Cyberattacks Paralyze Las Vegas Casinos
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Both MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment have come under cyberattack, with systems compromised and consequences ranging from dark slot machines to hotel room key cards that stopped working.
Cyberattacks Strikes MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment In Las Vegas
The attack began at MGM Resorts on September 10, 2023 and later spread to Caesars Entertainment. Guests noticed slot machines went dark, electronic key cards stopped working, tabs could not be opened at restaurants or bars, and login to the app was disabled.
While MGM reports that most systems are back online, it has waived all cancellation fees and still has been unable to restore functionality to its app. It is not clear at this point how much data consumer data, if any, was compromised.
Groups including ALPHV/Black Cat and Scattered Spider have claimed responsibility for these attacks. These groups prey upon vulnerabilities by taking over systems and holding them ransom for big payouts, often 7-8 digits. Caesars Entertainment reportedly paid $15 million to regain access to its systems.
Interestingly, ALPHV defended its MGM cybertalk on “Robin Hood” grounds, claiming MGM insiders are selling stocks and no executives have bought it over the last year. Even more interesting, the group claims that MGM’s pain was somewhat self-inflicted when it chose to shut down all its systems preemptively, making it easier for hackers to penetrate firewalls.
I was considering one last Las Vegas run this week just to take all the pressure off of requalifying for World of Hyatt Globalist status, but I have been unable to log into my MGM app for the last week in order to make the reservation.
CONCLUSION
Guests at Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts in Las Vegas this week are encountering a number of inconveniences as a cyberattack spreads into its second week.
I almost opened this story by joking that the militant wing of the Bonvoy Army has launched a preemptive attack on MGM to stop Hyatt members from profiting in the waning days of the partnership, but this is really not a laughing matter. Wars in the future will be fought electronically and obtaining supremacy over your own data becomes more important by the day.
