Last year, a cyberattack floored the MGM Resorts casino in Las Vegas. The alleged criminal has been apprehended. We discuss the case in the text below.
This June, holidaymakers at Palma airport will have barely noticed the young man who was asked to step out of the lines of suitcases and tanned families. This seemingly ordinary traveler was a British national who had been accused of an audacious attack on MGM Resorts. The man is supposedly the ringleader of the Scattered Spider ransomware group, who was apprehended as the result of a plan by Spain’s national police.
The Increasing Revenue of Slot Machines
The attack had taken place in September 2023 and was aimed at the MGM Resort. The operator’s systems were breached and a ransom was demanded. The US government advised the casino not to pay this. However, the attack still cost them around $100 million in the fourth quarter earnings, as it shut down everything from slot machines to key cards.
The organizations targeting slot machine operators and casinos have given numerous reasons why they have chosen these companies. However, at the heart of it lies one big factor: money. Slot games, both physical and online, are growing in popularity. In fact, their market value is expected to reach around USD 24.74 billion by 2032.
Slot games have several unique factors that other games do not. They are low-paying and often low-rewarding titles. This means people’s payouts are frequent, keeping games entertaining. They can also be played on mobile devices, requiring little processing power. This means people can boot them up when they have a few free minutes, play casually, and put the game down. This is extremely suitable for today’s modern, fast-paced world.
The industry itself has also done a lot to attract new audiences to slot games, bringing them out of the traditional casino world they once inhabited. Many have used popular culture licenses, from sports stars to well-known videogames, in their design. The increase in graphical ability has also made them look a lot more appealing, with great animations and sounds. All of these have helped increase the popularity of slots.
How Did It Take Place?
It is believed that the Scattered Spider gang used a technique known as vishing, or voice phishing, to get access to sensitive information. This involved using information from social media to trick MGM’s IT department into allowing access. A representative of Scattered Spider told one outlet they wanted to rig the slot machines but resorted to a ransom when they realized it was not possible.
However, Scattered Spider is not the only group with their eyes on SLT machines. Alphv/Black Cat is a company that sells malware to other hackers. It has also released a statement in which it claims to be the real perpetrator of the MGM slot machine plot. As Scattered Spider are known to have used their software in the past, they may be connected, though how is not quite known. Scattered Spider is also to have allegedly hacked Caesars Entertainment and demanded a $15 million ransom. This was paid.
Another casino operator, Olympia, also claimed that their system was hacked. This is bad news for casinos, who need customer trust in financial information and data to further their brand. MGM itself is still facing an FTC probe into how its systems were breached. While they’re fighting this, the FTC is trying to countersue them so they become compliant with the investigation. They’re also facing other lawsuits relating to the loss of personal data.
On a much smaller scale, recent reports show that a plot was prevented in Georgia. This concerned three men who were using mobile phones at slot machines placed in bars to fraudulently access the jackpots. They were using mobile phones to tamper with the machines and print out fraudulent tickets. These machines were connected to the internet and have been the target of criminals before.
How Was the Slot Machine Spider Apprehended?
The sting actually started before the attack took place, back in May 2023. The FBI in Los Angeles requested information from the Spanish police on a British national in the country. They believe he may have been behind attacks on several US companies.
This led to the Spanish police beginning work on finding him and locating him through a network of tip-offs. A joint effort from the Balearic Superior Headquarters and the National Police’s Central Cybercrime Unit waited for him to enter the country through the airport in Barcelona. Police then confirmed he was in the Palma de Mallorca area. At the time, he was carrying a laptop and mobile phone that were seized for use as evidence.
As long as slot machines are popular and bring in money, they will be a target. However, as a player, this should not be a problem. As long as you choose a legitimate casino with robust security for your needs, you will have nothing to worry about.