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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

4211 stories by Philip Conneller

Gamblers Squeeze Out of South Korea Police Station Window and Flee
June 12, 2023

Gamblers Squeeze Out of South Korea Police Station Window and Flee

Ten Vietnamese gamblers who escaped from a South Korean police station by squeezing through a window in the dead of night have all been rearrested, according to authorities in the southwestern city of Gwangju. The...

Written by Philip Conneller
Natalee Holloway Suspect Lands in US to Face Charges of Extorting Missing Woman’s Mother
June 9, 2023

Natalee Holloway Suspect Lands in US to Face Charges of Extorting Missing Woman’s Mother

A one-time professional poker player who is the chief suspect in the murder of American woman Natalee Holloway arrived on US soil Thursday to face fraud charges. Joran van der Sloot was handed to US...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bloods Leader Gets 37 Years for Murder of Mafia Gambling Kingpin
June 9, 2023

Bloods Leader Gets 37 Years for Murder of Mafia Gambling Kingpin

A Brooklyn Bloods leader who organized the killing of a reputed Bonnano crime family associate was sentenced to 37 years in prison by a federal judge on Thursday. Bushawn Shelton, 39, arranged the murder of...

Written by Philip Conneller
UK Lottery Winner Denies Bizarre Bomb Plot in London’s Legal Heartland
June 7, 2023

UK Lottery Winner Denies Bizarre Bomb Plot in London’s Legal Heartland

A wealthy British businessman whose wife won the lottery has denied involvement in a bizarre plot to plant fake bombs in London’s legal heartland. Jonathan Nuttall, 50, was already fabulously wealthy when his wife, Amanda,...

Written by Philip Conneller
Mafia Gambling Figure Shot Dead in Montreal
June 6, 2023

Mafia Gambling Figure Shot Dead in Montreal

A high-profile member of the Montreal Mafia was shot dead in broad daylight on Monday afternoon on a street corner in Dorval in the city’s suburbs. Francesco Del Balso, 53, is believed to have been...

Written by Philip Conneller
Thailand Cuts Power to Myanmar Border Gambling Zone
June 6, 2023

Thailand Cuts Power to Myanmar Border Gambling Zone

Thailand’s electricity authority cut off power to two towns just across the border in Myanmar’s Kayin (Karen) State on Monday night. The area is home to Yatai New Town, a reputed hotbed of new casino...

Written by Philip Conneller
Land-Strapped Singapore to Lose Live Horse Racing in 2024
June 5, 2023

Land-Strapped Singapore to Lose Live Horse Racing in 2024

The Singapore Turf Club (STC) will hold its final race in October 2024, signaling an end to 181 years of racing in the city-state. The club’s Singapore Racetrack in Kranji, northwestern Singapore, will be steamrolled...

Written by Philip Conneller
Connecticut ‘Gambling Addict’ State Rep Imprisoned for $1.2M Covid Relief Fraud
June 2, 2023

Connecticut ‘Gambling Addict’ State Rep Imprisoned for $1.2M Covid Relief Fraud

A former Connecticut state representative has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for stealing more than $1.2 million of federal Covid relief funds from the city of West Haven. Michael DiMassa pleaded guilty in...

Written by Philip Conneller
Florida Greyhound Kennel Can’t Claim Compensation for Racing Ban
May 30, 2023

Florida Greyhound Kennel Can’t Claim Compensation for Racing Ban

A Florida greyhound kennel has failed in its bid to claim compensation for financial damages incurred by the state’s 2018 ban on dog race wagering, WUSF News reports. D’Arcy Kennel, LLC, and its owner, Christopher...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kiwi Poker Champ and Meth Kingpin Loses Parole Bid
May 29, 2023

Kiwi Poker Champ and Meth Kingpin Loses Parole Bid

A New Zealand poker player busted for overseeing a sprawling methamphetamine dealer network has failed in his bid for a shorter sentence. Shane Thompson, aka Shane Tamihana, was sentenced in 2018 to 13 years in...

Written by Philip Conneller