Cyberattack prompts closure of Gateway Casinos locations in Ontario

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment said its Ontario locations will remain closed until at least Friday following a cyberattack last weekend.

The company confirmed Monday evening that the “system-wide malfunction” first reported just after noon on Sunday is due to a “cyber security incident.”

Its physical and virtual locations Tuesday have been closed since Sunday, April 16, including its location at the Western Fair District in London, Ont. However, Casino Rama Resort’s Hotel, Spa, Weirs restaurant and St. Germain’s restaurant in Orillia remain open.

Unifor Local 1090, whose members include Casino Rama employees and security at Gateway Casino Innisfil, said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that it was “unknown if any sensitive employee information was compromised in the attack” but that the union had formally requested Gateway take proactive measures “to ensure our members are protected in the event their sensitive information has been compromised.”

The union added that Gateway’s labour relations representative “promptly notified the Union of the cyberattack” and that it “expects and is fully confident” that Gateway will do what it can to find the source of the cyberattack and address any security weaknesses.

The casino said it closed its operations in Ontario after discovering the “cyber security incident” over the weekend.

Gateway said in an update Wednesday night that as of that time, “we do not have any evidence that personal information has been affected. We want to reiterate that we have notified the relevant privacy officials about the incident and are working hard at restoring our systems.”

According to its website, Gateway is “one of the largest and most diversified gaming and entertainment companies in Canada.”

It has 29 gaming properties in British Columbia and Ontario and another two in Edmonton, Alberta. Its locations outside of Ontario are operating as usual.