Following news that former NBA player Marcus Morris Sr. was arrested over unpaid casino markers, retired NBA big man Kendrick Perkins is speaking out—not just about the incident, but about his own struggles with gambling addiction.

Morris was arrested at Fort Lauderdale airport on fraud charges after allegedly failing to pay back two separate casino markers: $115,000 from the MGM Grand and $150,000 from the Wynn Las Vegas. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the checks he used to secure those markers bounced, and prosecutors are treating the debts as criminal offenses.

Perkins reacted to the news on his Road Trippin' podcast, offering rare personal insight. “As a guy that used to be a big-time gambler at casinos four or five years ago, I actually had an addiction,” he shared. Perkins said he voluntarily banned himself from gambling, going so far as to sign paperwork at the casino promising never to return.

Perkins broke down how casino markers work: “It’s basically a line of credit. You have 30 days to pay it back. If you don’t, it becomes a bad check—and they can charge you criminally.” He emphasized that casinos usually resort to legal action only when they feel disrespected or ignored. “You can call them and say, ‘Give me 30 more days,’ or try to work something out. But if you go ghost, they’ll come after you hard.”

According to Perkins, Morris’ denial of bond despite reportedly sending the money via wire transfer shows how seriously the casinos took the situation. “At that point, they’re trying to make an example out of him. They’re saying, ‘Nope, you ignored us for too long. Now you’re going to sit.’”

Perkins’ transparency about his past added depth to the conversation. “I know what gambling can do to you. You go to the casino, take out a $20,000 line of credit, lose it, then ask for $30,000 more. Next thing you know, you’re $100K in the hole and walking out of there with the sad face,” he said. “I finally said, ‘I’m done. I don’t even want to gamble no more.’”

Morris’ twin brother, Markieff, also weighed in on social media, calling the situation humiliating and unnecessary. “For that amount of money, they’ll embarrass you in an airport with your family… They could’ve come to the crib for all that,” he wrote. “When y’all hear the real story, all I can say is, ‘Lesson learned, bro.’”

Perkins agreed. “This isn’t just about money—it’s about how you handle the situation. If they feel disrespected, they will come for you hard.”
 
Source: Road Trippin' Podcast