Already referred to as a gambler and occasional poker participant, NBA legend and TNT analyst Charles Barkley’s on line casino historical past apparently goes again to childhood.
In the brand new Barkley: A Biography, writer Timothy Bella notes that the Hall of Famer’s household ran an underground playing home and bar to assist pay the payments.
“The house was like a casino on the weekend,” Barkley says within the ebook. “Guys would come on Friday and drink and gamble until Sunday.”
Barkley grew up within the small city of Leeds, Alabama, about 20 miles south of Birmingham, earlier than taking part in basketball at Auburn. He then moved on to a stellar NBA profession for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets.
“The Round Mound of Rebound” has mentioned his household struggled when he was rising up. His mom Charcey labored as a janitor and his stepfather as a meat packer, however instances may very well be onerous. Running on line casino video games and promoting booze apparently offered a much-needed further supply of earnings.
Charcey definitely has no regrets.
“Why the hell should I be embarrassed?” she says within the ebook. “Everybody already knows I was a bootlegger … I did what I had to do to help my child.”
A Life Of Gambling
Gambling has been a serious a part of Barkley’s life at instances. In 2007, he admitted to shedding $10 million at a on line casino, together with $2.5 million throughout a six-hour blackjack session. He additionally mentioned that he’s suffered a seven-figure loss in a single day on as much as 20 totally different events.
At one level, that complete of playing losses climbed to $20 million, in keeping with media studies. Barkley has additionally been identified to hit the poker tables as effectively. He performed within the World Series of Poker’s Ante Up for Africa charity occasion in 2009 and in addition has performed in a few of Michael Jordan’s well-known poker video games that additionally repeatedly included Scottie Pippen and Magic Johnson.
Despite that, Barkley informed fellow TNT broadcaster Ernie Johnson that his penchant for gaming was below management.
“It’s not a problem,” he mentioned. “If you’re a drug addict or an alcoholic, those are problems. I gamble for too much money. As long as I can continue to do it, I don’t think it’s a problem. Do I think it’s a bad habit? Yes, I think it’s a bad habit. Am I going to continue to do it? Yes, I’m going to continue to do it.”
