Turning Stone casinos go cash-only after cybersecurity incident
The disruption also affected ATMs, sports betting, bingo and the TS Rewards loyalty programme, with no restoration time given.
Key takeaways:
- Turning Stone Resort Casino, Point Place Casino and YBR Casino & Sports Book in upstate New York switched to cash-only transactions after a cybersecurity incident.
- The incident also disrupted ATMs, sports betting, bingo and the TS Rewards loyalty programme.
- No restoration time has been given, but management said it would publish updates each evening on service availability.
US.- Turning Stone Resort Casino and two other properties operated by Turning Stone Enterprises in upstate New York temporarily switched to cash-only transactions after a cybersecurity incident disrupted the company’s network and communications. The operator shut down selected internal systems as a precaution, temporarily leaving customers unable to use credit cards.
The restrictions applied to Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, Point Place Casino in Bridgeport and YBR Casino & Sports Book in Chittenango. Other Turning Stone Enterprises businesses, including The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, Maple Leaf Markets and SavOn convenience stores, also temporarily limited transactions to cash. The incident also disrupted ATMs, sports betting and bingo operations across the affected properties as well as TS Rewards, the company’s loyalty programme.
Turning Stone Enterprises, the commercial arm of the Oneida Indian Nation, said the shutdowns were intended to protect guests’ personal information while cybersecurity specialists investigated the incident. The company told local broadcaster WKTV that it had found no evidence that confidential information had been accessed, and that the investigation is ongoing.
Some services had been restored at the time of writing, but the casinos were still taking cash only. In a statement shared on Facebook, the operator said its team was “working at full speed with cybersecurity experts to return to full working order”. It did not provide an estimated restoration time but said the company would publish updates each evening until all systems were fully operational.
Cybersecurity remains a concern for casino operators
The incident adds to a series of cyberattacks affecting commercial and tribal casinos across North America in recent years. Ransomware and other intrusions have disrupted casino networks and exposed sensitive customer information. Wynn Resorts suffered a cyberattack in February.
The FBI has warned that tribal casinos may be attractive targets for cybercriminals, partly because attackers perceive some operators as having fewer resources to defend against sophisticated threats. Gaming businesses are also exposed because they process large volumes of transactions.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Which casinos were affected by the Turning Stone cybersecurity incident? Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, Point Place Casino in Bridgeport and YBR Casino & Sports Book in Chittenango were affected. Other Turning Stone Enterprises businesses, including The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, Maple Leaf Markets and SavOn convenience stores, also temporarily limited transactions to cash.
- Was customer data accessed in the Turning Stone incident? The company told WKTV it had found no evidence that confidential information had been accessed, and that the investigation is ongoing. It said the shutdowns were intended to protect guests’ personal information. It has not disclosed the cause or confirmed whether an external party was responsible.
- Have other casino operators suffered cyberattacks? Yes. Ransomware and other intrusions have disrupted commercial and tribal casinos across North America in recent years. In February, Wynn Resorts confirmed an unauthorised third party had acquired certain employee data. The FBI has warned that tribal casinos may be attractive targets for cybercriminals.
