Organization, basis of presentation and liquidity	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Note 2. Organization, basis of presentation and liquidity MGT Capital Investments, Inc. (“MGT”, “the Company”, “the Group”, “we”, “us”) is a Delaware corporation, incorporated in 2000. The Company was originally incorporated in Utah in 1977. As of December 31, 2012, MGT is comprised of, the parent company, majority-owned subsidiary MGT Gaming, Inc. (“MGT Gaming”) and wholly-owned subsidiary, Medicsight, Inc. (“Medicsight”). Our Corporate office is located at 500 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 204, Harrison, NY 10528. Our telephone number is (914) 630-7431. The Company closed the following non-essential subsidiaries during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, as part of its expense reduction plan: Medicsight Nominees Limited, Medicsight UK Limited, Medicsight FZE, Medicendo Limited, MedicCo ₂ LON Limited, Medicsight KK, Medicsight PTY, Medicsight Ltd, MGT Investments (Gibraltar) Limited, MGT Capital Investments Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary MGT Capital Investments (UK) Limited. In order to reduce the burden of further administrative costs on the Company, we filed an application to the Registrar of Companies under s1003 of the Companies Act 2006 for Medicsight Ltd’s dissolution. As a part of the dissolution of this non-essential subsidiary, Medicsight Ltd assigned its intellectual property to Medicsight, Inc. and its ownership in Medicsight, Inc. to MGT. Medicsight Ltd was closed as of December 31, 2012. The Company has incurred significant operating losses since inception and continues to generate losses from operations. As a result, the Company has generated negative cash flows from operations and has an accumulated deficit of $283,631 at December 31, 2012. The Company is operating in a developing industry based on new technology and its primary source of funds to date has been through the issuance of securities. While the Company is optimistic and believes appropriate actions are being taken, there can be no assurance that the products or patent monetization strategy will be successful. Furthermore, it is contemplated that any acquisitions may require the Company to raise capital; such capital may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all. At December 31, 2012, MGT’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $5,482, including $49 held in MGT Gaming (Note 5). Management believes that the current level of working capital will be sufficient to allow the Company to maintain its operations into April 2014. MGT and its subsidiaries are engaged in the business of monetizing intellectual property. MGT Gaming owns U. S. Patent No. 7,892,088 ("the '088 Patent”) entitled "Gaming Device Having a Second Separate Bonusing Event." The '088 Patent describes a gaming system in which a second game played on an interactive sign is triggered once specific events occur in a first game. As part of a business strategy to enforce its ownership rights, on November 2, 2012, MGT Gaming filed a lawsuit alleging patent infringement against multiple companies believed to be violating the '088 Patent. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi (Jackson Division) and names as defendants Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ GS: CZR), MGM Resorts International, Inc. (NYSE: MGM), WMS Gaming, Inc. - a subsidiary of WMS Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WMS), Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: PENN), and Aruze Gaming America, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants either manufacture, sell or lease gaming systems that infringe on MGT Gaming's patent rights, or operate casinos that offer gaming systems in violation of MGT Gaming's patent rights. An amended version of the complaint was filed on December 17, 2012. The allegedly infringing products manufactured, distributed, used, sold and/or offered for sale by defendants include at least those identified under the trade names: "Pirate Battle," "Battleship," and one or more of "Clue," "Monopoly," "Amazon Fishing Competition," "Massive Fishing Competition," "Big Game Competition," "Jackpot Battle Royal" and "Paradise Fishing." On January 3, 2013, WMS (joined by CZR and MGM) moved to sever the litigation against each defendant, to transfer the action against WMS to the Northern District of Illinois and to dismiss the case. On January 7, 2013, defendants Aruze and PENN filed motion to dismiss. On January 24, 2013, defendants Aruze and PENN filed a motion to transfer venue to Nevada and Pennsylvania, respectively. Responsive and reply briefs have been filed and these motions are now fully briefed. As of March 25, 2013, the court has not made any decisions on these motions. In addition, on March 21, 2013, Aruze filed a separate action in Nevada seeking a declaratory judgment that it does not infringe the '088 patent and/or that the '088 patent is invalid or unenforceable. MGT Gaming's response to the action is due on April 11, 2013. Medicsight, a medical technology company with patent ownership, as well as operations in imaging software and hardware devices, and consulting services. The company’s computer-aided detection software ColonCAD™ assists radiologists with detection of colorectal polyps, and has received regulatory approvals including CE Mark and U. S. Federal Drug Administration (“FDA”) clearance. The Company also has developed an automated CO ₂ insufflation device called MedicCO ₂ LON, which it commercializes through a global distributor. In addition, the company provides consulting and communication services. On March 21, 2012, MGT affected a reverse split, immediately followed by a forward split of our Common stock. At our March 20, 2012, Special Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved the proposal to amend the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to effect a Reverse/Forward Split of the Company’s Common stock, $0.001 par value per share at an exchange ratio of 1-for-500 shares of the Company’s outstanding Common stock, immediately followed by a forward split of the Company’s outstanding Common stock, at an exchange ratio of 15-for-1 shares of the Company’s outstanding Common stock. The amendment did not change the par value per share or the number of authorized shares of Common stock. As a result of the Reverse Split, stockholders holding fewer than 500 shares of Common stock, at the time of the reversal, received a cash payment instead of fractional shares and no longer had an interest in the Company. All share and per share amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the Reverse/Forward Split. On March 26, 2012, at Medicsight Ltd’s General Meeting, stockholders approved a resolution to effect a Reverse Split of the Company’s existing ordinary shares of £0.05 par value per share into 1 new ordinary share of £16,250 par value per share and for MGT to acquire all New Ordinary Shares representing the fractions of shares left over following the Reverse Split. The exchange ratio for the Reverse Split was 1 for 325,000. As a result of the Reverse Split, stockholders holding fewer than 325,000 shares were cancelled and not entitled to a cash payment for fractional shares. As of March 31, 2012, MGT held 318 shares (66.5%) of the 478 issued share capital of Medicsight Ltd. Subsequent to March 26, 2012, and through December 31, 2012, MGT acquired an additional 160 shares of Medicsight Ltd’s ordinary shares, 67 ordinary shares were acquired for cash consideration of $51 and 93 ordinary shares were acquired in exchange for 93,000 shares of the Company’s Common stock with a fair value of $418. On December 6, 2012 at Medicsight Ltd’s General Meeting, the stockholders approved a resolution to effect a Reverse Split of Medicsight Ltd’s remaining shares at an exchange rate of 1 for 25. As a result, stockholders holding fewer than 25 shares at the time of the reversal received a cash payment of $16, in lieu of fractional shares and no longer had an interest in Medicsight Ltd. As a result of the purchase of additional shares and the reverse split, as of December 6, 2012, MGT held 100% of the issued share capital of Medicsight Ltd. As of December 31, 2012, the Company paid $33 and accrued $18 related to acquisition of shares subsequent to March 26, 2012.

Organization, basis of presentation and liquidity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 2. Organization, basis of presentation and liquidity

MGT Capital Investments, Inc. (“MGT”, “the Company”, “the Group”, “we”, “us”) is a Delaware corporation, incorporated in 2000. The Company was originally incorporated in Utah in 1977. As of December 31, 2012, MGT is comprised of, the parent company, majority-owned subsidiary MGT Gaming, Inc. (“MGT Gaming”) and wholly-owned subsidiary, Medicsight, Inc. (“Medicsight”). Our Corporate office is located at 500 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 204, Harrison, NY 10528. Our telephone number is (914) 630-7431.

The Company closed the following non-essential subsidiaries during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, as part of its expense reduction plan: Medicsight Nominees Limited, Medicsight UK Limited, Medicsight FZE, Medicendo Limited, MedicCo ₂ LON Limited, Medicsight KK, Medicsight PTY, Medicsight Ltd, MGT Investments (Gibraltar) Limited, MGT Capital Investments Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary MGT Capital Investments (UK) Limited.

In order to reduce the burden of further administrative costs on the Company, we filed an application to the Registrar of Companies under s1003 of the Companies Act 2006 for Medicsight Ltd’s dissolution. As a part of the dissolution of this non-essential subsidiary, Medicsight Ltd assigned its intellectual property to Medicsight, Inc. and its ownership in Medicsight, Inc. to MGT. Medicsight Ltd was closed as of December 31, 2012.

The Company has incurred significant operating losses since inception and continues to generate losses from operations. As a result, the Company has generated negative cash flows from operations and has an accumulated deficit of $283,631 at December 31, 2012. The Company is operating in a developing industry based on new technology and its primary source of funds to date has been through the issuance of securities. While the Company is optimistic and believes appropriate actions are being taken, there can be no assurance that the products or patent monetization strategy will be successful. Furthermore, it is contemplated that any acquisitions may require the Company to raise capital; such capital may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all.

At December 31, 2012, MGT’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $5,482, including $49 held in MGT Gaming (Note 5).

Management believes that the current level of working capital will be sufficient to allow the Company to maintain its operations into April 2014.

MGT and its subsidiaries are engaged in the business of monetizing intellectual property.

MGT Gaming owns U. S. Patent No. 7,892,088 ("the '088 Patent”) entitled "Gaming Device Having a Second Separate Bonusing Event." The '088 Patent describes a gaming system in which a second game played on an interactive sign is triggered once specific events occur in a first game. As part of a business strategy to enforce its ownership rights, on November 2, 2012, MGT Gaming filed a lawsuit alleging patent infringement against multiple companies believed to be violating the '088 Patent. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi (Jackson Division) and names as defendants Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ GS: CZR), MGM Resorts International, Inc. (NYSE: MGM), WMS Gaming, Inc. - a subsidiary of WMS Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WMS), Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: PENN), and Aruze Gaming America, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants either manufacture, sell or lease gaming systems that infringe on MGT Gaming's patent rights, or operate casinos that offer gaming systems in violation of MGT Gaming's patent rights. An amended version of the complaint was filed on December 17, 2012. The allegedly infringing products manufactured, distributed, used, sold and/or offered for sale by defendants include at least those identified under the trade names: "Pirate Battle," "Battleship," and one or more of "Clue," "Monopoly," "Amazon Fishing Competition," "Massive Fishing Competition," "Big Game Competition," "Jackpot Battle Royal" and "Paradise Fishing." On January 3, 2013, WMS (joined by CZR and MGM) moved to sever the litigation against each defendant, to transfer the action against WMS to the Northern District of Illinois and to dismiss the case. On January 7, 2013, defendants Aruze and PENN filed motion to dismiss. On January 24, 2013, defendants Aruze and PENN filed a motion to transfer venue to Nevada and Pennsylvania, respectively. Responsive and reply briefs have been filed and these motions are now fully briefed. As of March 25, 2013, the court has not made any decisions on these motions. In addition, on March 21, 2013, Aruze filed a separate action in Nevada seeking a declaratory judgment that it does not infringe the '088 patent and/or that the '088 patent is invalid or unenforceable. MGT Gaming's response to the action is due on April 11, 2013.

Medicsight, a medical technology company with patent ownership, as well as operations in imaging software and hardware devices, and consulting services. The company’s computer-aided detection software ColonCAD™ assists radiologists with detection of colorectal polyps, and has received regulatory approvals including CE Mark and U. S. Federal Drug Administration (“FDA”) clearance. The Company also has developed an automated CO ₂ insufflation device called MedicCO ₂ LON, which it commercializes through a global distributor. In addition, the company provides consulting and communication services.

On March 21, 2012, MGT affected a reverse split, immediately followed by a forward split of our Common stock. At our March 20, 2012, Special Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved the proposal to amend the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to effect a Reverse/Forward Split of the Company’s Common stock, $0.001 par value per share at an exchange ratio of 1-for-500 shares of the Company’s outstanding Common stock, immediately followed by a forward split of the Company’s outstanding Common stock, at an exchange ratio of 15-for-1 shares of the Company’s outstanding Common stock. The amendment did not change the par value per share or the number of authorized shares of Common stock. As a result of the Reverse Split, stockholders holding fewer than 500 shares of Common stock, at the time of the reversal, received a cash payment instead of fractional shares and no longer had an interest in the Company. All share and per share amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the Reverse/Forward Split.

On March 26, 2012, at Medicsight Ltd’s General Meeting, stockholders approved a resolution to effect a Reverse Split of the Company’s existing ordinary shares of £0.05 par value per share into 1 new ordinary share of £16,250 par value per share and for MGT to acquire all New Ordinary Shares representing the fractions of shares left over following the Reverse Split. The exchange ratio for the Reverse Split was 1 for 325,000. As a result of the Reverse Split, stockholders holding fewer than 325,000 shares were cancelled and not entitled to a cash payment for fractional shares. As of March 31, 2012, MGT held 318 shares (66.5%) of the 478 issued share capital of Medicsight Ltd.

Subsequent to March 26, 2012, and through December 31, 2012, MGT acquired an additional 160 shares of Medicsight Ltd’s ordinary shares, 67 ordinary shares were acquired for cash consideration of $51 and 93 ordinary shares were acquired in exchange for 93,000 shares of the Company’s Common stock with a fair value of $418. On December 6, 2012 at Medicsight Ltd’s General Meeting, the stockholders approved a resolution to effect a Reverse Split of Medicsight Ltd’s remaining shares at an exchange rate of 1 for 25. As a result, stockholders holding fewer than 25 shares at the time of the reversal received a cash payment of $16, in lieu of fractional shares and no longer had an interest in Medicsight Ltd. As a result of the purchase of additional shares and the reverse split, as of December 6, 2012, MGT held 100% of the issued share capital of Medicsight Ltd.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company paid $33 and accrued $18 related to acquisition of shares subsequent to March 26, 2012.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

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