Browse > Home / Celebrity Poker Gossip, Full Tilt Poker, High Stakes Poker, Online Gambling News, Poker News, Poker on TV, PokerStars / Charles Barkley Scheduled to Play Charity Poker Tournament

Charles Barkley Scheduled to Play Charity Poker Tournament

June 20, 2008

Just a month ago Charles Barkley vowed not to gamble again, yet he is again headed to the poker tables. Barkley, a former NBA league MVP, Had Pledged not to gamble for the next couple of years, after being sued for not repaying $400,000 in gambling markers to Wynn Las Vegas casino.

Pokerstars Banner

Jason Kidd, point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, told reporters that Barkley is keeping to his word. “We were at a casino and he said he was on the wagon” Kidd said “He’s strong. He didn’t gamble.” This time however it is for charity.

On July 2nd, during the 2008 World Series of Poker, Charles Barkley will be joining other celebrities in the “Ante Up for Africa” event.

The event will raise money and awareness for the Darfur region of Sudan. Since the beginning of ethnic warfare in 2003 more than 2.5 million people have been displaced and 300,000 people have died.

The buy-in for this tournament $5000 and players donate at least half their winnings to one of the two designated charities.

Last year the tournament raised more than $500,000. The top two winners agreed to pool their $350,000 winnings and donate it to the cause. Barkley has promised to donate all his winnings this year.

online poker Players Opinions:

  1. Is it really gambling if you don’t win? Or is it at this point just a donation to charity?
  2. Should the organization allow Barkley to play after having just made such a public declaration?
Powered by Gregarious (42)
Share This Post
    Tell The world! These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
    • bodytext
    • StumbleUpon
    • del.icio.us
    • Reddit
    • Technorati
    • Facebook

    Score a Royal Flush with your pocket cards on any real-money Texas Holdem ring game at CarbonPoker.com and you will receive a bonus of 100 x the big blind!

    Poker News Author: Cristina Lakey · Filed Under Celebrity Poker Gossip, Full Tilt Poker, High Stakes Poker, Online Gambling News, Poker News, Poker on TV, PokerStars 

    Online Poker News Comments

    3 Responses to “Charles Barkley Scheduled to Play Charity Poker Tournament”

    1. Mike Murphy on June 20th, 2008 9:40 pm

      I think he should absolutely be allowed to play, but he can certainly be scrutinized for it.

      We do after all, live in a land of free choice and people go back on their word every day. I suggest that we all take it easy on the guy playing for charity, since a good portion of the prize pool is sent that way it could reasonably be considered less “gamble” after all.

      Some would also poker is a game of skill (I agree) and most of Charles gambling losses I believe were accrued at the craps and blackjack table, but I could be wrong there.

      • Ace High Pino on June 21st, 2008 1:05 am

        Charles Barkley is the sickest degenerate outside Phil Ivey and Ted Forrest….and I’m all for him going busto and forever engraving his name in the annals of celebrity gods gone broke! Is that wrong?

        Good luck Chuckwagon! I’m diggin the drama and entertainment of it all.

        • Lady4Flush on August 10th, 2008 2:32 am

          AH! How can you call Ivey a degen? He’s so cute! :P

          Got something to say?

          You must be logged in to post a comment.

          Close
          E-mail It
          Socialized through Gregarious 42