Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) item $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) item $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) $ / shares
Quarterly financial information
Net revenues			$ 651,361	$ 645,940	$ 652,146	$ 641,080	$ 632,188	$ 674,802	$ 715,299	$ 755,597	$ 2,590,527	$ 2,777,886	$ 2,688,822
Income (loss) from operations			(56,646)	105,853	105,467	102,514	(674,670)	87,245	37,421	126,136	257,188	(423,868)	397,456
Net income (loss) from continuing operations							(675,507)	38,268	(17,247)	61,689	(183,822)	(592,797)	187,578
Net (loss) income			$ (149,781)	$ (15,348)	$ (19,273)	$ 580	$ (674,556)	$ 40,949	$ (12,548)	$ 64,903	$ (183,822)	$ (581,252)	$ 210,497
Basic (loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ (8.66)	$ 0.40	$ (0.22)	$ 0.64	$ (2.34)	$ (7.59)	$ 1.98
Basic income (loss) per common share diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							0.01	0.03	0.06	0.03		0.15	0.24
Basic (loss) earnings per common share | $ / shares			$ (1.90)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.25)	$ 0.01	(8.65)	0.43	(0.16)	0.67	(2.34)	(7.44)	2.22
Diluted (loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							(8.66)	0.37	(0.22)	0.60	(2.34)	(7.59)	1.81
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							0.01	0.03	0.06	0.03		0.15	0.22
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ (1.90)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.25)	$ 0.01	$ (8.65)	$ 0.40	$ (0.16)	$ 0.63	$ (2.34)	$ (7.44)	$ 2.03
Goodwill and other intangible impairment charge			$ 155,300
Goodwill impairment charge		$ 249,300									$ 80,821	$ 348,887
Intangible asset amortization expense											11,400	$ 16,100	$ 800
Impairment of long-lived assets					$ 4,600		$ 2,200
Number of racetracks relocated | item							2					2
Impairment charges on relocation of racetracks							$ 2,200					$ 2,200
Asset Impairment Charges											159,884	798,305
Spinoff of Real Estate Assets Through REIT Transaction Costs							24,800	$ 8,900	$ 3,500	$ 2,300	900	39,500	7,100
Loss on early extinguishment of debt							(61,700)					(61,660)
Previously Reported
Quarterly financial information
Net revenues			651,361	$ 645,940	652,146	$ 641,080	644,702	714,435	761,371	798,246	2,590,527	2,918,754	2,899,465
Income (loss) from operations			(304,686)	22,831	23,382	18,051	(1,045,448)	93,280	46,881	133,315	(240,422)	(771,972)	442,589
Net income (loss) from continuing operations							(888,747)	41,317	(12,180)	65,271		(794,339)	211,971
Net (loss) income			$ (250,407)	$ 8,499	$ 4,176	$ 4,537	$ (888,747)	$ 41,317	$ (12,180)	$ 65,271	$ (233,195)	$ (794,339)	$ 211,971
Basic (loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ (11.40)	$ 0.43	$ (0.16)	$ 0.68		$ (10.17)	$ 2.24
Basic (loss) earnings per common share | $ / shares			$ (3.18)	$ 0.10	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	(11.40)	0.43	(0.16)	0.68	$ (2.97)	(10.17)	2.24
Diluted (loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							(11.40)	0.40	(0.16)	0.63		(10.17)	2.04
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ (3.18)	$ 0.10	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ (11.40)	$ 0.40	$ (0.16)	$ 0.63	$ (2.97)	$ (10.17)	$ 2.04
Asset Impairment Charges											$ 321,089	$ 1,132,417
Loss on early extinguishment of debt												(61,660)
Restatement Adjustment
Quarterly financial information
Income (loss) from operations			$ 248,040	$ 83,022	$ 82,085	$ 84,463	$ 372,726	$ (370)	$ (370)	$ (369)	497,610	371,616	$ (1,465)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations							214,191	(368)	(368)	(368)		213,087	(1,474)
Net (loss) income			$ 100,626	$ (23,847)	$ (23,449)	$ (3,957)	$ 214,191	(368)	(368)	$ (368)	$ 49,373	$ 213,087	$ (1,474)
Basic (loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 2.75			$ (0.01)		$ 2.73	$ (0.02)
Basic (loss) earnings per common share | $ / shares			$ 1.28	$ (0.30)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.04)	2.75			$ (0.01)	$ 0.63	2.73	(0.02)
Diluted (loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							2.75					2.73	(0.01)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 1.28	$ (0.30)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.04)	$ 2.75				$ 0.63	$ 2.73	$ (0.01)
Asset Impairment Charges											$ (161,205)	$ (334,112)
Restatement Adjustment | Discontinued Operations
Quarterly financial information
Net revenues							$ (12,514)	(39,633)	(46,072)	$ (42,649)		(140,868)	$ (210,643)
Income (loss) from operations							(1,948)	(5,665)	(9,090)	(6,810)		(23,512)	(43,668)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations							$ (951)	$ (2,681)	$ (4,699)	$ (3,214)		$ (11,545)	$ (22,919)
Basic (loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ (0.01)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)		$ (0.15)	$ (0.24)
Basic income (loss) per common share diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							0.01	0.03	0.06	0.03		0.15	0.24
Diluted (loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							(0.01)	(0.03)	(0.06)	(0.03)		(0.15)	(0.22)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 0.01	$ 0.03	$ 0.06	$ 0.03		$ 0.15	$ 0.22
Master Lease Agreement
Quarterly financial information
Interest expense for the Master Lease			$ 97,500	$ 94,600	$ 94,000	$ 93,100	$ 62,100				$ 379,200	$ 62,100
Spinoff
Quarterly financial information
Goodwill impairment charge	$ 30,900											249,300
Impairment charges of goodwill and other intangible assets							$ 724,200
Argosy Casino Sioux City
Quarterly financial information
Goodwill impairment charge												$ 68,700
Asset Impairment Charges									$ 71,800