Litigation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Litigation

Litigation

(18) Litigation

        Although we are a party to various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, we believe, on the basis of information presently available to us, that the ultimate disposition of these matters will not likely have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

        Our subsidiary, SGI, owned a minority interest in Wintech de Colombia S.A., or Wintech (now liquidated), which formerly operated the Colombian national lottery under contract with Empresa Colombiana de Recursos para la Salud, S.A. (together with its successor agency, "Ecosalud"), an agency of the Colombian government. The contract provided for a penalty against Wintech, SGI and the other shareholders of Wintech of up to $5,000 if certain levels of lottery sales were not achieved. In addition, SGI delivered to Ecosalud a $4,000 surety bond as a further guarantee of performance under the contract. Wintech started the instant lottery in Colombia, but, due to difficulties beyond its control, including, among other factors, social and political unrest in Colombia, frequently interrupted telephone service and power outages, and competition from another lottery being operated in a province of Colombia that we believe was in violation of Wintech's exclusive license from Ecosalud, the projected sales level was not met for the year ended June 30, 1993.

        On July 1, 1993, Ecosalud declared that the contract was in default and asserted various claims against Wintech, SGI and other shareholders of Wintech for, among other things, realization of the full amount of the penalty, plus interest and costs of the bond. On June 4, 1999, Ecosalud filed a collection proceeding against SGI before the Tribunal Contencioso of Cundinamarca in Colombia. In July 2002, the Tribunal denied SGI's preliminary motion to dismiss the lawsuit and the decision was upheld on appeal. SGI's procedural defense motion was also denied. As a result of these decisions, this lawsuit will be heard in due course on its merits by the Tribunal and an appeal stage will be available. In July 2009, a Colombian court ruled against Wintech's appeal (to which we are not party) of an action by the Colombian governmental agency that arises out of the same claims asserted by the Colombian governmental agency against SGI.

        SGI believes it has various defenses on the merits against Ecosalud's claims. Although we believe that any potential losses arising from these claims will not result in a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations, it is not feasible to predict the final outcome, and there can be no assurance that these claims might not be finally resolved adversely to us or result in material liability.