A former Hollywood executive, who allegedly owes more than $2.7 million in unpaid markers to the Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville, Connecticut, is reportedly trying to get out of his gambling debt. The case involves Ron Meyer, the co-founder of Creative Arts Agency and Universal Studios chief operating officer between 1995 and 2013.
Despite half a decade passing since Meyer signed “checks” or markers for a total of $6 million, he still owes nearly $3 million. The aforementioned checks signing happened back in October 2017. While he redeemed one $1 million check, the other $5 million in checks were kept.
Using this extended credit, payable to the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA), Meyer lost some $5 million to gambling activities at Mohegan Sun during the same month he signed on the checks. The Authority ultimately gave him an option to repay the owed amount in installments. The two sides entered into an agreement for the repayment on April 26, 2018.
A report released by The Day suggests that the former Hollywood executive had to make an initial payment of $250,000, followed by monthly installment payments of $60,000 between May 1, 2018, and September 1, 2022. A final installment of $45,960 was also due to be paid.
Despite signing the payment plan, Meyer regularly paid the installments until September 2020. After that, he started paying lesser amounts before September 1, 2023, when he discontinued all forms of payment.
In an amended complaint by the MGTA from July filed with the New London Superior Court, the Authority claimed that Meyer still owes the casino a sum of $2,782,500.
The Former Hollywood Exec Strikes Back
Despite signing the payment plan in 2018, the former Hollywood exec now seeks to dismiss the complaint by alleging the legal claim by the MTGA breaches the Mohegan Tribe’s gaming compact with Connecticut. Meyer, who is represented by his attorney, Brian Spears, filed a memorandum recently.
Spears wrote: “Connecticut has ‘an ancient and deep-rooted’ ban on lending money to gamblers.” Moreover, the attorney explained: “The prohibition of gambling on credit has been a part of anti-gambling statutes in this state for about two hundred years.”
This otherwise means that the former Hollywood exec is trying to wipe out the gambling debt he allegedly owes by claiming that the Mohegan Tribe isn’t permitted to offer credit for gambling. Meyers’ attorney also argues that the gaming compact of the other Tribal operator in Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, contains text that allows extension for credit for the purpose of gambling. However, in the case of Mohegan, such a matter isn’t explicitly addressed.