Casino.org The World's Online Gaming Authority Since 1995
Menu
Avatar photo

Reporter: 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.

Areas of Expertise

3943 stories by Philip Conneller

Ivan Toney, Brentford, gambling, FA

Ivan Toney: Banned EPL Star Bet on His Own Games, FA Says

Brentford FC and England striker Ivan Toney wagered on games he was involved in, according to the findings of a Football Association (FA) regulatory commission, published Friday. Last week, Toney, 26, was banned from professional soccer for eight months after admitting to...

Philip Conneller May 27, 2023
Eric Persson, above, will be a regular player at the Bally’s Big Bet Poker show, which will be broadcast from a studio next to the new poker room.

Tropicana Casino Las Vegas to Get Maverick Gaming Poker Room

After 11 years, poker will soon be back on the menu at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Trop owner Bally’s has signed a deal with Washington state’s Maverick Gaming to operate a poker room. The hope is it will attract customers by offering...

Philip Conneller May 25, 2023
California, cardrooms, moratorium, tribes, Gavin Newsom

California Gov. Approves Cardroom Freeze as Tribes and Clubs Find Rare Consensus

California’s tribal operators and card clubs have squabbled for years over issues like game exclusivity, online poker, and more recently, sports betting and Prop 26. But this week, they found something they could both agree on: no more card clubs. On Tuesday,...

Philip Conneller May 24, 2023
Milton Champion, Maine, sports betting, Twitter

Maine Chief Gaming Regulator Suspended for Offensive Tweets

The man leading Maine’s protracted sports betting rollout has been placed on administrative leave over a tweet that used a sexist pejorative and another that could be perceived as supporting a white nationalist march. Gambling Control Unit Executive Director Milton Champion has...

Philip Conneller May 24, 2023
Ali Jaafar, Yousef Jaafar, lottery, Massachusetts, ten-percenting

Father and Son Who Won Lottery 14K Times Imprisoned for Fraud

A father and son from Massachusetts who “won” the lottery more than 14K times saw their lucky streak end Monday. That's when they were imprisoned for lottery fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. Ali Jaafar, 63, and Yousef Jaafar, 29, of Watertown...

Philip Conneller May 23, 2023
Macau, casino, national security, civil liberties, Beijing

Macau: New Laws Spark Concerns of Creeping Beijing Control

Macau’s government has announced it has revised its Law on Safeguarding National Security as it “faces new adverse challenges … risks, and threats.” Officials didn't specify the nature of these threats. It was up to Chinese state media to elaborate, reporting they...

Philip Conneller May 23, 2023
Granit Xhaka, Arsenal, spot-fixing

Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka Cleared of Yellow Card Spot-Fixing

The EPL’s Granit Xhaka has been cleared of spot-fixing following an investigation involving the Football Association (FA), the UK Gambling Commission, and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). The FA began an investigation in January 2022 after receiving reports of suspicious betting...

Philip Conneller May 22, 2023
TB, tuberculosis, Washington state, casinos

Washington State Casino-Goer Who Refuses to Isolate with TB Still at Large

A Washington state woman known to frequent casinos and who refuses to isolate or take medication for tuberculosis (TB) remains at large, according to court documents. That’s despite the best efforts of Pierce County, South of Seattle authorities to arrest the woman,...

Philip Conneller May 22, 2023
Damon Arnette, Henry Ruggs III

Damon Arnette Indicted for Deadly Weapon Assault on Park MGM Valet

Clark County prosecutors have indicted former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit. The charges relate to an incident that occurred outside the Park MGM Hotel...

Philip Conneller May 19, 2023
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, Thai, serial killer, Arsenic Aem

Pregnant Thai Serial Killer Suspect ‘Motivated by $2.3M Gambling Habit’

A Bangkok, Thailand woman accused of murdering at least 14 people with cyanide had a prodigious gambling habit, police said Friday. Investigators believe this could explain why Sararat "Aem" Rangsiwuthaporn, 32, was allegedly so hungry for cash that she was prepared to...

Philip Conneller May 19, 2023