Basketball legend Charles Barkley has expressed interest in joining a potential casino ownership group in his home state of Alabama if the state proceeds with legalizing commercial casinos.
“Hell yeah,” the TNT broadcaster told AL.com. “I would love to be part of it.”
“Sir Charles” is no stranger to casino gambling. In 2023, the author of the book Barkley: A Biography noted the Hall of Famer’s family ran an underground gambling house and bar to help pay the bills. In 2007, he admitted to losing $10 million at a casino, including $2.5 million during a six-hour blackjack session. He also said that he’s suffered a seven-figure loss in a single day on up to 20 different occasions.
Barkley has been known to hit the poker tables and played in the World Series of Poker’s Ante Up for Africa charity event in 2009 and in some of Michael Jordan’s famous poker games that included Scottie Pippen and Magic Johnson.
Sen. Greg Albritton has backed previous failed gaming expansion efforts in the state and is now looking at cobbling together enough support in the state senate. He sees adding gaming as a way to bring in additional state revenue from a practice that Alabama residents are already participating in either in neighboring states or via online unregulated gaming options.
“Alabama has a moral obligation to take control of this industry that’s just expanding like crazy,” he told AL.com. “You look at sports gaming. Sports gaming is on a runaway track. Everyone’s involved in it. It’s in every medium that you see. And we’re just sitting back watching it grow, doing nothing about it.”
Some African-American lawmakers are seeking Black ownership of at least one casino if legislation is approved. Barkley, who played at Auburn University, seems like a natural fit.
“Charles is a favorite in the state,” said Sen. Bobby Singleton, who supports a gaming initiative. “I would love to see a group with someone like Mr. Barkley get involved with others to have real ownership, a true 51% that belongs to us, and make sure we could build a destination spot here in the state and bring forth the fruits of that industry to our community.”
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians operates three tribal casinos in the state. However, those casinos only offer slot machines. The tribe also expressed support for casino expansion, adding a state lottery, and sports gambling.
Albritton introduced a bill in 2024, but gaming efforts ultimately failed despite the Senate approving a compromise bill that didn’t include sports betting. Barkley not only believes casinos should be legalized in the state but also supports sports betting. His reasoning follows similar reasoning to Albritton and other supporters: “We need that money.”
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