New Zealand sports betting operator TAB suffered a severe cyber attack over the Christmas period, it has been revealed.
TAB described the episode as an “unprecedented and concentrated cyber attack” that targeted its website.
“It started on the afternoon of Boxing Day and we’ve probably had seven or eight occurrences,” New Zealand Racing Board acting chief executive Glenn Patrick told the Stuff.co.nz news website.
The attack meant that punters were unable to place bets, and TAB staff members had their holiday leave cut short in an effort to safeguard the website.
Patrick added that customers’ data was not under threat. “We have firewalls which are doing their job effectively… but it doesn’t help when you want to place a bet,” he said on December 27.
In an email to staff, Patrick said: “As you know our customers are important to us, so please assure them we are doing everything we can. If customers cannot place bets we do suggest they try again because the issue is intermittent.”
The attack did not appear to affect TAB’s mobile phone application or their in-store systems.
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
