A longtime casino customer has filed a lawsuit against a Las Vegas resort after claiming he woke up in handcuffs with no memory of how he ended up owing the casino $75,000.
Michael Duke Thomson, a 64-year-old licensed attorney and frequent high-roller at Aria Resort & Casino, is suing the casino and its parent company, MGM Resorts International, following an incident that allegedly took place in January 2024.
Last Memory: Leaving With Chips
According to Thomson’s federal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, his last clear memory from the night in question was leaving Aria’s high-limit blackjack room with a few thousand dollars in chips.
He claims he has no recollection of what happened afterward.
The next thing he remembers, according to the lawsuit, is waking up the following morning in a casino security holding area, handcuffed and being told he owed the casino tens of thousands of dollars.
Eight Casino Markers, No Recollection
Thomson later learned from his VIP host that he had eight outstanding casino markers totaling approximately $75,000. Markers are credit instruments casinos allow trusted players to use while gambling.
The lawsuit claims there were discrepancies between the amount he allegedly borrowed and his recorded gambling activity. Thomson also alleges that the signatures on several of the markers “only loosely resemble” his own.
He believes he may have been incapacitated at the time and argues the casino should not have allowed him to continue gambling under those circumstances.
Arrest and Criminal Charges
Months later, the casino reportedly turned the unpaid markers over to the Clark County District Attorney’s Bad Check Unit. In November 2024, Thomson was charged with drawing and passing a check with intent to defraud and theft of $25,000 or more.
He was arrested and later released after posting bail. According to the complaint, Thomson ultimately agreed to pay the debt in full to remove the stress of an ongoing criminal case.
The criminal case was later dismissed after restitution was made.
Casino Accused of Negligence
In his lawsuit, Thomson accuses Aria and MGM Resorts of negligent handling, claiming they allowed him to gamble while allegedly incapacitated, failed to protect him, and detained him without providing care.
The complaint also alleges malicious prosecution related to efforts to recover the debt and claims the casino unfairly retained money obtained during the incident.
Thomson is seeking a jury trial, with damages to be determined.
Aria and MGM Resorts have not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
