UPDATE: The post has been updated to include MGM Resort’s statement that was shared with Variety after NewsNation’s report was published.
Bruno Mars allegedly owes the MGM Casino $50 million in gambling debts, according to a NewsNation article published Thursday.
The famous artist with chart-topping hits is allegedly a seasoned gambler who accumulated millions in debt at the gaming tables, with whispers from the Vegas corridors suggesting the figure could be as staggering as $50 million, NewsNation reported.
MGM Resorts has since denied NewsNation’s report, telling Variety that it’s “completely false.”
“We’re proud of our relationship with Bruno Mars, one of the world’s most thrilling and dynamic performers,” MGM Resorts wrote in a statement shared with Variety. “From his shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM to the new Pinky Ring lounge at Bellagio, Bruno’s brand of entertainment attracts visitors from around the globe. MGM and Bruno’s partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
Bruno Mars has allegedly racked up over $50 million in gambling debt at MGM in Las Vegas.
“MGM basically owns him,” NewsNation reported. “He makes $90 million a year off of the deal he did with the casino, but then he has to pay back his debt. [He will] only make $1.5 million… pic.twitter.com/xPxgXzgDjV
— No Jumper (@nojumper) March 17, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Bruno Mars of Silk Sonic accepts the Best Duo/Group of the Year award onstage at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on March 22, 2022. Broadcasted live on FOX. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
The “Treasure” singer has talked about frequenting Commerce Casino in Los Angeles before he rose to fame. He shared memories of his first casino visit at the age of 19. (RELATED: Super Bowl Gambling Is Breaking Records And Putting Previous Ones In The Dust — It’s Not Even Close)
“I used to be like a loudmouth. You know the guy, people would want to take his money. If you do get them to lose, they’re out for you, they’re gunning for you,” he told GQ in 2013. “And that’s when they’re weak. And that’s when you jump or pounce on them.”
“I remember my first bet, my hand was shaking,” he recalled. “A guy called me out on it and embarrassed me.” The singer reportedly lost a hundred dollars, an amount he couldn’t spare and shouldn’t have been gambling with in the first place at the time, according to GQ. “You gotta lose. You just have to lose to win, to understand.”