Published on: October 24, 2024, 11:57h.
Last refresh on: October 24, 2024, 11:57h.
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Charles Barkley gained fame for his compulsive gambling habit during his successful NBA career. The Basketball Hall of Fame member recently expressed his desire to have his ashes scattered inside a Las Vegas casino after his passing.</span></p>
An 11-time NBA All-Star and member of the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team,” Barkley, known for his candid remarks as a color commentator on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” recently shared his sentiments in an interview with Arizona Sports about living in Phoenix, his residence since the early 1990s when he transitioned from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Phoenix Suns.
“I’m staying in Phoenix forever. I adore living in Phoenix,” Barley expressed. The Alabama native and former Auburn college player humorously discussed his future demise and requested how his ashes should be handled.
Barkley humorously stated, “When I leave Phoenix, they’re going to cremate my fat a**. My a** is so big, I want some ashes in Alabama, I want some ashes in Phoenix, and I want the rest in a casino in Vegas.”
Regarding the specific casino, Barkley mentioned that he has yet to choose a location.
Barkley’s Big Bets
Barkley is recognized as one of the high-profile athletes who have struggled with keeping their gambling habits in check. Alongside John Daly and Michael Jordan, Barkley is infamous for losing millions of dollars on casino gaming.
During his 16-season NBA career, Barkley estimated losing approximately $10 million from gambling. In 2007, he revealed losing $2.5 million in six hours while playing blackjack.
Despite his significant losses, Barkley has maintained that he can afford the gamble and enjoys it regardless.
“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,” Barkley expressed in the past.
Acknowledging it as a bad habit, Barkley confirmed, “I am going to continue to do it.”
In May 2008, Wynn Las Vegas filed a legal complaint against Barkley for an unpaid $400,000 debt. However, Barkley eventually settled the debt.
Reflecting on his gambling tendencies, Barkley conceded on TNT, “I have to stop gambling. I am not going to gamble anymore.”
Nonetheless, Barkley added, “I’m not going to gamble right now, the next year or two. Just because I can afford to lose money doesn’t mean I should.”
In his authorized biography released last December, Barkley disclosed that his family operated an underground gambling business and sold bootlegged liquor from their house in Alabama during his upbringing.
Gambling Ambassador
FanDuel enlisted Charles Barkley as a brand ambassador in late 2020 to endorse the sportsbook and online gaming brand.
Despite his challenges with responsible gambling, FanDuel highlighted Barkley’s status as an American sports figure and member of “gaming royalty” as ideal for their brand.
Barkley has since appeared in several FanDuel advertisements.