The casino industry is urging Congress to enact cyber-security legislation that would protect gaming facilities from attacks and encourage information sharing between government and businesses.
The American Gaming Association, the land-based industry’s national lobbying arm, has written to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Harry Reid as part of a broader business coalition supporting passage of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015.
The House of Representatives passed two cyber-security information-sharing bills in April with strong majorities from both parties and broad industry support.
“However, current law does not do enough to foster information-sharing and establish clear lines of communication with the various government agencies responsible for cyber security,” the AGA letter said. “CISA will strengthen the nation’s ability to defend against cyber-attacks and better protect all Americans by encouraging the business community and the government to quickly and effectively share critical information about these threats while ensuring privacy.”
Also signing the letter were the American Hotel Lodging Association, the American Resort Development Association, Building Owners and Managers Association International, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Commercial Building Development Association, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, the National Apartment Association, the National Multifamily Housing Council and the Real Estate Roundtable.
“The commercial facilities sector has a central role in the nation’s economy and, as such, remains vulnerable to cyber-attacks,” the letter states.
Several casinos have been hit by intrusions of varying degrees of seriousness in the last couple of years, the AGA said, adding, “These attacks are advancing in scope and complexity.”
