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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

Pregnant Thai Serial Killer Suspect ‘Motivated by $2.3M Gambling Habit’
May 19, 2023

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...

Written by Philip Conneller
Las Vegas Vehicular Homicide Suspect Gets Trial Postponed
May 19, 2023

Las Vegas Vehicular Homicide Suspect Gets Trial Postponed

A Portland, Ore. woman accused of deliberately plowing her car into pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip, killing one, won't be tried this month. On Thursday, a Las Vegas judge postponed the murder trial of...

Written by Philip Conneller
Soccer’s Ivan Toney Gets ‘Harsh’ Eight-Month Ban for Betting
May 17, 2023

Soccer’s Ivan Toney Gets ‘Harsh’ Eight-Month Ban for Betting

English Premier League star Ivan Toney has been banned from playing professional soccer for eight months. That’s after admitting to 232 breaches of the Football Association’s (FA) betting rules. The Brentford and England striker cannot...

Written by Philip Conneller
Massachusetts Lottery Winner Had No Clue Store Clerk Stole $3M Ticket
May 16, 2023

Massachusetts Lottery Winner Had No Clue Store Clerk Stole $3M Ticket

Two Massachusetts store clerks have been indicted for conspiring to steal a $3 million lottery ticket from a man who was oblivious he had won. Carly Nunes, 23, of Lakeville, Mass. was charged with larceny,...

Written by Philip Conneller
Harrah’s Joliet Stranger-Killer Guilty of Murder
May 15, 2023

Harrah’s Joliet Stranger-Killer Guilty of Murder

A homeless man who stabbed a senior citizen to death in a hallway of the Harrah’s Joliet Casino, apparently at random, has been found guilty of first-degree murder, Patch.com reports. While jurors in Will County,...

Written by Philip Conneller
Chinese Company Fined $4M for Los Angeles Councilman Casino Chip Bribery
May 15, 2023

Chinese Company Fined $4M for Los Angeles Councilman Casino Chip Bribery

Chinese real estate developer Shenzhen New World has been fined $4 million. That's the tab for bribing Los Angeles councilmember Jose Huizar to gain favorable treatment on its application to build a downtown LA skyscraper....

Written by Philip Conneller
Steve Wynn ‘Chinese Agent’ Case Back in Court as US Files Appeal
May 15, 2023

Steve Wynn ‘Chinese Agent’ Case Back in Court as US Files Appeal

The US Government is fighting an October 2022 federal court ruling which held that casino tycoon Steve Wynn doesn't have to register as a foreign agent. The US Justice Department (DOJ) sued Wynn last May...

Written by Philip Conneller
Natalee Holloway Case: Dutch Poker Player, Murderer Extradited to US on Extortion Charge
May 12, 2023

Natalee Holloway Case: Dutch Poker Player, Murderer Extradited to US on Extortion Charge

Joran van der Sloot, the one-time poker player and prime suspect in the disappearance of American woman Natalee Holloway, is to be extradited to the United States on extortion and wire fraud charges. The 35-year-old...

Written by Philip Conneller
Ex-Wynn Resorts Exec Sentenced in Varsity Blues Case Wins Appeal
May 11, 2023

Ex-Wynn Resorts Exec Sentenced in Varsity Blues Case Wins Appeal

A former Wynn Resorts executive sentenced to prison for fraud and bribery conspiracy in the so-called Varsity Blues scandal has seen his conviction overturned by a federal appeals court. Gamal Aziz, also known as Gamal...

Written by Philip Conneller
Reno Casino Attacker Gets 40 Years for Injuring Strangers with Rocks
May 11, 2023

Reno Casino Attacker Gets 40 Years for Injuring Strangers with Rocks

A Sparks, Nev. man who attacked strangers with rocks at casinos in the Reno-Sparks area, causing serious injury, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. Troy Kellett, 50, assaulted three casino patrons on three...

Written by Philip Conneller