Charles Barkley Has Poker On The Brain - EL oh EL?

Charles Barkley Set to Gamble Again - For a Good Cause…

In the past Charles Barkley had stated that he would not gamble for the next couple of years after he was sued this past May by a casino is Las Vegas for not paying up on his $400,000 gambling markers. Barkley was quoted as saying that “for right now, the next year or two, I’m not going to gamble. Just because I can afford to lose money doesn’t mean I should do it.”

Apparently Charles has changed his mind and will be appearing at the 2008 World Series of Poker on July 2nd. A celebrity tournament will be taking place called “Ante Up for Africa” and will raise awareness and money for the Darfur region of Sudan and the crisis that is taking place there. Since 2003, ethnic warfare has taken place in the country and 2.5 million people have been displaced and over 300,000 people have died.

Players who participate in the event are asked to donate at least half of their winnings and must put up $5,000 to play in the tournament. Barkley told Sal Petruzzi, a TNT spokesperson, that he will donate all of his winnings to one of the two charities designated by the tournament. Barkley has been working as a NBA analyst for TNT.

Barkley has said he is playing in this tournament for charity purposes only and other people have stated he is sustaining from gambling. Jason Kidd, the point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, saw Barkley at a golf tournament in California and Barkley told him that he was “on the wagon.” Kidd also said “He’s strong. He didn’t gamble. I think Charles, once he decides not to do something, I think he’s pretty good at keeping his word.”

We will see next month if Barkley can keep his distance from gambling after attending and participating in the charity tournament.

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