Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	$ 143,663	$ 139,300	$ 418,939	$ 429,168
Charge for stock compensation	1,853	1,517	5,827	4,554
Depreciation and amortization	66,483	67,903	205,688	200,105
Contingent purchase price	(20,716)	(30)	(16,794)	(1,111)
(Gain) Loss on disposal of assets	96	(2,781)	103	(3,440)
Insurance recoveries		(726)		(726)
Impairment losses	24,317		29,952
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	4,781	3,505	14,350	11,662
Adjusted EBITDA	221,787	211,260	662,635	647,925
Net revenues	806,247	765,597	2,378,934	2,291,470
Capital expenditures	27,282	22,379	70,242	65,913
Total assets	5,569,401		5,569,401		$ 4,974,484
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	149,570		149,570		156,176
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	1,434,051		1,434,051		1,425,179
Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Non-operating items	1,310	2,572	4,570	7,713
Operating Segments | Northeast
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	106,575	101,752	317,327	306,368
Depreciation and amortization	19,661	22,975	64,209	69,177
Contingent purchase price	1,480	(293)	2,662	(1,374)
(Gain) Loss on disposal of assets	(72)	(13)	(104)	(6)
Adjusted EBITDA	127,644	124,421	384,094	374,165
Net revenues	401,818	395,748	1,200,382	1,190,469
Capital expenditures	5,621	6,465	15,144	21,852
Total assets	820,833		820,833		861,951
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	80		80		76
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	324,285		324,285		324,285
Operating Segments | South/West
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	4,772	19,337	51,952	72,944
Depreciation and amortization	9,224	9,097	27,794	26,701
(Gain) Loss on disposal of assets	(61)	72	(56)	58
Impairment losses	21,111		26,746
Adjusted EBITDA	35,046	28,506	106,436	99,703
Net revenues	160,153	135,169	453,123	411,245
Capital expenditures	12,681	7,540	33,227	21,851
Total assets	855,678		855,678		840,076
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	246,137		246,137		224,719
Operating Segments | Midwest
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	60,005	56,343	180,818	172,013
Depreciation and amortization	9,560	9,593	28,739	28,621
Contingent purchase price	(44)		(19)
(Gain) Loss on disposal of assets	56	64	85	18
Insurance recoveries		(726)		(726)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	5,157	3,798	15,447	12,261
Adjusted EBITDA	76,044	71,644	229,640	219,900
Net revenues	232,051	221,172	685,236	662,506
Capital expenditures	7,935	7,438	19,611	19,768
Total assets	1,088,960		1,088,960		1,103,231
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	88,015		88,015		93,768
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	777,156		777,156		775,377
Operating Segments | Midwest | Kansas Entertainment
Segment information
Non-operating items	1,310	2,572	4,570	7,713
Other
Segment information
Income (loss) from operations	(27,689)	(38,132)	(131,158)	(122,157)
Charge for stock compensation	1,853	1,517	5,827	4,554
Depreciation and amortization	28,038	26,238	84,946	75,606
Contingent purchase price	(22,152)	263	(19,437)	263
(Gain) Loss on disposal of assets	173	(2,904)	178	(3,510)
Impairment losses	3,206		3,206
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	(376)	(293)	(1,097)	(599)
Adjusted EBITDA	(16,947)	(13,311)	(57,535)	(45,843)
Net revenues	12,225	13,508	40,193	27,250
Capital expenditures	1,045	$ 936	2,260	$ 2,442
Total assets	2,803,930		2,803,930		2,169,226
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	61,475		61,475		62,332
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	$ 86,473		$ 86,473		$ 100,798