The fraud and theft charges against former University of Kansas and NBA forward Marcus Morris were dismissed by prosecutors in a Clark County, Las Vegas court earlier this week after the Philadelphia native paid the debts owed to two Las Vegas casinos, KLAS-TV reported after examining court documents.
Morris was released from a Broward County, Florida jail on Tuesday after he wired the MGM Grand and Wynn Hotel and Casino $265,000 for markers he allegedly obtained from the casinos while gambling on two visits to Las Vegas in 2024. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Morris also has paid approximately $26,000 in collection fees to the district attorney’s office in Vegas.
Morris, who played at KU from 2009 to 2011 and then embarked on a 13-year NBA career, was arrested last Sunday at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida airport because there reportedly were insufficient funds in Morris’ bank account to cover what he owed. He had separate warrants issued in March and June.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “casino markers, commonly issued by casinos in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada, are short-term, interest-free loans that let gamblers play on credit after they apply, providing personal information like their current address, employment, and bank account number. If a marker remains unpaid for about 30 days, it is treated as a ‘bad check.’”
Morris explained his side of the situation this week on the Real Talk with MJ podcast, taking exception to the use of the word “fraud” in the charges.
He said the situation was more of a misunderstanding, not fraud. As a frequent gambler who has taken out markers before, he said he thought he had more time to repay the $265,000.
“It is what it is. I take that on the chin,” Morris told the podcast host. “I’m from North Philly. I’ve been through a lot tougher (expletive), but I know one thing I am not and that’s a fraud. I really could have paid it ($265,000) back on time and should have paid it back on time. To even have any hiccups like that — my character and my nature (being questioned) — a lot of people look up to me, and (I’m) pursuing a career off the court in the media and things like that.
“You never want negative press. You never want people to look at you a certain way,” Morris added. “But in the world today, whatever comes out people are going to have a negative look. People are going to take their own stories. They’re gonna run with however they want to run with it.”
He continued, saying he was “going to move forward, keep being me.”
“God has a plan for us, whatever that may be. I want to shine light on the younger athletes, the younger brothers that gamble,” Morris said. “Just understanding all the dynamics of gambling and being responsible (for) what you signed and what you receive, and then making sure that you pay it back on time. Because you know things like that can happen. Make sure you are careful with the things that you are doing and protecting yourself and not letting things like that happen to you.”
Morris said he was planning all along to pay back the markers.
“I really thought the amount of money and time I spent there would really have value,” he said, expressing surprise he needed to be arrested and charged and spend 51 hours in the Florida jail before being released after it was determined he paid the markers.
Alan Feldman, director of strategic initiatives at UNLV’s international gaming institute, told the Review-Journal: “From what it sounds like, I don’t think (Morris) was trying to defraud anybody. He just didn’t take it as seriously as he needed to.”
Morris, by the way, said on the podcast he has not officially retired. Morris, 35, indicated he still could return to the NBA for a 14th season or play overseas. An unrestricted free agent, he last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2023-24 season. His brother, former KU forward Markieff Morris, 35, played seven games for the Dallas Mavericks and eight for the Los Angeles Lakers last season and also is a free agent. He’s played 14 seasons.