MGM Resorts Shuts Down Computer Systems in Response to Cybersecurity Issue
Casino and lodging operator MGM Resorts shut down several of its computer systems, including its website, due to a cybersecurity issue, according to a social media post on Monday.
The initial shutdown affected various aspects of the casino operator’s business, including reservation systems, booking systems, hotel electronic key card systems, and the casino floors.
The company’s email systems were also taken offline in response to the cybersecurity issue and have not yet been restored.
While the casino floors are back online, the reservation systems for thousands of hotel rooms and the booking system for restaurants are still down, more than a day after the incident was first reported.
MGM operates thousands of hotel rooms across Las Vegas and the United States. Revenue from hotel rooms in Las Vegas surpasses the revenue directly attributed to their casino operations.
The company has launched an investigation with the help of external cybersecurity experts and has informed law enforcement about the incident.
The FBI confirmed its awareness of the ongoing incident but did not provide further details.
MGM’s website has been replaced with a landing page advising patrons to contact their hotels or casinos directly via phone. The exact start time of the outage is unclear, although some social media users reported MGM’s systems being down as early as Sunday night.
This is not the first time MGM has faced cybersecurity incidents. In 2020, personal details of over 10 million MGM visitors were exposed on a hacking forum.
The extent of the government’s response, apart from FBI involvement, remains unclear. The government has identified the gaming and lodging industry as critical infrastructure.
The Department of Homeland Security warned in a 2015 sector-specific plan that a significant communication failure or intentional cyberattack could disrupt operations, compromise data privacy, and pose legal and economic challenges.
