Mohegan Sun Casino Files Lawsuit Against Hollywood Executive

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 08/26/2024

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Mohegan Sun Casino Files Lawsuit

It has been revealed that the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut has taken legal action against a Hollywood executive over money owed for gambling debts. The lawsuit was filed in New London’s Superior Court, with the casino chasing a debt of more than $2.7 million. According to reports, the money is owed by former president and COO of Universal Studios, 79-year-old Ron Meyer.

Meyer is known to be a keen craps gambler, and it is claimed that he signed a line of credit at the casino for $6 million in August 2015.

The lawsuit goes on to state that in October 2017, Meyer used his line of credit to gamble at the property, and he lost $5 million in the space of one day. While the executive has signed a number of markers toward paying the debt, the checks bounced according to the lawsuit.

Setting Up an Agreement

It is further claimed that Meyer then entered into an agreement with the casino to pay off the debt in installments. However, in September 2003, the movie mogul is said to have stopped making payments, which left him with an unpaid debt of $2782,500.

A lawyer for the defendant, Brian E. Spears, has argued against the lawsuit, stating that in Connecticut it is illegal for casinos to extend credit for the purpose of gambling. However, as the Mohegan Tribe falls under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act as a sovereign nation, they are not tied to the same regulations as other casinos.

Spears claims, however, that this only applies if it is outlined in a compact between the state and the tribe, and he said that there is nothing in the compact that allows for extending lines of credit for gambling.

He added that the compact states that all class III wagers need to be paid by credit card, check, or cash, with no mention of using credit to gamble.

He said,

Ultimately, the Mohegan Compact is the relevant authority. Within its four corners, the Mohegan Compact does not permit the extension of credit for gambling. Absent an express authorization permitting the Mohegan Sun to extend credit for gambling at its casino, Connecticut’s centuries-old prohibition on such practices controls.

Spears said that, unlike Mohegan Sun, the other tribal casino operator in the state had negotiated a compact that allowed them to extend credit for gambling. This is the Mashantucket Pequots, which runs the Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Huge Amounts Spent on Dice Games

In 2020, it was reported that over a number of years, Meyer had gambled away more than $100 million on dice games. While this was not verified, the Hollywood exec has developed a reputation for his love of dice games.

One of the founders of the talent agency, Creative Artists, Meyer became the longest-serving president and COO of a major movie company when he left Universal. He handed in his resignation as chairman of the movie giant over claims that he was being extorted in relation to an alleged affair with the actress, Charlotte Kirk.