Vegas Casino Claims NFL Coach Owes It

LAS VEGAS (CN) - Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter stiff-armed the MGM Grand for more than $10,000 in gambling markers, the casino claims in court.

The MGM Grand Hotel sued Joey E. Porter on Monday in Clark County Court.

It claims it approved Porter for five markers totaling more than $10,000 on May 23, 2013, after he "completed the instruments necessary" to obtain the loans. But when the casino submitted the five instruments to Porter's bank, it says, they were "returned dishonored and unpaid."

The instruments necessary to obtain a marker at the MGM Grand include completing a marker limit application and leaving signed checks the casino can cash for repayment, according to the MGM Grand marker limit application .

"As a condition to being granted marker signing privileges, I agree to sign credit instruments, aka markers or checks in the amount of the funds issued to me," the application states.

MGM Grand officials confirmed that Porter is the football coach and former All-Pro linebacker but did not return a call seeking the total amount owed.

The casino seeks repayment of the markers plus interest, an additional $500 per unpaid marker and attorneys' fees.

The markers are not the first that Porter is accused of not paying. Porter was arrested and jailed in California in 2012 for an unpaid $70,000 marker at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas and released after he paid the debt, The Associated Press reported at the time.

Porter, 37, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999 out of Colorado State University and was an NFL linebacker for 13 seasons. He earned four Pro-Bowl appearances and was a member of the Steelers' team that defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 to win Super Bowl XL in 2006.

Porter joined the Miami Dolphins in 2007 and the Arizona Cardinals in 2010. He retired after the 2011 season. The Steelers hired Porter as an assistant defensive coach in February.

The MGM Grand is represented by Thomas J. Reich.

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