Bruno Mars has allegedly racked up an enormous $50 million gambling debt in Las Vegas while performing his much-acclaimed residency.
Mars has been performing residencies in Las Vegas almost non-stop since 2016 after signing a multi-year partnership with MGM Resorts.
The “Finesse” singer, who is a known gambler, has now reportedly got into debt with the same company that has been paying him to perform.According to NewsNation, Mars’ gambling losses have been heavy and he has amounted a debt to that outpaces what he’s being paid.
A source allegedly told the outlet: “[MGM] basically own him. He makes $90 million a year off of the deal he did with the casino, but then he has to pay back his debt.”
Bruno Mars has allegedly been an avid gambler since his teenage years and once spoke about his early days playing cards: “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,” Mars said at the time. “And that’s when they’re weak. And that’s when you jump or pounce on them.”
He also claimed that he was 19 the first time he visited a casino: “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.”
The acclaimed singer has had a residency at Park MGM since 2016 which was recently extended well into 2024.
The residency was originally supposed to wrap last August but he has continued to extend his stay in Sin City though it is unknown if this is because of the alleged debt he owes MGM.
Bruno Mars has so far performed 100 shows as part of his current residency as well as 48 in 2022 that saw him perform alongside Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic.
The residency has been attended by over 120,000 people and grossed more than $53 million becoming the highest grossing MGM concert residency.
As well as his own hits, the show also sees Bruno Mars perform covers of songs from the likes of Stevie Wonder, the Beatles and Gwen Stefani, often as fan suggestions.