Investments and Acquisition Activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]

The purchase price totaled $1.8 billion (excluding assumed debt). We funded the cash required for the acquisition largely with debt financing. See discussion of new debt in Note 3, Long-Term Debt. The purchase price was comprised of the following (in thousands):

Consideration for Ameristar equity	$	962,428
Repayment of Ameristar debt	878,828
	$	1,841,256

Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]

The following table reflects the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the tangible and identifiable intangible

assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the excess recorded as goodwill (in thousands).

Current and other assets	$	152,165
Property and equipment	1,783,735
Goodwill	860,805
Intangible assets	524,200
Other non-current assets	39,496
Total assets	3,360,401
Current liabilities	179,493
Deferred tax liabilities	218,646
Other long-term liabilities	8,109
Debt	1,112,897
Total liabilities	1,519,145
Net assets acquired	$	1,841,256

Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment Acquired in a Business Acquisition [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes the acquired property and equipment. These are preliminary and may change as the purchase price allocation is finalized.

	As Recorded at Fair Value
	(in thousands)
Land and land improvements	$	162,770
Buildings, vessels and improvements	1,308,151
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	158,999
Construction in progress (a)	153,815
Total property and equipment acquired	$	1,783,735

(a) Included in acquired construction in progress is Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Lake Charles. Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Lake Charles assets were sold in November 2013. See Note 8, Discontinued Operations, for further detail.

Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Acquired as Part of Business Combination [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes the acquired intangible assets. These values are preliminary and may change as the purchase price allocation is finalized.

	As Recorded at Fair Value
	(in thousands)
Trade names	$	187,000
Gaming licenses	258,800
Player relationships	74,000
Favorable leasehold interests	4,400
	$	524,200

Schedule of Financial Results Since Acquisition Date [Table Text Block]

The following table includes the financial results for the acquired Ameristar entities included in our Consolidated Statement of Operations since the acquisition date:

	Period from August 13, 2013 to December 31, 2013
	(in thousands)
Net revenues	$	425,767
Net income	$	34,495

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]

The following table includes unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information assuming our acquisition of Ameristar had occurred as of January 1, 2012. The pro forma financial information does not necessarily represent the results that may occur in the future. The pro forma amounts include the historical operating results of Pinnacle and Ameristar prior to the acquisition, with adjustments directly attributable to the acquisition. The pro forma results include increases to depreciation and amortization expense based on the fair values of the intangible assets and fixed assets acquired, amounting to $72.7 million and $120.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The pro forma results also included increases to interest expense, related to the debt issued and assumed in the acquisition, in the amount of $105.2 million and $147.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Lastly, the pro forma results also reflect adjustments for the impact of the extinguishment of Pinnacle's debt in connection with the transaction, acquisition costs and tax expense assuming Ameristar was part of the Company for the full pro forma periods presented.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Net revenues		$	2,209,143		$	2,198,057
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		$	(59,792	)	$	34,529
Basic income (loss) per share		$	(1.02	)	$	0.56
Diluted income (loss) per share		$	(1.02	)	$	0.56