Areas of Expertise
4065 stories by Philip Conneller
Macau’s Grand Emperor Turns Iconic Solid Gold Walkway into Cash
Grand Emperor Hotel sells gold walkway as Macau casino era fades Iconic gold attraction removed after satellite casino closures Hotel pivots to non-gaming future as regulations tighten Macau’s Grand Emperor Hotel is cashing in its gold to fund a post-casino future. Operator...
Kalshi Disputes Data Showing New Users Lose Faster Than on Sportsbooks
Prediction market losses outpace sportsbooks, especially among new and weaker users Kalshi disputes data and briefly accuses startup of attempted extortion Regulatory stakes rise as platforms reject sportsbook classification Kalshi has been forced to walk back an allegation of “extortion” amid a...
New Mexico Racino Move Sparks Tribal Gaming Backlash
Tribal leaders warn Texas-facing racino move threatens casino revenue and jobs SunRay Park seeks relocation near Clovis, citing steep revenue declines Regulators weigh economic development against market saturation and tribal impacts A proposal to move a northern New Mexico racetrack casino to...
Georgia Brothers Get 20 Years for COAM Gambling Fraud Scheme
Georgia brothers sentenced to 20 years over COAM gambling fraud Scheme targeted video poker-style machines across multiple Georgia counties Judge orders probation, bans, and $86,000 restitution to lottery Two brothers from Sparta, Ga. were handed lengthy prison sentences last week for a...
Former Lottery.com SPAC Boss Admits Securities Fraud
Former SPAC executive admits securities fraud tied to Lottery.com merger Prosecutors say fake revenue and obstruction misled public market investors Two senior Lottery.com executives previously pleaded guilty in same scheme A former Lottery.com executive pleaded guilty to securities fraud in a Manhattan...
Gambling Tycoon Linked to 34 Missing People May Have Fled Philippines
Police hunt tycoon Atong Ang in missing sabungeros case Thirty-four online cockfighting enthusiasts disappeared in 2021-2022 E-sabong scandal revives scrutiny of Ang’s controversial past A manhunt is underway in the Philippines for gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang who is wanted in connection...
China Executes Myanmar Casino Crime Family in Fraud, Trafficking Crackdown
China executes members of Myanmar border crime dynasty Patriarch Bai Soucheng already dead, state media says Laukkaing warlord family tied to scams, trafficking, and casinos Beijing signals regional crackdown on Southeast Asia fraud hubs China has executed four members of the notorious...
How Elderly UK Lottery Winner’s $3.3M Jackpot Fueled a $400M Drug Empire
Lottery windfall bankrolled industrial-scale counterfeit Valium production Millions of fake pills containing etizolam flooded illicit drug market EncroChat messages exposed operation linking father, son, and armed accomplices An aged British lottery winner who invested his £2.4 million (US$3.3 million) windfall into building...
FBI Probes Wave of Hoax Bomb Threats Targeting Oklahoma Casinos, Public Facilities
Hoax bomb threat forces evacuation of Comanche Nation Casino Police say multiple Oklahoma casinos targeted in recent threat wave Bomb-sniffing dogs used; FBI assisting tribal police investigation The Comanche Nation Casino in Lawton, southwest Oklahoma, was evacuated Saturday afternoon as law enforcement...
Convicted Guam Bingo Boss Flees After Verdict, Lands on FBI Most Wanted
Convicted bingo operator vanished before sentencing after massive Guam charity fraud FBI says sham bingo scheme raised $34 million, none for sick children Michael Marasigan fled to the Philippines after a jury convicted him of fraud A convicted bingo swindler who fled...