Cyber Attack at MGM Systems Forces IT Systems Shutdown

In a recent development, MGM Resorts, a prominent hotel and casino giant, has confirmed the presence of a cybersecurity issue responsible for an ongoing system outage that has affected its properties in Las Vegas.

In a statement on social media, the company stated, “MGM Resorts recently identified a cybersecurity issue affecting some of the company’s systems.” 

The statement continued, “Promptly after detecting the issue, we quickly began an investigation with assistance from leading external cybersecurity experts.

We also notified law enforcement and took prompt action to protect our systems and data, including shutting down certain systems. Our investigation is ongoing, and we are working diligently to determine the nature and scope of the matter.”

Reports on social media indicate that this incident has caused disruptions across MGM’s Las Vegas casinos, impacting ATM cash dispensers and slot machines and forcing hotel restaurants to accept cash-only payments. 

Guests have reported being unable to charge expenses to their rooms or use digital room keys. 

An official notice on the MGM Resorts website, also affected by the outage, confirms that all Las Vegas resorts under MGM’s umbrella, including Aria, the Bellagio, Luxor, MGM Grand, and Mandalay Bay, are impacted. 

Guests are encouraged to call for reservations or assistance from concierge services.

Sources familiar with the situation suggest that this incident has affected all of MGM’s properties, not just those in Las Vegas. 

The websites of several regional resorts, including MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, MGM National Harbor, and the Empire City Casino in New York, were also offline during this time.

Many crucial details about the incident remain unknown, including the specific nature of the cyberattack and whether any data has been exfiltrated from MGM’s systems. 

It is also uncertain when MGM expects to restore its computer systems to full functionality.

TechCrunch reached out to an MGM spokesperson for further information, but there was no immediate response at the time of the report. 

It remains unclear whether MGM employees currently have access to corporate email systems.

This incident marks another cybersecurity challenge for MGM Resorts, as it comes after a significant incident last year where the personal information of over 140 million guests was shared on Telegram. 

The stolen data included guests’ full names, postal addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and, in some cases, passport and driver’s license numbers.

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