Write-downs, reserves and recoveries, net (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 US Army Corp of Engineers	Oct. 31, 2011 L'Auberge Lake Charles	Dec. 31, 2011 L'Auberge Lake Charles	Dec. 31, 2012 Federated Sports and Gaming	Dec. 31, 2012 City of St. Louis	Dec. 31, 2011 City of St. Louis	Dec. 31, 2010 City of St. Louis	Dec. 31, 2012 Lumiere Place	Dec. 31, 2012 Slot and Other Equipment
Write-downs, Reserves and Recoveries [Line Items]
Credit on furure lease payment							$ 2,500,000
Loss on disposal of assets			400,000	(3,400,000)	(2,600,000)	2,500,000		(3,200,000)						400,000
Allowance for Notes Receivable			1,700,000	0	0
Redevelopment contributions										10,200,000	0	0
Purchase Commitment, Remaining Minimum Amount Committed													37,000,000
Payments to Acquire Notes Receivable									2,000,000
Cost of Acquired Entity									4,600,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid									4,300,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses, Recovery			(300,000)	0	0				300,000
Impairment of assets			300,000	400,000	600,000
Legal settlement expense (recoveries)			0	400,000	(6,500,000)
Write-downs, reserves and recoveries, net			11,818,000	4,163,000	(3,335,000)
Loss on donation of land	5,700,000
Payments for legal settlements				400,000
Proceeds from legal settlements		$ 6,500,000