TAB fights back against cyber-attack

Punters had to resort to more traditional methods to place their bets. Photo / Richard Robinson

A three-day cyber-attack against the TAB website has been thwarted by specialist IT staff.

TAB executive general manager Glenn Patrick said the company's website suffered an unprecedented cyber-attack which began on Boxing Day.

"It intermittently took down our website - so our website wasn't available for customers to go on, get information, place bets etcetera."

The attack had the biggest impact on Boxing Day, but customers were still able to place bets through the company's retail outlets, its mobile app and by telephone, Mr Patrick said.

The TAB's IT team and their internet service provider have since filtered subsequent attack attempts - which continued up until yesterday, he said.

It was unclear how much money the TAB had lost as a result of its website being down over the two days, Mr Patrick said.

"There will be a minimum amount of turnover that we have lost as a result of these attacks, but it's very difficult to quantify.

"The biggest issue is the inconvenience it causes customers and for that we absolutely apologise."

Mr Patrick said a motive for the attack had not yet been identified.

"You see companies all over the world and even in New Zealand being attacked. I guess it's just part and parcel of the world we now live in unfortunately."

Police were investigating the attack, Mr Patrick said.