Cyber Incident Victim: Virgin Islands Lottery
Date:
Mar 2025
Location:
United States of America
Summary
TheVirgin Islands Lottery experienced a cyberattack that compromised its information technology systems, leading to a temporary halt of all operations including retail sales, prize claims, and scheduled draws. The attack forced the postponement of a planned drawing and disrupted regular services while the organization collaborated with the Bureau of Information Technology, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and external cybersecurity experts to investigate the breach, restore functionality, and strengthen security measures. Valid tickets for the affected draws remain eligible, and the lottery pledged to announce a new draw date once system stability is confirmed, keeping the public informed through its website and social media channels.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On March 13, 2025, the Virgin Islands Lottery announced that Drawing #1047, which had already been postponed due to air quality concerns at its St. Thomas office, would be further delayed because of a cybersecurity attack on its information technology systems. The attack was identified as having severely impacted the lottery’s IT infrastructure, prompting the organization to temporarily cease all operations until the issue could be fully resolved. The press release dated March 17, 2025, stated that the cybersecurity incident forced the suspension of drawing activities, retail sales, prize claims, and other operational functions. The lottery emphasized that the disruption was a direct result of the breach affecting its systems. All valid tickets for Drawing #1047 and the subsequent Drawing #1048 were declared to remain valid despite the postponement, with a new draw date to be announced once system stability is confirmed. The lottery noted that the attack affected not only the scheduled draw but also the ability to process retail transactions and honor prize payouts. Players, dealers, and the wider Virgin Islands community were informed that the delay would continue until the IT systems were restored to a secure operational state. The organization committed to keeping the public informed through its official website and social media channels.
In response to the incident, the Virgin Islands Lottery began working alongside the Bureau of Information Technology, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other cybersecurity specialists to investigate the breach and restore system functionality. The collaborative effort includes efforts to identify the scope of the attack, contain any ongoing threats, and implement enhanced security measures to prevent future incidents. The lottery stated that it is working as swiftly as possible to resume operations securely while maintaining transparency with stakeholders. Updates on the investigation and restoration progress will be provided as they become available.