Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was 17.9% and 11.5%, respectively, and the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was 23.8% and 18.7%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes a benefit of $16 million and $22 million, respectively, from the resolution of tax examinations. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 also includes an incremental tax benefit associated with the early extinguishment of debt. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 includes tax benefits of $13 million from an affiliate reorganization and $4 million and $11 million, respectively, related to tax planning initiatives. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 also includes benefits of $5 million from the adjustment of non-U.S. tax accounts from prior periods and $4 million from the retroactive effect of 2013 U.S. tax legislation. During 2014, we determined that certain pre-2009 tax deductions associated with software development expenditures had not been deducted on our tax returns, the expenditures could be claimed on our current year return and our deferred tax liability was overstated. We assessed the materiality of this item on previously issued financial statements and concluded that it was not material to any annual or interim period. However, due to the impact of this error on the current year consolidated financial statements, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet has been revised for the earliest period presented to increase opening retained earnings by $17 million (see Note 12) and decrease our tax liabilities. As is the case with other large corporations, our tax returns are examined each year by tax authorities in the U.S., other countries and local jurisdictions in which we have operations. Except for issues arising out of certain partnership investments, the Internal Revenue Service examinations of tax years prior to 2011 are closed to audit. Other than the pending application of legal principles to specific issues arising in earlier years, only post-2008 Canadian tax years are subject to examination. Other significant tax filings subject to examination include various post-2004 U.S. state and local, post-2007 German, and post-2011 French and U.K. tax filings. We have other less significant tax filings currently under examination or subject to examination. In August 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned a prior Tax Court decision and ruled in favor of the IRS and adverse to Historic Boardwalk Hall LLC (HBH), a partnership in which we had made an investment in the year 2000. In January 2014, the Tax Court entered an order to implement rulings of the Third Circuit. In August 2014, we entered into an indemnity agreement with our partner in the HBH investment releasing our respective claims against each other and agreeing to divest our investment in the partnership. The impact of this indemnity is recorded in other (income) expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. During the quarter, we paid $54 million in tax payments representing a portion of the tax and interest due as a result of the Third Circuit decision. We received $60 million from our partner in the fourth quarter of 2014. Additional tax payments will be due, which we have accrued in our financial statements.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was 17.9% and 11.5%, respectively, and the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was 23.8% and 18.7%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes a benefit of $16 million and $22 million, respectively, from the resolution of tax examinations. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 also includes an incremental tax benefit associated with the early extinguishment of debt. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 includes tax benefits of $13 million from an affiliate reorganization and $4 million and $11 million, respectively, related to tax planning initiatives. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 also includes benefits of $5 million from the adjustment of non-U.S. tax accounts from prior periods and $4 million from the retroactive effect of 2013 U.S. tax legislation.

During 2014, we determined that certain pre-2009 tax deductions associated with software development expenditures had not been deducted on our tax returns, the expenditures could be claimed on our current year return and our deferred tax liability was overstated. We assessed the materiality of this item on previously issued financial statements and concluded that it was not material to any annual or interim period. However, due to the impact of this error on the current year consolidated financial statements, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet has been revised for the earliest period presented to increase opening retained earnings by $17 million (see Note 12) and decrease our tax liabilities.

As is the case with other large corporations, our tax returns are examined each year by tax authorities in the U.S., other countries and local jurisdictions in which we have operations. Except for issues arising out of certain partnership investments, the Internal Revenue Service examinations of tax years prior to 2011 are closed to audit. Other than the pending application of legal principles to specific issues arising in earlier years, only post-2008 Canadian tax years are subject to examination. Other significant tax filings subject to examination include various post-2004 U.S. state and local, post-2007 German, and post-2011 French and U.K. tax filings. We have other less significant tax filings currently under examination or subject to examination.

In August 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned a prior Tax Court decision and ruled in favor of the IRS and adverse to Historic Boardwalk Hall LLC (HBH), a partnership in which we had made an investment in the year 2000. In January 2014, the Tax Court entered an order to implement rulings of the Third Circuit. In August 2014, we entered into an indemnity agreement with our partner in the HBH investment releasing our respective claims against each other and agreeing to divest our investment in the partnership. The impact of this indemnity is recorded in other (income) expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. During the quarter, we paid $54 million in tax payments representing a portion of the tax and interest due as a result of the Third Circuit decision. We received $60 million from our partner in the fourth quarter of 2014. Additional tax payments will be due, which we have accrued in our financial statements.