Acquisitions and Other Recent Business Ventures (Details) $ in Thousands				12 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 05, 2013 USD ($) ft² item	Nov. 02, 2012 USD ($) ft² a item mi	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) ft² a item	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Acquisitions
Preliminary purchase price allocated to goodwill				$ 874,184	$ 951,953	$ 1,380,689
Acquisition of businesses and gaming and other licenses				$ 118,678	73	$ 709,450
Plainridge Racecourse
Acquisitions
Period for calculation of contingent purchase price consideration based on the annual earnings				10 years
Period contingent purchase price consideration is due following first four fiscal quarters				60 days
Period for yearly contingent purchase price consideration payment after the first payment				9 years
Fair value for contingent purchase price consideration	$ 18,500			$ 19,200
Change in long-term debt fair value, included in interest expense				700
Preliminary purchase price allocated to land and buildings				57,900
Preliminary purchase price allocated to goodwill				$ 3,000
Plainridge Park Casino Properties
Acquisitions
Number of gaming devices | item				1,250
Estimated value of Casino				$ 225,000
Size of foot clubhouse (in square feet) | ft²				55,000
Acquisition of businesses and gaming and other licenses	$ 25,000
Harrahs St Louis Gaming and Lodging Facility
Acquisitions
Size of property where facility is located (in acres) | a			248
Number of parking spaces | item			4,600
Percentage of voting interest to be acquired			100.00%
Purchase price of the entity to be acquired			$ 615,200
Cash acquired			12,300
Purchase price allocated to goodwill and other intangible assets			386,500
Purchase price allocated to property and equipment, net			225,100
Purchase price allocated to total current assets			600
Purchase price allocated to total current liabilities			$ 9,300
Location of facility in distance from major metropolitan area (in miles) | mi			22
Area of gaming space at facility (in square feet) | ft²			645,270
Number of slot machines at facility | item			2,112
Number of table games at facility | item			57
Number of poker tables at facility | item			21
Number of guestroom hotels at facility | item			502
Number of dining and entertainment venues, structured and surface parking at the facility | item			9
Definitive Agreement with Jamul Indian Village
Acquisitions
Size of property where facility is located (in acres) | a				6
Proposed facility development cost		$ 360,000
Size of gaming and entertainment facility (in square feet) | ft²		200,000
Number of gaming devices | item		1,700
Number of table games | item		43
Number of parking spaces | item		1,800
Maximum conditional loan commitment				$ 400,000
Anticipated funding under conditional loan commitment				360,000
Note receivable				62,000	7,000
Interest Receivable				$ 3,300	$ 500