Note 1 - Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2014
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	1. Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Lakes Entertainment, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and subsidiaries (individually and collectively “Lakes” or the “Company”), have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to interim financial information. Accordingly, certain information normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States has been condensed and/or omitted. For further information, please refer to the annual audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, and the related notes included within the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 29, 2013, previously filed with the SEC, from which the balance sheet information as of that date is derived. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included (consisting of normal recurring adjustments). The results for the current interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Lakes owns and operates the Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Allegany County, Maryland (“Rocky Gap”) which it acquired on August 3, 2012 for $6.8 million. The resort included a hotel, convention center, spa, two restaurants and the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Maryland. In connection with the closing of the acquisition of Rocky Gap, Lakes entered into a 40 year operating ground lease with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for approximately 268 acres in the Rocky Gap State Park on which Rocky Gap is situated (see note 16, Commitments and Contingencies). After acquiring Rocky Gap, the Company converted the then-existing convention center into a gaming facility which opened to the public on May 22, 2013 and features 577 video lottery terminals (“VLTs”), 15 table games, two poker tables, a casino bar and a lobby food and beverage outlet. The AAA Four Diamond Award® winning resort also includes an event and conference center that opened during the fourth quarter of 2013, which is able to accommodate large groups and features flexible use meeting rooms. The total cost of the Rocky Gap project was approximately $35.0 million, which included the initial acquisition cost. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated investees, which are 20% or less owned and the Company does not have the ability to significantly influence the operating or financial decisions of the entity, are accounted for under the cost method. See note 7, Investment in Rock Ohio Ventures, LLC and note 8, Investment in Dania Entertainment Center, LLC. Effective September 10, 2014, the Company implemented a 1-for-2 reverse split of its common stock where each two shares of issued and outstanding common stock were converted into one share of common stock. The reverse split reduced the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding from approximately 26.8 million to 13.4 million. The par value of the common stock remains at $0.01 per share and the number of authorized shares of common stock decreased from 200 million to 100 million. Proportional adjustments were also made to the company’s outstanding stock options. All share information presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q gives effect to the reverse stock split.

Note 1 - Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

1. Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Lakes Entertainment, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and subsidiaries (individually and collectively “Lakes” or the “Company”), have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to interim financial information. Accordingly, certain information normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States has been condensed and/or omitted. For further information, please refer to the annual audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, and the related notes included within the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 29, 2013, previously filed with the SEC, from which the balance sheet information as of that date is derived. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included (consisting of normal recurring adjustments). The results for the current interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Lakes owns and operates the Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Allegany County, Maryland (“Rocky Gap”) which it acquired on August 3, 2012 for $6.8 million. The resort included a hotel, convention center, spa, two restaurants and the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Maryland. In connection with the closing of the acquisition of Rocky Gap, Lakes entered into a 40 year operating ground lease with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for approximately 268 acres in the Rocky Gap State Park on which Rocky Gap is situated (see note 16, Commitments and Contingencies). After acquiring Rocky Gap, the Company converted the then-existing convention center into a gaming facility which opened to the public on May 22, 2013 and features 577 video lottery terminals (“VLTs”), 15 table games, two poker tables, a casino bar and a lobby food and beverage outlet. The AAA Four Diamond Award® winning resort also includes an event and conference center that opened during the fourth quarter of 2013, which is able to accommodate large groups and features flexible use meeting rooms. The total cost of the Rocky Gap project was approximately $35.0 million, which included the initial acquisition cost.

All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in unconsolidated investees, which are 20% or less owned and the Company does not have the ability to significantly influence the operating or financial decisions of the entity, are accounted for under the cost method. See note 7, Investment in Rock Ohio Ventures, LLC and note 8, Investment in Dania Entertainment Center, LLC.

Effective September 10, 2014, the Company implemented a 1-for-2 reverse split of its common stock where each two shares of issued and outstanding common stock were converted into one share of common stock. The reverse split reduced the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding from approximately 26.8 million to 13.4 million. The par value of the common stock remains at $0.01 per share and the number of authorized shares of common stock decreased from 200 million to 100 million. Proportional adjustments were also made to the company’s outstanding stock options. All share information presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q gives effect to the reverse stock split.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.

+ References+ Details