Represents the amount pertaining to the amortization of upfront fees.

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Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents time lag allowed under Accounting Standards Codification to record equity interest.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_EquityMethodInvestmentEquityInterestTimeLagAllowed
Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the maximum percentage of net income subject to which annual incentive compensation payments will be received by the equity method investee.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_EquityMethodInvestmentMaximumPercentageOfNetIncomeToReceiveIncentiveCompensationPayments
Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the entity's proportionate share of the amortization of upfront fees.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_EquityMethodInvestmentProportionateShareInAmortizationOfUpfrontFeesImpactOnEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the entity's proportionate share of upfront fees.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_EquityMethodInvestmentProportionateShareInUpfrontFeesForNewConcession
Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of return on capital from equity method investments.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_EquityMethodInvestmentReturnOnCapital
Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additional term for the payment of upfront fees.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_EquityMethodInvestmentUpfrontFeesExtendedTerm
Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the upfront fees borne by the investee to which the equity method of accounting is applied.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the initial term for payment of upfront fees.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sgms
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Term after which upfront fees is subject to the performance evaluation.

+ Details

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- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of an investment. A gain would be recognized when the sale price of the investment is greater than the carrying value of the investment. This element refers to the Gain included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_GainOnSaleOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	sgms
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- Definition

Represents the term of private management of the lottery.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sgms
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 19

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 18
-Subparagraph f

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph a (1)

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment losses recognized.

+ Details

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- Definition

Income derived from investments in equity securities representing a distribution of earnings to shareholders by the investee companies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 14

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 7
-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable form a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the purchase of or advances to an equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph b

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- 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.

+ Details

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Equity Method Investments (Details)		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
Equity Method Investments (Details)	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	May 31, 2011 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. ("LNS") USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. ("LNS")	Dec. 31, 2010 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. ("LNS") EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2011 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. ("LNS")	Apr. 30, 2011 Consorzio Lotterie Nazionali (CLN) USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2011 Northstar Lottery Group, LLC USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2011 Northstar Lottery Group, LLC USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Northstar Lottery Group, LLC	Jun. 30, 2011 International Terminal Leasing USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Sportech Plc	Feb. 28, 2011 Shandong Inspur Scientific Games Technology, Ltd USD ($)	Apr. 16, 2007 Shandong Inspur Scientific Games Technology, Ltd USD ($)
Equity Method Investments
Equity interest (as a percent)					20.00%				20.00%		20.00%
Initial term of upfront fees for new concession (in years)			9
Performance evaluation term of upfront fees (in years)			5
Additional term of upfront fees associated with the new concession (in years)			9
Upfront fees associated with the new concession				€ 800,000,000
Upfront fees share related to the entity				160,000,000
Upfront fees amortization				89,000,000
Proportionate share of amortization of upfront fees				18,000,000
Return on earnings dividend		4,238				22,012
Dividend received		10,504
Return on capital		6,266
Term of private management of Illinois lottery (in years)									10
Maximum percentage of net income to be entitled to receive annual incentive compensation payments (as a percent)									5.00%
Contribution to the equity method investee							2,000,000	10,000,000
Investments.	37,000,000									37,002,000
Investments													750,000
Time lag allowed under Accounting Standards Codification (in days)											90
Gain on sale of interest												$ 397,000