Debt Instrument, Amortization Percentage

No definition available.

Name:	sgms_DebtInstrumentAmortizationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Basis Point Spread on Variable, Reduction Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_DebtInstrumentBasisPointSpreadonVariableReductionPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Collateral as a Percentage of Capital

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_DebtInstrumentCollateralasaPercentageofCapital
Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee, Step-down Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_LineofCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeeStepdownPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the fee that accompanies borrowing money under the debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFeeAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of debt discount (net of debt premium) that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28567-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of debt issuance costs (for example, but not limited to, legal, accounting, broker, and regulatory fees).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sgms_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=sgms_TermLoanFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sgms_RevolverVaryingInterestRateDue2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sgms_SeniorSecuredTermLoanCreditFacilitydue2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sgms_Seniorsecuredtermloancreditfacilitydue2021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=sgms_BallyTechnologiesInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=sgms_DirectandIndirectWhollyOwnedDomesticSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=sgms_ForeignSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-Term and Other Debt - Credit Facilities (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 12, 2015	Feb. 11, 2015	Oct. 01, 2014	Oct. 18, 2013
Debt Instrument
Debt discount capitalized	$ 26,300,000	$ 31,300,000
Debt issuance costs expensed		9,800,000	$ 9,400,000
Senior secured credit facilities
Debt Instrument
Maximum revolving commitments							$ 2,600,000,000
Senior secured credit facilities \| Revolver
Debt Instrument
Financing fees capitalized	9,800,000
Senior secured credit facilities \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument
Financing fees capitalized	64,500,000
Debt discount recorded	84,500,000
Debt discount capitalized	$ 20,000,000
Revolver, varying interest rate, due 2018 \| Revolver
Debt Instrument
Maximum revolving commitments				$ 592,600,000.0	$ 25,000,000.0		300,000,000.0
Basis spread on variable interest rate	3.00%
Unused capacity, commitment fee percentage	0.50%
Unused capacity, commitment fee, step-down percentage	0.375%
Debt discount capitalized	$ 0	0
Revolver, varying interest rate, due 2018 \| Revolver \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable rate, reduction percentage	0.25%
Revolver, varying interest rate, due 2018 \| Revolver \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable rate, reduction percentage	0.50%
Revolver, varying interest rate, due 2018 \| Revolver \| Letter of credit
Debt Instrument
Maximum revolving commitments					$ 350,000,000
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2020 \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument
Maximum revolving commitments							$ 2,300,000,000
Amortization percentage	1.00%
Debt discount capitalized	$ 7,800,000	9,400,000
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2020 \| Term Loan \| LIBOR \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable interest rate	1.00%
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2020 \| Term Loan \| LIBOR \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable interest rate	5.00%
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2020 \| Term Loan \| Base rate \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable interest rate	2.00%
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2020 \| Term Loan \| Base rate \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable interest rate	4.00%
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2021 \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument
Maximum revolving commitments						$ 2,000,000,000.0
Amortization percentage	1.00%
Debt discount capitalized	$ 16,700,000	19,700,000
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2021 \| Term Loan \| LIBOR \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable interest rate	1.00%
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2021 \| Term Loan \| LIBOR \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable interest rate	5.00%
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2021 \| Term Loan \| Base rate \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable interest rate	2.00%
Term Loan, varying interest rate, due 2021 \| Term Loan \| Base rate \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Basis spread on variable interest rate	4.00%
Bally Technologies Inc. \| Senior secured credit facilities
Debt Instrument
Debt issuance costs expensed		$ 64,700,000
Bally Technologies Inc. \| Revolver, varying interest rate, due 2018 \| Revolver \| Letter of credit
Debt Instrument
Maximum revolving commitments						$ 267,600,000.0
Direct and Indirect Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries \| Senior secured credit facilities
Debt Instrument
Collateral as a percentage of capital	100.00%
Foreign Subsidiaries \| Senior secured credit facilities
Debt Instrument
Collateral as a percentage of capital	65.00%