Latest news with #KewadinCasinos
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kewadin casinos to reopen starting Wednesday after cyberattack
After a ransomware attack earlier this month shut down five Kewadin Casinos, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians said Tuesday it would reopen this week, starting at noon Wednesday with its Upper Peninsula casino in Sault Ste Marie. "Some tribal organizations were impacted more severely than others and are still recovering," Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes said in the announcement. "But we're fortunate to be able to reopen Kewadin's doors." More: Michigan casinos, hackers locked in cybersecurity showdown Lowes apologized to guests, who were unable to visit while the gaming operations were shut down. He said the tribe, which owns and operates the casinos, "worked with outside cybersecurity experts around the clock to make the necessary steps to strengthen and enhance' its information technology systems. The tribe's gaming operations, the chairman added, will be "open and ready for business." The casinos, along with other tribal operations and businesses, were forced to temporarily close because of the cyberattack on Feb. 9. In addition, the tribe has said, hackers were able to steal personal information. Kewadin Casinos said it would be safe to use credit cards. More: Michigan casinos, hackers are locked in a cybersecurity showdown The casino in St. Ignace is scheduled to open at noon Friday, followed by the three other casinos in Manistique, Christmas, and Hessel at noon next Monday. The openings include the tribe's hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. And, Kewadin added, a previously scheduled Tesla concert at 8 p.m. Friday would go on. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kewadin casinos to reopen after cyberattack snarls operations
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kewadin announces plans to reopen casinos weeks after ransomware attack
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After being shut down for more than two weeks, Kewadin Casinos is gearing up to reopen all five locations over the next several days. Michigan casino chain forced to shut down after ransomware attack Casino officials posted the update Tuesday morning on Kewadin's website and on social media. The Sault Ste. Marie casino will be the first to open — at noon on Wednesday. The St. Ignace location will open at noon on Friday. The casinos in Manistique, Christmas and Hessel will open at noon on March 3. 'All casino hotels, restaurants and entertainment will resume their normal business hours when the casino reopens at the announced time. Unless previously cancelled by the guest, all hotel reservations beginning Wednesday at Sault Ste. Marie and Friday for St. Ignace are still valid,' Kewadin . The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians after discovering a ransomware attack on Feb. 9, which locked them out of their computer systems and phone lines. 'We immediately enlisted the help of third-party experts to determine how this incident was caused and to restore our gaming operations as quickly as possible,' Kewadin officials . Tribal chairman Austin Lowes said they do not yet know the full extent of what private data was stolen by the hackers. 'As of today, we know at least 10 of our members' personal information was exposed. This includes my personal information and my families,' Lowes said on Feb. 21. 'The tribe will be offering free credit monitoring services to any members who wish to utilize it.' Sign up for breaking news alert emails On top of lost revenue, the tribe was forced to cancel several events and do its best to keep essential services available for its members, including health centers and pharmacies. is a type of malicious hardware that locks users out of computer files, systems or networks and 'demands a ransom' to get it back. The FBI says there are several ways to unknowingly download ransomware onto a computer — anything from opening an email attachment or a pop-up ad to visiting a website that has embedded malware. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Cyberattack shuts down Upper Peninsula's Kewadin Casinos, tribal operations
A cyberattack on Kewadin Casinos in the Upper Peninsula is wreaking havoc on the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indian's gaming operations, shutting them down and prompting an investigation into who is behind it. The attack also interrupted tribal phone systems, health centers, and businesses. "Please know our experts are working around-the-clock to restore gaming operations," the tribe said on social media, noting "a data security incident" Sunday that by Monday it was forced to halt gaming until it could be fixed. "We apologize for this inconvenience." The incident — which tribe chairman, Austin Lowes, described as a ransomware attack — led the tribe to also "temporarily close many departments and businesses," including its casinos in Sault Ste. Marie, Manistique, Christmas, Hessel and St. Ignace. More: Winter storm to wallop southeast Michigan: Heavy snow expected to start falling early Wednesday afternoon The Free Press attempted to contact the tribe by telephone. Lowes added that the tribe hopes to resolve the issue "within a week," but is "prepared for it to last longer." Details about how the attack unfolded were not offered, and often, in cases like this, they aren't. The tribe promised to offer updates on Facebook. Ransomware, according to the FBI, is a type of malicious software — or what is known as malware — that prevents businesses and governments from accessing files, systems, and networks and demands a ransom to unlock them. Cyberattacks cause costly disruptions to operations, critical information, and data loss. Hackers from various countries, including Russia, have attacked American businesses. The Government Accounting Office has pointed out that ransomware attacks — which the federal government has identified as a top security concern — threaten the "nation's critical services, such as health care, water, electric, and our financial institutions." In some cases, organizations have insurance that will cover ransom demands. Last year, Change Healthcare, the largest healthcare payment processor in the United States, was the victim of a ransomware attack that disrupted services nationwide. Michigan Medicine also was hit twice by cyberattacks. And in late 2023, the University of Michigan faced an assault on its online systems. It was unclear how Kewadin Casinos planned to stem the attack or whether it would meet the ransom demands, but it said it had "enlisted the help of third-party experts" and was attempting "to restore our gaming operations as quickly as possible." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kewadin Casinos in Upper Peninsula shutdown by ransomware attack
CBS News
11-02-2025
- CBS News
Ransomware attack disrupts gaming, offices, services for Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - A ransomware attack struck Monday against computer systems of the Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians, tribal leaders reported. Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes explained in the announcement that multiple computer and phone systems across the tribal administration were affected including its casinos, health centers and some businesses. In response, the tribe has temporarily closed or halted some services until further notice; including all gaming operations at Kewadin Casinos. "Our hope is that this issue gets resolved within a week, but we are prepared for it to last longer," Lowes said. "We understand the disruption this is causing to many members' and employees' lives and are working diligently to resolve this issue as quickly as possible." A list of status reports and contact numbers for tribal offices and programs such as Advocacy Resource Center, Head Start and Home Health Tech visits is on the tribe's Facebook page.
