Consolidating Condensed Financial Information - Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Assets [Abstract]
Current assets, excluding discontinued operations	$ 146,700,000		$ 117,000,000
Property and equipment, net	1,695,978,000		1,515,029,000
Other non-current assets	136,300,000		146,900,000
Investment in subsidiaries	0		0
Equity method investments	91,424,000		97,795,000
Assets of discontinued operations held for sale	38,609,000		73,871,000
Inter-company	0		0
Total assets	2,108,994,000		1,950,619,000
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Current liabilities, excluding discontinued operations	197,800,000		179,100,000
Notes payable, long term	1,437,251,000		1,223,874,000
Other non-current liabilities	26,800,000		25,400,000
Liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale	0		2,923,000
Inter-company	0		0
Total stockholders' equity	447,117,000		519,392,000		507,370,000	494,409,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,108,994,000		1,950,619,000
Retama Partners
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	25,200,000
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Assets [Abstract]
Current assets, excluding discontinued operations	17,400,000		23,200,000
Property and equipment, net	21,700,000		20,300,000
Other non-current assets	47,400,000		58,500,000
Investment in subsidiaries	1,861,400,000		1,692,900,000
Equity method investments	0		0
Assets of discontinued operations held for sale	0		0
Inter-company	1,200,000		1,200,000
Total assets	1,949,100,000		1,796,100,000
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Current liabilities, excluding discontinued operations	50,900,000		38,800,000
Notes payable, long term	1,437,300,000		1,223,300,000
Other non-current liabilities	13,800,000		14,600,000
Liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale	0		0
Inter-company	0		0
Total stockholders' equity	447,100,000		519,400,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,949,100,000		1,796,100,000
100% Owned Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets [Abstract]
Current assets, excluding discontinued operations	106,300,000	[1]	78,600,000	[1]
Property and equipment, net	1,672,800,000	[1]	1,494,200,000	[1]
Other non-current assets	74,500,000	[1]	88,400,000	[1]
Investment in subsidiaries	0	[1]	0	[1]
Equity method investments	0	[1]	0
Assets of discontinued operations held for sale	38,600,000	[1]	74,500,000	[1]
Inter-company	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total assets	1,892,200,000	[1]	1,735,700,000	[1]
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Current liabilities, excluding discontinued operations	146,300,000	[1]	140,000,000	[1]
Notes payable, long term	0	[1]	500,000	[1]
Other non-current liabilities	12,700,000	[1]	10,800,000	[1]
Liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale	0	[1]	2,900,000	[1]
Inter-company	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total stockholders' equity	1,733,200,000	[1]	1,581,500,000	[1]
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,892,200,000	[1]	1,735,700,000	[1]
100% Owned Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets [Abstract]
Current assets, excluding discontinued operations	23,000,000	[2]	15,200,000	[2]
Property and equipment, net	1,500,000	[2]	500,000	[2]
Other non-current assets	14,400,000	[2]	0	[2]
Investment in subsidiaries	0	[2]	0	[2]
Equity method investments	91,400,000	[2]	97,800,000
Assets of discontinued operations held for sale	700,000	[2]	0	[2]
Inter-company	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total assets	131,000,000	[2]	113,500,000	[2]
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Current liabilities, excluding discontinued operations	600,000	[2]	300,000	[2]
Notes payable, long term	0	[2]	0	[2]
Other non-current liabilities	300,000	[2]	0	[2]
Liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale	0	[2]	0	[2]
Inter-company	1,200,000	[2]	1,200,000	[2]
Total stockholders' equity	128,900,000	[2]	112,000,000	[2]
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	131,000,000	[2]	113,500,000	[2]
Consolidating and Eliminating Entries
Assets [Abstract]
Current assets, excluding discontinued operations	0		0
Property and equipment, net	0		0
Other non-current assets	0		0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,861,400,000)		(1,692,900,000)
Equity method investments	0		0
Assets of discontinued operations held for sale	(700,000)		(600,000)
Inter-company	(1,200,000)		(1,200,000)
Total assets	(1,863,300,000)		(1,694,700,000)
Liabilities and Equity [Abstract]
Current liabilities, excluding discontinued operations	0		0
Notes payable, long term	0		0
Other non-current liabilities	0		0
Liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale	0		0
Inter-company	(1,200,000)		(1,200,000)
Total stockholders' equity	(1,862,100,000)		(1,693,500,000)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	(1,863,300,000)		(1,694,700,000)
Heartland Poker Tour
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 4,300,000

[1] The following material subsidiaries are identified as guarantors of our senior and senior subordinated notes: ACE Gaming, LLC; AREP BoardwalkProperties LLC; Belterra Resort Indiana, LLC; Boomtown, LLC; Casino Magic, LLC; Casino One Corporation; Louisiana-I Gaming; Mitre Associates LLC; PNK (Baton Rouge) Partnership; PNK (Biloxi), LLC; PNK (BOSSIER CITY), Inc.; PNK Development 7, LLC; PNK Development 8, LLC; PNK Development 9, LLC; PNK Development 13, LLC; PNK (ES), LLC; PNK (LAKE CHARLES), L.L.C.; PNK (Ohio), LLC; PNK (Ohio) II, LLC; PNK (Ohio) III, LLC; PNK (RENO), LLC; PNK (River City), LLC; PNK (SAM), LLC; PNK (SAZ), LLC; PNK (STLH), LLC; PNK (ST. LOUIS RE), LLC; and PSW Properties LLC. In addition, certain other immaterial subsidiaries are also guarantors of our senior and senior subordinated notes.

[2] Guarantor subsidiaries of our senior and senior subordinated notes exclude; a subsidiary that owns a minority interest in ACDL; a subsidiary with $3.9 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2012; a subsidiary with approximately $4.4 million in total assets as of December 31, 2012; a subsidiary with $25.2 million in total assets as of December 31, 2012; a subsidiary with $4.3 million in total assets as of December 31, 2012; and certain non-material subsidiaries.