Kewadin Casinos Remain Closed Following Suspected Ransomware Attack

Kewadin Casinos in Michigan have yet to recover from a cyberattack that forced the closure of multiple gaming properties earlier this week.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians made the decision to shut down its casinos in the Upper Peninsula following what appears to be a ransomware attack.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the tribe has hired a consultant and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. Tribal Chair Austin Lowes attributed the cyberattack to an unspecified form of ransomware, though further details have not been disclosed.

Tribal officials have indicated that resolving the technical issues could take “within a week” but also warned that it “could last longer.” The casino informed the public at the start of the week that “gaming operations will be halted until further notice.”

“We understand that this is inconvenient and unexpected news,” the tribe stated in an online post.

Casino officials reassured customers via social media, stating, “Please know our experts are working around-the-clock to restore gaming operations. We apologize for this inconvenience.”

The cyberattack was first detected on Sunday, and by 7 a.m. on Monday, the tribe had made the decision to suspend gambling operations. In a Facebook post, the incident was described as a “data security incident that impacted our gaming operations.”

The shutdown has affected gaming locations in Sault Ste. Marie, Manistique, Christmas, Hessel, and St. Ignace. Other tribal-owned businesses were also forced to close.

At this time, it remains unclear whether the hackers demanded a ransom to restore access to the affected systems.

In 2023, the hacker group Scattered Spider was responsible for high-profile cyberattacks on MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, but there is no indication they were involved in the Michigan casino breach.

“We immediately enlisted the help of third-party experts to determine how this incident was caused and to restore our gaming operations as quickly as possible,” the tribe stated.

The tribe also assured the public that “we will provide updates as more information becomes available.” However, no timeline has been given for when the casinos might reopen.

The disruption has left customers frustrated, including one woman who was planning a visit.

On Facebook, a user identified as Kelli Lindsay wrote, “Where are the updates? I reserved a room for 3 nights this week and have not been able to cancel. How can we contact someone about reservations?”

By fLEXI tEAM