IGSA establishes new Cyber Resiliency Committee
The IGSA committee is focusing on standards for cyber risk management, cybersecurity governance and framework control standards for casino operators.
IGSA members Aristocrat Technologies, Light & Wonder and AXES.ai have all declared their support for the new committee.
IGSA eyes cyber standards
“The IGSA is being called to lead a concerted effort to create cyber standards to protect our industry and that is exactly what we will do thanks to the incredible leadership within our Platinum and Gold members,” IGSA president Peter DeRaedt said.
“This committee will solicit experts within our membership to create ready-to-use standards to improve cyber resilience.
“We are grateful our chairman (AXES.ai CEO Earle Hall), has volunteered to act as interim chair. He will lead this committee that we anticipate will offer much needed guidance and support to our industry.”
Hall adds: “It is very inspiring to see IGSA Platinum and Gold members come together rapidly to address the alarming rate of increase of cybersecurity issues in our industry.
“Our members are clear that cybersecurity has to be a top priority for all gaming suppliers in our industry to protect operators and our industry at large.”
Online and land-based casinos hit by cyber attacks
The news comes in the wake of several land-based and online casinos being hit by a series of cyber-attacks.
MGM Resorts International was forced to shut down certain systems at its properties after identifying a cybersecurity issue. The incident took place earlier this month and caused disruption at its casino locations.
This week, MGM Resorts said it is still trying to “normalise operations” at its Excalibur casino in Las Vegas after the attack. However, MGM, which operates 19 casinos across the US, also insisted its gaming facilities remain open.
Caesars was also recently hit by a cyber-attack, revealing that its loyalty programme database was compromised.
The operator said it deployed response protocols and launched an investigation after identifying “suspicious activity” in its wider network. It said the activity resulted from a social engineering attack on outsourced IT support.
Also this month, cryptocurrency online sportsbook and casino Stake.com reported a series of unauthorised transfers. The incident impacted Ethereum, Polygon and the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) on Stake.com.
Stake.com said that unauthorised transfers were made from a number of its hot wallets. However, it added that user funds were safe.