Published on: April 13, 2026, 11:26h.

Updated on: April 13, 2026, 11:27h.

• Bruno Mars addressed persistent gambling debt speculation during the launch of his Las Vegas tour
• The artist humorously told Anderson .Paak on stage that he is finally free of debt
• While there were previous claims of major financial losses, MGM Resorts refuted any existing debts

During the launch of his “Romantic” tour on April 10 in Las Vegas, the pop icon Bruno Mars confronted the enduring rumor regarding his gambling debt to MGM Resorts for the first time in a live setting.

The acclaimed “24K Magic” artist has generated substantial entertainment revenue for MGM since he began his performances at Park MGM in 2016. However, a rumor that has persisted for at least seven years claims that he has also generated significant gambling revenue.

During his appearance at Allegiant Stadium on Friday, Mars engaged in what seemed to be a scripted dialogue regarding the rumor with his Silk Sonic collaborator Anderson .Paak, which a fan later shared on Instagram.

“I hate to make this about me, but when I think about how much debt — I mean how many steps — it took to get here, I get emotional,” Paak addressed the audience.

Mars responded: “Andy, I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. But I’m debt-free. I settled up with the casino ages ago!”

Pinky Ring Meets Pawn Stars

On May 19, 2019, Casino.org’s own Vital Vegas was the first to report on the alleged gambling debt, tweeting: “Rumor has it he’s accrued $7 million in losses at MGM Resorts. If accurate, his Park Theater shows are merely repaying those debts. Major swings are common for high-stakes players.”

A March 2024 article from NewsNation reinforced the claim, citing an unnamed source who asserted that Mars had accumulated $50 million in unpaid markers and that MGM Resorts essentially “owns” him.

Mars is said to favor blackjack, baccarat, and slots, although he acknowledged covering his rent in L.A. by playing poker during a segment of “Carpool Karaoke” on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2016.

Some speculate that his commitment to perform at the Bellagio’s Pinky Ring nightclub could be part of a strategy to repay his rumored losses.

MGM Responds to Allegations

In March 2024, MGM Resorts released a statement rejecting any claims regarding Mars’ debt.

“MGM and Bruno have an enduring partnership built on mutual respect. Any rumors to the contrary are entirely false; he has no outstanding debt with MGM,” stated the casino.

However, as Vital Vegas astutely observed, the wording of the statement may have been intentionally vague.

“Pay careful attention to MGM’s choice of language,” Vital Vegas tweeted. “If Mars has a contract worth $90 million and incurs a $50 million gambling loss, he doesn’t technically ‘owe’ anything. Besides, Mars isn’t the largest player in Vegas; $50 million is insignificant, and he can easily manage it.”

Previous Jokes About Gambling Debt

While the kickoff of his tour was the first occasion where Mars referenced this rumor before a live audience, he had previously joked about it on social media.

In January 2025, Mars shared Spotify’s announcement recognizing him as the first artist to achieve 150 monthly listeners, along with a cheeky note: “Keep listening! I’ll be out of debt soon!”

Then, in July 2025, he posted on Instagram, “Almost out of debt, BehhhhhBehhhhh!!!”