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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

4214 stories 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
Kindred Group Sued for $1M by Swedish Fashion Tycoon for ‘Feeding Addiction’
July 28, 2022

Kindred Group Sued for $1M by Swedish Fashion Tycoon for ‘Feeding Addiction’

A Swedish fashion retail tycoon is suing Unibet parent the Kindred Group for SEK10.2 million (US$1 million). That’s the amount he claims he lost playing on Unibet while in the throes of gambling addiction. A...

Written by Philip Conneller
Federal Horse Racing Safety Rules Blocked in Louisiana, West Virginia
July 28, 2022

Federal Horse Racing Safety Rules Blocked in Louisiana, West Virginia

Louisiana and West Virginia have obtained a preliminary injunction from a US District Judge in Lafayette to prevent enforcement of new federal rules on racetrack safety in the two states. The Horse Racing Integrity and...

Written by Philip Conneller
Rivers Casino Schenectady Sued by Women Over Alleged Security Assault
July 28, 2022

Rivers Casino Schenectady Sued by Women Over Alleged Security Assault

Three women are suing Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady. They are alleging that security officers roughed them up at the Upstate New York venue, The Daily Gazette reports. Locals Takeylyn Gibson and her twin...

Written by Philip Conneller