Business and Geographic Segments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated income before income taxes
Consolidated operating (loss) income	$ (6,333)	[1]	$ 13,207	[2]	$ 9,073	[3]	$ 22,261	[4]	$ 19,228	[5]	$ 21,376	[6]	$ 28,864	[7]	$ 14,353	[8]	$ 38,208	$ 83,821	$ 58,736
Interest expense																	(100,008)	(104,703)	(101,613)
Earnings from equity investments																	28,073	29,391	49,090
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt																	(15,464)	(4,185)	(2,932)
Other loss																	1,185	(911)	(8,594)
Net (loss) income before income tax expense																	(48,006)	3,413	(5,313)
Total Operating Segments
Reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated income before income taxes
Consolidated operating (loss) income																	123,967	177,984	127,352
Unallocated corporate costs
Reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated income before income taxes
Unallocated corporate costs																	$ (85,759)	$ (94,163)	$ (68,616)

[1] Includes approximately $800 employee termination and restructuring costs due to our exit from the Barcrest analog AWP business and the reorganization of our pub business in an effort to more effectively capitalize on the Barcrest acquisition and the reorganization of our Australia printing operations. Includes approximately $24,000 of accelerated depreciation related to a write-down of gaming terminals and software in our gaming business and certain development costs in our licensed properties business and approximately $5,800 of impairment charges related to underperforming Lottery Systems contracts.

[2] Includes approximately $1,800 employee termination and restructuring costs due to our exit from the Barcrest analog AWP business and the reorganization of our pub business in an effort to more effectively capitalize on the Barcrest acquisition and the reorganization of our Australia printing operations. Includes approximately $6,700 of accelerated depreciation related to a write-down of gaming terminals, approximately $1,900 of accelerated depreciation of equipment related to reorganization of our Australia printing operations and approximately $1,600 of incremental depreciation from the acquisition of Barcrest. Includes a loss on early extinguishment of debt due to the redemption of the 2016 Notes resulting in a charge of approximately $15,500 comprised primarily of the redemption premium and the write-off of previously deferred financing costs.

[3] Includes approximately $6,000 employee termination and restructuring costs due to our exit from the Barcrest analog AWP business and the reorganization of our pub business in an effort to more effectively capitalize on the Barcrest acquisition and the reorganization of our Australia printing operations. Includes approximately $5,800 of accelerated depreciation related to a write-down of certain development costs and obsolete gaming terminals, approximately $2,400 of incremental depreciation from the acquisition of Barcrest and approximately $1,500 of accelerated depreciation of equipment related to the reorganization of our Australia printing operations.

[4] Includes approximately $2,900 employee termination and restructuring costs due to our exit from the Barcrest analog AWP business and the reorganization of our pub business in an effort to more effectively capitalize on the Barcrest acquisition.

[5] Includes approximately $1,000 employee termination and restructuring costs as a result of our cost reduction initiatives related to the integration of Barcrest.

[6] Includes approximately $1,000 employee termination and restructuring costs as a result of our cost reduction initiatives related to our migration to a new back-end technology platform. Includes a loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt of approximately $4,200 resulting from the write-off of deferred financing fees related to the August Amendment.

[7] Includes approximately $1,200 accelerated depreciation of our Gaming back-end technology platform as a result of the business's migration to a new technology.

[8] Includes approximately $5,200 accelerated depreciation of our Gaming back-end technology platform as a result of the business's migration to a new technology.