MGM Resorts Denies Story That Bruno Mars Has $50 Million Gambling Debt

MGM Resorts, a renowned hospitality and entertainment company, has categorically denied recent claims that suggest pop singer Bruno Mars owes it $50 million in gambling debt.

“We’re proud of our relationship with Bruno Mars, one of the world’s most thrilling and dynamic performers. 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,” the company said in a statement. “MGM and Bruno’s partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM.”

The controversy arose last week when an anonymous source told NewsNation that Mars, 38, owed millions to the MGM hospitality empire. The insider claimed that MGM essentially had ownership over the artist.

Mars is currently in the ninth year of his residency at the iconic hotel and reportedly earns $1.5 million per night, which amounts to a staggering $90 million under his current deal with MGM.

Mars first entered into a contract with the hotel in 2016, in a deal negotiated by William Hornbuckle, the president of MGM Resorts International. While Mars is renowned for his musical prowess, he has dabbled in gambling.

In a 2016 interview in James Corden‘s Carpool Karaoke segment on the now-concluded Late Late Show, Mars revealed that he used to play poker to make ends meet before his music career took off.

In recent news, Mars canceled a scheduled concert in Tel Aviv, Israel, and cited the deadly conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants. Live Nation, the entertainment company responsible for the event, reported the cancellation through an Instagram statement in October 2023. The announcement assured ticket holders of automatic refunds to the credit cards used for their purchases and also expressed solidarity with the residents of Israel, IDF fighters and the security forces.