Wynn Las Vegas filed a lawsuit in District Court on Wednesday to force former National Basketball Association star Charles Barkley to pay back $400,000 in gambling markers the casino alleges it extended him last year.

The casino also persuaded the Clark County district attorney's bad check unit to open a criminal investigation. The unit has authority under state law to investigate gambling debts in the same manner as bad checks.

District Attorney David Roger said Barkley will be notified of the investigation and given an opportunity to make restitution to Wynn Las Vegas to avoid being charged with a felony. [Read]

UPDATE: Barkley will repay $400K in Vegas debt