MGM Las Vegas report cyberattack, breaks systems including Slot Machines, Room Keys
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MGM Resorts International, a casino and hotel giant based in Las Vegas, has been a victim to a significant cyberattack, resulting in widespread disruptions across its properties.
- The incident has left numerous guests unable to access their hotel rooms using digital keys.
- MGM's mobile app, responsible for issuing digital keys to open hotel rooms, is now displaying a warning stating that these keys are "unavailable.
- Websites for multiple MGM-owned hotels in Las Vegas, including Aria Hotel, Bellagio, and Mandalay Bay, are inaccessible. Reports also indicate that properties outside Las Vegas are affected by this outage.
- Guests have reported issues with check-in processes, card payments, the use of loyalty program rewards, obtaining tickets from machines, and even encountering offline slot machines and ATMs.
MGM Resorts acknowledged the occurrence of a "cybersecurity issue" as their website and mobile app experienced outages. The severity of the attack prompted MGM to take the step of shutting down multiple IT systems. MGM Resorts has initiated an investigation, seeking assistance from leading external cybersecurity experts. The primary goal is to ascertain the nature and scope of the cyberattack, which is still under examination.
While MGM Resorts has not confirmed the nature of the attack, there are suspicions that it may be a ransomware incident. Ransomware attacks typically involve encrypting computer systems and demanding cryptocurrency payments to restore access. The decision to shut down certain IT systems aligns with the actions typically taken to mitigate ransomware threats.
In addition to the operational disruptions, there is a significant concern regarding data security. Ransomware attacks can lead to data theft, including customer records. This could potentially expose sensitive information of numerous guests staying at MGM Resorts.
Update - The Scattered Spider hacking stated that it took six terabytes of data from the systems of multi-billion-dollar casino operators MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment.
On 20th of September MGM Resorts stated its hotels and casinos were "operating normally".
