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Represents the number of shares of common stock counted against the maximum shares available for grant for each share awarded under the plan.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan.

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The weighted-average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance on vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable under the stock option plan.

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Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

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For presentations that combine terminations, the number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan or that expired.

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Weighted average price of options that were either forfeited or expired.

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Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of options outstanding.

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Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

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Weighted average price at which option holders acquired shares when converting their stock options into shares.

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Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options.

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The floor of a customized range of exercise prices for purposes of disclosing shares potentially issuable under outstanding stock option awards on all stock option plans and other required information pertaining to awards in the customized range.

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The ceiling of a customized range of exercise prices for purposes of disclosing shares potentially issuable under outstanding stock option awards on all stock option plans and other required information pertaining to awards in the customized range.

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Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Amount of difference between fair value of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise price of vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable.

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Weighted average remaining contractual term for vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable or convertible, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Weighted average remaining contractual term for option awards outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period.

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Stock-Based Compensation (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands				12 Months Ended
	Jun. 12, 2014 shares	Jun. 09, 2011 shares	Jun. 01, 2003 shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 08, 2011 shares
Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc
Stock-based compensation
Number of awards converted \| item				2
Employee stock options
Stock-based compensation
Exercise price of options granted, low end of range (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				$ 6.34
Exercise price of options granted, high end of range (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				$ 18.61
Number of Option Shares
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)				6,633,622
Granted (in shares)				1,752,833
Exercised (in shares)				(1,931,946)
Canceled (in shares)				(72,933)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)				6,381,576	6,633,622
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				$ 8.12
Granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				13.50
Exercised (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				6.76
Canceled (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				11.64
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				$ 9.97	$ 8.12
Additional disclosures
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term				3 years 6 months 26 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in dollars) \| $				$ 40,029
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				$ 4.85	$ 4.95
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised (in dollars) \| $				$ 19,500	$ 8,200	$ 46,000
Number of Option Shares				3,739,257
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares				$ 8.13
Weighted-average remaining contractual term				2 years 2 months 9 days
Aggregate intrinsic value (in dollars) \| $				$ 30,300
Employee stock options \| Minimum
Stock-based compensation
Contractual lives of options granted				7 years
Employee stock options \| Maximum
Stock-based compensation
Contractual lives of options granted				10 years
2003 Plan
Stock-based compensation
Number of shares of common stock available for awards			12,000,000
2003 Plan \| Incentive stock options
Stock-based compensation
Exercise price per share as a percentage of the fair market value of the Common Stock			100.00%
2003 Plan \| Nonqualified stock options
Stock-based compensation
Exercise price per share as a percentage of the fair market value of the Common Stock			85.00%
2008 Plan
Stock-based compensation
Number of shares of common stock available for awards	16,350,000	9,250,000					2,350,000
Options available for future grants (in shares)				5,480,017
2008 Plan \| Employee stock options
Stock-based compensation
Number of shares of common stock counted against the maximum shares available for grant for each share awarded under the plan	1
2008 Plan \| Stock appreciation rights (SARs)
Stock-based compensation
Number of shares of common stock counted against the maximum shares available for grant for each share awarded under the plan	1
2008 Plan \| Restricted stock and Other full value stock awards
Stock-based compensation
Number of shares of common stock counted against the maximum shares available for grant for each share awarded under the plan		2.44