Since their ascension, casinos have always been a high-value target for criminals, and with all the technological advancements that we witness from day to day, cyber criminality turned its attention to hacking into casino management systems.

From robbing and cheating attempts to breaking into SQL Server databases that hold vast amounts of sensitive player and financial data, the iGaming world is facing its biggest challenge in history. More than ever, it is of high importance for digital casino service providers to implement robust security measures, including encryption, patching, and access control mechanics.

Why Are Casinos An Appealing Target?

In the digital era, stealing money is not as easy as it used to be. It is way more difficult to gather a team of robbers, put on a balaclava, and just steal stacks of cash from the safe. Casinos that are still using cash have performant security systems that nobody could ever get into, and those that are handling huge amounts of cash switched to digital.

Therefore, criminals have to be more creative and switch to a different approach. This is how cyber criminality became a thing in the first place. But there is a catch here because money is not the only thing criminals can target. What may hold even greater value nowadays is personal information, and that takes us to a list of what motivates cyber criminals to pursue casinos:

• Multi-layered "opportunities": I am using the word opportunity because this is how a criminal sees its targets. What I mean by multi-layered is that casino resorts integrate not only several forms of gaming but also hotel management, customer loyalty programs, financial transactions, and customer personal data into a single network. If you manage to break into one, you get access to systems, resources, and money from several businesses at the same time.
• High Financial Return: It may not be fair to say this, but if you are smart enough to break into a casino security system and get access to their data, you deserve a great reward. Actually, this might be the main reason why so many cybercriminals attempt to break these security protocols. Down below, I have listed a few case studies highlighting some of the most recent incidents where casinos lost millions to hackers.
• Personal Data: Casinos collect and store sensitive player information, including payment details and transaction histories, making them lucrative targets for identity theft and fraud. At the same time, selling data proves to be another "gig" for those who are looking to earn millions on the black market.

Cyberattacks Case Studies

These incidents happen all the time, but there are some examples that demonstrate how casino cybersecurity weaknesses can be exploited.

In 2003, an SQL Slammer Worm specifically targeted Microsoft operating systems. The SQL server from Microsoft had way more vulnerabilities back then, and this worm caused massive network disruptions. Guess what? Casinos had to switch and rely on outdated or unpatched systems, remaining vulnerable to attacks.

In 2014, Iranian hackers targeted the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, wiping out critical data and costing the company an estimated $40 million. They ended up closing down their corporate and individual hotel websites on February 11. The reason? Hackers published images proving that Sheldon Gary Adelson, Sands CEO, was involved in using nuclear weapons on Iran.

And a more recent one: in 2023, through social engineering, hackers managed to disrupt hotel operations, ATMs, and slot machines, costing the victim company millions. But what is extremely surprising is that MGM Resorts was the target. One of the biggest, richest, and allegedly one of the safest casinos in the world couldn't be prepared for a cyberattack.

Security Measures Casinos Should Implement

In one way or another, these threats have to be mitigated, and casinos are the only entities responsible for their own security. Not only that, but they are also responsible for the safety of millions of users worldwide. So these are some of the most important security measures operators should implement:

• Casinos should do their best to keep their platforms and services up to date. Luckily, there are actors in the industry who monitor them every day. Think about SlotsCalendar, for example. That kind of actor is vital for the industry. They monitor platforms searching for new promotions and games, but at the same time, they will definitely signal any security breach a digital casino might have, which will then lead to the technical team forcing an update.
• Encrypting both stored and transmitted data ensures that sensitive information remains protected, even if somebody attempts to steal or decrypt it. If you see a casino platform using a standard SSL encryption protocol, you should be safe. But if you notice multiple encryption layers, you can make sure you are in good hands.
• Access controls: Casinos should implement MFA's (multi-factor authentication) and role-based access to prevent unauthorized users from accessing critical systems or documents.
• What a casino operator should also do is train its employees. People should be aware of cybersecurity and what digital threats represent to them. A casino employee should be able to recognize phishing attempts or social engineering attacks.

You Can Lower The Chances Of Being A Victim

Casinos may lose money as a result of a cyberattack. However, as a player, you should only care about the safety of your data and personal information. So if, as a casual player, you don't want to feel the impact of a cyberattack or data leak; verify what platform you are playing on; learn to recognize security measures or flaws; and never keep too much money in the balance of your account.