Unconfirmed Report: Bruno Mars Owes MGM Resorts $50M in Gambling Debt

Bruno Mars has made headlines numerous times in recent months, signing several lucrative deals with MGM Resorts, to perform. However, NewsNation has announced there may be another reason behind these deals: an unnamed source claims Mars ows as much as $50M in gambling debt to the company.

The TV news network also spoke to a second unnamed source who appeared to confirm the rumors, staying "MGM basically own him. He makes $90 million a year off the deal he did with the casino, but then he has to pay back his debt, and that's after taxes."

An Expose By Paula Froelich

The allegation about Mars' debt first appeared last week on NewsNation, a cable TV network that's owned by the Nexstar Media Group - the largest privately-owned  TV station owner in the United States. Froelich, a well-respected journalist who used to write for the New York Post, claims she was approached by two annoynmous sources who 'gave her the scoop' on Mars.

Mars has become a "big deal" at MGM Resorts, with a local residency. This includs his solo show at the Park MGM resort, and another where Mars is half of Silk Sonic.

These rumors are currently unsubstantiated, but for them to be broadcast on NewsNation signifies there may be at least some element of truth behind them.

Mars Likes to Gamble

Bruno Mars - born Peter Hernandez - is 38 years old, and while he's never been publicly connected with gambling before, there are a few things that hint towards him enjoying the thrill of casinos. For example, in 2010, he was arrested in the bathroom of the Hard Rock & Casino - with police discovering 2.6 grams of concaine on his person. He also spoke in a 2013 interview with GQ, talking about his first gambling experience, which took place when Mars was just 19 years old. He said:

“I remember my first bet, my hand was shaking, and a guy called me out on it and embarrassed me. You gotta lose. You just have to lose to win, to understand.”

In 2016, Mars also appeared with James Corden on The Late Late Show with James Corden on the Carpool Karaoke segment - during which, Mars claimed he'd managed to pay his rent when he lived in LA for a few months by playing poker.

Additional information is needed before Online Casino HQ is able to substantiate any claims related to Mars' gambling debts, but, if true, it would surely put MGM Resorts in the spotlight - and potentially spark conversaions about responsible gambling and how Mars had managed to rack up so much debt in the first place.