Mark Rosa serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, overseeing a global portfolio of resorts, casinos, and entertainment properties. With a career rooted in audit and accounting, Mark took an unconventional path to IT leadership. His unique background gives him a disciplined, strategy-first approach to cybersecurity. Over the past six years, he has built a cybersecurity program that not only protects Mohegan’s operations but also strengthens its resilient, guest-focused culture.
At Mohegan, culture isn’t just a buzzword. Rooted in the Spirit of Aquai—a centuries-old ethos of cooperation, respect, and community—Mohegan’s values directly shape their approach to technology, security, and global expansion.
In this conversation, Mark shares how he transformed Mohegan’s cybersecurity posture, the importance of tabletop exercises, building a culture of transparency, and how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the future of the gaming industry.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- The global footprint of Mohegan Gaming and how it balances growth and culture
- How the Spirit of Aquai defines organizational resilience and guest service
- Why cybersecurity is Mohegan’s number one priority—and how Mark built a battle-ready defense
- Insights from real-world cybersecurity drills and “live-fire” exercises
- How collaboration across the industry can improve cyber resilience
- Why effective cybersecurity demands a focus on basics before big-ticket solutions
- The evolving role of AI in gaming operations and guest experiences
- Key lessons on vendor management and maximizing technology investments
In this episode…
Mark Rosa opens with an overview of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment’s massive reach, from Connecticut to Korea. Despite global expansion, the organization remains deeply rooted in its tribal culture—the Spirit of Aquai—which emphasizes cooperation, respect, and community. This spirit doesn’t just guide guest services; it’s woven into the fabric of how Mohegan approaches security and resilience.
Mark shares how cybersecurity became his top focus when he moved from audit to IT leadership. Knowing the casino industry is a prime target, he immediately restructured leadership, deployed best-of-breed tools, and implemented zero trust principles. However, Mark is quick to point out that true resilience isn’t just about technology—it's about continuous testing, training, and preparation. He discusses their “live-fire” cybersecurity exercises that tested the organization’s recovery processes under pressure, offering rare insights into how large-scale organizations can practice incident response realistically.
Transparency emerges as a critical theme. Mark explains that within the gaming industry, CIOs and CISOs often collaborate behind closed doors to share lessons learned from breaches like MGM’s. Even though legal limitations can restrict public disclosures during an active incident, post-mortem knowledge-sharing has become essential to raising the cybersecurity bar for everyone in the sector.
Finally, the conversation turns to AI. Mark is cautiously optimistic about AI’s role across operations—from digital guest assistants reducing call center load to cybersecurity tools enhancing threat detection. However, in a highly regulated industry like gaming, careful deployment is key. Mark shares how Mohegan is embracing AI internally while maintaining strict control over security and compliance. His goal: not just to keep pace, but to lead.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Matthew Connor on LinkedInCyberLynx
Mark Rosa on LinkedIn
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment Website
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