Restatement of previously issued financial statement (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																								3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Redeemable Series Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Redeemable Series Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Common Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Retained Earnings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Retained Earnings [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Parent [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] Redeemable Series Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] Parent [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Restatement Adjustment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Restatement Adjustment [Member] Redeemable Series Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Restatement Adjustment [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Restatement Adjustment [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Restatement Adjustment [Member] Parent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Restatement Adjustment [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance	$ (143)		$ 108	$ 47	$ 4	$ 3	$ 283,296	$ 282,998	$ (281)	$ (281)	$ (282,570)	$ (283,631)	$ 449	$ (911)	$ 712	$ 768	$ 7,055	$ 1	$ 3	$ 295,050	$ (281)	$ (288,447)	$ 6,326	$ 729	$ (7,198)
Balance (in shares)			1,140	1,395	3,523	3,251												1,395	3,251
Reversal of Warrants issued in connection with acquisition of intangible assets																									(808)		(808)		(808)
Reversal of non-controlling share of MGT Gaming, Inc.																									42				0	42
Restatement of Intangible Amortization Expense and Derivative Gain/Loss Expense																									56			59	59	(3)
Reversal of issuance of Preferred stock & warrants, net of issuance costs of $87	87																								(4,499)	(1)	(4,411)	(87)	(4,499)
Reversal of issuance of Preferred stock & warrants, net of issuance costs of $87 (in shares)																										(1,380)
Preferred Stock Dividend - accretion of warrants																									0		(2,478)	2,478	0
Reversal of deemed dividend of beneficial conversion feature of Preferred Convertible Series A stock to common stock																									0		(2,021)	2,021	0
Reversal of quarterly dividend on Preferred stock	61	0																							0		(56)	56	0
Reversal of quarterly dividend on Preferred stock (in shares)																										(15)
Warrant - Deemed Dividend (in excess of proceeds received)																									(2,231)		(2,231)		(2,231)
Revaluation of Warrant Derivative																									365			365	365
Preferred Stock Dividend																									(47)		(47)		(47)
Adjustment to accrued expenses																									(76)			(76)	(76)
Balance	$ 1,161		$ 108	$ 47	$ 4	$ 3	$ 283,296	$ 282,998	$ (281)	$ (281)	$ (282,570)	$ (283,631)	$ 449	$ (911)	$ 712	$ 768	$ 7,055	$ 1	$ 3	$ 295,050	$ (281)	$ (288,447)	$ 6,326	$ 729
Balance (in shares)			1,140	1,395	3,523	3,251												1,395	3,251