After a nearly two-week-long shutdown, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment is officially reopening its Ontario casino locations.
Previously, all 14 of Gateway’s gaming facilities in the province were sidelined by a cyber attack that knocked out its servers on April 16.
On April 29, the operator announced plans for a phased reopening, starting with Gateway Casinos Innisfil. As of last Saturday, customers were able to access the site’s slots, tables, and restaurant, once again.
Additionally, Gateway also provided an update on Casino Rama, near Orillia. Per its statement, concerts scheduled at the property will move forward as planned, including the Scotty McCreery show which went live last Saturday.
According to its latest news release, the operator plans on reopening its remaining Ontario locations in “the coming days.”
Customers’ personal information secure, per Gateway
Gateway said customers can ease their concerns about any potential risks involving their personal data. In its statement, the company said that, currently, there is no evidence suggesting client information was compromised by the infiltration.
“We will continue to work with our third-party experts to determine the impacts on personal information, if any, and will keep you updated as we resolve this cyber incident.”
Though not completely out of the woods yet, this is an encouraging development for Gateway customers. Those looking to keep tabs on this matter should visit the Gateway property websites or social channels for updates.
As one of Canada’s largest casino operators, Gateway oversees 15 gaming sites in British Columbia and two more in Alberta. Customers in this region can also breathe easy, as the cyber attack did not affect any of its Western Canada facilities.
Ransomware attacks on the rise according to industry expert
This was not the first time that an Ontario casino fell victim to a cyber attack. Between 2004 and 2016, Casino Rama’s system was allegedly breached by an anonymous hacker.
Therefore, it is disturbing yet unsurprising to see another coordinated hacking attempt.
What is a ransomware attack and how often do they occur?
According to TrendMicro, a multinational IT security firm, a ransomware attack is a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the user’s files until they pay a specified ransom.
A recent report by Sudbury.com shows that cyber attacks are surging across the country. In recent months, the following organizations have also been the target of digital delinquents:
- School boards
- Scouts Canada
- The LCBO and
- SickKids Hospital
“Attacks are increasing quite significantly, and nobody is immune,” says Sai Huda, a best-selling author and founder of CyberCatch, a leading online security firm. “These criminal gangs, and others, have realized there are a lot of potential victims out there, and they are ramping it up.”
Despite the onslaught on sensitive information, Gateway is thankful for its partners sticking with them during a complicated process.
“We appreciate the patience of our customers, employees and government partners while we work to restore our operations.”
