WSOP: Charles Barkley back at the poker table

Charles Barkley is going back to Las Vegas to hit the tables again, but this time it’s all in the name of charity. The TV personality and former NBA superstar will be testing his poker skills in a celebrity poker tournament, “Ante Up for Africa,” 2 July at the 2008 World Series of Poker.

Although the event is for charity, this news comes as quite a shock after Barkley’s comments about a month ago, after settling a $400,000 gambling debt in a Las Vegas casino.

“For right now, the next year or two, I’m not going to gamble,” Barkley said after the ordeal. “Just because I can afford to lose money doesn’t mean I should do it.”

When he was promoting a celebrity golf tournament, Jason Kid, an NBA star currently with the Dallas Mavericks, spoke to the media about Barkley’s recent gambling habits.

“We were at a casino and he said he was on the wagon,” Kid said, speaking about Barkley’s recent gambling habits. “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.”

I guess this doesn’t really qualify as gambling since Barkley will be donating his winnings and the event is for a good cause, but the situation does raise some eyebrows.

This is the second year for the charity event, last year the tournament raised over $700,000 that went straight toward the cause. The tournament is also notorious for having a star-studded line up.

“After the success of last year’s tournament, we are looking forward to another exciting year while raising awareness for an ongoing crisis,” said Anne Duke, poker professional. “It is exciting to bring the world of poker and entertainment together, and we are once again asking players who win prize money to donate half of their winnings to our charities.”

The charity tournament raises awareness as well as money for the crisis in Darfur, which has claimed the lives of over 300,000 people since 2003.

By Michael

gamingalerts.co.uk