Casino.org logo Main menu

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.

Avatar photo

Senior Reporter

Expert since 2018

4177 stories by Philip Conneller

Washington State Casinos Helped Drugs Gang Launder $1M
March 24, 2023

Washington State Casinos Helped Drugs Gang Launder $1M

Two members of a violent drug trafficking ring were sent to prison this week by a federal judge. The duo is accused of laundering more than $1 million of meth, heroin, and fentanyl profits through...

Written by Philip Conneller
EA Loot Boxes ‘Not Gambling,’ Canadian Judge Rules
March 23, 2023

EA Loot Boxes ‘Not Gambling,’ Canadian Judge Rules

A Canadian judge has rejected claims that the loot boxes employed by video games publisher EA constitute gambling. Judge Justice Margot Fleming of British Columbia’s Supreme Court said that gambling must involve the risk of...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bally’s Evansville Pit Supervisor Busted for Running Illegal Poker Den
March 22, 2023

Bally’s Evansville Pit Supervisor Busted for Running Illegal Poker Den

A table games supervisor at Bally’s Evansville Casino,Ind. is facing three felony charges for allegedly moonlighting as an underground poker room operator. Edward Hill, 53, was charged on March 15 with corrupt business influence, professional...

Written by Philip Conneller
Brentford’s Thomas Frank Opens Up on Ivan Toney Soccer Betting Scandal
March 21, 2023

Brentford’s Thomas Frank Opens Up on Ivan Toney Soccer Betting Scandal

Brentford FC manager Thomas Frank says the six-month ban England’s Football Association (FA) is expected to hand down to striker Ivan Toney for gambling infractions will be like a “prison sentence” for the troubled soccer...

Written by Philip Conneller
Thai Senator Probed Over Casino Links to Arms, Drug Trafficker
March 20, 2023

Thai Senator Probed Over Casino Links to Arms, Drug Trafficker

An investigation is underway into why a warrant for the arrest of a high-profile politician was torn up by senior judges. He was suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering in Thailand. Senator...

Written by Philip Conneller
Las Vegas Shooting Site Buyer Criticized Over ‘Repressive’ Tribal Government
March 20, 2023

Las Vegas Shooting Site Buyer Criticized Over ‘Repressive’ Tribal Government

The government of the tribal nation that recently purchased the Las Vegas Village festival grounds, the site of the 2017 Las Vegas massacre, has been described as an “authoritarian” and “repressive” administration by America’s oldest...

Written by Philip Conneller
Betting Shop Fraudster Gets Stiffer Sentence After Bragging on TikTok
March 18, 2023

Betting Shop Fraudster Gets Stiffer Sentence After Bragging on TikTok

A British man who used laminated banknotes to defraud machines at betting shops has been sentenced to 16 months in prison. But a judge at Liverpool Crown Court said that Michael Shaw’s expressions of remorse...

Written by Philip Conneller
Japan Gambler Sentenced After Blowing Town’s Entire COVID Relief Package
March 15, 2023

Japan Gambler Sentenced After Blowing Town’s Entire COVID Relief Package

A Japanese man was handed a suspended prison sentence after spending a whole town’s COVID-relief package at black market online casinos. Sho Taguchi, 25, received 46.3 million yen (US$347,000) in COVID-19 relief money in April...

Written by Philip Conneller
Tony ‘The Ant’ Spilotro Hitman Nick Calabrese Dies Aged 80
March 14, 2023

Tony ‘The Ant’ Spilotro Hitman Nick Calabrese Dies Aged 80

The man who put vicious Las Vegas-based Mob enforcer Tony “The Ant” Spilotro in the ground has gone to meet the Boss of all Bosses. Former Chicago Mob hitman turned government informant Nicholas Calabrese has...

Written by Philip Conneller
Texas Poker Rooms Hit by Civil Lawsuits Alleging ‘Organized Crime’
March 13, 2023

Texas Poker Rooms Hit by Civil Lawsuits Alleging ‘Organized Crime’

Several West Texas poker rooms are facing lawsuits that accuse them of being a “public nuisance” and committing “organized criminal activity.” The plaintiff, Chicago-based lawyer Mark Lavery, has a history of litigating against legally gray...

Written by Philip Conneller