Jerad Swimmer, Regional Sales Director at Continent 8 Technologies, explores the remarkable surge in tribal gaming revenues and its implications for cybersecurity.
The year 2023 marked a significant milestone in the tribal gaming industry, with revenues reaching an all-time high of $41.9 billion USD, according to the National Indian Gaming Commission. Advisory firm Wipfli noted that this marked the fourth consecutive year of revenue growth for tribal casinos. This remarkable growth reflects the increasing popularity and expansion of tribal casinos across the United States.
The impressive revenue figures are a testament to the hard work and innovation within the industry, highlighting the importance of tribal gaming as a vital economic driver for many tribal communities. However, with great success comes great responsibility, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity.
Rising cyber attacks on tribal casinos
As tribal casinos flourish financially, they become attractive targets for cybercriminals. The surge in revenue has unfortunately been paralleled by a rise in cyber threats aimed at exploiting vulnerabilities within these establishments, with one source indicating that cyber attacks on tribes surged by almost 60% in 2023.
Cyber attacks on tribal casinos can range from data breaches to ransomware attacks, each with the potential to cause significant financial and reputational damage. The increasing sophistication of these threats demands a proactive and robust approach to cybersecurity to protect both the assets and the patrons of tribal gaming operations.
Notable cybersecurity incidents in tribal gaming
Several high-profile cybersecurity incidents have underscored the vulnerabilities within the tribal gaming sector. For instance, a tribal casino recently experienced a three-week closure due to an undisclosed cybersecurity incident. Casino officials advised previous guests to monitor their financial and credit card statements for any potential issues.
Another notable incident involved a ransomware attack that compromised all internet servers and data, with the attackers demanding up to $500,000 to restore services. These incidents highlight the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard the integrity of tribal gaming enterprises.
Strategies for strengthening cybersecurity in tribal gaming
To counter the escalating cyber threats, tribal casinos must adopt comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. This includes implementing advanced threat prevention, detection and response systems, regular security audits and continuous employee training to recognize and mitigate potential threats.
Investing in cybersecurity infrastructure, such as firewalls and mobile endpoint protection, can significantly enhance the security posture of tribal gaming operations. Collaborating with cybersecurity experts and adopting industry best practices are also pivotal steps in fortifying defenses against cyber attacks.
The Continent 8 advantage
As cyber threats continue to evolve, tribal casinos can leverage innovative technologies and solutions to enhance their cybersecurity posture and ensure 360-degree protection. Key solutions include:
- Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT): Our VA and pentesting services provide proactive and continuous assessment of your cyber attack surface area.
- Managed Security Operations Center (MSOC) & Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Our MSOC/SIEM services offer real-time monitoring, detection and response to help identify and mitigate threats early, with our experienced analysts providing round-the-clock support.
- Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS): Our DDoS mitigation services offer a global network with over 5 Tbps of DDoS scrubbing and network capability. With multiple layers of protection, our DDoS system ensures businesses are safeguarded against volumetric layer 3/4 attacks.
- Web Application and API Protection (WAAP): Our WAAP services defend web applications and APIs from threats like OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, as well as credential stuffing, site scraping, malicious bots and other vulnerabilities and exploits.
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) & Managed Detection and Response (MDR): Our EDR and MDR services ensure comprehensive protection for endpoints against advanced threats such as ransomware, with continuous monitoring and threat hunting to ensure prompt identification and neutralization of threats.
- Intrusion Detection System and Intrusion Prevention System (IDS & IPS): Our IDS and IPS services provide real-time detection and prevention of network intrusions, covering a wide range of attack vectors to ensure comprehensive protection.
- Compliance Audit: Our Compliance Audit services identify, assess and mitigate potential cybersecurity risks while ensuring adherence to jurisdictional regulatory requirements.
- Mobile Protect: Our endpoint detection services safeguard against data leaks, non-compliant devices and malware and phishing threats specific to mobile platforms.
- SafeBait: Our SafeBait services conduct phishing simulations and provide security awareness training to educate employees on recognizing and responding to phishing attempts and other IT training scenarios.
- Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Our MFA services offer the most secure and efficient authentication experience available.
The future of tribal gaming in 2025 and beyond
As tribal gaming continues to thrive, the critical role of cybersecurity becomes increasingly evident.
In response to the escalating threat of advanced cyber attacks targeting tribal governments and organizations, the Department of Homeland Security announced on July 1, 2024, the allocation of over $18.2 million USD in grants to 32 tribal governments. These inaugural grants, issued under the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program (TCGP), represent a commitment to supporting tribal communities and gaming organizations in overcoming cybersecurity challenges within their digital infrastructures and environments.
By prioritizing cybersecurity in 2025 and beyond, tribal casinos can ensure sustained growth and resilience, safeguarding their revenues and reputation in an increasingly digital world. The path forward involves a balanced approach that combines innovation and vigilance, ensuring the prosperity and longevity of the tribal gaming sector.
Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow
Continent 8 provides comprehensive, multi-layered threat prevention, detection and response solutions to secure your tribal organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. For more information on how Continent 8 can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email sales@continent.com or fill out our Contact Us page.
Also, be sure to watch the latest episode in our Tribal Talks: Cybersecurity Unlocked podcast series – also available on Spotify – to gain a deeper understanding of the technological advancements, cybersecurity challenges and best practices shaping tribal gaming landscape.
