Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of reportable segments | segment		3		3
Income (loss) from operations	$ 139,300		$ 142,172	$ 429,168	$ 377,222
Charge for stock compensation	1,517		2,025	4,554	6,446
Depreciation and amortization	67,903		66,141	200,105	191,785
Contingent purchase price	(30)		(6,651)	(1,111)	(5,944)
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	(2,781)		276	(3,440)	801
Insurance recoveries	(726)			(726)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	3,505		3,759	11,662	11,895
Adjusted EBITDA	211,260		210,262	647,925	590,023
Net revenues	765,597		739,297	2,291,470	2,104,391
Capital expenditures	22,379		46,546	65,913	167,035
Total assets	5,251,679			5,251,679		$ 5,138,752
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	158,304			158,304		168,149
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	1,425,622			1,425,622		1,303,384
Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Non-operating items	2,572		2,540	7,713	7,818
Operating Segments | Northeast
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	101,752		107,148	306,368	274,995
Depreciation and amortization	22,975		24,350	69,177	70,016
Contingent purchase price	(293)		(6,651)	(1,374)	(5,944)
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	(13)		33	(6)	40
Adjusted EBITDA	124,421		124,880	374,165	339,107
Net revenues	395,748		406,552	1,190,469	1,120,272
Capital expenditures	6,465		39,272	21,852	136,587
Total assets	854,583			854,583		918,292
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	79			79		84
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	324,285			324,285		324,285
Operating Segments | South/West
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	19,337		22,307	72,944	81,910
Depreciation and amortization	9,097		6,971	26,701	17,091
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	72		185	58	585
Adjusted EBITDA	28,506		29,463	99,703	99,586
Net revenues	135,169		118,266	411,245	345,516
Capital expenditures	7,540		3,089	21,851	12,948
Total assets	1,109,773			1,109,773		968,152
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	224,746			224,746		224,746
Operating Segments | Midwest
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	56,343		52,521	172,013	160,631
Depreciation and amortization	9,593		9,984	28,621	29,846
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	64		34	18	28
Insurance recoveries	(726)			(726)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	3,798		3,831	12,261	12,021
Adjusted EBITDA	71,644		68,910	219,900	210,344
Net revenues	221,172		209,115	662,506	622,652
Capital expenditures	7,438		3,707	19,768	14,922
Total assets	1,059,591			1,059,591		1,091,514
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	94,369			94,369		103,608
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	748,952			748,952		750,127
Operating Segments | Midwest | Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Non-operating items	2,572		2,540	7,713	7,818
Other
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	(38,132)		(39,804)	(122,157)	(140,314)
Charge for stock compensation	1,517		2,025	4,554	6,446
Depreciation and amortization	26,238		24,836	75,606	74,832
Contingent purchase price	263			263
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	(2,904)		24	(3,510)	148
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	(293)		(72)	(599)	(126)
Adjusted EBITDA	(13,311)		(12,991)	(45,843)	(59,014)
Net revenues	13,508		5,364	27,250	15,951
Capital expenditures	936		$ 478	2,442	$ 2,578
Total assets	2,227,732			2,227,732		2,160,794
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	63,856			63,856		64,457
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	$ 127,639			$ 127,639		$ 4,226