charles barkley admits to a gambling problem

**rm18** · 05-03-06, 09:54 PM

actually he said he never bet on basketball, not that that is neccessarily true though.

**Mudcat** · 05-04-06, 10:01 AM

I saw some footage on this too. Like John Daly, he is spouting ideas about how he just needs to get it under control.

I do a lot of work in the addictions field so I guess it shouldn't surprise me that people can be so ignorant and in denial about their behaviors - but still, I just shake my head.

If he's lucky, he'll clue in that he just needs to abstain before he loses everything.

**bigboydan** · 05-04-06, 01:32 PM

Former NBA star and current TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley revealed his own struggles with gambling in an interview with ESPN after being asked about golfer John Daly, who claims to have lost between $50 million and $60 million in the past 12 years due to gambling.

Barkley said Wednesday on ESPN that he has lost "probably $10 million" gambling, adding, "It is a problem for me."

"My agent has really worked with me to try to get it where I can go and gamble and have fun," he said. "That's easier said than done.

"Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling problem but I don't consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble. It's just a stupid habit that I've got to get under control, because it's just not a good thing to be broke after all of these years," he added.

Barkley told ESPN that he's working to solve the problem.

"I gamble too much, I gamble for too much money," he said. "And it's something I have to address ... I am addressing it, that would be the best way to explain it.

"I think the most difficult thing, No. 1, I've got to realize no matter how much I win it ain't a lot -- it's only a lot when I lose. And you always lose. I think it's fun, I think it's exciting. I'm gonna continue to do it but I have to get to a point where I don't try to break the casino 'cause you never can," he said.

Later Wednesday, Barkley seemed to soften his tone.

"It's unfortunate that it has become a story, because I was asked an innocent question about John Daly and I said 'I understand, gambling is a bad habit,'" Barkley said during halftime of TNT's coverage of Game 5 of the Pistons-Bucks series. "I'm going to continue gambling. I like to gamble. It's really nobody's business, because it's my own money, I earned it.

"I never bet on basketball. I only go to the casinos. … One problem I have is that I'm always trying to be honest. When I talked to reporters I was saying 'I understand what John Daly is saying.' I understand that's a lot of money, but it is my money. Nobody has the right to tell me what to do with my money. Like I said, I'm going to continue gambling, because I like it, but I realize I've got to gamble for less."

When asked by TNT basketball host Ernie Johnson if he felt his gambling had become a problem, Barkley answered: "It's not a problem. 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.

"But I've got to understand you can't beat the casino. You might win a lot of money from them, but in the long run they are going to win more money from you, and I've got to get to a point where I don't gamble for as much. That's what I've got to do, because I'm not going to quit gambling because it's my life and it's my money."

Barkley, elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame last month, averaged 22.1 points and nearly 12 rebounds in a 16-year career that included stops in Philadelphia, Phoenix and Houston. He was the league's MVP in 1993, and he won gold at the '92 Barcelona Olympics as part of the original U.S. Dream Team.

Barkley also said that he believes Daly's estimate of losing $50 million to $60 million is high.

"I don't believe him," he said. "First of all, John Daly is one of the nicest athletes I've even met in my life. I could believe he has lost $20 million because think about it ... if he's lost $60 million he'd have to have made $200 million. And I don't think he has made $200 million in his career. I do believe that John has lost $20 million, to be honest with you. I truly believe that. And I wish him luck with our gambling addiction."

In "John Daly: My Life In and Out of the Rough," his autobiography set to be released Monday, Daly said his gambling habit could "flat-out ruin me" if he doesn't get it under control.

Barkley's agent had no comment on Wednesday's interview.

**BrentCrude** · 05-05-06, 07:43 PM

If I had the 75 Million Barkley should have I wouldn't gamble.It wouldn't be fun!

These people like Barkley and Jordan that should have at least 50 to 100 million $$ salted away shouldn't even gamble.What is there to gain when you are already rich beyond belief.The risk and reward factor should tell you in your head that you already won the game and you are giving the other team a free chance to beat you.It would be like winning the heavyweight title in a 12 round unanimous decision and telling the judges that you will go another round to let the guy you beat have a chance to win.Aren't these athletes grateful that at least 35% of their salry was paid to them in taxpayer dollars when people pay entertainment and fast food taxes to pay for the arenas they played in to make their huge incomes.IT'S EASY COME,EASY GO FOR THESE GUYS.

**pags11** · 05-05-06, 10:50 PM

I heard him say he's lost 10 Mil...is that overall (including wins)?...

**rm18** · 05-06-06, 02:24 AM

yes, net amount

**BrentCrude** · 05-06-06, 06:47 AM

Then you tarnish your image and there go the endorsements

If a player get's linked to being a compulsive gambler alot of big companies won't give you an endorsement.

Why not just play in big poker tourneys where maybe once a month you average buy ins for 10 K each.You get alot of bang for your buck and the worst you can do is lose 120K in a year with the chance of winning a big sum of money.

**Mudcat** · 05-06-06, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by BrentCrude

Why not just play in big poker tourneys where maybe once a month you average buy ins for 10 K each.You get alot of bang for your buck and the worst you can do is lose 120K in a year with the chance of winning a big sum of money.

That's kind of like saying to an alcoholic, "Why don't you just have 1 drink then stop?"

It's a great idea but it doesn't work that way.

**The Great One** · 05-06-06, 11:53 AM

The only problem is see with what the fatty did is actually thinking he can win at a casino.Thats a no no. You can't win there. And if you do, they'll take in the back, give you a mind altering drug, take your money, and you'll never even remeber being in the casino.

He should stick to betting on sports. He doesn't have much of a clue about that, but it'd better than sitting down in a casino and playing blackjack for 5 hours.

**The Great One** · 05-06-06, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by BrentCrude

These people like Barkley and Jordan that should have at least 50 to 100 million $$ salted away shouldn't even gamble.What is there to gain when you are already rich beyond belief.The risk and reward factor should tell you in your head that you already won the game and you are giving the other team a free chance to beat you.It would be like winning the heavyweight title in a 12 round unanimous decision and telling the judges that you will go another round to let the guy you beat have a chance to win.Aren't these athletes grateful that at least 35% of their salry was paid to them in taxpayer dollars when people pay entertainment and fast food taxes to pay for the arenas they played in to make their huge incomes.IT'S EASY COME,EASY GO FOR THESE GUYS.

I'd still gamble if I had 50 to 100 millions salted away because I wouldn't have enough to reach my ultimate goal---NBA ownsership. Wait till the league gets a load of me.

But, I'd still keep 10 million on the side though. That worst come to worst, I still never have to work again and can enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle with 10 million in banks earning interest for me everyday.

**pags11** · 05-06-06, 04:52 PM

I do like listening to him late night on Inside the NBA...he's a funny dude...

**onlooker** · 05-06-06, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by pags11

I do like listening to him late night on Inside the NBA...he's a funny dude...

Even if Im not watching the basketball games, I tune in to Inside the NBA, to watch. Some funny sheit. I like watching that post game show.

Like that day Kaman got racked from behind....Ernie Johnson said, "Evans got his hand's caught in the cookie jar." Charles said, "Where the hell do you get your cookies from."

Im with BC. What is the point to gambling when your worth millions to begin with? I guess to just have the high of winning, and the disappointment of losing.