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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

3661 stories by Philip Conneller

Craig McIlquham, Hells Angels Ontario, Project Hobart, ‘Ndrangheta Mafia, Illegal gambling Canada

Hells Angel in ‘Ndrangheta Mafia-Linked Gambling Racket Shot Dead in Canada

Craig “Truck” McIlquham was killed in a targeted Burlington shooting He was central to 2019's Project Hobart bust Tied to Hells Angels, ‘Ndrangheta, and illegal gambling A Hells Angel gang member who was at the center of a high-profile illegal gambling bust...

Philip Conneller May 7, 2025
Richard Desmond, UK Gambling Commission, National Lottery contract, Allwyn lottery operator, Northern & Shell

Document Dump Blunder Gives Ex-Porn Baron the Edge in £200 Million Lottery Lawsuit

UKGC mistakenly disclosed 4,000+ documents in lottery lawsuit Judge allows most documents despite UKGC privilege objections Desmond claims £200M damages over unfair lottery contract loss Media mogul Richard Desmond has received a boost in his £200 million (US$267 million) lawsuit against the...

Philip Conneller May 7, 2025
Congyuan Guo, Philippines ransom murder, casino junkets, 9 Dynasty Group, White Horse Club, crypto laundering, David Tan Liao, Philippine police, online gambling dispute, kidnapping case

Casino Junkets Named in $3.6 Million Ransom Transfer Tied to Murdered Chinese Steel Tycoon

$3.6 million ransom paid for kidnapped Chinese businessman funneled through two casino junkets  Victim Congyuan Guo was killed despite the ransom payment; his death linked to a failed $20M gambling deal Philippine police have named two casino junket operators who they say...

Philip Conneller May 7, 2025
Sara Jacqueline King, Las Vegas fraud, King Family Lending, wire fraud, money laundering, disbarred lawyer, Wynn Las Vegas

Glam Lawyer Gets Prison for $8.7M Las Vegas Fraud and Gambling Bender

Lawyer Sara King stole $8.7 million from investors in her King Family Lending business Spent the funds on high-stakes gambling spree and lavish lifestyle at Wynn Las Vegas Sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, ordered to pay full restitution to victims...

Philip Conneller May 6, 2025
Donovan Bacon, California prison escape, casino arrest, Coyote Valley Casino, Parlin Fork Conservation Camp, inmate escape, CDCR, California inmate captured

Escaped California Inmate Captured at Coyote Valley Casino

Inmate Donovan Bacon escaped from low security prison camp early Sunday morning Arrested four hours later at the Coyote Valley Casino, 38 miles away Bacon was serving a six-year sentence for armed robbery with a weapon enhancement Luck ran out for a...

Philip Conneller May 6, 2025
Zhao Xintong, Snooker World Championship 2025, match-fixing snooker

Snooker Player Banned for Match-Fixing Wins World Championship

Zhao Xintong became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship. 27-year-old served a 20-month ban related to a match-fixing scandal. Snooker has a new world champion and he's fresh off a ban for involvement in match-fixing.  Zhao Xintong beat...

Philip Conneller May 6, 2025
FantaPappa, fantasy pope game, papal conclave 2025, pope betting

FantaPappa: Italians Go Crazy for Fantasy Pope-Betting Platform

FantaPappa is a fantasy ‘sports’ game where users try to predict the next pope. Game has over 60,000 players in Italy. ‘Pope betting’ popular in markets where legal In Italy, betting on papal conclaves – the gathering of cardinals in the Vatican...

Philip Conneller May 5, 2025
Haliey Welch, Hawk Tuah, $HAWK, pump and dump, poker

‘Bad Optics’? ‘Hawk Tuah’ Girl Returns to Spotlight at Las Vegas Poker Event

Viral internet star Haliey Welch, aka the “Hawk Tuah girl,” resurfaced at celebrity poker tournament. Welch had kept a low profile amid controversy over her failed cryptocurrency, $HAWK. Haliey Welch, better known to many as “the Hawk Tuah girl,” has returned to...

Philip Conneller May 5, 2025
Bally's Chicago casino, Illinois Gaming Board, D&P Construction, Mafia, Chicago Outfit, John DiFronzo, Peter DiFronzo, Emerald Casino Rosemont

Bally’s Chicago Casino Halted Over Vendor Once Linked to Mob by FBI

Illinois Gaming Board halts construction on Bally’s Chicago casino over unapproved vendor. Dumpsters on-site were supplied by D&P Construction, once tied to alleged Chicago Outfit bosses. The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has ordered construction work to be halted on Bally’s $1.7 billion...

Philip Conneller May 2, 2025
Ron DeSantis, Florida migration, Florida Lottery, Florida Gaming Commission, ICE, 287(g) program, undocumented immigrants, Operation Tidal Wave

Gov. DeSantis Taps Florida Lottery, Gambling Regulator to Join Migrant Crackdown

Florida Gov. says state agencies like Florida Lottery and Gaming Commission will aid in migration enforcement Implementation details, such as ID requirements for lottery or alcohol purchases, remain unclear Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Thursday more state agencies will partner with...

Philip Conneller May 2, 2025