MGM Responds to Controversy Over $76,000 Tip Allegation
MGM Faces Allegation Regarding Large Tip Dispute
Earlier this year, MGM Resorts was accused of unlawfully confiscating a $76,000 tip given to one of its cocktail waitresses. After the incident drew significant media attention, the company has denied the claims but has not shared a detailed account of what happened.
Details of the Alleged Incident
Tajia Mackyeon, a cocktail waitress at MGM National Harbor Resort & Casino, filed a lawsuit after a high-stakes baccarat player allegedly tipped her $76,000 in chips during her shift on April 13. Mackyeon recalled feeling overwhelmed as the tip represented a potentially life-changing sum.
The lawsuit highlights that the patron was fully sober and coherent at the time of the tip, dismissing any suggestion of impaired judgment. However, according to the complaint, supervisors later instructed Mackyeon to surrender the chips, which were subsequently returned to the player.
The legal filing does not clarify whether managers directed Mackyeon to return the tip or if the customer requested it back. Mackyeon’s legal team contends that taking the tip violated labor laws and caused her significant emotional distress, prompting a claim for damages totaling approximately $1.1 million.
MGM’s Official Response
On May 29, MGM officially rejected Mackyeon’s account in court documents. The casino denied that a $76,000 chip tip was ever given to Mackyeon and also disputed claims that the baccarat player had won large sums, contradicting the detail presented in the lawsuit.
Importantly, MGM did not offer an alternative narrative or specify what ultimately happened to the chips involved in the dispute.
The company maintained that it acted within legal boundaries, citing “legitimate business reasons” for its actions regarding the tip. Furthermore, MGM argued that a genuine dispute exists over whether wages or tips are owed to Mackyeon.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
The case is progressing to the discovery stage, where both parties will present evidence and witness statements to clarify the facts surrounding this controversial tip dispute.
