Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 107,107	$ 92,408
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	104,178	67,583
Provisions for cardholder losses	12,548	12,109
Share-based compensation	9,047	8,158
Provisions for bad debt expenses and billing adjustments	1,921	1,441
Charges for transaction processing provisions	1,917	1,109
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,079	10,386
Deferred income tax benefit	891	20,156
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	311	(510)
Amortization of bond discount	223	102
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		(5,533)
(Gain) loss on disposal of equipment, net	(4)	1
Equity in income of equity investments, net of tax	(12,909)	(6,248)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued salaries and employee benefits	(32,548)	(41,467)
Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other long-term assets	(27,102)	(7,809)
Accounts payable	6,808	(4,167)
Accounts receivable	25,844	(37,044)
Other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities	60,850	35,153
Net cash provided by operating activities	260,161	145,828
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(12,240)	(9,940)
Additions to contract acquisition costs	(7,668)	(21,010)
Additions to internally developed computer software	(7,355)	(8,544)
Additions to licensed computer software from vendors	(5,162)	(4,894)
Other investing activities	(379)
Net cash used in investing activities	(32,804)	(44,388)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations	(104,654)	(304,654)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(70,000)	(5,879)
Dividends paid on common stock	(18,333)	(18,283)
Subsidiary dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders	(752)
Repurchase of common stock under plans and tax withholding	(17)	(5,034)
Debt issuance costs		(26,592)
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt		1,796,295
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		5,533
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	4,207	626
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(189,549)	1,442,012
Cash and cash equivalents:
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1,578	(669)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	39,386	1,542,783
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	425,354	389,328
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	464,740	1,932,111
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	36,554	2,585
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	$ 3,019	$ (418)