Earnings from Equity Investments (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l.	Dec. 31, 2012 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2012 Northstar Lottery Group, LLC USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Northstar Lottery Group, LLC USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2007 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG) Y	Oct. 12, 2007 CSG Lottery Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd (CSG)	Nov. 30, 2007 Guard Libang USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Guard Libang USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Guard Libang USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Guard Libang USD ($)	Nov. 15, 2007 Guard Libang	Feb. 28, 2007 Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN)	Dec. 31, 2012 Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN) USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN) USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2011 Sciplay entity	Dec. 31, 2010 Sciplay	Dec. 31, 2011 Sportech Plc D	Dec. 31, 2012 Sportech Plc	Dec. 31, 2012 International Terminal Leasing USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 International Terminal Leasing USD ($)
Equity Method Investments
Equity interest (as a percent)	20.00%				20.00%			20.00%							49.00%					50.00%	29.40%					50.00%		20.00%
Concession, initial term				9 years
Concession, evaluation period				5 years
Concession, extension term				9 years
Investment	$ 316,234	$ 340,494			$ 5,000
Upfront fees associated with the new concession							800,000
Upfront fees share related to the entity							(160,000)
Upfront fees amortization							89,000
Proportionate share of amortization of upfront fees							18,000
Income (loss) representing our share of earnings from equity investment	(28,073)	(29,391)	(49,090)		(17,900)	(18,600)		2,600	1,700		(8,300)	(9,700)	(4,800)				(1,700)	(2,800)	(2,000)			(6,400)	(2,400)	(3,500)					(3,800)	(2,700)
Revenue from the sale of instant tickets to equity method investment					52,000	56,900		24,600	14,000
Accounts receivable from equity method investment					14,200			10,300
Cap percentage of lottery net income, annual incentive compensation payments									5.00%
Equity Method Investment, Downward Adjustment to Net Income Target								28,400
Equity method investment	(24,891)	19,393	203,795							7,350						28,000
Term of revenue agreement (in years)														15
Equity Method Investment, Downward Adjustment to Net Income Target for Future Year								2,900
Royalty fee from investee for intellectual property rights, percentage of total gross profits distributed by joint venture												1.00%
Percentage interest in NASRIN, which was sold in exchange for interest in equity investment																					70.00%
Number of entities formed to enter into joint venture																									2
Time lag allowed under Accounting Standards Codification (in days)																											90
Combined financial summary information
Revenues	949,470	907,744	598,758
Revenues less cost of revenue	506,442	461,715	338,327
Net income	111,168	124,523	161,853
Current assets	682,305	598,004
Noncurrent assets	1,273,906	1,377,045
Current liabilities	496,442	455,082
Noncurrent liabilities	$ 148,532	$ 93,363