Earnings from Equity Investments (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended								1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. ("LNS") USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. ("LNS") USD ($) Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. ("LNS") EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2010 Consorzio Lotterie Nazionali (CLN) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Consorzio Lotterie Nazionali (CLN) USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2007 Guard Libang USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Guard Libang USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Guard Libang USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Guard Libang USD ($)	Nov. 15, 2007 Guard Libang	Feb. 28, 2007 Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN)	Dec. 31, 2011 Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN) USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2007 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) USD ($) Y	Oct. 12, 2007 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG)	Apr. 30, 2007 Shandong Inspur Scientific Games Technology, Ltd USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Shandong Inspur Scientific Games Technology, Ltd USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Shandong Inspur Scientific Games Technology, Ltd USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2010 Sciplay entity	Dec. 31, 2011 Sciplay USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Sciplay USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Sportech Plc D	Dec. 31, 2011 Northstar Lottery Group, LLC USD ($) Y	Dec. 31, 2011 International Terminal Leasing USD ($)
Equity Method Investments
Equity interest (as a percent)				20.00%									50.00%	29.40%								49.00%						50.00%	20.00%	20.00%
Initial term of upfront fees for new concession (in years)					9	9
Performance evaluation term of upfront fees (in years)					5	5
Additional term of upfront fees associated with the new concession (in years)					9	9
Upfront fees associated with the new concession						€ 800,000
Upfront fees share related to the entity						160,000
Upfront fees amortization						89,000
Proportionate share of amortization of upfront fees						18,000
Term of revenue agreement (in years)																					15									10
Income (loss) representing our share of earnings from equity investment	29,391	49,090	59,220	18,600	4,300		35,200	49,700		2,800	2,000	2,400			2,400	3,500	3,000		9,700	4,800	4,500			96	(430)		(895)	(481)		(1,700)	(2,700)
Instant ticket revenue	493,275	465,090	453,238
Revenue from the sale of instant tickets to equity method investment				56,900	17,600		38,000	64,300
Accounts receivable from equity method investment				10,100
Percentage interest in NASRIN, which was sold in exchange for interest in equity investment														70.00%
Royalty fee from investee for intellectual property rights, percentage of total gross profits distributed by joint venture																			1.00%
Time lag allowed under Accounting Standards Codification (in days)																													90
Cap percentage of lottery net income, annual incentive compensation payments																														5.00%
Number of entities formed to enter into joint venture																										2
Equity Method Investments	19,393	203,795							28,000									7,350					750					250
Return on earnings dividend	35,167	34,411	31,920
Investment	340,494	321,180
Combined financial summary information
Revenues	907,744	598,758	557,008
Revenues less cost of revenue	461,715	338,327	310,610
Net income	124,523	161,853	195,033
Current assets	598,004	934,368
Noncurrent assets	1,377,045	1,498,435
Current liabilities	455,082	738,060
Noncurrent liabilities	$ 93,363	$ 1,251,155