Cyberattack Disrupts Operations at Gambling Giant IGT

International Game Technology (IGT), a leading provider of gambling and lottery systems, is working to recover from a significant cyberattack that disrupted its operations last week.

The U.S.-based company reported the incident to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, revealing that the attack had affected parts of its internal IT systems and applications. IGT responded by proactively taking certain systems offline to protect its infrastructure.

In a statement, the company confirmed it was implementing workarounds to maintain services for customers while investigating the breach. Efforts to restore systems are ongoing, and IGT has yet to determine the financial impact of the attack.

With over 11,000 employees worldwide, IGT provides critical technology for lotteries, gambling machines, and sports betting, generating $1.9 billion in revenue over the first nine months of 2024.

The cyberattack marks the latest in a string of incidents targeting the gambling and lottery industries. Ransomware groups have been particularly active, with last year’s ransomware attack on Ohio’s state lottery and the disruption of MGM Casino costing the latter more than $100 million.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the IGT attack, the incident underscores the vulnerabilities faced by organisations in the gambling sector. Experts warn that such operations are increasingly in the crosshairs of financially motivated cybercriminals.

IGT’s swift response aims to minimise the fallout, but the attack highlights the persistent risk posed by sophisticated cyber threats. As the company works to restore its systems, it joins a growing list of organisations grappling with the implications of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.