While a sportsbook being down wasn’t as problematic as outages for more critical IT infrastructures during last week’s Microsoft and Crowdstrike problems, BetMGM was a high-profile casualty.
That wasn’t the only BetMGM story to hit the news either, with a further arrest made in the ongoing investigation into the entertainment giant being targeted by hackers last year. Elsewhere, MGM Resorts has upped the ante in the race to be awarded a new casino license by becoming an official partner of the New York Yankees.
BetMGM’s sportsbook and online casino was one of several Entain platforms to be forced offline on Friday, July 19 from 4:30 pm EDT time. It wasn’t the only gambling operator to experience problems during the period but it was one of the biggest.
The downtime issue was a double blow for BetMGM too. Among its main rivals in the US iGaming sector, FanDuel, DraftKings, ESPN Bet and Fanatics Sportsbook had no issues while BetMGM had only just launched in Washington DC two days prior.
BetMGM did take to X to announce it was experiencing problems, but there was some criticism from customers that no further update was posted. Whether comments from users on social media about issues including winnings not being paid out or bonus bets expiring during the outage have been resolved remains unclear.
Meanwhile, a British teenager was arrested in England on July 19 for his suspected part in the Scattered Spider cyber attack that MGM has stated cost it $100 million in 2023. The 17-year-old was released on police bail pending further investigation.
That law enforcement activity follows another UK national who was apprehended on the Spanish island of Mallorca in June for allegedly committing offenses linked to the same large-scale cyber hacking community that also targeted Caesars.
In other news in a big month for the company, MGM Resorts announced on July 10 that it had entered into partnership with the New York Yankees.
Notable for the entertainment giant’s decision to choose its MGM Resorts brand rather than that of its sportsbook, the deal is very much linked to the upcoming award of three new casino licenses in New York over promoting itself simply as one of NY’s top sportsbooks.
Designated as a “Proud Partner” of the historic MLB franchise, MGM Resorts will benefit from highly visible brand placement at the Yankee Stadium. New York baseball fans will notice the MGM logo on the pitcher’s mound during live local broadcasts and it adorning LED signage around the field.
In a press release to publicize the deal, MGM Resorts listed various perks that will be available to its VIP customers and wider Yankees fans. Notably, MGM Empire City casino will also host Yankees-themed activities, including the involvement of the team’s current and former stars.
If that wasn’t a clear enough indication of MGM’s renewed push to secure one of thee downstate casino licenses up for grabs, the accompanying statement from its Empire City COO and President, Ed Domingo, was telling in hinting at the company’s confidence it will be successful:
"This alliance with the Yankees allows us to create unique and engaging opportunities for guests and baseball fans alike. Empire City sits less than two miles from the Bronx border and is not only the gaming entertainment destination of choice for Bronxites, but also the longtime employer of hundreds of team members who call the Bronx home.”
Reflecting that local employment is of the key criteria upon which casino bids will be judged, Domingo added:
“We are well positioned to significantly increase that number when a full-scale commercial casino license is secured."
New York remains in the early stages of a lengthy licensing process for new brick-and-mortar casinos. The body overseeing the exercise, the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, recently set a deadline of June 27, 2025 as the next deadline in the bidding stages.
