Selected Quarterly Financial Data, Unaudited (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 565.8	$ 415.6	$ 416.9	$ 388.1	$ 401.9	$ 234.4	$ 235.0	$ 219.6	$ 246.8	$ 224.6	$ 226.0	$ 231.2	$ 1,786.4	$ 1,090.9	$ 928.6
Total cost of instant games, services and product sales revenue	275.0	199.2	192.4	182.8	207.1	126.5	133.4	124.7	135.6	126.9	125.6	130.2	849.4	591.7	518.3
Selling, general and administrative	225.1	95.6	95.2	91.8	127.3	45.6	44.7	48.8	48.9	42.2	44.7	43.6	507.7	266.4	179.4
Research and development	40.0	26.3	24.8	25.9	21.3	1.4	1.4	1.9	1.5	1.6	1.8	1.7	117.0	26.0	6.6
Employee termination and restructuring	18.3	1.9	4.9	5.6	22.4	0	0	0.3	0.8	1.8	5.7	2.3	30.7	22.7	10.6
Depreciation and amortization	163.8	100.4	96.0	94.1	91.3	35.2	43.1	32.8	49.9	35.6	36.8	28.5	454.3	202.4	150.8
Operating (loss) income	(156.4)	(7.8)	3.6	(12.1)	(67.5)	25.7	12.4	11.1	10.1	16.5	11.4	24.9	(172.7)	(18.3)	62.9
Net loss from continuing operations	(47.1)	(69.8)	(72.4)	(45.0)	(0.5)	(0.4)	(12.4)	(12.3)	(12.4)	(24.5)	(10.9)	3.9	(234.3)	(25.6)	(43.9)
Net loss from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0	(3.0)	(0.1)	(0.6)	(0.9)	(12.3)	(2.6)	(1.7)	(2.1)	0	(4.6)	(18.7)
Net loss	(47.1)	(69.8)	(72.4)	(45.0)	(3.5)	(0.5)	(13.0)	(13.2)	(24.7)	(27.1)	(12.6)	1.8	(234.3)	(30.2)	(62.6)
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.55)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.86)	$ (0.53)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.12)	$ 0.04	$ (2.77)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.49)
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.00	$ (0.06)	$ (0.21)
Total net loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.55)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.86)	$ (0.53)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.14)	$ 0.02	$ (2.77)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.70)
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.55)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.86)	$ (0.53)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.12)	$ 0.04	$ (2.77)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.49)
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.00	$ (0.06)	$ (0.21)
Total diluted net loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.55)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.86)	$ (0.53)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.14)	$ 0.02	$ (2.77)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.70)
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Basic shares (in shares)	84.9	84.7	84.4	84.3	85.2	85.1	85.0	84.6	84.9	90.0	92.8	92.5	84.6	85.0	90.0
Diluted shares (in shares)	84.9	84.7	84.4	84.3	85.2	85.1	85.0	84.6	84.9	90.0	92.8	94.2	84.6	85.0	90.0
Acquisition-related costs expensed					11.1	2.8	2.7	4.4
Accelerated depreciation expense							8.7
Earnings (loss) from equity investments													(7.6)	1.5	28.1
Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt			25.9
Asset impairment charge															3.1
Write-offs	4.0
Bally Technologies Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue	151.6
Total cost of instant games, services and product sales revenue	52.9
Selling, general and administrative	81.2
Research and development	13.0
Employee termination and restructuring	3.9
Depreciation and amortization	36.9
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Restructuring, accelerated depreciation expense													14.5
WMS Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue					144.7
Total cost of instant games, services and product sales revenue					63.8
Selling, general and administrative					47.5
Research and development					19.1
Employee termination and restructuring					5.3
Depreciation and amortization					40.1
Barcrest
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Incremental depreciation										1.6	2.4
Senior subordinated notes due in 2016
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt										15.5
Technology and Gaming
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Accelerated depreciation expense									24.0		5.8
Undeployed Gaming Terminals
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Accelerated depreciation expense										6.7
Lottery contracts
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Asset impairment charge									5.8
Barcrest Analog AWP Business
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Employee termination and restructuring									0.8	1.8	6.0	2.9
Employee Termination Costs
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Employee termination and restructuring	13.6				17.1								25.8
Integrating Scientific Games and WMS | WMS Acquisition
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Restructuring, accelerated depreciation expense					4.6									4.6
Exit provoloto instant game operations in Mexico
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Restructuring, accelerated depreciation expense					3.1									3.1
Australia printing operations
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Restructuring, accelerated depreciation expense										1.9	1.5
Sportech
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Acquisition-related costs expensed				14.5
Equity interest (as a percent)	20.00%												20.00%
Northstar Lottery Group, LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investee recorded liability estimated shortfall payment	3.1		1.2										3.1
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Equity interest (as a percent)	20.00%												20.00%
Investee estimated shortfall payment		19.7	13.5
Accelerated depreciation expense			8.0
Earnings (loss) from equity investments		(17.4)											(34.8)	(4.5)	(2.6)
Monopoly Millionaires Club
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Asset impairment charge	6.2
Inventory Valuation and Obsolescence
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
Asset impairment charge	$ 5.2