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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Reconciliation of goodwill and accumulated goodwill impairment losses
Balance at the beginning of the period, Goodwill gross			$ 2,019,613,000
Balance at the beginning of the period, Accumulated goodwill impairment losses			(833,857,000)
Balance at the beginning of the period, Goodwill, net			1,185,756,000
Balance at the end of the period, Goodwill gross	2,015,565,000		2,015,565,000
Balance at the end of the period, Accumulated goodwill impairment losses	(833,857,000)		(833,857,000)
Balance at the end of the period, Goodwill, net	1,181,708,000		1,181,708,000
Other			(4,048,000)
Intangible assets
Indefinite-life intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value	420,550,000		420,550,000		412,686,000
Other intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value	49,667,000		49,667,000		49,600,000
Other intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	49,100,000		49,100,000		47,134,000
Other intangible assets, Net Book Value	567,000		567,000		2,466,000
Intangible assets, Gross Carrying Value	470,217,000		470,217,000		462,286,000
Intangible assets, Net Book Value	421,117,000		421,117,000		415,152,000
Intangible asset amortization expense	400,000	1,600,000	2,000,000	5,000,000
Expected future amortization expense
Remainder of 2011			175,000
2012			245,000
2013			46,000
2014			46,000
2015			27,000
Thereafter			28,000
Total			567,000
Reporting Units
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	1,602,825,000		1,602,825,000
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	362,491,000		362,491,000
Hollywood Casino Joliet
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	211,508,000		211,508,000
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	207,207,000		207,207,000
Argosy Casino Riverside
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	159,296,000		159,296,000
Black Gold Casino at Zia Park
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	145,937,000		145,937,000
Argosy Casino Alton
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	135,511,000		135,511,000
Argosy Casino Sioux City
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	92,795,000		92,795,000
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Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	75,521,000		75,521,000
Others
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Remaining goodwill and other intangible assets	$ 212,559,000		$ 212,559,000