The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority is transferring ahead with its authorized struggle towards Ron Meyer, the previous Hollywood govt, over an alleged unpaid playing stability of practically $2.8 million. Courtroom paperwork filed in Connecticut define the authority’s effort to forestall Meyer from securing a jury trial, insisting that the agreements he signed earlier than playing bind him to Mohegan legislation, which doesn’t enable for jury trials in civil disputes.
A $5 Million Loss and Years of Reimbursement
The case stems from October 13, 2017, when Meyer reportedly misplaced $5 million in a single day at Mohegan Solar. In keeping with the tribal authority’s grievance, Meyer issued six checks—known as markers—ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million. Just one cleared, whereas the others reportedly had been returned for inadequate funds.
A reimbursement deal adopted in April 2018, setting month-to-month funds at $60,000. Information present he had repaid $2,217,500 over a number of years, lowering the excellent stability to $2,782,500. Nonetheless, after Meyer’s 2020 resignation from NBCUniversal, the funds faltered. They fell to $10,000 per 30 days, rose barely to $12,500, and finally stopped by mid-2023.
Mohegan Solar filed swimsuit in Could 2024, claiming breach of the reimbursement settlement.
In April, Meyer’s lawyer, Brian Spears, filed for a jury trial. The gaming authority rapidly objected, saying Meyer had explicitly waived that proper when he signed each the credit score software and the installment plan. They level to provisions binding him to Mohegan legislation, which applies as an alternative of U.S. or Connecticut constitutional protections relating to jury trials.
Spears, nevertheless, argued in an August 22 submitting that the on line casino knowingly focused his shopper regardless of recognizing him as an issue gambler. He accused Mohegan Solar of exploiting Meyer’s vulnerabilities: “After preying on Mr. Meyer, a person identified to the MTGA as an issue gambler with intensive playing money owed, and inducing him to incur an extra $5 million playing debt on the Mohegan Solar … the MTGA now seeks to avail itself of the Connecticut judicial system to finish its exploitation of Mr. Meyer whereas concurrently denying him the protections of Connecticut legislation.”
Spears added that the on line casino had even flown Meyer by helicopter from New Jersey to Connecticut, a declare underscoring what he describes as techniques used to lure high-spending patrons.
Mohegan Solar’s authorized workforce has dismissed solutions of predatory practices. Its lawyer, Andrew Houlding, emphasised that Meyer was neither pressured to go to the on line casino nor coerced into making use of for credit score. “Defendant had a alternative to not apply for credit score at Mohegan Solar; he was not pressured to come back to Mohegan and gamble; and he was represented by very outstanding Las Vegas, Nevada, authorized counsel within the negotiation of the Installment Cost Settlement that he signed, and which offers for the appliance of Mohegan legislation,” Houlding acknowledged in courtroom filings.
The authority has additionally highlighted that Meyer beforehand loved important winnings at Mohegan Solar, together with an occasion the place he reportedly walked away with greater than $1 million. They argue this undermines his present declare of exploitation.
A Sample of Excessive-Stakes Playing
In keeping with The Day, Meyer, now 80, has a protracted historical past as one of many business’s most outstanding “whales”—a time period used for large bettors. Reviews point out he has misplaced over $100 million playing through the years. Accounts from business insiders describe him wagering tens of millions at high casinos, usually transported by helicopter to luxurious venues the place he would spend $3 million to $7 million in a single go to.
His playing money owed have sparked earlier controversies. Selection reported in 2021 that producer Joel Silver had as soon as coated a $1.7 million debt on Meyer’s behalf at Wynn Las Vegas in 2014, elevating questions in Hollywood about monetary ties between executives and filmmakers.
Past playing, Meyer’s profession has confronted turbulence. After co-founding Inventive Artists Company in 1975 and serving practically twenty years as Common Studios president, he grew to become NBCUniversal’s vice chairman in 2013. That function led to 2020 when he resigned following revelations of an extortion try linked to an affair.
In his 2020 assertion, Meyer admitted to a short consensual relationship with a girl however stated he was focused by threats after settling together with her. NBCUniversal Chief Govt Jeff Shell on the time defined the corporate parted methods with Meyer as a result of he “acted in a way which we imagine just isn’t in keeping with our firm insurance policies or values.”
Now, the previous studio head finds himself in one other high-profile authorized battle—this time not over movie tasks, however over a multimillion-dollar playing debt and the query of whether or not he’ll face a jury or be certain by tribal legislation.
