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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

4177 stories by Philip Conneller

Iowa College Athletes in Gambling Scandal Snared by ‘Warrentless Searches’
January 23, 2024

Iowa College Athletes in Gambling Scandal Snared by ‘Warrentless Searches’

Evidence that led to 41 Iowa college athletes being accused of gambling violations was allegedly obtained by warrantless searches conducted by a special agent with the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). That’s according to...

Written by Philip Conneller
Macau Casino Scam Doctored Gaming Chips, Inflated Value Tenfold
January 23, 2024

Macau Casino Scam Doctored Gaming Chips, Inflated Value Tenfold

An unnamed Macau casino has taken an approximate US$200K hit after scammers were able to tamper with gaming chips to alter their denominations. Macau’s Judiciary Police (PJ) said Tuesday the scheme involved the modification of...

Written by Philip Conneller
Nebraska Gaming Board Spent $30K on Semi-Automatic Weapons
January 22, 2024

Nebraska Gaming Board Spent $30K on Semi-Automatic Weapons

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission (NRGC) spent $30,351 on semi-automatic rifles for its 10 investigators, The Lincoln Journal Star reports. The purchase has raised eyebrows in Lincoln, the state capital. Some lawmakers have questioned...

Written by Philip Conneller
Oakland Gambling Den Guard Linked to Unsolved Homicide Cases
January 22, 2024

Oakland Gambling Den Guard Linked to Unsolved Homicide Cases

Oakland police have linked a gun found in the possession of a security guard at an underground casino to an unsolved homicide in the city, the East Bay Times reports. They also believe the guard,...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kindred Group Verges on $2.7B Takeover by French Lottery Giant FDJ
January 22, 2024

Kindred Group Verges on $2.7B Takeover by French Lottery Giant FDJ

Francaise Des Jeux (FDJ.PA), the French national lottery operator, has made a US$2.67 billion move for Stockholm-listed online gambling giant Kindred Group (KIND SDB). On Monday morning, Kindred’s board of directors said in a statement...

Written by Philip Conneller
New Nebraska Casino Proposed, But Gaming Expansion Under Threat
January 21, 2024

New Nebraska Casino Proposed, But Gaming Expansion Under Threat

The list of operators eager to get themselves a future piece of Nebraska’s casino market is swelling. On Friday, representatives of a new hopeful, KRG Investment Group, briefed the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission (NRGC)...

Written by Philip Conneller
Turkish Gangster Gets Life for Murder of Cypriot Casino Owner
January 21, 2024

Turkish Gangster Gets Life for Murder of Cypriot Casino Owner

A Turkish gangster has been given two life sentences after an Istanbul court found him guilty of premeditated murder. The trial was in relation to the 2022 shooting death of Northern Cyprus casino owner Halil...

Written by Philip Conneller
Landmark Ruling Says New Mexico Casinos Can’t be Sued in State Courts
January 20, 2024

Landmark Ruling Says New Mexico Casinos Can’t be Sued in State Courts

New Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled that personal injury claims against tribal casinos must be heard in tribal and not state courts. The ruling will be welcomed by the state’s tribes, which have long viewed...

Written by Philip Conneller
$300K Healthcare Fraud Led to Casino Benders for Rogue Physical Therapist
January 19, 2024

$300K Healthcare Fraud Led to Casino Benders for Rogue Physical Therapist

A New York physical therapy entrepreneur with a penchant for high living and casino benders has been convicted of orchestrating a $300K health care scam to fund his extravagant lifestyle. Chang Goo Yoon, 61, a...

Written by Philip Conneller
Black Market Gambling Sites Fertile Ground for Money Laundering, Intelligence Agency Warns
January 19, 2024

Black Market Gambling Sites Fertile Ground for Money Laundering, Intelligence Agency Warns

Canada’s financial intelligence unit, FinTRAC, warns that criminals continue to launder dirty money through online gambling platforms, and that unlicensed, black-market sites are by far their method of choice, particularly if the sites are based...

Written by Philip Conneller