Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 348,345	$ 251,597
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	303,821	271,468
Provisions for cardholder losses	39,036	37,289
Share-based compensation	28,462	33,792
Provisions for bad debt expenses and billing adjustments	7,835	4,817
Charges for transaction processing provisions	5,719	3,355
Amortization of debt issuance costs	3,247	12,499
Dividends received from equity investments	20,589	15,246
Loss (gain) on foreign currency	1,250	(1,664)
Amortization of bond discount	677	529
Loss on disposal of equipment, net	1,247	314
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		(8,951)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(46,435)	4,110
Equity in income of equity investments, net of tax	(30,919)	(18,953)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accrued salaries and employee benefits	(10,315)	(9,712)
Accounts receivable	(24,582)	(48,463)
Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other long-term assets	12,118	(18,429)
Accounts payable	14,418	(15,079)
Other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities	(22,488)	37,315
Net cash provided by operating activities	652,025	551,080
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(42,572)	(32,134)
Additions to contract acquisition costs	(21,662)	(38,384)
Additions to internally developed computer software	(22,011)	(25,705)
Additions to licensed computer software from vendors	(23,114)	(11,112)
Cash used in acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(2,345,493)
Other investing activities	(1,436)	(4,430)
Net cash used in investing activities	(110,795)	(2,457,258)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on long-term borrowings and, capital lease obligations and license agreements	(415,788)	(618,598)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(70,000)	(5,878)
Dividends paid on common stock	(55,151)	(55,000)
Subsidiary dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders	(5,216)	(4,163)
Repurchase of common stock under plans and tax withholding	(27,895)	(5,396)
Debt issuance costs		(26,563)
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		8,951
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt		2,666,295
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	15,499	9,980
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(558,551)	1,969,628
Cash and cash equivalents:
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	5,589	(5,895)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(11,732)	57,555
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	425,354	389,328
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	413,622	446,883
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	93,151	74,765
Income taxes paid, net	$ 194,435	$ 58,855