3972 stories by Philip Conneller
Florida Officer May Avoid Trial in Hard Rock Casino Bomb Case
St. Petersburg officer entered diversion program that could erase felony charges Case tied to Hard Rock Casino explosives investigation now closed Prosecutors say officer shared sensitive police database information with suspect Charges against a St. Petersburg, Fla., police officer accused of improperly...
SWAT Swarms Bicycle Casino After Hoax Gun-and-Bomb Threat
Hoax threat triggered SWAT response and five-hour casino sweep Hundreds evacuated; I-710 lanes closed as police secured scene Caller demanded $50K, claimed rifle and bomb accomplice A hoax call about a shooter at the Parkwest Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, Calif., prompted...
Westside Riva Gang Boss Gets 9 Years for Ordering Kidnapping from Prison
Gang boss ran gambling and extortion schemes from prison. Kidnapping ordered after extortion cash was seized in traffic stop. Judge imposed nine-year federal term consecutive to existing life sentence. A leader of Southern California’s Westside Riva (WSR) street gang who orchestrated illegal...
Turning Stone Construction Elevator Collapse Injures Five Workers
A construction elevator fell during dismantling at Turning Stone on Tuesday afternoon Five workers injured; one hospitalized in stable condition on Wednesday OSHA investigating as Oneida Nation’s $370M resort expansion continues One worker remained hospitalized in stable condition on Wednesday after a...
Imperial Pacific’s Lijie Cui Detained by ICE on Saipan
ICE detained IPI majority shareholder Lijie Cui on Saipan on Tuesday Cui was behind a massive, controversial casino project on Saipan Project was the target of numerous federal probes Lijie Cui, the Chinese majority shareholder of controversial casino operator Imperial Pacific International...
Germany’s Gambling Regime: Paragon of Consumer-Protection or Market Misstep?
Germany’s strict limits and OASIS aim to hard-wire player protection. Critics warn rules push players offshore; estimates of scale vary. Regulator review through 2026 weighs safety against legal-market channelization. In 2021, Germany overhauled its online gaming regulations, shifting from a patchwork of...
WarHorse Gaming Launches Ballot Campaign for Nebraska Mobile Sports Betting
WarHorse and Sports Betting Alliance launch Nebraska mobile betting petitions Two measures seek to authorize online wagering and allocate local tax revenue Push follows 2025 filibuster that stalled a constitutional amendment Having failed to see online sports betting pass in the Nebraska...
Judge Rejects Ione Band Challenge as Sacramento-Area Casino Nears
Judge denies reconsideration, leaving earlier emergency relief denial intact Residents and CERA challenge federal recognition and land-into-trust approvals Ruling keeps Acorn Ridge Casino project moving toward spring opening A federal judge in Washington, DC, has dealt a heavy blow to a last-resort...
Florida Man Jailed After Trying to Cash Stolen $115K Fantasy 5 Ticket
Man tried claiming $115K Fantasy 5 ticket; staff flagged it stolen. District office verification and electronic logs helped investigators trace ticket. Areeb alleged uncle gave him ticket; later admitted false claim. A Florida man who tried to cash a winning lottery ticket...
Stakes High as SCOTUS Lawyer Tom Goldstein Heads to Trial on Tax Charges
Goldstein accused of hiding poker winnings and evading $5.3M taxes. Indictment also alleges law-firm funds misuse and mortgage application lies. Defense says errors weren’t willful, blaming bookkeeping and late payments. The trial of Tom Goldstein, the high-flying Washington lawyer accused of “willfully”...
