Represents the details pertaining to deferred financing costs capitalized during the period.

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Debt Discount, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Increase, Maximum Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Increase, Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Increase, Period 1

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Increase, Period 2

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Redemption, Total Consideration Principal Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

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-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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- Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph e

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

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-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Paragraph 16

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Long-Term and Other Debt - Notes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
Long-Term and Other Debt - Notes (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 04, 2014	Nov. 21, 2014
Debt Instrument
Repayment of debt	$ 35,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt	$ 0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt	$ 0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
Early extinguishment of debt	25,900,000	5,900,000	15,500,000
Senior subordinated notes due in 2021
Debt Instrument
Interest rate increase period	90 days			90 days
Interest rate increase percentage, period 1	0.0025
Interest rate increase percentage, period 2	0.0025
Interest rate increase percentage, maximum	0.01
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes, due in 2018
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	8.125%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes, due in 2018 \| Redemption period two
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	101.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes, due in 2018 \| Redemption period three
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	6.25%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due 2020 \| Redemption period one
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due 2020 \| Redemption period two
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	101.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due 2020 \| Redemption period three
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due in 2021
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	6.625%
Debt amount	350,000,000.0			350,000,000.0
Debt instrument price percentage of principal amount				99.321%
Capitalized costs during period				7,300,000
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due in 2021 \| Redemption period one
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due in 2021 \| Redemption period three
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	101.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due in 2021 \| Redemption period three
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due in 2019
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage				104.625%
Debt amount		350,000,000		1,000,000,000
Repayment of debt				140,600,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Total Consideration Principal Amount				1,051,250,000
Early extinguishment of debt				25,900,000
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated unsecured notes, due in 2022
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	10.00%
Debt amount					2,200,000,000
Capitalized costs during period					48,900,000
Interest rate increase period	90 days
Interest rate increase percentage, period 1	0.0025
Interest rate increase percentage, period 2	0.0025
Interest rate increase percentage, maximum	0.01
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated unsecured notes, due in 2022 \| Redemption period one
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated unsecured notes, due in 2022 \| Redemption period three
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	101.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated unsecured notes, due in 2022 \| Redemption period three
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated secured notes, due in 2022
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	7.00%
Debt amount					950,000,000.0
Capitalized costs during period					19,500,000
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated secured notes, due in 2022 \| Redemption period one
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated secured notes, due in 2022 \| Redemption period three
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	101.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated secured notes, due in 2022 \| Redemption period three
Debt Instrument
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes \| Senior subordinated notes due in 2019
Debt Instrument
Deferred financing fees				209,400,000