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Bruno Mars Claims to Be Ex-Pro Poker Player – Allegedly Has $50 Million Debt With MGM

Published 2024.03.19
Updated 2025.01.20
3 min read
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Superstar singer Bruno Mars has claimed that he was once a professional poker player before he became famous.

The 38-year-old American revealed the surprise in an interview with James Corden in 2016 but nobody appears to have taken any notice.

Now, though, in the midst of rumours of a gigantic debt of around $50 million, the poker community is suddenly interested.

Is Bruno Mars a Degenerate Gambler?

A few days ago, NewsNation reported that Bruno Mars might have been enjoying his partnership with MGM a little too much.

An anonymous source from Las Vegas said that his debt has reached as much as $50 million.

“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… after taxes. Mars makes $1.5 million per night.”

That’s some habit if he can blow through that amount at the tables.

Bruno Mars

But what about his poker exploits? Mars told Chris Heath from GQ that he was a regular at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles before anyone knew who he was.

“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. And that's when they're weak. And that's when you jump or pounce on them.”

He told how he started visiting casinos and card rooms from the tender age of 19. And he was so nervous about the whole thing that he was physically shaking while trying to place a bet.

In the above clip, you can listen to Bruno Mars telling James Corden how he used to play cards to make his rent money.

Do we think he’s telling the truth? It’s impossible to say, but we definitely do reckon his story is more legit than Dan Bilzerian’s.

At the time of writing, MGM Resorts International was in the middle of denying that the singer had any debt with the casino at all.

A spokesperson said the allegations are “completely false”

Bruno Mars

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Head of Poker Content
Mark Patrickson is the Head of Poker Content at VIP-Grinders, leading editorial direction and final sign-off on all poker coverage. A cash game specialist with over 20 years at the tables and millions of hands played, he has been writing for VIP-Grinders since 2018.
Filed Under: Poker Gossip