Nature of Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Business	Note 1 – Nature of Business Golden Entertainment, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) own and operate a diversified entertainment platform, consisting of a portfolio of gaming assets that focus on resort casino operations and distributed gaming (including tavern gaming in our wholly-owned taverns). The Company conducts its business through two reportable operating segments: Casinos and Distributed Gaming. The Company’s Casinos segment involves the operation of eight resort casino properties in Nevada and Maryland, comprising the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower (the “Stratosphere”), Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and Arizona Charlie’s Boulder in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Aquarius Casino Resort (the “Aquarius”) in Laughlin, Nevada, the Pahrump Nugget Hotel Casino (“Pahrump Nugget”), Gold Town Casino and Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump, Nevada, and the Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Maryland (“Rocky Gap”). The casino properties in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada were added to the Company’s casino portfolio in October 2017 as a result of the Company’s acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC (“American”), as further described below. The Company’s Distributed Gaming segment involves the installation, maintenance and operation of slots and amusement devices in non-casino locations (such as grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, taverns and liquor stores) in Nevada and Montana, and the operation of wholly-owned branded taverns targeting local patrons located primarily in the greater Las Vegas, Nevada metropolitan area. On October 20, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding equity interests of American from its former equity holders (the “American Acquisition”). The results of operations of American and its subsidiaries have been included in the Company’s results subsequent to that date. See Note 3, Merger and Acquisitions, for information regarding the American Acquisition. On January 29, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 1,100 slots from a distributed gaming operator in Montana, as well as certain other non-gaming assets and the right to operate within certain locations (the “Initial Montana Acquisition”). Additionally, on April 22, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 1,800 slots from a second distributed gaming operator in Montana, as well as amusement devices and other non-gaming assets and the right to operate within certain locations (the “Second Montana Acquisition” and, together with the Initial Montana Acquisition, the “Montana Acquisitions”). The results of operations of the distributed gaming businesses acquired in the Montana Acquisitions have been included in the Company’s results subsequent to their respective acquisition dates. See Note 3, Merger and Acquisitions, for information regarding the Montana Acquisitions. On July 31, 2015, the Company acquired Sartini Gaming, Inc. (“Sartini Gaming”) through the merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company with and into Sartini Gaming, with Sartini Gaming surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). The results of operations of Sartini Gaming and its subsidiaries have been included in the Company’s results subsequent to that date. In connection with the Merger, the Company’s name was changed from Lakes Entertainment, Inc. to Golden Entertainment, Inc. See Note 3, Merger and Acquisitions, for information regarding the Merger.

Note 1 – Nature of Business

Golden Entertainment, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) own and operate a diversified entertainment platform, consisting of a portfolio of gaming assets that focus on resort casino operations and distributed gaming (including tavern gaming in our wholly-owned taverns).

The Company conducts its business through two reportable operating segments: Casinos and Distributed Gaming. The Company’s Casinos segment involves the operation of eight resort casino properties in Nevada and Maryland, comprising the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower (the “Stratosphere”), Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and Arizona Charlie’s Boulder in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Aquarius Casino Resort (the “Aquarius”) in Laughlin, Nevada, the Pahrump Nugget Hotel Casino (“Pahrump Nugget”), Gold Town Casino and Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump, Nevada, and the Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Maryland (“Rocky Gap”). The casino properties in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada were added to the Company’s casino portfolio in October 2017 as a result of the Company’s acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC (“American”), as further described below.

The Company’s Distributed Gaming segment involves the installation, maintenance and operation of slots and amusement devices in non-casino locations (such as grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, taverns and liquor stores) in Nevada and Montana, and the operation of wholly-owned branded taverns targeting local patrons located primarily in the greater Las Vegas, Nevada metropolitan area.

On October 20, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding equity interests of American from its former equity holders (the “American Acquisition”). The results of operations of American and its subsidiaries have been included in the Company’s results subsequent to that date. See Note 3, Merger and Acquisitions, for information regarding the American Acquisition.

On January 29, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 1,100 slots from a distributed gaming operator in Montana, as well as certain other non-gaming assets and the right to operate within certain locations (the “Initial Montana Acquisition”). Additionally, on April 22, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 1,800 slots from a second distributed gaming operator in Montana, as well as amusement devices and other non-gaming assets and the right to operate within certain locations (the “Second Montana Acquisition” and, together with the Initial Montana Acquisition, the “Montana Acquisitions”). The results of operations of the distributed gaming businesses acquired in the Montana Acquisitions have been included in the Company’s results subsequent to their respective acquisition dates. See Note 3, Merger and Acquisitions, for information regarding the Montana Acquisitions.

On July 31, 2015, the Company acquired Sartini Gaming, Inc. (“Sartini Gaming”) through the merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company with and into Sartini Gaming, with Sartini Gaming surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). The results of operations of Sartini Gaming and its subsidiaries have been included in the Company’s results subsequent to that date. In connection with the Merger, the Company’s name was changed from Lakes Entertainment, Inc. to Golden Entertainment, Inc. See Note 3, Merger and Acquisitions, for information regarding the Merger.