Resorts World Las Vegas Onboards Acronis Cybersecurity Amid RICO Charges

Switzerland-based Acronis, renowned for securing over 40 global professional sports franchises, revealed its first venture into hospitality with Resorts World Las Vegas. The iconic Strip resort will join Acronis’ #TeamUp initiative, using the firm’s Cyber Protect Cloud and Hosted Storage solutions to protect critical infrastructure. Las Vegas MSP Agilitec IT will oversee real-time monitoring and technical support.

“Resorts World Las Vegas is proud to continue strengthening our cybersecurity strategy through partnerships with leading technology providers,” stated Pete Small, the resort’s Chief Information Security Officer. “Collaborating with Agilitec IT and Acronis marks an important milestone for our resort, combining trust and innovation to safeguard our guests, operations, and brand.”

Hospitality Sector Faces Cyber Threats

While Resorts World Las Vegas hasn’t confirmed direct cyberattacks, the property implemented heightened security during August 2024’s Black Hat and DEF CON conferences. The protocols included daily room sweeps to counter potential ransomware risks. The hospitality industry is a prime target due to its vast guest financial data, complex payment networks, and layered IT ecosystems.

Last September, Resorts World’s neighbor, MGM Resorts, lost over $100 million when Scattered Spider and ALPHV/BlackCat groups paralyzed digital keys, booking systems, and slot machines. Caesars Entertainment was also targeted and paid a $15 million ransom to shield stolen loyalty data from exposure.

Federal RICO Lawsuit

While beefing up security, a Nevada federal lawsuit filed on Wednesday accuses current and former Resorts World Las Vegas leaders of operating an “unfit” enterprise that “disregards basic governance” since its 2021 launch. The accused include former Resorts World president Scott Sibella and attorney David Chesnoff, a Trump-appointed member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

The plaintiffs, high-stakes gambler Robert Cipriani and businessman James Russell, claim the Genting Berhad-owned property intentionally broke regulations to attract criminal elements for money laundering, functioning as a “criminal racketeering enterprise” rather than a lawful casino. The suit alleges Chesnoff facilitated illicit investments for known criminals with Sibella’s approval.

Sibella’s Legal Downfall

This lawsuit marks the second one by Robert Cipriani against the resort and Sibella. District Judge Miranda Du dismissed his initial case last year, though the Ninth Circuit later remanded it, excluding Sibella as a defendant.

The new filing alleges Sibella and Chesnoff conspired to expel Cipriani in 2021 after he alerted authorities about executives permitting alleged criminals to gamble. Per the suit, they collaborated to arrange Cipriani’s false arrest and fabricate blackjack cheating charges to prevent his cooperation.