The Round Mound of Pot Odds.

Charles Barkley, who, following his marker trouble with Wynn Las Vegas last month said he wasn’t going to gamble for the next year or two, failed to qualify that by “next year or two,” he meant in dog years.

Barkley will play in a charity poker tournament July 2 at the World Series of Poker as part of Ante Up for Africa events, aimed at raising money for Darfur.

Sir Charles said all of his winnings will go to one of two charities. A third charity, The Charles Barkley Foundation for a Better, Showgirl-Filled Tomorrow, may be in the mix if things heat up at the dice table after the tournament.

By Jason Scavone

Barkley has really good inside info on an undisclosed knee injury from which Chris Osgood is suffering.

Charles Barkley and a spokesman for the TNT network have said a check was overnighted to Wynn Las Vegas to cover the $400,000 in markers the former NBA champ owed the casino, but both the casino and the District Attorney’s office say they haven’t received any money.

TNT spokesman Jeff Pomeroy says the check is expected to arrive today. Our guess would be that tonight or tomorrow, the Wynn collections department gets the check and this all blows over within a week. Barkley said he’s not going to gamble for a year or two, but we’ll see what happens when it comes time for Game 1 between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. High-rolling former hoops players just can’t resist the magical allure of the Stanley Cup. It’s a story as old as time. Moses Malone could tell you some pretty hairy tales about how much cash he lost on the Bruins in the late ’70s.

By Jason Scavone

He never should’ve bet that $300,000 on the Dolphins to beat the Pats on the money line.
Future governor of Alabama Charles Barkley is being sued by Wynn Las Vegas for $400,000, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

The company alleges Barkley failed to pay back what he owed from two $100,000 markers issued Oct. 18 and two more Oct. 19. Barkley, through his TV contracts, money left over from playing days and ability to hit up Michael Jordan for a loan is probably good for the cash, but we can’t help but hope this leads to a scenario where Barkley has to suit back up for the Phoenix Suns, just destroying the young talent in the NBA and rampaging his way through post-game spreads.

UPDATE: Sir Charles will settle up with Wynn, saying =, “My mistake. I’m not broke, and I’m going to take care of it.”

By Jason Scavone