Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Carrying Amount of Amount Written Down

No definition available.

Name:	sgms_PropertyPlantandEquipmentNetCarryingAmountofAmountWrittenDown
Namespace Prefix:	sgms_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ 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=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value subject to the equity accounting method. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 32

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32787-111569

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903542&loc=d3e32014-111567

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Definition

Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bbb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value portion of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19190-110258

+ Details

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

Fair Value Measurements - Nonrecurring (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Guard Libang	Dec. 31, 2013 Guard Libang Earnings from equity investments	Dec. 31, 2013 Lottery machinery and equipment	Dec. 31, 2013 Lottery machinery and equipment Depreciation and amortization	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonrecurring Discounted Cash Flow Property, plant and equipment	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonrecurring Discounted Cash Flow Equity investment	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonrecurring Fair value	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonrecurring Total loss	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonrecurring Level 1	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonrecurring Level 2	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonrecurring Level 3
Fair value of financial instruments
Property and Equipment						$ 7,500,000				$ 7,500,000	$ (2,500,000)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 10,000,000
Equity Investment in GLB										31,900,000	(6,400,000)	0	0	38,300,000
Weighted-Average Discount Rate								9.00%	10.00%
PPE, carrying amount of amount written down to fair value						10,000,000
Asset impairment charge	3,400,000	3,100,000	6,400,000				2,500,000
Equity method investment impairment				$ 6,400,000	$ 6,400,000