July 31, 2025
Why Most MSPs Fail Casino and Gaming Businesses
If you operate a casino or gaming business, cybersecurity isn't just another box to check; it's fundamental to protecting your license, your revenue, and your reputation, yet many casinos trust generic managed service providers (MSPs) that lack the industry knowledge and regulatory expertise to keep them secure.
Ask yourself, "Is my current IT provider truly equipped to handle the unique cybersecurity needs of a gaming business?" If you're not sure, read on. We'll break down why most MSPs fall short, what makes casinos such high-stakes cybersecurity targets, and what to demand from a provider built for your world.
The Cybersecurity Landscape Inside a Casino
Casinos are among the most complex digital environments in any industry. They have:
- Massive financial transactions processed around the clock
- Personally Identifiable Information (PII) stored in loyalty programs and hotel booking systems
- Physical security systems like surveillance cameras and access controls
- Dozens of third-party platforms for gaming, hospitality, HR, and finance
- Onsite and remote operations that must work seamlessly 24/7
Each system is a potential vulnerability. A single misconfigured device, an unpatched application, or a phishing email that slips through can bring down the house.
Worse still, many casinos operate under the false belief that they are covered with a basic antivirus and a firewall. However, cybercriminals are constantly evolving and updating their strategy. So, without an enterprise-grade cybersecurity strategy tailored to casinos, you're an easy target.
Why Most MSPs Are a Bad Bet for Casinos
Generic MSPs are designed to serve small to mid-sized businesses with straightforward IT needs. They often:
- Offer a flat package of IT tools and services with little customization
- Focus on helpdesk tickets and hardware support, not proactive cybersecurity
- Lack familiarity with NGCB standards, PCI-DSS, and FTC Safeguards compliance
- Rely on third-party tools not approved for regulated gaming environments
Casinos working with non-specialized MSPs experience:
- Poor visibility into threats brewing inside their network
- Missed opportunities to detect breaches before damage occurs
- Failures during compliance audits due to missing logs or evidence
- Unplanned downtime with no clear response plan
In gaming, these failures can cost you both your revenue and your license.
Casino Cybersecurity is More Than Just Protection
Effective cybersecurity in a casino requires three integrated pillars:
- Protection: Firewalls, endpoint protection, access controls, MFA
- Detection: Real-time monitoring, behavior analytics, alerting systems
- Response: Breach containment, forensics, documented incident response plans
Most MSPs focus only on basic protection. But casinos need advanced detection and response capabilities.
Think of it like a house: protection is your door lock, detection is your security camera, and response is the alarm company arriving when there's a break-in.
What the Gaming Industry Demands
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), along with the FTC, PCI-DSS, and other regulatory bodies, require casinos to prove:
- Properly secured systems and networks
- Documented incident response plans
- Ongoing vulnerability assessments
- Evidence of compliance (e.g., logs, configurations, monitoring tools)
Failure to comply can lead to fines, reputational damage, and revoked licenses. And most importantly, compliance is not the same as security. A provider who helps you pass an audit but can't detect a live breach is not protecting your business.
At Orbis Solutions, we're not just a managed IT company; we're a cybersecurity partner built for gaming. We know that your loyalty program and cage management software are just as critical as your firewall.
What to Look for in a Casino-Specific MSP
If you're searching for a better IT partner, here are the non-negotiables:
1. Proven Casino Experience
Ask for references. Your provider should have experience supporting casino operations, gaming floors, hotels, and POS systems.
2. Regulatory Fluency
They should know NGCB regulations like the back of their hand and be proactive about PCI, FTC Safeguards, and AML compliance.
3. 24/7/365 Support
Downtime at 2 a.m. is just as damaging as downtime at 2 p.m. You need live, local support on demand.
4. Cybersecurity Leadership
Look for providers with a Chief Security Officer, CISSP-certified engineers, and enterprise-grade toolsets.
5. Evidence Gathering Capabilities
Your IT provider should help you document your controls and gather the forensic evidence needed to support cyber insurance claims or legal defense.
Orbis Solutions meets and exceeds each of these criteria. We're one of the few MSPs approved by the NGCB, and we specialize in managing IT and cybersecurity for high-stakes environments like yours.
Don't Gamble on Your Security
Too many casinos are relying on generalist MSPs that don't understand their environment, don't prioritize detection and response, and can't navigate compliance.
The risks are too high.
If your MSP can't show you exactly how they're protecting, detecting, and responding to threats, and providing documentation to back it up, then it's time for a second opinion.
Book Your Free Security Review
Orbis Solutions provides specialized cybersecurity and IT services for gaming businesses across Nevada and beyond. Our team of cybersecurity experts, led by a Chief Security Officer and backed by an enterprise-grade stack, helps you:
- Strengthen your cyber defenses
- Reduce regulatory risk
- Avoid costly downtime
- Gain peace of mind
Click Here or give us a call at 702-605-9998 to Book a FREE Initial Consultation
