Sin-City Cyber-Siege? MGM Resort Properties Paralyzed In “Extremely Rare” Attack

Over a dozen MGM Hotels & Casino properties have halted their backend computer systems due to an ongoing and severe cyberattack initially reported on Sunday. A cybersecurity expert warned that the breach might be significantly worse than current reports suggest. 

“Every single subsystem, their payments, were offline,” Pete Nicoletti of Check Point Software, a multinational consultancy firm that works with dozens of Fortune 500 companies, told local media KTNV Las Vegas. He said a cyber attack of this magnitude for a company this big is “extremely rare.” 

USAToday reports, “Over a dozen MGM Hotels & Casinos have had to shut down operations” and “computer systems at all MGM properties have been shut down for the immediate future until the issue is resolved.” 

While the extent of the breach is still unclear, MGM Resorts’ websites are still down.

X users report outages at gambling tables and ATMs. Many have complained that digital keys to access their rooms aren’t working. 

so the MGM hotels have been under a cyber attack for the past few days. Vegas is in SHAMBLES. Room keys not working, casino games down, restaurants cash only, people can’t check in. complete SHAMBLES!

MGM hotels = Aria, Cosmo, Bellagio, MGM, Mandalay Bay & more.

— Janeé (@TheRealJanee) September 13, 2023

How MGM’s System Hack Is Affecting Bellagio Right Now pic.twitter.com/dJKMUOvboX

— Jacob Orth (@JacobsVegasLife) September 13, 2023

MGM grand. 80% of slot machines down because of a “network error” many reports of a ransomware attack.

Can’t open rooms with digital keys.

I wonder how long they can hold out before they pay. pic.twitter.com/spFsHoXUSE

— Tim Wheeler (@timwheeler) September 13, 2023

It’s chaos at MGM. Ordinary Keys are opening all rooms as if master keys. pic.twitter.com/Im5MW21Uct

— DGM (@DGM2000DGM) September 13, 2023

And much, much more. 

Free parking at MGM properties for now while cyber attack still active #LasVegas @LasVegasLocally @VegasIssues pic.twitter.com/oWFJEM0GPe

— Carlos S Tech 🇨🇺 (@carlostech702) September 13, 2023

Cyber Attacked! Many Las Vegas casino hotels are STILL Not operational. Video below. Lines to check in are gigantic, no ATM, Skelton atmosphere, little gambling. Chile! The Grim Reaper is Not Playing with Sin City @YMcTier #Vegas #MGM #casinos #mess https://t.co/nLxbr1KEPz

— Yulander McTier (@YMcTier) September 13, 2023

Oops!

Cosmo update pic.twitter.com/gWyd6dCmcQ

— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) September 13, 2023

KTNV said the FBI’s field office in Las Vegas on late Monday had “started to look into the situation.” 

This isn’t the first time MGM was hacked. 

Trying to process inside info. about the MGM Resorts hack. It’s clear published reports have only scratched the surface. Reported, 10.7 million affected. Source says data breach actually contained records of 200 million people.

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) February 23, 2020

No comment…

#MGMhack I got an idea who’s the RESPONSABLE for this pic.twitter.com/LsDXEHJ17e

— DavidYT (@Dyartab76) September 13, 2023

Is Vegas under cyber siege?