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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

4213 stories by Philip Conneller

UK National Lottery Could be Suspended Over Licensing Battle
May 23, 2022

UK National Lottery Could be Suspended Over Licensing Battle

London’s High Court will decide in a ruling expected this week whether the UK National Lottery will be suspended in the future if a legal battle over licensing remains unresolved. In March, the UK Gambling...

Written by Philip Conneller
Cincinnati Poker Club Action Factory to Close After Permit Revoked
May 20, 2022

Cincinnati Poker Club Action Factory to Close After Permit Revoked

A Cincinnati poker club has confirmed it will shutter next week after municipal officials revoked its zoning permit, The Cincinnati Inquirer reports. The Action Factory in Sycamore Township initially received a green light to operate....

Written by Philip Conneller
Arkansas Faces Lawsuit Over Problem Gambling Treatment Fail
May 20, 2022

Arkansas Faces Lawsuit Over Problem Gambling Treatment Fail

Three and a half years after Arkansas voters opted to change the state constitution (Amendment 100) to allow casino gaming, funds pledged to help combat problem gambling have not materialized, local CBS affiliate THV11 reports....

Written by Philip Conneller
MGM Springfield Concerns Spur City to Extend Pawn Shop Ban
May 19, 2022

MGM Springfield Concerns Spur City to Extend Pawn Shop Ban

Springfield, Mass. City Council has voted unanimously to extend a ban on new pawn shops and second-hand jewelry dealers in the area, WAMC Northeast Public Radio reports. The council implemented the ban in 2014 when...

Written by Philip Conneller
Lake Mead Body in Barrel Could Be Casino Veteran, Say Mob Experts
May 19, 2022

Lake Mead Body in Barrel Could Be Casino Veteran, Say Mob Experts

The body in a barrel found in the mud of a receding Lake Mead several weeks ago could be that of a Las Vegas casino veteran named Johnny Pappas, according to two Mob experts. Writing...

Written by Philip Conneller
Legends Poker Room Shooting: Houston Killer Claims Self-Defense
May 18, 2022

Legends Poker Room Shooting: Houston Killer Claims Self-Defense

A man fatally shot outside a poker room in Houston, Texas, Wednesday morning had tried to steal his killer’s car, according to police. This is the latest in a spate of violent incidents in and...

Written by Philip Conneller
MGM Cotai Double-Murder Suspect Arrested in Mainland China
May 18, 2022

MGM Cotai Double-Murder Suspect Arrested in Mainland China

A man suspected of strangling to death two women in a hotel room at the MGM Cotai in Macau May 5 has been arrested in China’s Hunan province. The 34-year-old suspect, named only as Zhao,...

Written by Philip Conneller
Japan Man Gets $358k COVID-Relief Error, Gambles, Goes on Lam
May 17, 2022

Japan Man Gets $358k COVID-Relief Error, Gambles, Goes on Lam

A Japanese man who mistakenly received 46.3 million yen (US$358,140) in Covid-19 relief funds has blown all the money on black market online gambling sites, according to his lawyer. Officials in the southern town of...

Written by Philip Conneller
Wynn Macau Director Embroiled in $2.8M Bribery Probe, Charges Filed
May 17, 2022

Wynn Macau Director Embroiled in $2.8M Bribery Probe, Charges Filed

Two Hong Kong residents have been charged with bribing a Wynn Resorts (Macau) director in return for lucrative contracts servicing the company’s casino properties. Wynn Resorts (Macau) is the subsidiary of Wynn Macau Ltd that...

Written by Philip Conneller
Grand Hotel Gold Coast Video Shows Security Push Couple Down Stairs
May 17, 2022

Grand Hotel Gold Coast Video Shows Security Push Couple Down Stairs

Video of security guards at the Grand Hotel casino in Gold Coast, Australia, pushing a couple down a flight of concrete stairs has amassed more than 27,000 horrified viewers since it was uploaded Monday. https://youtu.be/50Xqu11AMqM...

Written by Philip Conneller