Note 22 - Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	22. Subsequent Events Merger Agreement On January 25, 2015, Lakes entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Sartini Gaming, Inc. At closing, Golden Gaming will combine with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakes with Golden Gaming surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakes. Lakes will remain publicly traded and be renamed Golden Entertainment, Inc. upon closing. For further discussion of the Merger Agreement, see note 1, Nature of Business. Sale of Investment in Rock Ohio Ventures Effective January 25, 2015, Lakes sold its investment in Rock Ohio Ventures to DG Ohio Ventures, LLC for approximately $0.8 million. As this investment had been previously written down to zero, Lakes will account for the receipt of this payment as a gain on sale of cost method investment in the consolidated statement of operations in the first quarter of 2015. For further discussion, see note 8, Investment in Rock Ohio Ventures. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuits On February 6, 2015, Lakes, the members of the Lakes’ Board of Directors, LG Acquisition Corporation, Sartini Gaming, Inc., and the Blake L. Sartini and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust were named as defendants in two complaints filed in the District Court of the State of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District in Hennepin County. The cases are captioned James Orr, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, as Plaintiff, vs. Lakes Entertainment, Inc., LG Acquisition Corporation, Sartini Gaming, Inc., Lyle A. Berman, Timothy J. Cope, Larry C. Barenbaum, Neil I. Sell, Ray M. Moberg, and the Blake L. Sartini and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust, as Defendants, and Anthony Dacquisito, On Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated vs. Larry Barenbaum, Lyle Berman, Neil Sell, Ray Moberg, Timothy Cope, LG Acquisition Corporation, Sartini Gaming, Inc., and the Blake L. Sartini and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust, as Defendants. These are purported shareholder class action lawsuits brought by two of Lakes’ shareholders on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated, alleging that in entering into the proposed transaction with Golden Gaming, the Defendants have breached their fiduciary duties of good faith, loyalty and due care, and/or have aided and abetted such breaches. The Plaintiffs seek, among other things, to enjoin the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and attorney’s fees. An unfavorable outcome in these lawsuits could prevent or delay the consummation of the Merger, result in substantial costs to Lakes, or both. It is also possible that other lawsuits may yet be filed and Lakes cannot estimate any possible loss from this or future litigation at this time.

Note 22 - Subsequent Events

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2014

22. Subsequent Events

Merger Agreement

On January 25, 2015, Lakes entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Sartini Gaming, Inc. At closing, Golden Gaming will combine with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakes with Golden Gaming surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakes. Lakes will remain publicly traded and be renamed Golden Entertainment, Inc. upon closing. For further discussion of the Merger Agreement, see note 1, Nature of Business.

Sale of Investment in Rock Ohio Ventures

Effective January 25, 2015, Lakes sold its investment in Rock Ohio Ventures to DG Ohio Ventures, LLC for approximately $0.8 million. As this investment had been previously written down to zero, Lakes will account for the receipt of this payment as a gain on sale of cost method investment in the consolidated statement of operations in the first quarter of 2015. For further discussion, see note 8, Investment in Rock Ohio Ventures.

Shareholder Class Action Lawsuits

On February 6, 2015, Lakes, the members of the Lakes’ Board of Directors, LG Acquisition Corporation, Sartini Gaming, Inc., and the Blake L. Sartini and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust were named as defendants in two complaints filed in the District Court of the State of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District in Hennepin County. The cases are captioned James Orr, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, as Plaintiff, vs. Lakes Entertainment, Inc., LG Acquisition Corporation, Sartini Gaming, Inc., Lyle A. Berman, Timothy J. Cope, Larry C. Barenbaum, Neil I. Sell, Ray M. Moberg, and the Blake L. Sartini and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust, as Defendants, and Anthony Dacquisito, On Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated vs. Larry Barenbaum, Lyle Berman, Neil Sell, Ray Moberg, Timothy Cope, LG Acquisition Corporation, Sartini Gaming, Inc., and the Blake L. Sartini and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust, as Defendants. These are purported shareholder class action lawsuits brought by two of Lakes’ shareholders on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated, alleging that in entering into the proposed transaction with Golden Gaming, the Defendants have breached their fiduciary duties of good faith, loyalty and due care, and/or have aided and abetted such breaches. The Plaintiffs seek, among other things, to enjoin the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and attorney’s fees. An unfavorable outcome in these lawsuits could prevent or delay the consummation of the Merger, result in substantial costs to Lakes, or both. It is also possible that other lawsuits may yet be filed and Lakes cannot estimate any possible loss from this or future litigation at this time.