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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

Wynn Harassment Accusers Cannot Use Pseudonyms, Judge Rules
August 12, 2022

Wynn Harassment Accusers Cannot Use Pseudonyms, Judge Rules

A federal judge in Nevada has once again ordered that nine female Wynn Las Vegas employees must reveal their names if their sexual harassment case against Steve Wynn is to proceed. The women, all either...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bangladesh Bank Heist Casino Owner Gets Accounts Unfrozen
August 8, 2022

Bangladesh Bank Heist Casino Owner Gets Accounts Unfrozen

The Philippines Court of Appeals has upheld an order to unfreeze the bank accounts of a Chinese Filipino casino owner embroiled in 2016’s Bangladesh Bank heist. Kim Wong owns the Eastern Hawaii casino resort in...

Written by Philip Conneller
Poker Player Dan Shak Charged With ‘Spoofing’ Precious Metals Markets
August 7, 2022

Poker Player Dan Shak Charged With ‘Spoofing’ Precious Metals Markets

High-stakes poker player Dan Shak is in hot water with US financial regulators – again. On Friday, the 63-year-old circuit regular was charged with spoofing the gold and silver markets on the Commodity Exchange Inc....

Written by Philip Conneller
NAACP Sues California Cardrooms for ‘Deceptive’ Sports Betting Ballot Statement
August 4, 2022

NAACP Sues California Cardrooms for ‘Deceptive’ Sports Betting Ballot Statement

The NAACP has filed suit in California against a cardroom-backed campaign to oppose a tribal ballot initiative on sports betting. The civil rights group claims the use of its name on the campaign is “deceptive...

Written by Philip Conneller
Iowa Greyhound Breeder Gets Prison for $500K Steroid-Peddling Racket
August 3, 2022

Iowa Greyhound Breeder Gets Prison for $500K Steroid-Peddling Racket

An Iowa greyhound kennel owner has been sentenced to 15 months in prison on doping charges and conspiracy to defraud the United States, The Des Moines Register reports. In January, Jon Stidham admitted peddling half...

Written by Philip Conneller
Ex-Louisiana Democrat Leader Karen Carter Peterson Pleads Guilty to $150K Wire Fraud
August 3, 2022

Ex-Louisiana Democrat Leader Karen Carter Peterson Pleads Guilty to $150K Wire Fraud

Former Louisiana State Senator and Democratic Party leader Karen Carter Peterson pleaded guilty this week to one charge of federal wire fraud, according to court documents. Prosecutors accuse Peterson of misappropriating more than $94,000 in...

Written by Philip Conneller
Striking Ontario Casino Worker Hit by Car in ‘Deliberate’ Attack by Impatient Customer
August 2, 2022

Striking Ontario Casino Worker Hit by Car in ‘Deliberate’ Attack by Impatient Customer

A casino worker protesting outside Casino Woodbine in Etobicoke, Toronto, was hit by a car on the picket line on Sunday night. The union claims the action was deliberate. A spokesman for Unifor, which organized...

Written by Philip Conneller
James Packer Donates $250k to ‘Free Julian Assange’ Campaign
August 2, 2022

James Packer Donates $250k to ‘Free Julian Assange’ Campaign

Troubled casino mogul James Packer has given AU$250,000 (US$174,000) to the campaign to free Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and “bring him home to Australia,” The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Assange has languished in a London...

Written by Philip Conneller
US Defense Department Costs Troops $100M a Year Via Slot Machines
August 1, 2022

US Defense Department Costs Troops $100M a Year Via Slot Machines

US military personnel lose more than $100 million to the Defense Department (DoD) on slot machines stationed in overseas bases every year, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). That’s despite a ban...

Written by Philip Conneller
Money Laundering in Nigeria Casinos May be Funding Terrorism
August 1, 2022

Money Laundering in Nigeria Casinos May be Funding Terrorism

Nigeria’s efforts to combat jihadist groups risk being undermined by its casino sector, according to a new report. The West African state has been battling extremists in its northeast for the best part of two...

Written by Philip Conneller