Barkley Gambling Debt: $400K

Former NBA star promises to pay casino to head off felony charges
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted May 15, 2008 8:40 PM CDT
Barkley Gambling Debt: $400K
Retired basketball star Charles Barkley, right, signs autographs during the Regions Charity Classic Pro-Am golf tournament, in Hoover, Ala. on Thursday, May 15, 2008.    (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Charles Barkley admitted today that he owes a Las Vegas casino $400,000 and promised to pay up quickly, the AP reports. The former NBA star fessed up after the Wynn Las Vegas casino filed a complaint and the local DA threatened felony charges. "I'm not broke, and I'm going to take care of it," said Barkley, who blamed the big debt on a bad Super Bowl bet.

"I've been gambling 20 years, said Barkley. "I've never had this happen before. "It's my fault I let the time lapse. I screwed up." (More Charles Barkley stories.)

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