Segment Information - Information About Reported Segments (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)Segments | Jun. 30, 2016USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2017USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016USD ($) |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Racing | $ 165,300,000 | $ 156,100,000 | $ 189,200,000 | $ 182,300,000 |
Casinos | 88,300,000 | 84,400,000 | 175,800,000 | 170,900,000 |
TwinSpires | 80,500,000 | 68,400,000 | 132,500,000 | 118,000,000 |
Big Fish Games | 112,600,000 | 125,200,000 | 224,600,000 | 247,300,000 |
Other Investments | $ 5,200,000 | 4,400,000 | 9,300,000 | 8,400,000 |
Number of Operating Segments | Segments | 6 | | | |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions | | | 64,000,000 | 34,500,000 |
Intercompany net revenues | $ 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Adjusted EBITDA | 173,000,000 | 160,200,000 | 230,300,000 | 206,900,000 |
Stock-based compensation | 6,700,000 | 5,300,000 | 11,700,000 | 9,400,000 |
Other income, expense: | 0 | (300,000) | (100,000) | (300,000) |
Interest, depreciation and amortization expense related to equity investments | 3,100,000 | 2,500,000 | 6,600,000 | 5,000,000 |
Other charges and recoveries, net | 0 | 0 | 0 | 400,000 |
Acquisition expense, net | 800,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,000,000 | 3,800,000 |
Calder exit costs | 200,000 | 1,500,000 | 600,000 | 1,900,000 |
Total adjustments to EBITDA | (10,800,000) | (10,700,000) | (20,000,000) | (20,800,000) |
Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization | 173,000,000 | 160,200,000 | 230,300,000 | 206,900,000 |
Total adjustments to EBITDA | 24,800,000 | 26,900,000 | 49,300,000 | 53,900,000 |
Adjusted EBITDA | 11,600,000 | 11,100,000 | 23,400,000 | 21,700,000 |
Income (loss) from operations before provision for income taxes | 125,800,000 | 111,500,000 | 137,600,000 | 110,500,000 |
Income tax (provision) benefit | 47,500,000 | 41,700,000 | 52,000,000 | 37,900,000 |
Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization | 162,200,000 | 149,500,000 | 210,300,000 | 186,100,000 |
Net income | 78,300,000 | 69,800,000 | 85,600,000 | 72,600,000 |
Foreign currency translation, net of tax | 300,000 | (200,000) | 400,000 | (200,000) |
Comprehensive income | 78,000,000 | 70,000,000 | 85,200,000 | 72,800,000 |
Racing Segment [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Racing | 165,300,000 | 156,100,000 | 189,200,000 | 182,300,000 |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions | | | 38,400,000 | 20,700,000 |
Intercompany net revenues | 10,400,000 | 8,600,000 | 12,600,000 | 10,900,000 |
Adjusted EBITDA | 98,700,000 | 91,300,000 | 89,000,000 | 83,900,000 |
Racing Segment [Member] | Churchill Downs | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Racing | 136,700,000 | 129,100,000 | 139,000,000 | 131,400,000 |
Intercompany net revenues | 8,400,000 | 7,000,000 | 8,700,000 | 7,300,000 |
Racing Segment [Member] | Arlington Park | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Racing | 18,000,000 | 16,800,000 | 26,500,000 | 25,800,000 |
Intercompany net revenues | 1,900,000 | 1,600,000 | 2,900,000 | 2,600,000 |
Racing Segment [Member] | Fair Grounds | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Racing | 10,000,000 | 9,500,000 | 22,500,000 | 23,800,000 |
Intercompany net revenues | 100,000 | 0 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Racing Segment [Member] | Calder | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Racing | 600,000 | 700,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,300,000 |
Casino Segment [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Casinos | 88,300,000 | 84,400,000 | 175,800,000 | 170,900,000 |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions | | | 15,600,000 | 6,800,000 |
Adjusted EBITDA | 37,500,000 | 33,300,000 | 72,800,000 | 67,600,000 |
Casino Segment [Member] | Oxford Casino | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Casinos | 23,100,000 | 21,100,000 | 44,000,000 | 41,000,000 |
Casino Segment [Member] | Riverwalk Casino | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Casinos | 12,000,000 | 12,400,000 | 23,500,000 | 25,100,000 |
Casino Segment [Member] | Harlows Casino | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Casinos | 12,500,000 | 11,900,000 | 26,000,000 | 24,900,000 |
Casino Segment [Member] | Calder Casinos | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Casinos | 21,800,000 | 20,500,000 | 43,200,000 | 40,800,000 |
Casino Segment [Member] | Fair Grounds Slots | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Casinos | 8,800,000 | 8,800,000 | 19,000,000 | 19,400,000 |
Casino Segment [Member] | VSI | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Casinos | 9,800,000 | 9,500,000 | 19,500,000 | 19,300,000 |
Casino Segment [Member] | Saratoga Casino Holdings, LLC [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Casinos | 300,000 | 200,000 | 600,000 | 400,000 |
TwinSpires [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
TwinSpires | 80,500,000 | 68,400,000 | 132,500,000 | 118,000,000 |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions | | | 5,200,000 | 3,700,000 |
Intercompany net revenues | 300,000 | 300,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 |
Adjusted EBITDA | 19,300,000 | 18,800,000 | 32,500,000 | 30,900,000 |
Big Fish Games [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Big Fish Games | 112,600,000 | 125,200,000 | 224,600,000 | 247,300,000 |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions | | | 3,500,000 | 2,200,000 |
Adjusted EBITDA | 18,300,000 | 17,800,000 | 38,600,000 | 26,700,000 |
Other Investments Segment [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Other Investments | 5,200,000 | 4,400,000 | 9,300,000 | 8,400,000 |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions | | | 700,000 | 500,000 |
Intercompany net revenues | 1,300,000 | 1,400,000 | 2,700,000 | 2,300,000 |
Corporate | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions | | | 600,000 | 600,000 |
Adjusted EBITDA | (2,100,000) | (2,300,000) | (4,500,000) | (4,300,000) |
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Intercompany net revenues | (12,000,000) | (10,300,000) | (15,900,000) | (13,800,000) |
Social casino | Big Fish Games [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Big Fish Games | 49,500,000 | 46,500,000 | 95,700,000 | 94,000,000 |
Casual and mid-core free-to-play | Big Fish Games [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Big Fish Games | 43,900,000 | 56,000,000 | 89,200,000 | 106,400,000 |
Premium | Big Fish Games [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Big Fish Games | 19,200,000 | 22,700,000 | 39,700,000 | 46,900,000 |
Saratoga Harness Racing Inc Joint Venture [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Adjusted Corporate EBITDA | (2,100,000) | (2,300,000) | (4,500,000) | (4,300,000) |
Saratoga Harness Racing Inc Joint Venture [Member] | Racing Segment [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | 98,700,000 | 91,300,000 | 89,000,000 | 83,900,000 |
Saratoga Harness Racing Inc Joint Venture [Member] | Casino Segment [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | 37,500,000 | 33,300,000 | 72,800,000 | 67,600,000 |
Saratoga Harness Racing Inc Joint Venture [Member] | TwinSpires [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | 19,300,000 | 18,800,000 | 32,500,000 | 30,900,000 |
Saratoga Harness Racing Inc Joint Venture [Member] | Big Fish Games [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | 18,300,000 | 17,800,000 | 38,600,000 | 26,700,000 |
Saratoga Harness Racing Inc Joint Venture [Member] | Other Investments Segment [Member] | | | | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 1,300,000 | $ 1,300,000 | $ 1,900,000 | $ 2,100,000 |