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State of Play’s TL;DR
- MGM Resorts is disputing a Maryland server’s claim that the company improperly took a $76,000 chip tip at MGM National Harbor.
- A lawsuit from cocktail server Tajia Mackyeon alleges supervisors took the chips and that they were later returned to the customer.
- MGM, in turn, says her account is wrong and that its actions were taken for “legitimate business reasons.”
According to a complaint from cocktail server Tajia Mackyeon at MGM National Harbor Resort & Casino in Maryland, a high-stakes baccarat player tipped her $76,000 in chips on April 13. Mackyeon said she asked the patron several times whether he was sure, and he confirmed the tip was for her.
The lawsuit alleges supervisors later told her to hand over the chips and that the chips were eventually returned to the customer. Her attorneys argue the alleged conduct violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the server’s lawsuit seeks about $1.1 million in damages.
MGM denied Mackyeon’s version of events in a court filing submitted May 29. The company disputed that the chips were truly a $76,000 tip and also denied returning the chips to the customer. MGM said its actions were taken for “legitimate business reasons” and that there is “a bona fide, legitimate, and good faith dispute” over whether it owes wages or tips.
Casinos will monitor case
MGM is one of the biggest names in US gaming, and a dispute like this can draw attention to how casino operators manage employee tips, patron chip transfers, and wage-related policies.
The case is a reminder that not every casino-floor dispute is just a customer service issue. When a disagreement touches tips and compensation, it can quickly become a labor and legal matter with broader implications for operators. The Fair Labor Standards Act angle also raises the stakes beyond one property in Maryland.
For casinos, the case could put internal procedures under a brighter spotlight, especially when unusually large tips are involved. Even at this stage, MGM’s defense signals that operators may argue such disputes are not straightforward wage claims but fact-specific business decisions that courts will need to sort out.
What’s next?
The case is entering the discovery phase, which means the next key developments will likely center on evidence. Among the open questions are what happened to the chips after supervisors intervened, whether the customer asked for them back, and what records or testimony emerge.
For the broader industry, this is the kind of lawsuit worth watching. However it ends, it could shape how gamblers and casino operators think about tip handling, employee compensation, and risk management when big-money moments hit the casino floor.
Based on reporting by Angel Hristov for Gambling News.
