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Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment information
Net revenues	$ 651,361us-gaap_Revenues	$ 645,940us-gaap_Revenues	$ 652,146us-gaap_Revenues	$ 641,080us-gaap_Revenues	$ 644,702us-gaap_Revenues	$ 714,435us-gaap_Revenues	$ 761,371us-gaap_Revenues	$ 798,246us-gaap_Revenues	$ 2,590,527us-gaap_Revenues	$ 2,918,754us-gaap_Revenues	$ 2,899,465us-gaap_Revenues
Income (loss) from operations	(304,686)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	22,831us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	23,382us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	18,051us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(1,045,448)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	93,280us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	46,881us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	133,315us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(240,422)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(771,972)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	442,589us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Depreciation and amortization									178,981us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	298,326us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	245,348us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Impairment losses									321,089us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	1,132,417us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates									7,949	9,657	3,804
Capital expenditures									228,145penn_CapitalExpenditures	199,913penn_CapitalExpenditures	472,985penn_CapitalExpenditures
Total assets	2,236,430us-gaap_Assets				2,183,991us-gaap_Assets				2,236,430us-gaap_Assets	2,183,991us-gaap_Assets
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	179,551				193,331				179,551	193,331
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	648,144				852,046				648,144	852,046
Kansas
Segment information
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	115,500				127,800				115,500	127,800
East/Midwest
Segment information
Net revenues									1,467,380	1,652,585	1,698,562
Income (loss) from operations									58,042	(102,192)	384,028
Depreciation and amortization									105,552	148,697	135,470
Impairment losses									4,560	429,567
Capital expenditures									144,320	106,742	407,046
Total assets	990,031				590,606				990,031	590,606
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	94				79				94	79
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	264,147				120,458				264,147	120,458
West
Segment information
Net revenues									241,410	240,083	252,182
Income (loss) from operations									24,791	42,420	47,050
Depreciation and amortization									7,725	11,883	12,850
Impairment losses									1,420
Capital expenditures									28,251	9,802	11,294
Total assets	289,026				212,098				289,026	212,098
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	145,054				146,012				145,054	146,012
Southern Plains
Segment information
Net revenues									857,447	994,097	915,587
Income (loss) from operations									(235,332)	(514,063)	199,164
Depreciation and amortization									58,597	113,838	82,465
Impairment losses									315,109	664,420
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates									10,720	10,735	5,210
Capital expenditures									49,607	78,244	49,067
Total assets	592,405				945,472				592,405	945,472
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	115,469				127,749				115,469	127,749
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	234,865				566,016				234,865	566,016
Other
Segment information
Net revenues									24,290	31,989	33,134
Income (loss) from operations									(87,923)	(198,137)	(187,653)
Depreciation and amortization									7,107	23,908	14,563
Impairment losses										38,430
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates									(2,771)	(1,078)	(1,406)
Capital expenditures									5,967	5,125	5,578
Total assets	364,968				435,815				364,968	435,815
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	63,988				65,503				63,988	65,503
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	$ 4,078				$ 19,560				$ 4,078	$ 19,560