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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

4180 stories by Philip Conneller

UFC Star Jon Jones Headbutts Police Car in Caesars Palace Arrest: Video
February 23, 2022

UFC Star Jon Jones Headbutts Police Car in Caesars Palace Arrest: Video

“That's going to be on YouTube tomorrow,” said a drunken Jon Jones, shortly after headbutting a police car outside Caesars Palace. https://youtu.be/7ejDXG4OcjY The UFC star was half-right. It took around five months. Police bodycam footage...

Written by Philip Conneller
Tioga Downs Project Was Rife with Minority Business Fraud, Says New York State
February 23, 2022

Tioga Downs Project Was Rife with Minority Business Fraud, Says New York State

Tioga Downs officials and contractors are accused of gaming the system during the harness racetrack’s redevelopment into a racino back in 2016. Officials at the upstate casino improperly claimed almost $3 million in MWBE utilization...

Written by Philip Conneller
Missouri Bill Wants Commercial Gaming in Lake of the Ozarks, Challenges Osage Tribe
February 22, 2022

Missouri Bill Wants Commercial Gaming in Lake of the Ozarks, Challenges Osage Tribe

A bill introduced to the Missouri legislature would ask voters to authorize casino gaming on or near the Osage River. That would pave the way for a commercial casino at the Lake of the Ozarks,...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kangwon Land Nepotism Scandal: South Korean Lawmaker Cleared of Corruption
February 21, 2022

Kangwon Land Nepotism Scandal: South Korean Lawmaker Cleared of Corruption

A South Korean politician accused of being a major player in the Kangwon Land nepotism scandal has been cleared of all charges by the country’s Supreme Court. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party...

Written by Philip Conneller
Israel Lottery Pulled TV Advertising Over Alleged Ex-Mossad Chief Infidelity – Report
February 21, 2022

Israel Lottery Pulled TV Advertising Over Alleged Ex-Mossad Chief Infidelity – Report

Israel’s National Lottery (Mifal Hapayis) pulled its advertising from a popular television network after it broadcast claims that former Mossad director Yossi Cohen had a fling with a married flight attendant, Haaretz alleges. Lottery chairman...

Written by Philip Conneller
Halil Falyalı: New Evidence in Murder of Turkish Cypriot Casino Owner
February 20, 2022

Halil Falyalı: New Evidence in Murder of Turkish Cypriot Casino Owner

Police in Northern Cyprus say two hitmen who allegedly killed Turkish Cypriot casino kingpin Halil Falyalı reached the Mediterranean island by boat from the mainland Turkish city of Alanya. Meanwhile, notorious gangster Mustafa Söylemez arrived...

Written by Philip Conneller
Crown Sydney Could Launch Gaming Next Month, A Year After Losing License
February 18, 2022

Crown Sydney Could Launch Gaming Next Month, A Year After Losing License

Starting next month, Crown Resorts’ $1.6 billion Crown Sydney might finally have an operational casino. A spokesperson for the New South Wales gaming regulator, ILGA, told Channel 7 News there that it “anticipated” that Crown...

Written by Philip Conneller
Sorare in the Mix for English Premier League NFT Partnership
February 18, 2022

Sorare in the Mix for English Premier League NFT Partnership

Blockchain-based fantasy soccer platform Sorare is among the companies shortlisted by the English Premier League for its first NFT (non-fungible token) partnership. But a deal would raise eyebrows, because the UK Gambling Commission is currently...

Written by Philip Conneller
Casino Staff Should Be Trained to Recognize Human Trafficking, Campaigner Urges
February 17, 2022

Casino Staff Should Be Trained to Recognize Human Trafficking, Campaigner Urges

A campaigner against human trafficking has called for casinos to implement training programs to help staff recognize potential victims. Annie Sovcik, director of Busing on the Lookout, a program of Truckers Against Trafficking, says casinos...

Written by Philip Conneller
Briton Stole £200,000 from Medical Charity, Blew it on Online Gambling
February 17, 2022

Briton Stole £200,000 from Medical Charity, Blew it on Online Gambling

A Londoner who plundered over £200,000 (US$272,000) from a medical charity to feed his online gambling habit was handed a three-year prison sentence by Snaresbrook Crown Court this week. Manjinder Virdi pleaded guilty to fraud...

Written by Philip Conneller