A Nevada judge has refused to throw out a lawsuit against MGM Resorts brought by Dwight Manley, a real estate investor and former sports agent who represented Dennis Rodman. The case centres on allegations that Manley was served a spiked drink at the MGM Grand in December 2021, then allowed to raise his credit line to $3.5 million while allegedly drugged.

Judge Miranda Du ruled there’s enough evidence to suggest genuine factual disputes, meaning the case will proceed to trial. MGM had pushed for summary judgment, arguing no evidence showed the company or its staff acted improperly.

The judge disagreed.

What Happened at MGM Grand

Manley, a regular high roller with VIP status at MGM properties, was staying at the MGM Mansion, an exclusive area reserved for premium players. On 10 December 2021, around 1:45 pm, he ordered an Old Fashioned cocktail. According to his complaint, the drink tasted bitter but he finished it anyway. By the time he ordered a second, he was feeling confused and disoriented.

The situation deteriorated quickly. Manley broke a glass ashtray and cut his hand, but casino staff only offered band-aids rather than proper medical attention. Despite his condition, he was approved for a credit line increase of up to $3.5 million.

He then lost $2 million playing blackjack before returning to his villa and passing out.

The next day, suspecting he’d been drugged, Manley consulted a doctor who suggested ketamine poisoning was possible. His attorney, Paul Hejmanowski, claims this wasn’t an isolated incident, alleging similar drugging incidents happened to 11 other people at MGM properties.

The Core Issue

This case raises serious questions about casino duty of care. If Manley was visibly impaired, whether from drugging or any other cause, allowing him to increase his credit line and continue gambling looks problematic at best.

Casinos have protocols for identifying intoxicated players. Those same protections should apply regardless of the cause of impairment.

Judge Du’s decision to let the case proceed suggests there’s enough evidence to establish that Manley may have been drugged and that casino staff raised his credit limit while he was in that state. That’s the central question for trial.

Manley previously offered a $1 million reward for information identifying whoever allegedly spiked his drink. Whether the drink was actually tampered with, and if so by whom, remains to be proven. But look, the lawsuit isn’t just about the drink. It’s about what happened afterwards and whether MGM failed in its duty to protect a vulnerable customer.

The case now moves to trial, where both sides will need to present their evidence. For the industry, it’s a reminder that player protection isn’t just about responsible gambling tools. It’s about basic duty of care when something goes wrong.