High Roller Blames Casino Losses on Spiked Drink

An Orange County California high roller, Dwight Manley, alleges MGM Grand kept extending his credit limit in the millions while ignoring his erratic behavior after someone allegedly drugged his drink with ketamine.

Manley, a real estate developer and former agent for NBA legend Dennis Rodman, filed a federal lawsuit against MGM Resorts International for consumer fraud and negligence.

Manley lost $2 million in markers to MGM, according to his lawsuit filed last November and amended in July. 

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used medically for induction and maintenance of anesthesia and as a recreational drug. It is also among the more common date rape drugs.

“Mr. Manley feels that a serious criminal act was directed at him which potentially put his life in danger,” said one of Manley’s attorneys, Richard K. Howell, on Friday, Oct. 13. “He is determined to do all that he can to track down and hold accountable those responsible.”

The Orange County resident has had a 30-year relationship with the casino, which counted Manley among its VIP gamblers.

Did You Know? Though Ketamine is among the most common date rape drugs, Rohypnol is the oldest drug used for this twisted purpose. It is up to 10 times more potent than valium, resulting in a slowing of physical and mental responses.

Manley had been an avid coin collector prior to hooking up with Rodman.  He compared his discovery of Rodman to the coin trade in an interview with Robb Report back in 2020.

"I think there’s a similarity to buying and selling rare coins. Identifying something as a hidden gem and figuring out who needs it or wants it for the most money. With an athlete I see a lot of similarities in that. And I see Dennis, when I met him originally, when he had black hair and was a Piston, was like that. He was obviously scouted and on a team and playing on the highest level. But he still had so much more. The first thing I did for him was get him that book deal, and that became huge. As a platform, I think the published written word is still the most powerful thing to go in any direction you want."

Manley's lawsuit, though filed nearly a year ago, comes days after it was revealed a class action suit had been filed against MGM following a massive cyber attack and extensive breach of customer data.

- Alejandro Botticelli, Gambling911.com