BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

1. BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. is a holding company, the principal asset of which is the capital stock of Global Cash Access, Inc. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "the Company," "Holdings," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries. Holdings was formed on February 4, 2004, for the purpose of holding all of the outstanding capital stock of Global Cash Access, Inc. ("GCA") and to guarantee the obligations under our borrowings.

        The Company is a provider in the United States and several international jurisdictions of cash access products and data intelligence services and solutions to the gaming industry. The Company's services and solutions provide gaming establishment patrons access to cash through a variety of methods, including automated teller machine ("ATM") cash withdrawals, credit card cash access transactions, point-of-sale ("POS") debit card cash access transactions, check verification and warranty services and money transfers. In addition, the Company also provides products and services that improve credit decision-making, automate cash operations and enhance patron marketing activities for gaming establishments. These services are provided to patrons at gaming establishments directly by GCA or through one of its subsidiaries.

        The Company also owns and operates a credit reporting agency for the gaming industry through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Central Credit LLC ("Central Credit"), which provides credit information services and credit reporting history on gaming patrons to various gaming establishments. Central Credit operates in both international and domestic gaming markets.

        In May 2010, we completed the acquisition of Western Money Systems ("Western Money"), a manufacturer of slot machine ticket redemption and jackpot kiosks. The results of operations of Western Money have been reflected in the applicable business segment financial information following this acquisition. In November 2011, we purchased substantially all of the assets of MCA Processing LLC ("MCA"), a provider of cash access services and products to the gaming industry. The results of operations related to the acquisition of MCA are included in the applicable cash advance and ATM business segment financial information following this acquisition.

        We announced on February 28, 2008, that we intended to exit the Arriva Card, Inc. ("Arriva") business. The results of operations for the Arriva line of business have been classified to discontinued operations for the six months ended June 2009. The Company determined that, as of July 1, 2009, the results of operations for the Arriva line of business were no longer material and the results of operations for the six months ended December 31, 2009 have been classified in continuing operations.

        Innovative Funds Transfer, LLC ("IFT") formerly known as QuikPlay, LLC was a joint venture that was formed on December 6, 2000 and owned 60% by GCA and 40% by International Gaming Technology ("IGT"). IGT is one of the largest manufacturers of gaming equipment in the United States. GCA was the managing member of this entity and IFT was consolidated in the Company's consolidated financial statements prior to April 19, 2010, at which time GCA and IGT dissolved IFT. The dissolution of IFT did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.