Boyd Gaming Corporation, a major player in the US casino industry, revealed this week that hackers broke into its systems and stole employee data and other personal information. The company, based in Las Vegas, confirmed the attack in a document filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday night.
Boyd Gaming Confirms Data Theft but Expects No Major Financial Impact
The company’s statement explained that an unauthorized group had broken into Boyd’s internal IT systems and made off with sensitive data. While Boyd did not give details about how much or what kind of information was stolen, it did say that the hackers got their hands on employee details and records linked to a small number of other people.
Company officials stressed that the attack did not disrupt daily casino operations. Boyd runs 28 gaming venues across 10 states, including 11 sites in the Las Vegas Valley, and has over 16,000 employees nationwide. The company made almost $3.9 billion in revenue last year.
Boyd said it took quick action after discovering the breach. It brought in outside cybersecurity experts and alerted federal law enforcement agencies. The company is now notifying affected individuals. It will also inform regulators, as federal and state rules require.
To control expenses related to the response, Boyd pointed out that it has a full cybersecurity insurance policy that should cover investigation costs, possible legal claims, and regulatory penalties. At this point, the company does not expect the incident to have a significant impact on its financial results.
Boyd Cyber Incident Adds to Growing List of Attacks on Gaming Sector
The announcement comes as cybersecurity threats against Nevada’s gaming industry keep growing. Just last year, casino giants MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment fell victim to disruptive ransomware attacks that caught national attention.
Experts in the industry point out that casinos are becoming prime targets for hackers. These criminals are after more than just money.
They are also looking to get their hands on the personal and operational data stored in casino systems. This year, International Game Technology, a big player in gambling tech, also reported a cyber attack that knocked parts of its network offline.
Boyd Gaming did not share any more information beyond what they filed with the SEC. Company spokespeople said that their public statement covers everything they can say right now. Nevada itself is just getting back on its feet after a ransomware attack messed up state government services.