Operating Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Operating Segment Information
Number of operating segments					3
Disclosures related to operating segments
Instant tickets	$ 130,419		$ 118,439		$ 244,279		$ 227,538
Services	82,096		101,010		155,843		194,714
Sales	7,733		13,584		16,782		27,120
Total revenue	220,248		233,033		416,904		449,372
Cost of instant tickets	72,133	[1]	68,227	[1]	139,366	[1]	132,144	[1]
Cost of services	41,460	[1]	55,171	[1]	80,382	[1]	109,613	[1]
Cost of sales	5,361	[1]	9,600	[1]	11,051	[1]	19,866	[1]
Selling, general and administrative expenses	43,426		40,552		82,980		79,108
Write-down of assets held for sale			5,874				5,874
Depreciation and amortization	29,004		27,078		59,908		54,733
Operating income	28,864		26,531		43,217		48,034
Total Operating Segments
Disclosures related to operating segments
Instant tickets	130,419		118,439		244,279		227,538
Services	82,096		101,010		155,843		194,714
Sales	7,733		13,584		16,782		27,120
Total revenue	220,248		233,033		416,904		449,372
Cost of instant tickets	72,133		68,227		139,366		132,144
Cost of services	41,460		55,171		80,382		109,613
Cost of sales	5,361		9,600		11,051		19,866
Selling, general and administrative expenses	22,272		23,769		39,850		45,763
Write-down of assets held for sale			5,874				5,874
Depreciation and amortization	28,876		26,954		59,651		54,486
Operating income	50,146		43,438		86,604		81,626
Printed Products Group
Disclosures related to operating segments
Instant tickets	130,419		118,439		244,279		227,538
Sales	2,087		2,731		3,857		5,601
Total revenue	132,506		121,170		248,136		233,139
Cost of instant tickets	72,133		68,227		139,366		132,144
Cost of sales	1,238		1,969		2,244		3,977
Selling, general and administrative expenses	13,112		11,730		23,492		21,970
Depreciation and amortization	8,208		8,429		16,568		16,966
Operating income	37,815		30,815		66,466		58,082
Lottery Systems Group
Disclosures related to operating segments
Services	51,196		53,517		100,412		101,704
Sales	5,634		8,666		12,807		18,377
Total revenue	56,830		62,183		113,219		120,081
Cost of services	26,220		25,637		52,188		52,310
Cost of sales	4,123		6,186		8,772		13,645
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,524		6,858		9,796		12,239
Depreciation and amortization	11,879		10,839		23,246		21,653
Operating income	9,084		12,663		19,217		20,234
Diversified Gaming Group
Disclosures related to operating segments
Services	30,900		47,493		55,431		93,010
Sales	12		2,187		118		3,142
Total revenue	30,912		49,680		55,549		96,152
Cost of services	15,240		29,534		28,194		57,303
Cost of sales			1,445		35		2,244
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3,636		5,181		6,562		11,554
Write-down of assets held for sale			5,874				5,874
Depreciation and amortization	8,789		7,686		19,837		15,867
Operating income	3,247		(40)		921		3,310
Unallocated Amount to Segment
Disclosures related to operating segments
Unallocated corporate costs	$ 21,282		$ 16,907		$ 43,387		$ 33,592

[1] Exclusive of depreciation and amortization.