The UFC president‘s high-stakes gambling habit has reportedly become a concern for business partners and industry stakeholders.
Dana White‘s passion for high-stakes gambling is no secret. The UFC president has openly discussed his casino adventures, including a recent CBS 60 Minutes segment that showcased him winning over $700,000 during a private baccarat session. However, THR sources now indicate that White’s gambling activity has reached levels that concern his business partners and the companies he works with.
According to industry sources, White accumulated approximately $30 million in unpaid casino markers, with the debt reportedly owed to Red Rock Resorts—a company controlled by his longtime friends and business partners, Frank Fertitta and Lorenzo Fertitta. The Fertitta brothers have been White’s closest allies since purchasing the UFC with him for $2 million in 2001, later selling it to Endeavor for $4 billion in 2016.
White has previously described his bond with the Fertittas as practically familial, once telling the *Las Vegas Review-Journal* that he planned his living arrangements around Lorenzo Fertitta’s moves. Their financial ventures are deeply connected, with White noting that
“my money sits with their money.”
Sources indicate that White’s gambling activities have become a sensitive issue for the public companies associated with him, including TKO (formed through the 2023 merger of UFC and WWE), Red Rock Resorts, and Paramount. The media giant, which now has streaming agreements tied to White’s decision-making and is collaborating with UFC on gambling and livestreaming projects, reportedly addressed his personal betting habits with him in September.
One industry insider characterized the debt as
“a world-class number, just elite-level losing,”
noting the unusual position it creates given White’s prominence and connections. While such a debt might not significantly impact White’s personal finances—his net worth is estimated at over $500 million—the optics present challenges for publicly traded companies and their regulatory obligations.
Adding another layer to the story, Netflix has announced plans to develop a documentary following White during his
“wild gambling exploits.”
The timing of this project, given the reported debt concerns, raises questions about how the streaming service will address the more problematic aspects of White’s casino activities.
White’s gambling has long been part of his public persona. He lives in Las Vegas full-time and has been candid about his frequent casino visits. However, the scale of his wagering and the accumulation of unpaid markers represent a different category of concern for business partners and regulators.
Gaming industry experts note that licensed casino companies have fiduciary duties to the state of Nevada, which collects 6.75 percent of gaming revenue. The Nevada Gaming Commission expects casinos to maintain integrity and collect debts owed, regardless of personal relationships between parties.
The resolution of such high-profile casino debts often involves complex arrangements. The situation is further complicated by the Fertitta brothers’ control over Red Rock Resorts, giving them discretion over collection efforts while remaining accountable to shareholders—though they themselves are the company’s largest shareholders.
The irony of the situation hasn’t escaped observers. White has been outspoken about protecting the UFC from gambling-related corruption, recently dealing with a suspicious betting that prompted FBI involvement. When IC360, the UFC’s bet monitoring company, alerted the organization about suspicious betting patterns around 1:00 PM on fight day, White took immediate action.
“They reached out and they said there was some suspicious betting going on,” White explained in a recent interview. The bets focused on a specific first-round finish for Isaac Dulgarian, who was a heavy favorite. White personally called Dulgarian and his lawyer, asking directly: “Do you owe anybody money? Are you hurt? Anything weird going on?”
Despite assurances that nothing was amiss, the bout ended exactly as the suspicious bets predicted—Dulgarian lost in the first round. White’s response was swift: “I literally walked back into my room in the back of the arena and called the FBI.” Dulgarian was immediately removed from the roster.
White’s stance on gambling integrity is uncompromising. “If you come in here to this business and you try to cheat and you try to do this sport, I will be your worst enemy,” he declared. “I will come after you. And if you did it, I will do everything in my power to make sure you go to prison.”
He’s acknowledged the existential threat gambling poses: “It’s obviously something that we’re very [concerned about]. That’s why we have IC360. This is the company that we have that are the best in the business at monitoring bets.” White maintains strict policies prohibiting anyone connected to the organization from wagering on events, stating emphatically, “If you’re anywhere near this organization and involved in any way, shape, or form, you shouldn’t be betting.”
The UFC is now considering even more stringent measures. “The question is now, if we get some information like we did the other day, we’ll probably pull the fig ht,” White said, indicating they may cancel matches entirely when suspicious activity is detected.
Yet White’s own gambling activities present their own questions about judgment and risk management for someone who has positioned himself as a guardian of competitive integrity in the era of legalized sports betting.
