Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net	Noncontrolling Interest	Other
Balances, January 1, 2014 at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 467,127	$ 869	$ 655,694	$ (351,810)	$ (962)	$ 163,336
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		86,871,977
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(40,963)	0	0	(32,924)	0	(8,039)
Comprehensive income attributable to Boyd	167	0	0	0	167	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues		18,975,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	216,467	190	216,277
Stock options exercised	13,591	18	13,573	0	0	0
Stock options exercised, shares		1,827,723
Release of restricted stock units, net of tax	(354)	1	(355)	0	0	0
RSU released/settled, shares		130,597
Share-based compensation costs	9,033	0	9,033	0	0	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Deconsolidation	45,404	0	0	0	0	(45,404)	0
Balances, September 30, 2014 at Sep. 30, 2013	710,472	1,078	894,222	(384,734)	(795)	200,701
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2013		107,805,297
Balances, January 1, 2014 at Dec. 31, 2013	650,437	1,082	902,496	(432,074)	(1,517)	180,450
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	108,155,002	108,155,002
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(9,215)	0	0	(20,618)	0	11,403
Comprehensive income attributable to Boyd	1,291	0	0	0	1,291	0
Stock options exercised	984	2	982	0	0	0
Stock options exercised, shares		131,229
Release of restricted stock units, net of tax	(326)	0	(326)	0	0	0
RSU released/settled, shares		138,541
Share-based compensation costs	11,239	0	11,239	0	0	0
Capital Investment Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(30)						30
Deconsolidation of Borgata on September 30, 2014	(191,833)	0	0	0	0	(191,833)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Deconsolidation	191,833						0
Balances, September 30, 2014 at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 462,607	$ 1,084	$ 914,391	$ (452,692)	$ (226)	$ 50
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2014	108,424,772	108,424,772