Barkley facing bad debt charges

Las Vegas -- Prosecutors say former NBA star Charles Barkley, now a television sports analyst, faces possible felony charges as a Las Vegas casino sues him for bad debts.

Barkley's troubles stem from a legal action taken by casino owner Wynn Las Vegas, which is suing in Nevada district court to force Barkley to pay back $400,000 in gambling markers, the Las Vegas Sun reported Friday. It added that Clark County prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into a bad check allegation involving Barkley and the casino.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger told the newspaper Barkley will be given a chance to make restitution to Wynn Las Vegas before being charged with a felony.

"We prosecute cases like this every day," Roger said. "Mr. Barkley will be
treated the same as everybody else."

Barkley, considered one the NBA's all-time great players, has been serving as an analyst during this year's league playoffs for the TNT cable television network. He once said during an interview that his total gambling losses have been more than $10 million, the Sun reported.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.