MGM Resorts denies rumors Bruno Mars owes company $50m gambling debt

A report that stirred the spirits has now been refuted by MGM Resorts, an international gaming, hospitality, and entertainment company that briefly found itself caught in the rumor mill, specifically that it was owed a significant amount of gambling debt by Bruno Mars. An anonymous report surfaced over the past weeks that Mars owed MGM Resorts International a significant amount of money, some $50m as a matter of fact.

The report, although anonymous, quickly garnered traction across mainstream and online media and merited an official rebuttal from MGM Resorts. Mars has not commented on the report . However, the company assured that Mars did not have any outstanding debt with MGM. A gambling debt would have been indeed newsworthy, as Mars and MGM are partners with the artist performing on a number of the company’s venues.

Mars has been performing at company venues in Nevada and Maryland, and the partnership has been ongoing. It’s due to end in the summer, but may yet be renewed, as has been the original partnership.

The company said that it had a good rapport with Mars, based on mutual respect. "Speculation otherwise is completely false," an MGM Resorts International spokesperson told Forbes and other media outlets.

"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," a public statement shared with wider audiences by the company further noted.

The whole ordeal started with a report by NewsNation, which cited a person with knowledge of the matter, and a "Las Vegas insider" who was supposedly privy to the matter.

NewsNation has not commented on MGM Resorts’ statement and is not yet clear. Mars does not seem to be showing further interest in the matter. Regardless, the idea that someone of Mars’ caliber could have owed his partners millions of dollars quickly became the source of much netizen chatter, speculation, and a source of creative inspiration for countless memes.

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