A gambling debt linked to Hong Kong actor Jacky Heung has been fully settled, Macau casino operator MGM China has said, adding legal proceedings have been terminated.
The casino company made the statement on Wednesday, a day after media reported that subsidiary MGM Grand Paradise had issued a writ against Heung.
The actor was sued for at least HK$1.4 million (US$178,000) over gambling debts, according to the court document.
“The matter involving Mr. Jacky Heung Cho arose from a credit guarantee he provided for a third party. Due to overdue payments not being made, MGM China subsequently initiated standard legal procedures to address the related matters,” MGM China said.
“Recently, all payments have been fully settled and the corresponding legal procedures have been terminated.”
Clarifying the situation, MGM China said that it was not its usual practice to engage with the media regarding internal gaming operational processes.
“But in view of the inconvenience and distress this incident has caused Mr Jacky Heung Cho, our company sincerely requests that all inaccurate or speculative reporting be curbed,” it said.
Heung acting as a credit guarantor was not mentioned in the court document.
According to the writ filed with the Hong Kong District Court on July 3, Heung was said to have borrowed HK$2 million from the casino operator on December 1 last year and converted the money into betting chips.
The document went on to say that Heung had only repaid some of the money and owed the casino HK$1.4 million.
The 40-year-old actor is the eldest son of Hong Kong producer Charles Heung Wah-keung, founder of the entertainment conglomerate China Star Entertainment.
The actor has been active in the entertainment industry, featuring in numerous martial arts films in supporting roles.
In recent years, Heung has shifted his career focus to mainland China, taking part in various variety show programmes.
He married the renowned Taiwanese actress and model, Bea Hayden, whose Chinese name is Guo Biting, in 2019. The couple have two children. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
