Las Vegas hotel and entertainment powerhouse, MGM Resorts, has entered its fourth day of cyberattacks, forcing large parts of its internal network to shut down across its property portfolio. MGM has 12 hotels and resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, including the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Cosmopolitan, and MGM Grand.
An online hacking group is said to have been behind the cybersecurity attack to bring down the $14 billion company. The same hacking group has also been believed to be behind a ransom attack on Caesars Entertainment Inc. (Owner of Caesars Palace), who paid a portion of the $30 million demanded by the hackers to prevent the disclosure of stolen data only days before MGM Resorts were targeted.
The network shutdown has caused widespread disruptions across the company’s hotels and casinos, with guests reporting that digital room keys, electronic payment systems, ATMs and slot machines are out of order. It was also said that elevators are inoperable, and the company’s website has remained down.
MGM Resorts has committed to resolving the cyberattack issues as guests continue to report issues. MGM Resorts had earlier claimed that its dining, entertainment and gaming facilities were “currently operational”. The company said in a statement that it will work diligently to resolve the cybersecurity issues whilst addressing individual guest needs promptly.
"We couldn't do this without the thousands of incredible employees who are committed to guest service and support from our loyal customers. Thank you for your continued patience," the statement read.
United States law enforcement officials have started a probe investigation of the attack, but have not elaborated on the extent of the matter. Analysts have said that casinos are prime targets of financially-motivated cybersecurity breaches.
The payout by Caesars Entertainment Inc. has been partially mitigated through its cyber insurance policies. According to the filing, Caesars Entertainment Inc. has concluded that the fallout will not have a great effect on the company’s bottom line.
