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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

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
Larry Flynts’ Brother Sues for Half of Hustler Empire
February 17, 2022

Larry Flynts’ Brother Sues for Half of Hustler Empire

Larry Flynt’s younger brother is suing the late tycoon’s widow for half of the Hustler porn and casino empire. In a lawsuit filed last week in a California federal court, Jimmy Flynt claims he was...

Written by Philip Conneller
Ex-Gold Country Casino Execs Owe Berry Creek Tribe $8M, Ignored RICO Suit
February 16, 2022

Ex-Gold Country Casino Execs Owe Berry Creek Tribe $8M, Ignored RICO Suit

In 2020, two former casino executives described allegations that they skimmed $2.9 million from the Gold Country Casino Resort in California as “absolutely ridiculous.” Confronted with a lawsuit that claimed fraud and racketeering, Deborah Howard and Jesse...

Written by Philip Conneller
Las Vegas Firefighter Arrested in Planet Hollywood Sex-Trafficking Sting
February 16, 2022

Las Vegas Firefighter Arrested in Planet Hollywood Sex-Trafficking Sting

A Las Vegas firefighter who allegedly moonlighted as a pimp is facing a felony charge of pandering. That's after he tried to recruit an undercover female police detective to be his “b*tch.” Treyveon Denzel Evans...

Written by Philip Conneller
Macau Court is Siding with LVS in $7.5B Breach of Contract Case Vs. Marshall Hao
February 15, 2022

Macau Court is Siding with LVS in $7.5B Breach of Contract Case Vs. Marshall Hao

A judge in Macau’s Court of First Instance appears to be siding with Las Vegas Sands Corp’s (LVS) defense of a monstruous $7.5 billion breach-of-contract lawsuit, dating back 20 years. Judge Seng Ioi Man said...

Written by Philip Conneller
Las Vegas Police Wanted to Arrest Cristiano Ronaldo for Alleged Palms Casino Rape
February 15, 2022

Las Vegas Police Wanted to Arrest Cristiano Ronaldo for Alleged Palms Casino Rape

Las Vegas police (LVMPD) believed they had the evidence to arrest and charge soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for an alleged 2009 rape at the Palms Casino, and even applied for an arrest warrant. That was...

Written by Philip Conneller
Parkwest Casinos Boss Wins $47M Judgment Against Lawyer Over Casino M8trx Deal
February 15, 2022

Parkwest Casinos Boss Wins $47M Judgment Against Lawyer Over Casino M8trx Deal

A California court has awarded Parkwest Casinos founder John Park $47.4 million in compensatory damages from his ex-lawyer. That’s for sabotaging his bid to purchase a 50 percent stake in San Jose’s Casino M8trix, per...

Written by Philip Conneller
Flying Lark Plans in Disarray as Oregon AG Says HHR Machines Are ‘Slots’
February 14, 2022

Flying Lark Plans in Disarray as Oregon AG Says HHR Machines Are ‘Slots’

Ambitions to install 225 historical horse racing machines at Grant Pass Downs’ new gaming and entertainment center could be a nonstarter. On Friday, Oregon AG Ellen Rosenblum issued an opinion that the machines sought by...

Written by Philip Conneller