Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2013	Oct. 01, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 01, 2013
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill acquired							$ 3,052
Balance at the beginning of the period, Goodwill gross							2,134,697	$ 2,214,546
Balance at the beginning of the period, Accumulated goodwill impairment losses							(1,182,744)	(833,857)
Goodwill, Beginning Balance							951,953	1,380,689
Goodwill impairment losses		$ (249,300)					(80,821)	(348,887)
Contribution of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge to GLPI								(75,521)
Other								(4,328)
Balance at the end of the period, Goodwill gross							2,137,749	2,134,697	$ 2,214,546
Balance at the end of the period, Accumulated goodwill impairment losses							(1,263,565)	(1,182,744)	(833,857)
Goodwill, Ending Balance							874,184	951,953	1,380,689
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization										$ 76,613	$ 66,190
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value										462
Intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value										496,066	300,448
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										419,453	234,258
Change in indefinite life intangible assets during the period							185,200
Other intangible assets, net										419,453	234,258
Capitalization of relocation fees										418,991	223,834
Intangible asset amortization expense							11,400	16,100	800
Goodwill impairment losses		249,300					80,821	348,887
Impairment of intangible asset		$ 311,000					74,500
Expected future amortization expense
2016										33
2017										66
2018										66
2019										66
Thereafter										231
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value										462
Goodwill							$ 951,953	1,380,689	$ 1,380,689	874,184	951,953
Other intangible assets, net										419,453	234,258
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Intangible assets
Fair value discount rate				5.00%
Spinoff
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses	$ (30,900)							(249,300)
Intangible assets
Goodwill impairment losses	30,900							249,300
Impairment of intangible asset	133,100
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway And Mahoning Valley Race Course
Intangible assets
Capitalization of relocation fees										150,000
Fair value discount rate							5.00%
Gaming license fee							$ 100,000
Gaming license payable due one year from commencement of operations										50,000
Gaming license fee terms							1 year
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							$ 15,339
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										125,000
Other intangible assets, net										125,000
Capitalization of relocation fees				$ 75,000
Gaming license fee					$ 15,000	$ 10,000
Gaming license payable due one year from commencement of operations										25,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							15,339			15,339
Other intangible assets, net										125,000
Mahoning Valley Race Course
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										125,000
Other intangible assets, net										125,000
Capitalization of relocation fees				$ 75,000
Gaming license fee					$ 15,000	$ 10,000
Gaming license payable due one year from commencement of operations										25,000
Expected future amortization expense
Other intangible assets, net										125,000
Plainridge Park Casino Member
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							3,052
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										25,297
Other intangible assets, net										25,297
Gaming license fee							25,000
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							3,052			3,052
Other intangible assets, net										25,297
Hollywood Casino St Louis
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							205,783
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										58,418
Other intangible assets, net										58,418
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							205,783			205,783
Other intangible assets, net										58,418
Argosy Casino Riverside
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							154,332
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										4,964
Other intangible assets, net										4,964
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							154,332			154,332
Other intangible assets, net										4,964
Zia Park Casino
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							142,359
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							142,359			142,359
Hollywood Casino Joliet
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										3,724
Other intangible assets, net										3,724
Expected future amortization expense
Other intangible assets, net										3,724
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							1,497
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										67,607
Other intangible assets, net										67,607
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							1,497			1,497
Other intangible assets, net										67,607
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							63,189
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							63,189			63,189
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							207,207
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							207,207			207,207
Argosy Casino Alton
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							9,863
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										8,285
Other intangible assets, net										8,285
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							9,863			9,863
Other intangible assets, net										8,285
Argosy Casino Sioux City
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses								(68,700)
Intangible assets
Goodwill impairment losses								68,700
Impairment of intangible asset								3,100
Other Reporting Units
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							5,156
Intangible assets
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total										1,158
Other intangible assets, net										1,158
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							5,156			5,156
Other intangible assets, net										1,158
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville | Spinoff
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance	75,500
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill	$ 75,500											$ 75,500
Argosy Casino Sioux City Facility
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses			$ 20,900					(68,700)
Intangible assets
Goodwill impairment losses			$ (20,900)					$ 68,700
Boomtown Biloxi
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							22,365
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							22,365			22,365
Hollywood Casino Tunica
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill, Ending Balance							44,042
Expected future amortization expense
Goodwill							44,042			44,042
Argosy Casino Sioux City gaming license | Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville | Spinoff
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value												9,600
Expected future amortization expense
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value												$ 9,600
Argosy Casino Sioux City gaming license | Argosy Casino Sioux City Facility
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value										20,949	20,949
Finite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization										20,949	12,569
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value											8,380
Expected future amortization expense
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value											8,380
Other Intangible Assets
Intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value										56,126	55,665
Finite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization										55,664	53,621
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value										462	2,044
Expected future amortization expense
Finite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value										$ 462	$ 2,044
Other Intangible Assets | Spinoff
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Goodwill impairment losses							(80,800)
Intangible assets
Goodwill impairment losses							$ 80,800