Casino worker sues MGM after $76,000 tip confiscation sparks legal battle
A server at MGM National Harbor is taking legal action against the casino after it seized a $76,000 tip she received from a baccarat player. Tajia Mackyeon claims the money was rightfully hers once the gambler handed it over, but casino staff confiscated the chips instead. The dispute centres on whether the casino had any right to intervene in the transaction. The incident took place around 2 a.m. after Mackyeon had served the player for several hours. The gambler gave her chips worth $76,000—a sum exceeding five times her usual yearly earnings. Shortly after, her manager and a table games supervisor took possession of the chips, and Mackyeon complied, fearing she would face consequences if she refused.
Mackyeon’s lawsuit accuses the casino of conversion theft, arguing that staff unlawfully took property that belonged to her. She also claims violations of federal and Maryland labour laws, along with intentional infliction of emotional distress. The casino later returned the funds to the player, but Mackyeon maintains the tip was hers once given. MGM National Harbor’s policy requires employees to act if a gambler appears impaired, but Mackyeon insists the player was not intoxicated when he handed over the tip. The case follows other recent legal disputes involving the casino, including a separate lawsuit from a high-limit blackjack player who alleged his drink was spiked with ketamine at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The lawsuit hinges on whether the casino had legal grounds to seize the tip. Mackyeon’s legal team argues the money became her property the moment it was given. The outcome could set a precedent for how casinos handle large gratuities in the future.
