NBA legend Charles Barkley got here out in full assist of Alabama legalizing sports activities betting this week on an look on The Next Round podcast.
The Auburn alumnus and Alabama native mentioned that not legalizing betting within the Yellowhammer State was simply “silly.” State legislators have made makes an attempt to broaden gaming within the state over the previous couple of years, however these efforts have come up quick.
Several close by states have legalized sports activities betting, together with Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
The 11-time NBA All-Star and analyst mentioned the state wanted to remain aggressive.
“We need sports gambling; we should’ve had the lottery 30 years ago,” Barkley mentioned. “It would improve our public school system. People who block it, their kids go to private school. We shouldn’t let these other states get so far ahead of us. … Those programs raise so much money for the school systems. People are going to gamble, so why not the state and the people profit from it?”
“That’s just silly.”
Sir Charles didn’t maintain again when requested why Alabama nonetheless hasn’t legalized sports activities betting and a state lottery to assist fund public training.
“People are going to gamble, so why not the state and the people profit from it?”
@SBAllianceUS https://t.co/MtjeukJaHe
— The Next Round (@NextRoundDwell) October 1, 2026
Barkley The Bettor
Alabama has restricted gaming and is one in all solely 5 states and not using a lottery. The state at present has solely three tribal casinos, every owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Barkley isn’t any stranger to casinos and playing. In 2007, he admitted to dropping hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in casinos. That included dropping $2.5 million in a six-hour session on the blackjack desk.
In 2008, Wynn Las Vegas sued the previous Phoenix Sun participant over a $400,000 playing debt. Barkley later mentioned on TNT: “I’ve got to stop gambling.”
In 2023, the occasional poker participant mentioned his household ran an underground playing home and bar to assist pay the payments when he was rising up.
In latest years, Barkley has expressed curiosity in becoming a member of an possession group for a possible business on line casino in his house state.
Despite his assist for sports activities betting in Alabama, he has criticized the expansion of reside betting and the consequences that sort of wagering may have on the sport.
In 2009, Barkley and poker professional Jean-Robert Bellande mentioned who may win in HORSE … each the basketball and poker variations.
