Charles Barkley has never hidden his love for gambling. Over the years, he’s been brutally honest about both his massive wins and even bigger losses. But on the Kittle Things podcast with George and Claire Kittle, Chuck gave fans a different perspective, explaining why two of the most popular casino games, craps and slots, just don’t work for him.
“Well, first of all, you should never play the slots. Casinos make about 60 to 65% of their money from slot machines. So never play the slot machines. I don’t like craps. I like craps, but I dislike craps. Let me explain why.”
“Because there’s a random ass stranger at the other end of the table who I’ve never met in my life. Why should I bet on them, George? Why? I can’t just stand there until the dice come back to me.”
“So, you know, you got your guys and I’ll bet on my guys, sure. But when the dice move, there’s some Tom, Dick, or Harry or Claire who I’ve never met in my life. And I’m sitting here thinking, if I bet on them and they roll out, I’m gonna be pissed.”
“Like, why did I bet on Claire? I’ve never met Claire. Why should I bet on her? That’s my theory on craps.”
To him, slot machines are a pure trap: no skill, no strategy, just endless money pouring into a machine that almost never pays back. For someone like Barkley, who thrives on the idea of skill and control, they’re simply a non-starter.
Craps, though, is trickier. Barkley admitted he actually enjoys the game, just not the part that involves trusting strangers.
That mix of humor and honesty is classic Chuck, but it also highlights why gambling has always been a complicated subject for him. Over the years, Barkley has told stories of losing staggering sums at casinos, by his own admission, as much as $20–25 million total. He once said he lost $1 million in a single day between 10 and 20 times.
“I love gambling, but I became a total crazy person,” Barkley once admitted, reflecting on the days before close friends and advisors intervened.
Even with those losses, Barkley has kept a surprisingly defiant attitude. He’s famously said, “I like to gamble, and I just have to tell people, if they don’t like it, they can kiss my a**. F*** ’em.”
At one point, he even considered betting $500,000 on himself during his playing days, only backing off once he learned it was illegal.
So when Barkley dismisses slots and craps, it’s not coming from a place of inexperience. It’s coming from decades of high-stakes gambling, lessons learned the hard way, and millions lost at the tables. His advice? Stay away from the games stacked too heavily in the casino’s favor or, if you do play, at least know exactly what you’re getting into.
