Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Balance at the beginning of the period, Goodwill gross	$ 2,014,216,000	$ 2,019,613,000
Balance at the beginning of the period, Accumulated goodwill impairment losses	(833,857,000)	(833,857,000)
Balance at the beginning of the period, Goodwill, net	1,180,359,000	1,185,756,000
Balance at the end of the period, Goodwill gross	2,214,546,000	2,014,216,000	2,019,613,000
Balance at the end of the period, Accumulated goodwill impairment losses	(833,857,000)	(833,857,000)	(833,857,000)
Balance at the end of the period, Goodwill, net	1,380,689,000	1,180,359,000	1,185,756,000
Goodwill acquired	205,664,000
Other	(5,334,000)	(5,397,000)
Intangible assets
Indefinite-life intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value	699,969,000	421,260,000
Other intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value	56,661,000	49,666,000
Other intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	50,153,000	49,333,000
Other intangible assets, Net Book Value	6,508,000	333,000
Intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value	756,630,000	470,926,000
Intangible assets, Net Book Value	706,477,000	421,593,000
Change in indefinite life intangible assets during the period	278,700,000
Intangible asset amortization expense	800,000	2,200,000	5,800,000
Write-down of trademark intangible asset			4,400,000
Write-down of trademark intangible asset, after tax			2,800,000
Expected future amortization expense
2013	3,536,000
2014	2,953,000
2015	19,000
Other intangible assets, Net Book Value	6,508,000	333,000
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	2,087,166,000
Hollywood St. Louis
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	385,769,000
Increase in goodwill due to the acquisition of Harrah's St. Louis facility	200,300,000
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	362,491,000
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Pre-tax goodwill impairment charge			144,600,000
Goodwill impairment charge, net of taxes			144,600,000
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	207,207,000
Hollywood Casino Joliet
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Pre-tax goodwill impairment charge			44,200,000
Goodwill impairment charge, net of taxes			28,400,000
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	204,825,000
Argosy Casino Riverside
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	159,296,000
Zia Park Casino
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	145,591,000
Argosy Casino Alton
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	135,511,000
Argosy Casino Sioux City
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	92,795,000
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	75,521,000
Others
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	$ 318,160,000