According to reports in the press, the upcoming trial of New South Wales cashless gaming initiative has been put on hold due to a cyber attack.
The report in the Sydney Morning Herald states that hackers gained access to the network of Banktech, the tech company that has been tasked with running and maintaining cashless gaming operations. The hack is alleged to have only included data from customers participating in a trial at Wests Newcastle’s New Lambton venue.
The cyber attack comes ahead of a 12-month trial period for 500 pokie machines across New South Wales in what one MP described as ‘suspicious timing’.
Opponents of the new cashless program argue that the data of customers could be compromised and this attack has supported those arguments.
NSW Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris has stated that the government is aware of the cyber attack and that Liquor and Gaming NSW was working with the operators to see what the impacts of the attack are. He also said that the NSW Police are investigating the incident.
“The NSW government strongly believes any cashless gaming trial must have secure privacy and data protections in place. The NSW government is committed to the establishment of an independent panel of experts to oversee its broader cashless gaming trial.”
However, Independent MP Alex Greenwich has questioned the timing of the attack:
“This data breach is deeply suspicious and I think it would be important for the government to refer any information that they have to the NSW Crime Commission in the context of their investigation into organised crime and money laundering in NSW.
We know organised crime is engaged in these kinds of data breaches and ransomware attacks, and we know that organised crime has a lot to lose should we be implementing cashless gaming in NSW to prevent their ability to money launder.”
Aristocrat put a stop to the trial as soon as Banktech confirmed that a data breach had taken place.
A spokesperson for the company said:
“The cyber incident did not compromise any personal information belonging to any trial participants. As a further precaution, working with Banktech and Wests, Aristocrat ensured the swift deactivation of all relevant digital wallet functionality in the venue and has ended the digital wallet trial.
Aristocrat takes its obligations, including the protection of personal information, very seriously and we are working closely with Banktech to ensure that Banktech follows appropriate assessment and reporting guidelines under applicable laws.”
Earlier this year NSW Labor Chris Minns said that he planned to reduce the number of poker machines and implement a mandatory cashless gaming trial in response to the previous government’s proposed reforms. That trial was supposed to begin in the coming weeks but this is now unlikely following the cyber attack.
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.