Charles Barkley is a known gambler and has spoken about his love for casinos several times throughout his career.
The Round Mound of Rebound is one of the greatest NBA players ever and reportedly has a net worth of $60 million – largely thanks to his current 10-year deal with TNT that pays him upwards of $100 million.
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Barkley has won – and lost – a fortune during his careerCredit: Getty
Chuck has undoubtedly made a fortune during his time in the spotlight, but he’s also lost his fair share, too.
The former Phoenix Suns superstar recently sat down with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast where he revealed he’s lost $25 million gambling over the years.
“I love to gamble, I don’t like to gamble,” Barkley told the Hall of Fame NFL tight end.
However, his gambling habits became problematic when he would go to Las Vegas and play $25,000 hands.
“There’s probably been seven times when I won a million dollars,” Barkley revealed.
“But there’s probably been 25 times when I’ve lost a million.”
The 1993 MVP admitted that he had to quit gambling for two years because it was ‘getting out of hand’ – although he still missed it.
Barkley went on to explain that he could have had multiple paydays between $600,000 to $700,000 but he would insist on carrying on playing until he could walk away with a million.
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Barkley told Sharpe losing $1 million at a time left him ‘depressed’ for a weekCredit: YouTube@ClubShayShay
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Sharpe was shocked as Barkley revealed the extent of his habitCredit: YouTube@ClubShayShay
“We’ll be sitting there, I’ll be up, and my friends would be like, ‘Chuck, let’s go for the night’.
“And in my head I’m saying, ‘Nah, we’re not leaving this motherf***** until I win a million dollars.”
Barkley admitted that he got an incredible high whenever he won, but the lows of losing far outweighed the positive feelings.
“I got such a elation [when I won], but when I lost a million, I was so depressed. Because of the money, but [mainly] because of the losing.
“I’d be depressed for a week [thinking], ‘Damn, I lost a million dollars?’
“I’d send the bill to my financial people and they’d be yelling and yelling and yelling.
“I was getting out hand. No matter how good it feels winning, when you lose, it just f***ng sucks.”
Sir Charles admitted he ‘had to change his mentality’ so that he didn’t have to chase or lose a million.
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Barkley often gambled with rival and friend Michael JordanCredit: Icon Sportswire
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Barkley insists he has a lid on gambling these daysCredit: Getty
“You can’t break the casino and since I developed that mentality, gambling is a lot more fun to me, to be honest with you,” Barkley told Graham Bensinger several years ago.
Much of Barkley’s gambling occurred in the 80s and 90s when he was one of the biggest names in sports and close friends with fellow high-stakes gambler Michael Jordan.
The two played in poker games together that regularly included NBA greats like Scottie Pippen and Magic Johnson.
Barkley once joked that Jordan would frequently try to ‘buy’ the pots he played in, knowing he had more money than his opponents to work with.
Gambling has always been a major part of Barkley’s life but he told fellow TNT broadcaster Ernie Johnson that his penchant for it was under control.
“It’s not a problem,” he said. “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.”
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