Consolidation of Certain Interests (Effect of LVE Consolidation on Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Current assets	$ 526,879,000	$ 342,894,000
Property and equipment, net	3,520,408,000	3,542,108,000
Assets held for development	1,090,198,000	1,089,819,000
Debt financing costs, net	28,309,000	32,099,000
Restricted investments	21,367,000	21,367,000
Other assets	66,837,000	67,173,000
Intangible assets, net	571,374,000	574,018,000	527,322,000	539,714,000
Goodwill, net	213,576,000	213,576,000
Total assets	6,038,948,000	5,883,054,000
LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	53,211,000	43,230,000
Accounts payable	88,789,000	98,015,000
Accrued and other liabilities	317,315,000	295,459,000
Income taxes payable	867,000	5,630,000
Non-recourse obligations of variable interest entity	31,621,000	29,686,000
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	3,480,965,000	3,347,226,000
Deferred income taxes	384,143,000	379,958,000
Long-term tax and other liabilities	101,458,000	116,791,000
Non-recourse obligations of variable interest entity	192,479,000	192,980,000
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock	863,000	863,000
Additional paid-in capital	649,944,000	644,174,000
Retained earnings	563,884,000	557,055,000
Noncontrolling interest	173,409,000	171,987,000
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	6,038,948,000	5,883,054,000
Boyd Gaming Corporation (as historically presented)
ASSETS
Current assets	525,062,000	340,762,000
Property and equipment, net	3,520,408,000	3,542,108,000
Assets held for development	926,392,000	926,013,000
Debt financing costs, net	25,809,000	29,544,000
Restricted investments	0	0
Other assets	66,837,000	67,173,000
Intangible assets, net	571,374,000	574,018,000
Goodwill, net	213,576,000	213,576,000
Total assets	5,849,458,000	5,693,194,000
LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	53,211,000	43,230,000
Accounts payable	88,700,000	97,727,000
Accrued and other liabilities	316,456,000	294,578,000
Income taxes payable	867,000	5,630,000
Non-recourse obligations of variable interest entity	0	0
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	3,480,965,000	3,347,226,000
Deferred income taxes	384,143,000	379,958,000
Long-term tax and other liabilities	89,861,000	101,747,000
Non-recourse obligations of variable interest entity	0	0
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock	863,000	863,000
Additional paid-in capital	649,944,000	644,174,000
Retained earnings	563,884,000	557,055,000
Noncontrolling interest	220,564,000	221,006,000
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	5,849,458,000	5,693,194,000
LVE, LLC
ASSETS
Current assets	1,817,000	2,132,000
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Assets held for development	163,806,000	163,806,000
Debt financing costs, net	2,500,000	2,555,000
Restricted investments	21,367,000	21,367,000
Other assets	0	0
Intangible assets, net	0	0
Goodwill, net	0	0
Total assets	189,490,000	189,860,000
LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0
Accounts payable	89,000	288,000
Accrued and other liabilities	859,000	881,000
Income taxes payable	0	0
Non-recourse obligations of variable interest entity	31,621,000	29,686,000
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Long-term tax and other liabilities	11,597,000	15,044,000
Non-recourse obligations of variable interest entity	192,479,000	192,980,000
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	0	0
Retained earnings	0	0
Noncontrolling interest	(47,155,000)	(49,019,000)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	189,490,000	189,860,000
Eliminations
ASSETS
Current assets	0	0
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Assets held for development	0	0
Debt financing costs, net	0	0
Restricted investments	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Intangible assets, net	0	0
Goodwill, net	0	0
Total assets	0	0
LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued and other liabilities	0	0
Income taxes payable	0	0
Non-recourse obligations of variable interest entity	0	0
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Long-term tax and other liabilities	0	0
Non-recourse obligations of variable interest entity	0	0
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	0	0
Retained earnings	0	0
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 0	$ 0