino At Emerald Bay [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Expected amount of proceeds														$ 12,900,000
Potential proceeds from sale of additional interest														3,800,000
Impairment of Land																	4,900,000
Impairment charges									17,853,000	23,662,000	188,409,000	1,400,000			11,900,000		9,400,000	160,000,000
Property tax refund																	8,200,000
Impairment charge													1,900,000
Sale of discontinued operations																			40,000,000
Proceeds from Insurance Settlement																				23,400,000
Total recoveries from insurance																				215,000,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operation																			200,000	(18,300,000)	(100,000)
Maximum number of years on bond																50 years
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation Disclosures [Abstract]
Revenues									39,600,000	69,200,000	97,500,000
Operating loss									(33,000,000)	(14,500,000)	(192,200,000)
Other non-operating income, including interest income									100,000	41,600,000	200,000
Interest expense									0	(100,000)	(200,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(32,900,000)	27,100,000	(192,300,000)
Income tax expense									200,000	(9,700,000)	(3,000,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	7,279,000	(12,569,000)	(23,885,000)	(3,540,000)	(6,522,000)	(1,689,000)	(8,607,000)	34,243,000	(32,735,000)	17,422,000	(195,251,000)
Assets:
Property and equipment, net	54,400,000				72,100,000				54,400,000	72,100,000
Other assets, net	19,500,000				25,000,000				19,500,000	25,000,000
Assets of discontinued operations held for sale	73,871,000				97,071,000				73,871,000	97,071,000
Liabilities:
Liabilities of dicontinued operations held for sale	2,923,000				6,928,000				2,923,000	6,928,000
Net assets	$ 71,000,000				$ 90,200,000				$ 71,000,000	$ 90,200,000