Rivers Casino Des Plaines has been hit by a major data breach

Cyberattacks on gaming companies are a trend among hackers, as the owners of Rivers Casino Des Plaines reported a cyber incident last week

The data breach reportedly went undetected for several months – it happened in August, but was discovered and patched in November. Rivers Casino has begun notifying employees and customers that fraudsters have stolen their personal information. Casino management also offers free credit monitoring tools to affected individuals.

Confidential information stolen

Details of online bookmakers and physical customers are likely to be included in the stolen information. This cyber incident is unlike any other. This time, criminals stole highly sensitive information such as Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and driver’s license records.

That’s not all, as the attackers also gained access to tax numbers, bank account numbers and passport numbers. Rivers Casino said the hackers did not steal passwords or credit card information.

However, other information believed to have been stolen from Rivers Casino also includes email addresses, mobile phone numbers, physical addresses and dates of birth. The type of information varies from person to person, but it can contain anything criminals need to commit financial fraud or identity theft.

Identity theft remains a significant risk. There is currently no information on who is behind the attack, and it is not known whether the hackers asked for a ransom. The number of people who may be affected by the hack is also unknown. Rivers Casino Des Plaines is the most profitable casino in the state of Illinois and receives millions of visitors per month, so the number of people affected is probably small.

Unlike the ransomware attack that crippled MGM Resorts, there was no disruption to Rivers Casino’s day-to-day operations. Rivers Casino also said that other casinos were not affected by the hack, nor did their online programe or mobile gaming platform Betrivers.

It also noted that there is no evidence that the fraudsters used the stolen data. However, cyber security researchers would not be surprised if the stolen information soon finds itself for sale on the dark web.

The FBI warns of an increase in attacks on casinos

Reports of new casino attacks are likely pending, as was the case earlier this month; The FBI has released a Private Industry Notice that says criminals are using new trends to target gambling establishments.

Antivirus protection and credit checks are highly ecommended if you plan to roll the dice during the holiday season.