MGM China Confirms Jacky Heung Settled Gambling Debt

Macau-based MGM China, which operates MGM Cotai and MGM Macau, has confirmed that actor Jacky Heung has fully paid back a gambling debt that has taken over Hong Kong media in the last days.

Jacky is the eldest son of popular former actor, turned film producer and TV personality, who founded Win’s Entertainment and China Star Entertainment Group, Charles Heung Wah-keung.

Third Party Credit Guarantor 

Following numerous media reports claiming that its subsidiary, MGM Grand Paradise, had filed a lawsuit against the 40-year-old actor, the company issued an official statement. 

According to court filings, Heung was sued for at least HK$1.4 million (US$178,000) representing gambling debts that he failed to pay.

Telling its side of the story, MGM China explained the case stemmed from Heung playing the role of a guarantor for a third party’s credit, thus calling the reports in Hong Kong media “potentially misleading”.

“Due to overdue payments not being made, MGM China subsequently initiated standard legal procedures to address the related matters,” the statement made sure to explain.

The company went on to say that the actos had fully settled all payments and that all related legal procedures had been “terminated.”

The Media Coverage Harmed the Actor 

In further clarifying the situation, MGM China emphasized that it generally does not comment publicly on operational matters. 

However, it said the press coverage had caused unnecessary harm to Heung, mentioning the “inconvenience and distress” that the incident had caused the actor, who is known in the entertainment industry for more than a dozen supporting roles in iconic martial arts films. 

“Our company sincerely requests that all inaccurate or speculative reporting be curbed,” the statement issued at around 1 am Macau time further added. 

Court Documents Say Something Else 

Interestingly, the court document itself made no mention of Heung acting as a guarantor. 

According to the writ, filed in Hong Kong’s District Court on July 3, Heung allegedly borrowed HK$2 million (US$255,000) from MGM China on December 1 last year, converting the sum into betting chips. 

The filing stated that he had repaid only part of the debt and still owed the company approximately HK$1.4 million, representing both the outstanding debt and accrued interest.

In recent years, Heung has shifted more of his career to mainland China, appearing on several popular variety shows. In 2019, he married Taiwanese actress and model Bea Hayden (Guo Biting). They share two children.