SIN CITY CYBERATTACK: INSIDE THE MGM & CAESARS CASINO BREACHES
In September 2023, Las Vegas turned into ground zero for one of the most disruptive cyberattacks in U.S. history. MGM Resorts, owner of iconic casinos on the Strip, saw slot machines go dark, hotel check-ins grind to a halt, and operations paralyzed for days. At the same time, Caesars Entertainment quietly faced its own breach, but unlike MGM, Caesars chose to pay the ransom.
In this episode of THE CISO SIGNAL: TRUE CYBERCRIME PODCAST, we take you inside the MGM Casino $100M ransomware hack and contrast it with the Caesars breach. We break down how attackers from the Scattered Spider/ALPHV ransomware group gained access, why MGM refused to pay, and what every CISO can learn from the two very different incident response strategies.
Our special guest co-host is PAZ SHWARTZ, CISO and CEO at Persist Security, who joins us to analyze the attacks, share real-world insights, and outline how leaders should prepare for ransomware scenarios that strike at the heart of critical business operations.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:
👉 How the Scattered Spider group used social engineering to breach MGM and Caesars
🔹 Why MGM Resorts refused to pay ransom and Caesars paid up
⚠️ The operational and financial fallout for both casino giants
🛡️ Actionable strategies CISOs can deploy to prepare for high-stakes ransomware incidents
📈 Key leadership lessons for crisis response under public and shareholder pressure
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Paz Shwartz is the CEO and CISO of Persist Security, with deep expertise in cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and incident response for global enterprises.
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