Fair Value Measurements (Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured At Fair Value) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Carrying Value [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 76,438	$ 67,228	$ 70,353
Pawn loans	218,093	261,148	202,982
Short-term loans and line of credit accounts, net	174,171	202,829	154,049
Installment loans, net	147,940	156,012	99,752
Pawn loan fees and service charges receivable	43,814	53,438	40,560
Total	660,456	740,655	567,696
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Liability for estimated losses on consumer loans guaranteed by the Company	2,456	3,080	2,095
Domestic and Multi-currency Line of credit	148,620	193,717	179,321
Senior unsecured notes	437,432	444,515	160,038
2029 Convertible Notes	44,204	101,757	111,024
Total	632,712	743,069	452,478
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	76,438	67,228	70,353
Pawn loans	218,093	261,148	202,982
Short-term loans and line of credit accounts, net	174,171	202,829	154,049
Installment loans, net	147,940	156,012	99,752
Pawn loan fees and service charges receivable	43,814	53,438	40,560
Total	660,456	740,655	567,696
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Liability for estimated losses on consumer loans guaranteed by the Company	2,456	3,080	2,095
Domestic and Multi-currency Line of credit	157,340	207,426	183,898
Senior unsecured notes	432,887	430,554	164,012
2029 Convertible Notes	67,476	155,788	239,775
Total	660,159	796,848	589,780
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	76,438	67,228	70,353
Pawn loans	0	0	0
Short-term loans and line of credit accounts, net	0	0	0
Installment loans, net	0	0	0
Pawn loan fees and service charges receivable	0	0	0
Total	76,438	67,228	70,353
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Liability for estimated losses on consumer loans guaranteed by the Company	0	0	0
Domestic and Multi-currency Line of credit	0	0	0
Senior unsecured notes	295,500	0	0
2029 Convertible Notes	0	0	0
Total	295,500	0	0
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Pawn loans	0	0	0
Short-term loans and line of credit accounts, net	0	0	0
Installment loans, net	0	0	0
Pawn loan fees and service charges receivable	0	0	0
Total	0	0	0
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Liability for estimated losses on consumer loans guaranteed by the Company	0	0	0
Domestic and Multi-currency Line of credit	157,340	207,426	183,898
Senior unsecured notes	137,387	430,554	164,012
2029 Convertible Notes	67,476	155,788	239,775
Total	362,203	793,768	587,685
Estimated Fair Value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Pawn loans	218,093	261,148	202,982
Short-term loans and line of credit accounts, net	174,171	202,829	154,049
Installment loans, net	147,940	156,012	99,752
Pawn loan fees and service charges receivable	43,814	53,438	40,560
Total	584,018	673,427	497,343
Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Liability for estimated losses on consumer loans guaranteed by the Company	2,456	3,080	2,095
Domestic and Multi-currency Line of credit	0	0	0
Senior unsecured notes	0	0	0
2029 Convertible Notes	0	0	0
Total	$ 2,456	$ 3,080	$ 2,095