A major power outage disrupted The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas over the weekend, sparking visitor speculation of a cyberattack. The casino later refuted these claims.
Power Outage Frustrates Guests at The Venetian
The brief outage took place during peak times, causing guest frustration. The Venetian stated that the event was unrelated to cyberattacks, in contrast to ransomware incidents affecting nearby casinos.
While slot machines are a primary draw, the resort’s main hotel and restaurant systems reportedly remained operational, with no effect on front desk services or payment methods. The incident emphasized that technical failures can occur even at luxurious resorts, highlighting vulnerabilities. Although the outage was brief, it caused notable guest frustration during peak hours.
As power outages led to outages of machines, Wi-Fi, and other services, social media buzzed with speculation about a cyberattack targeting the casino. Check-in processes were disrupted, causing long lobby lines. A property spokesperson attributed the issues to an internet outage, predicting a quick return to normal operations.
A visitor described a “current glitch” at The Venetian and Palazzo on X, noting that employees had to manually pay guests, leading to insufficient staff and hours-long waits. Another user reported a network outage impacting phones and slot machines, with digital blackjack minimum displays also offline. The situation persisted with staff shutting down machines on the casino floor.
Past Power Outages on the Strip
Technical disruptions at Las Vegas resorts are not new. Last year, MGM Resorts encountered a significant system outage affecting several properties, causing check-in delays up to four hours. Recently, three individuals were arrested in Las Vegas for allegedly stealing large amounts of electrical cable, causing severe outages on The Strip.
Given this history, even minor outages raise concerns. The Venetian’s prompt response shows increased awareness of cybersecurity threats and the scrutiny major resort operators face.
In related news, the Venetian recently paid an $850,000 settlement in a religious discrimination case, after allegedly retaliating against employees opposing such practices.
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- Source: SCCGManagement.com