A spokesperson from Gateway Casinos & Entertainment says that while all their 14 Ontario casinos remained closed due to a ransomware attack they are anticipating a reopening using a “phased approach” later this week.
“We are currently testing our IT systems,” Rob Mitchell, the company’s director of communications and public affairs for eastern Canada, told CDC Gaming. “Re-opening timelines will be determined based on that testing and the approval of Ontario regulatory authorities.”
Those regulatory authorities are the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Gateway locations have been closed since April 16 and the ransomware attack impacted all of its Ontario locations. The company has issued a notice on its casino websites telling people that all Gateway sites would be closed until further notice, asking people to follow them on Facebook for updates.
The company also issued a statement saying while they have “no evidence” so far that personal information of customers and employees have been impacted, they are working with “third party experts” to determine if there has been any impact on personal information.
Gateway Casinos & Entertainent is one of the largest gaming and entertainment companies in Canada, with 28 gaming properties in British Columbia and Ontario, and two additional properties in Edmonton, Alberta. The company employs around 7,000 people and has 339 table games (including 30 poker tables), 14,031 slot, 94 food and beverage outlets and 561 hotel rooms.
Ontario casinos affected are Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, North Bay, Wasaga Beach, Innisfil, Casino Rama near Orillia, Clinton, Chatham, Hanover, Point Edward, Sarnia, Woodstock, and London.
