It’s not often that gambling at an underground casino involves some cocktails. But a California high roller has filed a lawsuit claiming his gambling went too far after his drink spiked, leaving him barely able to work the table.
Orange County real estate developer and former sports agent Dwight Manley has filed a lawsuit against him MGM Resorts after he allegedly received a spiked drink during a trip to MGM Grand will play high-max blackjack in December 2020. He has now filed a $75 million lawsuit, hired private investigators, and is offering a $500,000 reward to find the person who supposedly smoked the cocktail.
Look at the claims
According to the lawsuit, the 57-year-old regularly gambled at the property from 1990 to 2021 and received… VIP Treatment due to its high status, including private jet travel, free premium accommodation, and more. Manley, along with his friends, planned to gamble and play in a poker tournament during his recent trip.
After arriving, Manley began playing blackjack and ordered a drink. That’s when he said things changed from a normal gambling trip to something more serious.
“Shortly after sitting down at the blackjack table, (Manley) ordered an Old Fashioned cocktail from the bar located in the high-limit gaming saloon,” the lawsuit states. “Immediately after tasting the first cocktail he was handed…he noticed that the cocktail tasted bitter.”
According to the lawsuit, after consuming the drink, Manley became disoriented, later breaking an ashtray and cutting his hand. He did not notice blood or feel pain from the injury and says casino management moved him to a different blackjack table to continue playing.
During this time, the attorneys allege, the MGM casino host told friends that casino bosses called Manley’s play erratic. However, he was still able to sign three tags for a total of $3.5 million to bet. When the group later left and tried to go to Venice, friends said Manley could barely stand and fell several times while trying to walk.
Instead, the group returned to their villa and Manley collapsed in bed, feeling “groggy and nauseous” the next morning, according to the lawsuit.
Tested positive for ketamine
The group returned to California that day and Manley underwent a drug test, testing positive for ketamine. A psychedelic can produce hallucinogenic effects and make people under its influence feel disconnected and out of control.
Television producer, real estate developer, avid coin collector and former corporate agent NBA Players Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman said he did not intentionally ingest the ketamine and filed a police report in Las Vegas about the incident. The lawsuit claims MGM “He failed to act responsibly towards (Manley) when the casino host, who had a long-standing relationship with the plaintiff, identified conduct as ‘wrong’ and when the plaintiff was bleeding at the gaming table without realizing it.”
MGM He continues to work to collect the remaining $440,000 from the mark and has not commented on the lawsuit, although attorneys for the casino have tried to dismiss the claim.
