When pop star Bruno Mars (38) began performing regularly live at listed company MGM Resorts International's Park Hotel in Las Vegas in 2016, observers praised Mars' business acumen. In addition to his main career, he has secured a reliable annual salary of 83 million euros.

Now News Nation reports that Mars' commitment to regular live performances may have had an entirely different undertone. According to sources familiar with Mars, Mars owed the hotel and casino complex a total of €45.9 million for lost games.

“Basically, MGM [Bruno Mars] in his hand,” the source said. In this sense, the huge €83 million contract between Mars and MGM is more like a loan agreement. After deducting taxes, Mars initially had an annual salary of around 55 million euros. A large portion of this will be used to pay off his debts to MGM and launch new games of chance.

Mars believes he will improve playing with practice

As reported by the newspaper Bild, Mars had already admitted in the past to having lost a lot of money gambling. Sometimes his stakes were even higher than he could really afford.

But he believes that with practice he will improve his game. You just have to “lose to win, to understand,” Mars told GQ in 2013. Apparently, after a while, he became so good at playing that he once financed his monthly rent in Los Angeles solely by playing poker.

The house (almost) always wins

Gambling addiction is a recognized disease and can destroy the lives of those affected and their families. According to a representative study conducted in 2024 by the Interdisciplinary Research Institute on Drugs and Addictions (ISD), men in particular are at special risk.

Reviews of MGM Resorts International

On March 18, MGM Resorts International commented on the rumors. As “TMZ” reports, a spokesperson for the casino stated: “Bruno Mars does not owe us 45.9 million euros. We are proud to have a relationship with Bruno Mars, one of the most exciting and dynamic artists of all time. From his Dolby Live shows at Park MGM to those at the Pinky Ring Lounge at the Bellagio, Bruno's style of entertainment attracts visitors from around the world.”