MGM Shuts Down Bruno Mars Gambling Debt Rumors
Bruno Mars can “Leave the Door Open” now that the recent claims of millions racked in debt at MGM Casinos in Las Vegas has been cleared. As we reported earlier this week, there were rumors that the singer-songwriter, who has an ongoing, long-term residency at the Park MGM in Vegas, racked up an alleged $50 million in gambling debt with MGM. MGM has said that the allegations are false.
MGM Resorts International has denied claims and said in a statement to People that their partnership is “longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM.”
In a report by NewsNation, a source claimed the Grammy winner accrued the debt with the hotel and casino for more than eight years. According to the publication’s source, they claimed, “They basically own him.” The source also alleged that Bruno takes home $90 million a year from his current deal with MGM, but after taxes, would only take home $1.5 million per night. Additionally, Bruno, 38, just launched a cocktail lounge called The Pinky Ring at another Vegas-based MGM property, the Bellagio.
(Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Bruno Mars and MGM in Good Standing
MGM addressed the claims directly on Tuesday (March 19), saying that they weren’t true.
What made the NewsNation source seem credible was Bruno’s love and history of playing card games. As we reported in our previous story, Mars, 38, has not been shy in the past about his taste for games. During an appearance on James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke, the “Treasure” singer talked about his love of poker. Before his musical career took off, he said he supported paying his rent by playing poker in Los Angeles.
Additionally, a 2013 interview with GQ resurfaced. At the time, the Hawaiian native reflected on how his love for gambling started at 19 years old. “I used to be like a loudmouth,” he said. “If you do get them to lose, they’re out for you, they’re gunning for you. And that’s when they’re weak. And that’s when you jump or pounce on them.”
Several card players have also recounted their experiences playing against Bruno in several blog posts. One person claimed they used to play with him at Hollywood Park before he got famous and called him “a decent enough laggy player, but I doubt he actually made any sort of living from it.” Another person recalled playing with him a “handful of times in 2009 at Commerce $5-$10. He was the type of guy that you would ‘rush’ to get a table change for. I also remember him usually losing a single $500 bullet and leaving. There was no way he was playing for profit.” A third said he was the “best player (aside from Greek Steve) I ever played against at Commerce. Incredibly balanced and impossible to play against if you can’t beat him at showdown. Lotta heart.”
In another blog post, one poker player recalled a night he played high-stakes poker with Mars. In a 16-hour game that went up to $30,000, Bruno lost in what became this poker player’s “most memorable poker hand ever.” He remembered as Bruno stood up to leave the table, he asked, “Do you mind [throwing] me a $10 chip for valet, so of course I did, and then he disappeared into the night.”
