The Kewadin Casinos, owned and operated by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, are preparing to reopen after a cyberattack earlier this month forced the closure of all five locations. The reopening process will occur in stages, beginning Wednesday at noon with the casino in Sault Ste. Marie.

Tribal Chairman Austin Lowes, quoted by Detroit Free Press, acknowledged the difficulties caused by the attack, stating, “Some tribal organizations were impacted more severely than others and are still recovering, but we’re fortunate to be able to reopen Kewadin’s doors.” He also expressed regret for the inconvenience experienced by guests during the closures.

The casinos were shut down on February 9 when tribal officials detected the ransomware attack, prompting an immediate system shutdown to contain the breach. The tribe subsequently collaborated with cybersecurity experts to restore operations and implement stronger IT security measures.

Reopening Schedule and Security Enhancements

Kewadin Casino in St. Ignace is scheduled to welcome back guests at noon on Friday, followed by the locations in Manistique, Christmas, and Hessel at noon next Monday. Alongside gaming, the casinos’ hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues will resume normal operations.

As part of the reopening announcement, Kewadin Casinos reassured patrons that it is safe to use credit cards at their facilities. Additionally, the previously scheduled Tesla concert at the Sault Ste. Marie location will proceed as planned at 8 p.m. on Friday.

The extent of the data breach remains unclear, though officials have indicated that tribal businesses and other essential services were also affected. While there is no confirmed impact on customer data, the tribe has worked closely with law enforcement and cybersecurity specialists to assess the situation and reinforce its systems against future threats.

Cybersecurity Concerns in the Gaming Industry

The attack on Kewadin Casinos highlights broader concerns about cybersecurity within the gambling sector. In response to the growing threat, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) recently mandated that all online operators implement two-factor authentication starting March 4 to enhance user security.

The Kewadin Casinos closure follows a series of cyber incidents targeting gaming entities. Last year, MGM Grand Detroit experienced a security breach that compromised customer data, including addresses and driver’s license numbers. Similarly, Caesars Entertainment suffered an attack, and Rush Street Interactive is currently facing legal action over a data breach affecting customer information.

With cybersecurity threats becoming increasingly prevalent in both online and brick-and-mortar gaming, industry regulators and operators are placing greater emphasis on strengthening digital defenses to protect business operations and customer information.