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Philip Conneller

In Philip Conneller’s eight years with Casino.org, he has covered the gaming industry from Las Vegas to Macau and everything in between. He currently focuses his coverage on gaming law, white-collar crime, global money laundering, tribal gaming, politics, and regulation.

Philip was the original features editor for poker’s Bluff Magazine and editor for Bluff Europe, which he helped launch. His writing has also been featured in ESPN, Forbes, Time Out, The Sun, and The Daily Star, as well as iGaming Business, eGaming Review, and numerous other industry news and tech websites.

His news stories for Casino.org/news have been linked by The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, People Magazine, and Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show, among many others.

Philip once won $20,000 with 7-2 off-suit. He has been reprimanded for unwittingly playing Elton John’s piano on two separate occasions on both sides of the Atlantic.

He became a writer because he is a lousy pianist.

Philip lives outside London with his wife and children, where he spends his time agonizing about Arsenal FC.

Contact Philip at philip.conneller@casino.org.

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Senior Reporter

Expert since 2018

4176 stories by Philip Conneller

Jamul Casino’s ‘Legal Carnage’ Ends with Financial Penalties
March 4, 2024

Jamul Casino’s ‘Legal Carnage’ Ends with Financial Penalties

A federal judge in California hopes to end years of “legal harassment” against the Jamul Indian Village and its Jamul Casino by imposing financial penalties against the plaintiffs and their attorneys. U.S. District Judge Andrew...

Written by Philip Conneller
Iowa State Betting Scandal: Case Against College Athletes Implodes
March 3, 2024

Iowa State Betting Scandal: Case Against College Athletes Implodes

The case against four Iowa State athletes charged with felony identity theft in connection with a college betting scandal fell apart Friday when prosecutors asked for the charges to be dismissed. Cyclones football players Isaiah...

Written by Philip Conneller
Pace-O-Matic Lawyer Work on Virginia Skill Game Bill ‘Not Conflict of Interest’
March 3, 2024

Pace-O-Matic Lawyer Work on Virginia Skill Game Bill ‘Not Conflict of Interest’

A Virginia state senator -- who as a lawyer for skill-games manufacturer Pace-O-Matic fought the state’s ban on the machines -- is now helping to write legislation to overturn the prohibition, The Virginia Mercury reports....

Written by Philip Conneller
China Gives Free Lottery Tickets to Couples to Boost Birth Rates
February 29, 2024

China Gives Free Lottery Tickets to Couples to Boost Birth Rates

It’s a strange aphrodisiac. But the Chinese city of Xian plans to boost birthrates by giving out free lottery tickets to newlyweds, Reuters reports. City officials hope couples uncertain about the benefits of having children...

Written by Philip Conneller
Web’s ‘Clue Heywood’ Hits All 26 Arizona Casinos in 48 Hours
February 29, 2024

Web’s ‘Clue Heywood’ Hits All 26 Arizona Casinos in 48 Hours

An anonymous Arizona-based social media personality who uses the alias “Clue Heywood” has just completed the ultimate “dirtbag adventure.” Last weekend, Heywood, with his accomplice, the author and journalist Tom Zoellner, visited all 26 tribal...

Written by Philip Conneller
GeoComply Blocked Iowa Cops Investigating College Betting
February 28, 2024

GeoComply Blocked Iowa Cops Investigating College Betting

Geolocation tech provider GeoComply cut off access to its software for Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) last month, The Des Moines Register reports. That’s after the company learned investigators were using the software to...

Written by Philip Conneller
Casino del Sol in Tucson Fighting Cyber Attack
February 28, 2024

Casino del Sol in Tucson Fighting Cyber Attack

The Casino del Sol in Tucson, Ariz., said Tuesday that it had restored some semblance of normal operations after a February 21 cyber attack caused widespread system outage at the property. The FBI and the...

Written by Philip Conneller
New Mexico Man Claims He Found 900 Fentanyl Pills Near Slots
February 28, 2024

New Mexico Man Claims He Found 900 Fentanyl Pills Near Slots

A New Mexico man claims he just happened to find 900 fentanyl pills next to a slot machine at the Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso, Texas, and placed them in his pocket for safekeeping....

Written by Philip Conneller
Affordability Checks Pose ‘Existential Threat’ to British Horse Racing
February 27, 2024

Affordability Checks Pose ‘Existential Threat’ to British Horse Racing

Proposed affordability checks for UK gamblers could spell curtains for British horse racing, industry stakeholders fear. The planned checks could be triggered by losses of as little as £125 (US$159) in 30 days, or £500...

Written by Philip Conneller
Barstool Sports’ ‘Mintzy’ Skips Work for Deep Poker Run, Portnoy Mad
February 26, 2024

Barstool Sports’ ‘Mintzy’ Skips Work for Deep Poker Run, Portnoy Mad

“Mintzy Just Bagged chip lead with 14 left and $120k up top by rivering quads in a CRAZY Hand!” So tweeted Ben “Mintzy” Mintz just hours ago. The colorful Barstool Sports media personality had found...

Written by Philip Conneller