IGT experiences multiple hits with their systems being breached and class action suit on the Wheel of Fortune game.
While some software providers and casinos had a year of remarkable moments and victorious releases, others seemed to hit one roadblock after another.
For IGT , the year has been quite challenging, considering the recent cyberattack and the class action suit.
IGT system breach
Recently, it was revealed that the International Game Technology (IGT) systems were breached by a cyberattack . The company stated that they are aware that a third party gained access to several areas of their system on 17 November. The hack is just the latest in a series of security breaches within the gambling industry.
The software provider states that they activated their cybersecurity incident response plan shortly after detecting the issue.
Also, they reported that an investigation has been launched with the help of external advisors who will assist in assessing and remediating the unauthorised activity. They have even taken some of their systems offline for further protection.
The investigation is ongoing, and they are working hard to bring all their systems back online as soon as possible. Still, so far, they have not determined whether the incident is material.
The hack comes at a crucial point in time as it was just recently announced that IGT is set for a $6.3 billion merger with Everi , and both companies will be acquired by the private equity giant Apollo Global Management .
Not the first attack
While the investigation is underway, searching for more clarity on the IGT cyberattack , we can’t help but think back to another massive hack that happened last year, in which hackers stole $41 million from Stake Casino .
They didn’t take the easy way; instead, they did a deep dive, gaining access to the company’s backend servers and easy access to all financial systems, crypto accounts, and other data .
In light of the increasing number of hacks and security risks, CasinoWow interviewed SoftSwiss about its Bug Bounty Program and cybersecurity measures . SoftSwiss recently launched the program, which is currently accessible by invitation only. Its goal is to reveal vulnerabilities through rigorous testing, enabling casinos and other programs to work on removing them .
The bad news doesn’t end here
It seems that this year can’t come to an end sooner, with IGT experiencing one hit after the other . Lately, even IGT's games have been caught in the crossfire. It was recently made public that the provider, along with some major casino companies, will face a class action lawsuit over what is believed to be deception with their Wheel of Fortune slot .
Wheel of Fortune is an iconic TV game show which has been turned into a slot machine. It quickly gained popularity, but now the slot is subject to a lawsuit, with plaintiffs claiming that the bonus wheel feature is intentionally deceptive and prevents players from winning larger prizes.
The complaints reveal that it gives players a false sense of payout potential and allows casinos to siphon billions of dollars from its players . According to the lawsuit, players don’t have a fair chance to win every prize as the wheel is programmed to stop on lower-value positions more often.
This lawsuit was announced shortly after news got out of the cyberattack. So, we're probably set for some new developments soon. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest updates on this case and everything iGaming-related worth knowing here on CasinoWow.