Swinomish Casino & Lodge, nestled in Anacortes on the Washington coast, has been forced to shutter its doors until further notice following a suspected cyberattack. The casino, owned and operated by the tribal community, announced this news on its website on Wednesday, leaving patrons and employees in limbo. Casino management has not shared details regarding the incident, raising fears of a potential data breach.

The Venue Released Little Relevant Information

The sudden closure has left employees and patrons perplexed, with little communication from management regarding the situation. While the lodge remains open, the venue only honors existing reservations, leaving potential guests in the dark. The casino released an official statement regarding the ongoing issues, but the update contained little relevant information.

According to the official announcement, guests with existing reservations affected by the incident would receive refunds as they can only access the lodge and RV park. The casino admitted that the disruption was due to a cyberattack incident necessitating the closure of the casino and all restaurants on the property.

Swinomish Casino & Lodge added they were cooperating with authorities and cybersecurity experts to resolve this issue, adding they would contact affected customers in case of a data breach. The venue reassured patrons it would post an update on its Facebook page as soon as its systems returned online but did not disclose any concrete timeframe. 

Cyberattacks Represent an Industry-Wide Concern

This disruption is not the first time Swinomish Casino & Lodge has faced closure, with the last prolonged shutdown occurring in March 2020 due to COVID-19 safety measures. However, the ongoing closure has cast uncertainty over when operations will resume, leaving troubled employees and patrons awaiting updates. Many visitors wishing to visit for the weekend had to return, expressing their disappointment in the sudden shutdown.

Local news outlet KIRO 7 investigated the matter, contacting former employee Greg Sullivan, who revealed that the incident was highly unusual. He noted that closures on a  Friday or a Saturday night were something the casino tried to avoid at all costs, highlighting the severity of the issue. He expressed concern regarding the staff who depended on tips to make ends meet.

This impact is substantial on the workers, particularly the ones that are not salaried employees. The public absolutely deserves the truth.

Greg Sullivan, former employee

Despite limited information, this case resembles 2023’s cyberattacks against gambling giants like Caesars and MGM. These incidents caused significant customer data leaks, causing substantial damage to the affected operators. Although the increasing frequency of such cyberattacks should serve as a warning for the broader industry, this newest case indicates that many casinos may still be vulnerable.

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The Majestic Star Casino Hotel was owned by Hard Rock International before it was shut down a few years ago. Then, the location was sold to a company that is focused on developing and enhancing property for trucks, trailers, buses and other large vehicles called Transport Properties.

The company was planning to demolish the Majestic Star but delayed it. The founding partner of the company, Tim McCahill, in collaboration with Sen. Mike Braun, as well as city officials in Gary helped organize a unique training at Majestic Star for law enforcement and first responders, a report released by The Chicago Tribune reveals.

The eye-catching training started Wednesday with Northwest Regional SWAT and Gary SWAT team members seen in full riot gear including shields. Blasting the front door marked the start of the event with SWAT members then charging the building.

This marks only the first such event out of many more planned for the next two months. Over the period of 45 days, there will be 20 different live trainings taking place at the Majestic Star with members of 12 different law enforcement agencies participating.

First Responders to Benefit from Invaluable Live Training at Majestic Star

Mayor Jerome Prince acknowledged that the collaboration that led to this event marks an important moment for law enforcement and reaffirmed that his administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of the public. He outlined that the collaboration confirms that law enforcement agencies can effectively collaborate which can ultimately bring benefits to the region.

“Before this building is demolished we see a great opportunity to use it to help strengthen the response of first responders as well as military officers.“

Mayor Jerome Prince

Prince also commended the collaboration with the Senator and Rob Ferrino, the developer that engaged with McCahill to help create this unique opportunity for law enforcement. Finally, he acknowledged that the building represents a unique opportunity for first responders to train before it is demolished.

“You can’t beat this. There is nothing like it, like the real-world experience.“

Sgt. Marlin Gray, Gary Police Department

Gary Police Department’s team leader Sgt. Marlin Gray, added that there is nothing better than a real-world experience. He explained that it is really important for law enforcement to practice breaching doors, which are quite sturdy in hotel locations. Still, Gray acknowledged that those doors aren’t impenetrable and that law enforcement just needs to practice breaching them.

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