Ex-spies say DC casino would put nation’s secrets at risk
Washingtion, D.C.’s plan to build a long-stalled casino could put sensitive national security information at risk, according to a group of former intelligence officers and experts.
Construction on a mass-market casino in the nation’s capital has been delayed for years, but a new report from the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, a non-profit group, urged the city to reconsider its plans.
The report, authored by a dozen former CIA, FBI, and NSA officials, alleged that casinos like the one proposed for Washington, D.C. create an environment that is particularly vulnerable to data breaches and potential exploitation by foreign actors.
“The security risks posed by a casino in the nation’s capital are unprecedented and unacceptable,” said a former CIA station chief, who was not named in the report. “The combination of high-stakes gaming, high-tech surveillance, and human nature creates a perfect storm for vulnerability.”
The report cited the example of a casino in Las Vegas, where a dealer was accused of cheating for decades, using inside information to win thousands of dollars.
The report’s authors also expressed concerns about the potential for foreign governments or other malicious actors to compromise sensitive information through the casino’s systems or personnel.
“A casino in D.C. would be a high-value target for hackers and spies, and it would be nearly impossible to secure,” said a former NSA expert in data analytics.
The city has faced opposition to the development of a casino since the concept was first proposed, but the concerns about national security are unprecedented.
The D.C. city council has yet to vote on the proposal, but the report’s findings are expected to fuel a heated debate over the proposal’s merits.
“We urge the D.C. council to take a hard look at the risks and reconsider this project,” said a representative for the Intelligence and National Security Alliance. “We can’t have a casino in the nation’s capital that puts our nation’s secrets at risk.”