Investment In and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Kansas Entertainment sqft machine space pokartable tablegame	Dec. 31, 2010 Kansas Entertainment	Dec. 31, 2009 Kansas Entertainment	Dec. 31, 2010 Maryland RE & R LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 Maryland RE & R LLC	Dec. 31, 2010 Maryland RE & R LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 MAXXAM	Dec. 31, 2011 MAXXAM Senior financing	Dec. 31, 2011 MAXXAM Senior financing Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 MAXXAM Senior financing Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 MAXXAM Subordinated financing	Dec. 31, 2011 MAXXAM Subordinated financing Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 MAXXAM Subordinated financing Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 New Jersey Joint Venture	Apr. 08, 2011 Sam Houston Race Park in Houston acre mi	Apr. 08, 2011 Valley Race Park in Harlingen acre sqft	Apr. 08, 2011 Planned racetrack in Laredo acre	Dec. 31, 2011 Freehold Raceway	Apr. 08, 2011 Texas Racing Commission
Business ventures
Ownership interest in joint venture (as a percent)				50.00%						50.00%											50.00%	50.00%
Size of race park (in acres)																		323	80
Size of property for a planned development of racetrack (in acres)																				135
Location of facility in distance from major metropolitan area (in miles)																		15
Size of dog racing and simulcasting facility (in square feet)																			91,000
Loan provided to joint venture to cover development costs										$ 375,000,000
Variable rate basis											LIBOR			LIBOR
Basis points added to reference rate (as a percent)												9.00%	8.00%		6.00%	5.00%
Planned facility construction costs including license fees				411,000,000
Area of Casino (in square foot)				95,000
Number of slot machines				2,000
Number of table games				52
Number of poker tables				12
Number of space parking				1,253
Proportionate share in joint venture				155,000,000
Funding for capital expenditure and other operating expenses				70,900,000	30,600,000	12,900,000
Gain on sale of joint venture interest								20,200,000
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates	(7,364,000)	25,974,000	1,121,000						14,400,000
Goodwill impairment		188,855,000					14,400,000										5,900,000
Investment balance in joint venture	$ 174,116,000	$ 64,120,000															$ 11,200,000