Equity Method Investments, Ownership Percentage Sold

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the maximum percentage of the lottery's net income subject to which annual incentive compensation payments will be received by the equity method investee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents the amount of net sales proceeds received on disposal of an equity method investment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 35

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49116238&loc=d3e32847-111569

+ Details

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

- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of equity securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading or available-for-sale. This element includes investments in which the entity holds a small ownership stake (generally, less than 20% of the shares outstanding) and cannot exert significant influence.

+ 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)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(h))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

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

- Definition

Cash dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations that are returns of capital. Excludes dividends or distributions from equity method investments classified as operating activities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Equity Investments - Narrative (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Northstar Lottery Group, LLC	Jan. 31, 2014 Sportech USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2014 Sportech GBP (£)	Mar. 31, 2015 GLB USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 GLB CNY	Mar. 31, 2015 ITL USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 ITL EUR (€)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Maximum lottery net income as incentive compensation			5.00%
Ownership percentage sold				20.00%	20.00%
Cash proceeds				$ 44.9	£ 27.8
Gain (loss) on sale				14.5	9.0
Distributions of capital	$ 0	$ (17.7)				$ 1.6	11.1	$ 3.8	€ 3.4