Accounts and Notes Receivable and Credit Quality of Notes Receivable (Evaluation of Notes Receivable For Impairment) (Details) - Notes receivable - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Notes receivable	$ 232.1	$ 282.1
Ending Balance Individually Evaluated for Impairment	144.7	157.1
Ending Balance Collectively Evaluated for Impairment	87.4	125.0
Domestic
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Notes receivable	63.1	95.3
Ending Balance Individually Evaluated for Impairment	32.4	36.1
Ending Balance Collectively Evaluated for Impairment	30.7	59.2
International
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Notes receivable	169.0	186.8
Ending Balance Individually Evaluated for Impairment	112.3	121.0
Ending Balance Collectively Evaluated for Impairment	$ 56.7	$ 65.8

The balance of financing receivables that were collectively evaluated for impairment.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (h)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=SL6953423-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The balance of financing receivables that were individually evaluated for impairment.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. Excludes amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=sgms_InternationalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: