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Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the percentage of employer's contribution matching up to six percent of participant contributions subject to maximum percentage of eligible compensation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sgms_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchUptoMaximumPercentageOfEligibleCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of discretionary contributions made by an employer to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage employer matches of the employee's percentage contribution matched.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfMatch
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum percentage of employee gross pay the employee may contribute to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Plans - 401(k) Plan (Details) (Employee 401(k) Plan, USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Contribution Plan
Employer's matching contribution on the dollar for the first 6 percent of participant contributions	$ 0.375
Percentage of employer's contribution under 401(k) plan matching up to 6 percent of participant contributions subject to maximum percentage of eligible compensation	2.25%
Contribution expense	1,900,000	1,800,000	1,700,000
Employer matching contribution, percentage of match	6.00%
WMS Acquisition
Defined Contribution Plan
Contribution expense	5,000,000			200,000
Maximum annual contribution per employee, percent				4.50%
Bally Technologies Inc.
Defined Contribution Plan
Contribution expense					$ 200,000
Employer matching contribution, percentage of employee's gross pay					50.00%
Employer matching contribution, percentage of match					6.00%