MGM Resorts, the renowned casino and hotel giant, has been grappling with a recent cyber-attack that has left customers dealing with disruptions in their gaming and booking experiences. The company revealed that certain systems were temporarily shut down due to a “cyber-security issue.” However, they emphasized that their facilities remained open and operational during this time.
Some guests at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas encountered difficulties accessing their rooms because the hotel’s digital keys were malfunctioning. To resolve the issue, staff had to provide physical keys to affected guests. One customer even received a complimentary stay as compensation for the inconvenience, according to a BBC report. A TikTok video shared by a guest also showed that slot machines and gambling games at the resort were temporarily unavailable.
Numerous customers took to social media to express their grievances, reporting canceled reservations, difficulties with check-ins, payment problems, and login issues on their MGM accounts. In one instance, a guest had to leave the MGM Grand to find cash for food.
MGM Resorts promptly responded to the cyber-attack, initiating an investigation with the assistance of leading external cybersecurity experts. They also notified law enforcement and took swift action to safeguard their systems and data, including the temporary shutdown of certain systems.
The company stated that the investigation was ongoing, and the exact nature and scope of the cyber-attack were still under determination. Despite these challenges, MGM Resorts assured that their resorts, encompassing dining, entertainment, and gaming services, remained fully operational. Guests could still access their hotel rooms, and the Front Desk was available to assist them as needed.
Notably, the company’s main website was inaccessible, displaying a message indicating its unavailability and directing customers to contact the company via phone or through third-party websites. MGM Resorts owns and operates hotels and casinos across the United States, including some iconic destinations in Las Vegas.
This incident marks the second time in recent years that MGM Resorts has encountered a cybersecurity breach. In 2019, the company suffered a breach of one of its cloud services, resulting in hackers gaining unauthorized access to more than 10 million customer records. The stolen data included names, addresses, and passport numbers. It remains uncertain whether similar data breaches occurred in this most recent cyber-attack.