Online casinos are a great way for players to derive the whole casino experience from the comfort of their homes, and Americans are learning this at a rapid rate as more and more states legalize online casinos. With that said, the dawn of US online casinos has also presented hacking groups with opportunities to steal money and personal information. Though hacking events in the US online casino industry are far from rampant, they do happen. In fact, MGM was the recent victim of a hacking event and investigation has revealed that the people behind the recent hack are from a well-known hacking group based in the West.

Through a series of phishing attemps, a hacking group was able to infiltrate MGM servers and wreak havoc on the online casino operator. The hack was dealt with and is no longer a problem, but for MGM and online casino players alike, there is a lot more that needs to be found out.

Hacking Attempts Happening with Increased Frequency

The group behind the attack on MGM is known as Scattered Spider, and what this organization does is target employees and help desks in order to garner login credentials. Once the hacking group has credentials that get them into MGM’s private servers, they are able to see personal information of players, including banking information and personal details like social security numbers.

In response to this most recent successful attack, MGM was forced to shut down a number of internal networks so that the hackers who gained access to the networks were not able to inflict the damaged they inteded on inflicting.

While shutting down internal networks until the problem is identified and fixed seems easy and pain-free enough, the reality last weekend for both online and in-person gamblers was a nightmarish one. Slot machines did not work, online payments did not function, and even some room keys at MGM’s many hotels did not work. This meant that there were thousands of gamblers in Las Vegas this past weekend that could not gamble and, on occasion, could not even get back into their hotel rooms. Though the hacking event does not seem, at least initially, to have resulted in anyone’s personal or banking information being taken, it has cost MGM millions of dollars to deal with and rectify.

New Hacking Group Utilizing Tried and True Methods

In the realm of hacking groups, Scattered Spider is a new one. Though they have not even been active for two years, they are already making a name for themselves by way of targeting dozens, maybe even hundreds, of US and Canadian businesses. Unlike most other hacking groups that have ties to Russia, Scattered Spider seems to be a North American or European-based group. Though they are a new entrant, their methods of attack are not.

Scattered Spider works by gaining entry to the back-end of companies and then either locking parts of a network or holding personal information for ransom. Once the company pays the requested ransom, Scattered Spider will either unlock the frozen network and/or return the stolen information. This practice is a simple one, but is also one that can cost a company millions of dollars.

Hackers like this are sophisticated, so before ever launching an attack, Scattered Spider will find people who work for the intended target company, learn as much about them as possible, and use this information to trick the company into thinking the hackers are actually an employee. Unaware that the person they are dealing with is actually a hacking group, companies will help “employees” recover passwords and access to email accounts. In reality, they are simply handing over login credentials to the hacking group. Once in the network via approved credentials, the hackers get to work stealing and locking whatever it is they intend to hold for ransom. If the company does not pay the ransom, Scattered Spider will continue disrupting business.

Online casinos in the US and around the world employ robust methods in order to fight hackers, but as we see time and time again, hackers are successful in thwarting these safeguards. While the hacking event that targeted MGM has since been resolved, it is surely not the last we will hear of. As the United States continues to expand its online and in-person gambling networks, you can expect to hear more about Scattered Spider. Hacking will never go away, but it is situations like this that will help companies in their effort to stay one step ahead of phishing and ransomware attacks such as these.

The second fiscal quarter of 2023 was another profitable one for Atlantic City’s nine casinos, but the near-term future is being called into question due to those profits trending in the wrong direction. Compared to the second quarter of 2022, when pent up consumer demand was in full swing, Q2 2023 profits fell by up to 20% across the board.

On its face, the waning year over year profits could seem to be a byproduct of American consumers tightening their wallets in the face of increasing prices and interest rates. When you dig a bit deeper though, there are many factors at play. Some of these are as simple as a more price-conscious consumer, but others may surprise you.

Worker Pay Pressures Profits

One of the biggest factors pressuring the bottom lines of Atlantic City’s casinos is something that has almost nothing to do with foot traffic on the casino floor. Compared to a year ago and thanks to a deal reached between casinos and casino workers, Atlantic City gambling establishments are paying their employees considerably more. Though this is an expected pressure, it has still been credited with being largely responsible for thinning profit margins.

On top of this pay increase, casinos are now employing significantly more workers than they were a year ago thanks to an increase in visitors. The management teams of AC’s top casinos may be worried about the prospect of slowing or even vanishing profits, but the silver lining to all of this is that profits can still be found in abundance everywhere. This points to thriving tourism that is still showing its face in the wake of the COVID-19 shutdown of 2020 and 2021.

A Look Into the Rest of 2023

In Atlantic City and elsewhere, 2023 has been a year of resurgence. Gambling destinations across the country are reporting substantial increases in visitorship and, by extension, profits. Up until this point we have seen a consumer that is eager to get out of the house and experience…experiences. More recently though, rising prices on everyday household goods coupled with rising borrowing rates have some concerned that the resurgence seen through the first half of 2023 may soon be a thing of the past.

It is difficult to determine the fates of individual casinos, but with each passing year the gambling industry in the United States grows stronger. Whether this comes in the form of states establishing online casino networks or the construction of new brick and mortar casinos in places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the US remains the world’s top gambling destination, and that is not something that is likely to change anytime soon.

A few years ago, the biggest issue was that of online casinos and where they would be legalized next. As we look forward to the rest of 2023 however, the focus seems to be much more on physical casinos than online. Chicago, Virginia, Louisiana, and many other jurisdictions are dipping their toes in or expanding the brick and mortar casino realm. The construction of new physical casinos is something that is always met with controversy, but as time passes it seems as though the general opinion on gambling is changing for the better in the United States.

A Michigan Man has pleaded guilty in federal court after conducting an elaborate fraud scheme that allowed him to withdraw more than $100,000 at various casinos. The man used prosthetic face masks to change his appearance, and created a number of false identification cards, as he took thousands from numerous unsuspecting gamblers at casinos across two states. In addition to the prosthetic face masks, the man utilized hats, glasses, and surgical masks to disguise himself at each of the locations he visited. Through a calculated series of moves, he was able to exploit casino rewards programs, stealing the identity of customers and withdrawing cash in their names.

The Guilty Party

John Christopher Colletti, 56, officially pleaded guilty to wire and identity fraud on Tuesday. Colletti, with his various disguises, was able to take more than $125,000 from gamblers. His elaborate plan has now earned him up to a maximum of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and two years for identity fraud. Colletti will be officially sentenced later this summer.

Colletti used a face mask to make him look like an older white male before visiting casino kiosks to take out thousands of dollars in cash. After amassing more than $100,000, the FBI became involved, eventually identifying Colletti. Timothy Waters, a special agent from the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, shared that Colletti’s actions impacted many innocent gamblers and that the FBI needed to ensure that these actions of identity theft were addressed, and the guilty party was held accountable.

Casino Security Challenges

In order to operate casino kiosks, gamblers must present their driver’s license and enter the last four digits of their Social Security Number and telephone number. Colletti specifically targeted VIP Preferred Program casino patrons. VIP customers typically have access to features that make it easier for them to withdraw and deposit, and in Colletti’s case this gave him access to withdraw larger sums. The system is designed to keep customers safe by having them provide their personal information first, but Colletti managed to purchase the personal information of his victims off the internet, allowing him to create fraudulent driver’s licenses made in their names.

Colletti was first flagged after withdrawing large sums from kiosks at numerous casinos. Thanks to security cameras, investigators were able to catch Colletti in the act, despite the fact that he used many different disguises. He first gained the attention of authorities after 10 instances of identity theft were found at MGM Grand Casino Detroit in May of 2019. From these 10 cases, Colletti was able to withdraw $98,840. In a single instance, Colletti was identified as wearing a prosthetic mask to disguise his appearance, and he went on to make 15 transactions totaling $30,000 at various kiosks in the casino. From there, security surveillance was able to track Colletti to his next destination, where he removed his disguise and made off with his cash.

Paying the Damages

Colletti was not arrested until Mach 12, 2020, at the Prairie Band Casino. In this instance he was wearing a straw hat and glasses while using a mobility walker. On this day, Colletti withdrew $20,000, which required him to present his Social Security number. When approached by security, Colletti retreated to the restroom removing his disguise and fleeing the casino. Security found the disguise left in the restroom with cash, driver’s licenses, and a Nissan car key. After Colletti was arrested, a search warrant was obtained and police eventually discovered face masks, flash drives, 83 driver’s licenses, 14 insurance cards, and 19 players cards from various casinos like the MGM Grand.

The lucrative scheme reveals the real dangers of identity theft and the importance of protecting personal information. Thanks to the security systems in place at the casinos that Colletti visited, the customers whose information was compromised will be paid back in full for their losses. Global Payments Gaming Services, the manufacturer of the casino kiosks that Colletti withdrew from, will be paying back the customers who were affected. Colletti will eventually pay the full $125,740 back to GPGS.

Resorts World Catskills has identified the Town of Newburgh in New York as the potential site for a gambling hall that could include 1,300 gaming and video lottery terminals. Resort World believes that the struggling Newburgh Mall could benefit from a revival in the form of a new casino project, and the gaming company has offered $3 million annually in host-community payments as part of its proposal. Such a price tag may entice officials, as retail stores continue to struggle amidst the pandemic.

A Reputable Operator

Resorts World is owned by the Genting Group, a Malaysia-based company, and already operates casinos in Sullivan County and Queens, and previously had plans to open a video gaming parlor in Woodbury. With the prospect of the Newburgh Mall project on the horizon, the Woodbury plans have fallen to the wayside. The company was authorized by the state in 2019 to open a facility in Orange County to house the electronic slot machines that were previously licensed at Monticello Raceway. Now, Resorts World is trying to double down on this authorization to create a gambling hall in Newburgh Mall.

A formal pitch from Resorts World to Newburgh’s Town Board came about a month ago. In order for the plan to move forward, the zoning for building would have to be amended. Now it looks like the approval process is ready to move forward.

Struggling Retailers

Newburgh Mall is one of the many retail locations throughout the world that find themselves struggling in a world that has become increasingly dependent on online shopping. This fact has been amplified by the ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic. The mall already has 17 vacant store spaces, as many others continue to struggle.

Resorts World aims to sign a 65-year lease with the mall owners to add lottery and gaming terminals to the existing building. The gambling hall would not replace the building, but simply revitalize some of the areas that have are not being used, such as a vacant Bon-Ton department store. The proposed gambling hall would not have any restaurants or shopping, and the gaming operators believe that this would lead to gamblers streaming out into the mall for food or shopping whenever the visit.

Crunching the Numbers

In February, representatives for the casino operator presented their plans to the Newburgh Town Board. Their proposal stated that the new operation could employ up to 225 full-time workers. During the construction of the project, roughly 200 construction workers would also be hired to help construct the $32 million project. The end goal would be to transform a 68,877-square-foot section of the indoor mall into a new gambling hall called Resorts World Hudson Valley. Once built, Resorts World would give preference to local residents when hiring employees for the gambling hall, with an average salary worth about $72,000 a year.

As part of the $3 million in annual host-community payments, Resorts World will pay $1million for any municipal purposes, $500,000 a year for public safety and $1.5 million for community projects. Each of these payments would increase by 5% every 10 years. In addition to these numbers, Resorts World estimates that the new project could generate $65.6 million a year in revenue that would directly support New York Public schools.

Positive Signs

Resorts World believe that the revitalization project is one that they and the Newburgh Mall could mutually benefit from. In a press release, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus called the project “an investment in jobs, in growth and the future of Orange County.” The revitalization project could provide a beacon of hope as well, as restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic loosen, and retailers work to get back on track. So far, talks between Resorts World and officials have been positive and progressive, in a state that didn’t even allow Vegas-style gambling halls and casinos until 2013. Now officials and residents will wait to see if and when the gambling hall can become a reality.

Urban One, a Black-owned Washington media company, is working with Peninsula Pacific to propose a $517 million casino resort project. The proposed casino resort and live music theater would be built on property in South Richmond that is currently owned by Philip Morris USA, one of the city’s largest employers. The project was made possible, after the state legalized casinos for the first time last year. Now Urban One is trying to build the first casino with African American ownership in the state.

A New Contender

Urban One and Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, the owner of Colonial Downs Group, are hoping to capitalize on a potential casino that has been in the works since the legalization of casinos in the state of Virginia. Urban One owns more than 50 radio stations in over a dozen markets along the east coast. Tin Richmond, they own four radio stations, which are known for having a predominantly African American audience. Urban One already has a 7% stake in MGM National Harbor casino resort in Maryland, but this new proposal reflects a new focus on creating economic opportunities for minorities in Virginia. Despite their relative lack of experience in the industry, Urban One made a smart choice by selecting a worthy partner.

Alfred Liggins, Urban One CEO, confirmed that the media company would be the majority investor in the potential casino resort project. In a statement to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Liggins shared that the group was excited to submit a proposal that includes a unique gaming, dining, and live music destination that would be the only black owned casino in the state. Minority ownership has been a major focus of the latest casino legislation adopted by the General Assembly, and Urban One hopes that they will soon become the proud owners of the ambitious project they have proposed.

Details of the Project

Liggins promises that the proposal will be an appropriate reflection of the community they have proudly been a part of since 1999. The ultimate goal is to produce a final product that reflects the local flavor of Richmond while uplifting the community.

The proposed $517 million casino resort and live music theater be built on 100 acres owned by Altria Group Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris USA. Altria has offered no comment on the real estate transaction that would be necessary to make this project a reality, but they have acknowledged the area, which is located just south of a major cigarette manufacturing complex, could benefit from further development. Steve Callahan, a spokesman from Altria, shared that any decisions made about the land should involve the Richmond community.

The proposed casino resort project would include nearly 90,000 square feet dedicated to casino games, 150-room hotel, as many as a dozen restaurants and lounges, and 3,000-seat entertainment venue. A number of other outdoor recreational features could also be included. The venue, which could host up to 200 live music events a year, would make an ideal casino resort destination for people throughout the United States.

Virginia’s First Casinos

Virginia passed a state law last year that allows legal casino gambling for the first time. Previously, Virginia’s gambling laws were relatively strict, banning casinos and greyhound racing specifically. The state does allow betting on games of chance in private residences and the Commonwealth runs a statewide lottery.

The new legislation opens the door for casinos in five different cities, after voters approved them in local referendums. Norfolk, Portsmouth, Danville, and Bristol have all approved casino projects; Richmond is still waiting, but they will get their chance next November. Last week the city announced that an evaluation panel including two City Council members and seven administration officials will review all Richmond casino proposal, while seeking additional support from an outside consulting firm. After reviewing the proposals, the panel will make recommendations to Mayor Levar Stoney and work to vote on a recommended operator and location.

Urban One and Peninsula Pacific have to wait and see how far their proposal can go. Their primary competition will come from the Pamunkey Tribe, who already has secured a project for a casino in Norfolk.

Three gaming bills were turned down by the House on Wednesday, stalling any chance for legalized gambling in the state of Hawaii. After a year full of economic hardships, state lawmakers in Hawaii were considering a serious gaming overhaul in hopes of bringing some relief to those suffering in the state. The state is facing huge budget deficits, after the COVID-19 pandemic left the state scraping to make up for the lack of revenue generated from tourism. Officials were hoping that the proposed gambling-related bills could help account for some of the glaring issues facing the state, but it appears that lawmakers feel that the time just isn’t right for gaming expansion.

Details of the Proposed Bills

The three bills proposed would have legalized commercial gambling in the state of Hawaii, which is just one of two states with no form of legal gambling in the country. One bill would have created a state poker commission to oversee live poker rooms. Another would have allowed a casino on the Hawai’i Convention Center. Under this bill, players would have been required to stay in an Oahu hotel in order to play at the casino. The final bill pushed for a pilot program for digital sports betting platforms.

Rep. Sean Quinlan, chairman of the House Economic Development Committee, deferred all three bills, leaving little to no hope for immediate change to gambling laws in the rainbow state. This is in addition to Quinlan’s decision last week to defer on another bill that would allow the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to build a casino near Kapolei. That bill would have given a 40-year gaming license for an integrated resort and casino that would be built by the DHHL in parcel zoned lands for commercial use, located west of Ko Olina. The belief is that the proposed casino resort could generate millions of dollars in annual tax revenue. The revenue would be funneled toward a program that gets Hawaiians off of a wait list and onto their ancestral lands and into homes. The bill could have helped clear a backlog of more than 28,000 DHHL beneficiaries, who have been left waiting for homes and land.

Existing Gambling Laws in Hawaii

The proposed legislation could have brought gambling to a state that has traditionally outlawed almost all forms of gambling. In Hawaii, residents are prohibited from wagering on horse or dog races. Gambling aboard ships or casinos is also prohibited. Hawaii does not even have a state lottery, unlike many of the continental United States. Other than Utah, Hawaii is the only state that prohibits all forms of legalized gambling.

The only form of gambling that is legal in Hawaii is social gambling, but that’s only if the act is committed somewhere other than a hotel, motel, bar, nightclub, or any business establishment or public place.

Reality Check

Despite the sweeping denial of clear-cut gambling legislation, the Senate Education Committee did vote to approve another bill that would create a state lottery. The only issue is that committee Chairwoman Michelle Kidani amended the bill to delay the creation of the lottery until January 1, 2023, putting tangible gaming in the distant future. The Senate will also be hearing a version of the DHHL casino proposal before the Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee.

Hawaiian residents, however, should not get their hopes up. State Rep. John Mizuno has made it clear that the breaking of the prohibition on any legalized gambling in the state could still be a far way off. Mizuno, who is the vice speaker of the house, was responsible for the bill that would have brought a casino to the Hawai’i Convention Center and has since said that the House seems to be firmly against legalizing gambling, regardless of the economic troubles residents are facing.

While the gambling bills can technically be resurrected in the house, the reality of that happening is a stretch. Mizuno believes that time is the only great equalizer in moving this gaming expansion forward, and gambling in Hawaii still has a number of hurdles to jump before its time has come.

The state of Georgia has been mulling over gambling legislation for years, without any tangible results. On Tuesday, lawmakers introduced a constitutional amendment to the Georgia House of Representatives that would introduce gambling in the form of casino resorts across the state. Those in favor of new legislation hope that the expansion can finally be passed, after previous efforts fell short.

The Latest Expansion Proposal

The effort for gambling expansion has been mounting for nearly 30 years in the state of Georgia. The latest proposal comes from Republican state Rep. Ron Stephens of Savannah, Alan Powell of Hartwell, and Democratic Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus, who have all ben longtime supporters of legalizing casinos. The Georgia House of Representatives made the proposal as the entire country works to recover from the ongoing pandemic.

The proposed legislation that would open the door for a limited number of casino resorts, would provide the state with revenue that could benefit a number of important programs. The amendment channels these revenues toward tuition and grant programs like the HOPE Scholarship, supporting public and private colleges and universities throughout the state. Additional revenue would be directed toward covering the casino’s operating costs, while also funding gambling addiction programs.

The Rising Tide

In order to pass the latest legislation, the amendment must receive a two-thirds majority vote in the state House and Senate. As Georgians know, this is no small task, as countless predecessors have failed to stave off opposition mounted by religious conservatives. The proposed casino expansion is the second gambling proposal in the 2021 calendar year. The other proposal came earlier this month and would legalize online sports betting throughout the state.

Georgia’s last gambling expansion came in 1992, when the Peach State’s voters chose to approve the lottery. Since then, all other forms of gambling have been illegal in the state, leaving residents feeling stuck in the past. Late in 2020, a House panel passed a resolution that would allow casino gambling, horse racing, and sports betting. Unfortunately, the proposal never advanced, and the pandemic brought all other discussions about gambling expansion to a screeching halt. Now, Georgians hope to capitalize on what could be a very important revenue stream.

Potential Outcomes

Religious groups have vehemently spoken out against the new legislation, citing crime and addiction as major concerns. That being said, the expansion has a number of big names in the private sector fighting for the expansion to go through. Officials at Atlanta Motor Speedway already presented a plan last year to build a $1 billion casino resort near its racetrack in Hampton. The developers responsible for the entertainment development that includes the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park have also shared renderings of proposed casino resorts. If the amendment passes, the renderings for casino resorts on the Chattahoochee River, Lake Hartwell, and in Midway could become a reality in the near future.

Those in favor of the gambling legislation believe that the industry could bring thousands of jobs to the state, while raking in millions of dollars for important funds like the aforementioned HOPE Scholarship. Another idea being thrown around by lawmakers is to take the potential funds and direct them toward the state’s health care system.

While the support for the amendment is clear, the two-thirds hurdle still looms large. In the next few months Georgia will see whether or not it will be able to approve its first gambling expansion since 1992.