The Ex-NBA star and recent Hall of Fame inductee, Charles Barkley has been plastered all over the newspapers for a pending $400,000 gambling debt with the Wynn Las Vegas Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Barkley, who appears on the award-winning Turner Sport’s show the NBA on TNT, was forced to give an explanation and issue an apology in (national TV) during last night’s airing.

On what looked like a completely forced moment, host Ernie Johnson sat down with Charles Barkley last night, off set on two segregated stools. Barkley (wearing his signature: thousand-dollar-suit, with white untied sneakers) sat with Ernie, on what looked like Turner Sports’ explanation/justification as to why Barkley remains on the show. According to Chuck, the gambling matter should have been handled completely different, and he claimed the debt has all been squared.

Today, the casino and the District Attorney’s office are commentating on the Chuckster’s (gambling) game differently… and calling, his bluff.

The casino has filed a civil “complaint” against the former NBA star on May 14, 2008. Barkley allegedly has failed to repay four $100,000 “casino markers” (or loans), which he received on October 18th and 19th of 2007.

Deputy Clark County District Attorney Bernie Zadrowski, who’s in charge of the $400,000 bad-check unit in Barkley’s debt stated: "He hasn't paid, and he hasn't contacted anyone at the casino or the DA's office.”

The Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who is suspected of having monetary troubles, and being financially insecure, insists that, the check is in the mail.

In last night’s telecast of the NBA on TNT, Chuck said: “I screwed up and didn't pay them in a significant amount of time… could they have handled it differently? Yes. But it was my fault."

He ended his interview with Ernie stating: “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.”

---