Note 2 - Variable Interest and Affiliates	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]	2. VARIABLE INTERESTS AND AFFILIATES Variable Interest Entities New Jersey Trusts New Jersey regulation requires that annuitized WAP jackpot payments to winners be administered through an individual trust set up for each WAP system. These trusts are VIEs and IGT is the primary consolidating beneficiary, because these VIE trusts are designed for the sole purpose of administering jackpot payments for IGT WAP winners and IGT guarantees all liabilities of the trusts. The assets of these consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle trust obligations and have been segregated on our balance sheet. The consolidation of these VIEs primarily increases jackpot liabilities and related assets, as well as interest income and equivalent offsetting interest expense. Consolidated VIE trust assets and equivalent liabilities totaled $58.9 million at September 30, 2012 and $69.7 million at September 30, 2011. Latin America Distributor In March 2012, we contracted with a third party distributor in Latin America to sell IGT products. The distributor is a VIE as it is unable to finance its activities without additional support from IGT; however, the distributor was not consolidated because IGT does not have contractual or implied control. Under the agreement, our maximum exposure consists of note financing of $0.8 million provided for operating costs and contract financing under a revolving line of credit of $13.0 million for IGT product purchases. We recognized $4.4 million in revenues related to this distributor for the year ended September 30, 2012. Contracts and notes receivable due from this distributor totaled $7.0 million as of September 30, 2012, $2.9 million current and $4.1 non-current. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates China LotSynergy Holdings, Ltd. Convertible Notes Receivable In May 2007, we entered into a strategic business arrangement with CLS to explore opportunities in the China lottery market. As part of this arrangement, we invested $72.0 million, including transaction costs, in a 4% zero-coupon unsecured convertible note issued by CLS due May 31, 2015. In September 2010, we modified our China strategy, reduced the outstanding note, accelerated payments due IGT, and eliminated restrictions on IGT’s ability to sell CLS shares. The original note was redeemed for an immediate cash payment of $39.8 million and a new non-interest bearing convertible note of HK$166.3 million ($21.4 million) due in two installments of HK$95.0 million ($12.2 million) due September 27, 2011, which was received, and HK$71.3 million ($9.2 million) due on May 12, 2012. When redeemed, the original note had an accreted value of $80.7 million and we recognized a loss of $20.5 million. The new note was partially or wholly convertible in increments of HK$10.0 million at an initial conversion price of HK$0.96 per CLS share. At September 30, 2011, this conversion option did not qualify as a freestanding derivative to be accounted for separately from the note. An initial discount of $2.9 million was recorded for the imputed market interest rate of 11.55% that is amortizing to interest income over the 20-month life. The adjusted cost of the note was $8.7 million and the fair value was $8.9 million at September 30, 2011. This default put was accounted for separately as a noncurrent freestanding derivative. The fair value of the default put was $0.4 million at September 30, 2011 and $2.6 million at September 30, 2010. In May 2012, we received final payment of $9.2 million on our CLS convertible note and all related derivatives were adjusted to zero. See Note 10 and 11 for additional information about related fair value assumptions and derivatives. Stock As part of the May 2007 arrangement with CLS, we invested $33.6 million, including transaction costs, for approximately 5% of the outstanding ordinary shares of CLS, a public company listed on the Growth Enterprise Market of the Hong Kong Exchange. In September 2008, we recorded an “other-than-temporary” impairment loss of $21.4 million due to an extended decline in market value and uncertainties related to business conditions surrounding new regulations. In September 2010, we modified our arrangement with CLS to eliminate restrictions on our ability to sell our CLS shares, which were then reclassified to current other assets. During 2011, we sold our CLS stock investment for net proceeds of $16.5 million and recognized a gain of $4.3 million. Joint Ventures IGT and CLS formed two 50/50 joint ventures: IGT Synergy Holding Ltd. in September 2007 to explore China Welfare Lottery opportunities and Asiatic Group Ltd. in September 2009 for bingo and electronic lottery games, which was terminated in September 2010. Under the equity method, we recorded joint venture losses of $0.4 million in 2011, and $0.5 million in 2010. At September 30, 2012, $7.1 million remains accrued for our unconditional capital commitment to IGT Synergy Holding Ltd.

Note 2 - Variable Interest and Affiliates

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]

2. VARIABLE INTERESTS AND AFFILIATES

Variable Interest Entities

New Jersey Trusts

New Jersey regulation requires that annuitized WAP jackpot payments to winners be administered through an individual trust set up for each WAP system. These trusts are VIEs and IGT is the primary consolidating beneficiary, because these VIE trusts are designed for the sole purpose of administering jackpot payments for IGT WAP winners and IGT guarantees all liabilities of the trusts. The assets of these consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle trust obligations and have been segregated on our balance sheet.

The consolidation of these VIEs primarily increases jackpot liabilities and related assets, as well as interest income and equivalent offsetting interest expense. Consolidated VIE trust assets and equivalent liabilities totaled $58.9 million at September 30, 2012 and $69.7 million at September 30, 2011.

Latin America Distributor

In March 2012, we contracted with a third party distributor in Latin America to sell IGT products. The distributor is a VIE as it is unable to finance its activities without additional support from IGT; however, the distributor was not consolidated because IGT does not have contractual or implied control. Under the agreement, our maximum exposure consists of note financing of $0.8 million provided for operating costs and contract financing under a revolving line of credit of $13.0 million for IGT product purchases. We recognized $4.4 million in revenues related to this distributor for the year ended September 30, 2012. Contracts and notes receivable due from this distributor totaled $7.0 million as of September 30, 2012, $2.9 million current and $4.1 non-current.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

China LotSynergy Holdings, Ltd.

Convertible Notes Receivable

In May 2007, we entered into a strategic business arrangement with CLS to explore opportunities in the China lottery market. As part of this arrangement, we invested $72.0 million, including transaction costs, in a 4% zero-coupon unsecured convertible note issued by CLS due May 31, 2015.

In September 2010, we modified our China strategy, reduced the outstanding note, accelerated payments due IGT, and eliminated restrictions on IGT’s ability to sell CLS shares. The original note was redeemed for an immediate cash payment of $39.8 million and a new non-interest bearing convertible note of HK$166.3 million ($21.4 million) due in two installments of HK$95.0 million ($12.2 million) due September 27, 2011, which was received, and HK$71.3 million ($9.2 million) due on May 12, 2012. When redeemed, the original note had an accreted value of $80.7 million and we recognized a loss of $20.5 million.

The new note was partially or wholly convertible in increments of HK$10.0 million at an initial conversion price of HK$0.96 per CLS share. At September 30, 2011, this conversion option did not qualify as a freestanding derivative to be accounted for separately from the note. An initial discount of $2.9 million was recorded for the imputed market interest rate of 11.55% that is amortizing to interest income over the 20-month life. The adjusted cost of the note was $8.7 million and the fair value was $8.9 million at September 30, 2011.

This default put was accounted for separately as a noncurrent freestanding derivative. The fair value of the default put was $0.4 million at September 30, 2011 and $2.6 million at September 30, 2010.

In May 2012, we received final payment of $9.2 million on our CLS convertible note and all related derivatives were adjusted to zero. See Note 10 and 11 for additional information about related fair value assumptions and derivatives.

Stock

As part of the May 2007 arrangement with CLS, we invested $33.6 million, including transaction costs, for approximately 5% of the outstanding ordinary shares of CLS, a public company listed on the Growth Enterprise Market of the Hong Kong Exchange. In September 2008, we recorded an “other-than-temporary” impairment loss of $21.4 million due to an extended decline in market value and uncertainties related to business conditions surrounding new regulations.

In September 2010, we modified our arrangement with CLS to eliminate restrictions on our ability to sell our CLS shares, which were then reclassified to current other assets. During 2011, we sold our CLS stock investment for net proceeds of $16.5 million and recognized a gain of $4.3 million.

Joint Ventures

IGT and CLS formed two 50/50 joint ventures: IGT Synergy Holding Ltd. in September 2007 to explore China Welfare Lottery opportunities and Asiatic Group Ltd. in September 2009 for bingo and electronic lottery games, which was terminated in September 2010. Under the equity method, we recorded joint venture losses of $0.4 million in 2011, and $0.5 million in 2010. At September 30, 2012, $7.1 million remains accrued for our unconditional capital commitment to IGT Synergy Holding Ltd.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group.

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