Intangible asset - intellectual property (restated) (Details Textual) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 26, 2012 GBP (£)	Mar. 21, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Blpm [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Blpm [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Blpm [Member] USD ($)
Amortization of intangible assets			$ 118	$ 0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months			204
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two			204
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three			204
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four			204
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five			204
Patent Transfer Description			Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, (i) J&S sold certain patents to MGT Gaming in exchange for 1,000 shares (constituting 100% ownership) of MGT Gaming Common Stock, par value $0.001; (ii) the Company purchased from J&S 550 MGT Gaming Shares constituting 55% ownership in exchange for $200 cash and a four (4) year warrant to purchase 350,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $4.00 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution provisions (the ''Warrants''); (iii) the Company and J&S agreed to grant rights of first refusal, ''tag-along'' and ''drag-along'' rights to one another with respect to their respective MGT Gaming Shares.
Derivative Financial Instruments, Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure			851
Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	0.76%						0.31%	0.34%
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term		5 years	4 years				4 years	4 years
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	75.00%						75.00%	75.00%
Fair Value Assumptions, Exercise Price	$ 3.85		$ 3.85				$ 4.00	$ 4.00	$ 4.00
Warrant expense			141	0
Percentage For Consideration Of Patent			55.00%
Percentage For Consideration Of Patent By Non Controlling Interests			45.00%
Consideration Of Patent By Non Controlling Interests Value			862
Additional Patent Transfer Description			Additionally, the Company has the right to purchase an additional 250 MGT Gaming Shares from J&S in exchange for a cash payment of $1,000 and a four (4) year warrant to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company's common stock for an exercise price of the lower of (i) $6.00 per share and (ii) 110% of the closing price of the common stock on the date of issuance.
Option Expired Date				Aug. 31, 2012
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired			$ 200
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)			$ 0.001	$ 0.001	£ 16,250.000	$ 0.001
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights			4.00
Stock Issued During Period Shares Purchase Of Warrants			350,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period			nine years