Charles Barkley Owes Big Gambling Debt

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Retired NBA star Charles Barkley will face
criminal charges if he doesn't repay a $400,000 gambling debt to a
Las Vegas casino, a prosecutor said Thursday.
"We're in the process of sending Mr. Barkley notice that we're
considering filing a criminal complaint," Clark County District
Attorney David Roger said. "He'll have an opportunity like anybody
else to make restitution to the hotel."
The posh Wynn Las Vegas casino alleges in a civil complaint
filed Wednesday in Nevada state court that Barkley failed to repay
four $100,000 casino markers, or loans, he received last Oct. 18
and 19.
"To date, and despite repeated demands, Barkley has refused to
repay the $400,000," the complaint said.
Barkley is a basketball analyst for Turner Network Television
who has made no secret of his gambling over the years.
His agent in New York did not immediately respond to messages
seeking comment, and a TNT spokeswoman in Atlanta declined comment.
Wynn Las Vegas spokeswoman Dorothy Land also declined comment,
citing ongoing litigation.
Barkley, 45, played 16 seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers,
Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets. He was named MVP in 1993 and was
an 11-time NBA All-Star. Barkley also played on the USA Olympic
"Dream Team" in 1992 and 1996.
Barkley estimated during a May 2006 interview with television
sports network ESPN that he'd gambled away about $10 million over
the years.
"Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling
problem," Barkley said. "But I don't consider it a problem
because I can afford to gamble."
He said he never bet on basketball, and only bet in casinos. He
called it a bad habit that he intended to continue.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)