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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

4158 stories by Philip Conneller

Former NH Senator Andy Sanborn Pleads Guilty to Buying Porsche with COVID Relief Funds
July 9, 2026

Former NH Senator Andy Sanborn Pleads Guilty to Buying Porsche with COVID Relief Funds

Former New Hampshire state senator and casino owner Andy Sanborn pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday (July 8) to stealing government funds, admitting he used more than $255,000 in federal COVID-19 relief money to...

Written by Philip Conneller
Developer Pitches $500M Lakeside Casino Resort Ahead of Steuben County Vote
July 8, 2026

Developer Pitches $500M Lakeside Casino Resort Ahead of Steuben County Vote

An Indiana property developer and realtor is proposing a $500 million lakeside destination casino resort in Steuben County in the state’s northeast, Fort Wayne TV station WANE reports. Pokagon State Park, above, is just a...

Written by Philip Conneller
Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest Dogged by Fresh Betting Controversy
July 8, 2026

Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest Dogged by Fresh Betting Controversy

Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest may not generate the betting volume of the World Cup or the Super Bowl, but the July 4 spectacle is the absolute pinnacle of competitive eating. And because...

Written by Philip Conneller
Sportsbooks Cash In After Record Betting on USMNT’s World Cup Exit
July 8, 2026

Sportsbooks Cash In After Record Betting on USMNT’s World Cup Exit

The USMNT’s crushing World Cup exit against Belgium on Monday night (July 6) officially marked the most-bet soccer match in U.S. sports betting history, according to industry data compiled by ESPN and Fox Sports. While...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kansas Tribe Sues State Lottery Over ‘Illegal’ Ticket Sales on Reservation
July 8, 2026

Kansas Tribe Sues State Lottery Over ‘Illegal’ Ticket Sales on Reservation

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is suing the Kansas Lottery, alleging the state illegally sells tickets on its reservation in violation of federal law and tribal sovereignty. The Prairie Band Casino Resort, above, about 15...

Written by Philip Conneller
Former Crown Exec Loses Bid for $20M Interest on High Roller’s ‘Largest, Fastest’ Casino Losses
July 7, 2026

Former Crown Exec Loses Bid for $20M Interest on High Roller’s ‘Largest, Fastest’ Casino Losses

A former Crown Resorts executive has lost her bid to collect years of interest on a Chinese billionaire’s gambling debt that has been described as the “largest and fastest” loss ever recorded at an Australian...

Written by Philip Conneller
Polymarket Sued by Traders Claiming $6.5M ‘Scam’ Over Bitcoin Prediction Market
July 7, 2026

Polymarket Sued by Traders Claiming $6.5M ‘Scam’ Over Bitcoin Prediction Market

Two Polymarket traders have sued the prediction market platform in New York, alleging it changed the rules governing a Bitcoin-related market after the outcome was known, costing nearly 1,900 traders a combined $6.5 million in...

Written by Philip Conneller
Trump Pardons Jack Abramoff Partner Adam Kidan in SunCruz Fraud Case Tied to Gus Boulis Murder
July 7, 2026

Trump Pardons Jack Abramoff Partner Adam Kidan in SunCruz Fraud Case Tied to Gus Boulis Murder

US President Donald Trump on Friday (July 3) granted a full pardon to Adam Kidan, whose fraudulent bid to acquire SunCruz Casinos sparked a business dispute that ended with the 2001 murder of company founder...

Written by Philip Conneller
Chumba Casino Founder Laurence Escalante Resigns From VGW Following Criminal Charges
July 7, 2026

Chumba Casino Founder Laurence Escalante Resigns From VGW Following Criminal Charges

Troubled Chumba Casino founder Laurence Escalante has permanently resigned from VGW, the online gaming company he founded in 2010 and grew into one of Australia’s largest private companies. Laurence Escalante, above, grew rich largely by...

Written by Philip Conneller
Buddhist Monk Gets 12 Years After Gambling-Fueled Sextortion Scandal
July 5, 2026

Buddhist Monk Gets 12 Years After Gambling-Fueled Sextortion Scandal

A defrocked senior Thai Buddhist monk has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for embezzling roughly US$92,000 in temple donations to pay off a high-stakes gambling debt after falling victim to an elaborate sextortion...

Written by Philip Conneller