Bruno Mars allegedly has a $50 million gambling debt with MGM, the company that has hosted his residency in Las Vegas since 2016.
"(MGM) basically own him," a Vegas insider told NewsNation.
The source told the news outlet that Mars makes $90 million per year off of the casino del but has to pay back his debt. The insider estimates that Mars still makes about $1.5 million per night after taxes, though.
Mars has historically been a fan of gambling, even saying on a late night talk show in 2016 that he paid for his Los Angeles rent by playing cards "for a little while."
The performer has also noted his time played at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, where he would frequent before he made it big in roughly 2010 with hits like "Nothin' on You" and "Billionaire".
"I used to be like a loudmouth," Mars told GQ in 2013. "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. And that's when they're weak. And that's when you jump or pounce on them."
In the same chat with GQ, Mars detailed his first visit to a casino when he was 19-years-old.
"I remember my first bet, my hand was shaking, and a guy called me out on it and embarrassed me," Mars said.
The artist said he then lost his first hundred dollar wager — which he couldn't afford at the time.
"You gotta lose," Mars said. "You just have to lose to win, to understand."
