Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, CAD in Millions				1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		5 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
		Oct. 01, 2016 CAD	Oct. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 CAD	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) a	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 CAD ft² item	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) a ft² item	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of slot machines | item									550	550
Payments for acquisition								$ 24,289
Net operating revenue	[1]					$ 41,048	$ 34,526			$ 114,775	$ 102,954
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders						7,630	1,887			11,592	6,417
Assets						241,265				241,265		$ 217,838
Cash						44,254	$ 32,966			44,254	$ 32,966	38,837	$ 29,366
Liabilities						$ 83,467				$ 83,467		$ 79,254
Apex Acquisition[Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Additional ownership acquired			100.00%
Square footage of casino facility | ft²									34,500	34,500
Acres of land | a						6				6
Number of slot machines | item									407	407
Number of table games | item									11	11
Number of video lottery terminals | item									15	15
Number of guests that the banquet facility can accommodate | item									175	175
Total consideration		CAD 31.9	$ 24,300
Payments for acquisition		CAD 27.7	21,100
Working capital paid				CAD 2.0	$ 1,500
Net operating revenue						$ 2,300				$ 6,500
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders						$ 600				900
Assets			22,400
Cash			3,100
Liabilities			1,700
Goodwill			3,600
Investment fair value			$ 21,200
Purchase Agreement Holdbacks [Member] | Apex Acquisition[Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments for acquisition									CAD 2.2	$ 1,700

[1] Net operating revenue for Corporate and Other primarily relates to the Company's cruise ship operations.