Stockholders' Equity, Noncontrolling Interests and Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		18 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Horseshoe Casino Baltimore [Member] CBAC Gaming, LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 CEC (Parent Company) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 CEC (Parent Company) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 CEC (Parent Company) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 CEC (Parent Company) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 CEC (Parent Company) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 CEC (Parent Company) [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 CEC (Parent Company) [Member]	Oct. 01, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] CEC (Parent Company) [Member]
Common Stock
Maximum aggregate common stock offering price					$ 500,000,000.0
Shares authorized											10,000,000
Shares sold during period (in shares)						155,000	15,000	1,055,493	15,000			10,300,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	16,200,000	17,400,000				2,800,000	200,000	15,400,000	200,000	15,600,000		200,600,000
Common stock, shares issued	128,700,000		127,500,000			1,070,493		1,070,493		1,070,493
Share price												$ 19.40
Non-controlling Interests
Contributions from noncontrolling interest owners	35,300,000	0		35,300,000
Pre-opening losses				$ 6,300,000