Areas of Expertise
3832 stories by Philip Conneller
Rosemont, Illinois Gets $2.8 Million from Backers of Failed Emerald Casino
The village of Rosemont in Chicagoland is getting a $2.8 million settlement to resolve an 18-year-old legal battle with the backers of the ill-fated Emerald Casino. As the community that was to host the capsized project, village officials were hoping for a...
Macau Regulator Denies It Wants Cashless Casino Economy Through Beijing-Backed DCEP Cryptocurrency
Macau’s gaming regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), has rejected reports that the world’s richest casino economy plans to embrace the state-backed digital currency, DCEP. On Wednesday, Bloomberg claimed the regulator had approached several casino operators about the feasibility of...
Los Angeles Councilman Vows to Address City’s Rising ‘Slaphouse’ Problem
The Los Angeles City Council will explore new measures to battle illegal gambling dens and so-called “slaphouses” in the city, per a new motion introduced this week by Councilman Bob Blumenfield. The motion directs city departments to find ways to deter landlords...
BC Dirty Money Report Author Was Conflicted, Former SG Claims in Secret Recording
The author of two explosives reports on British Columbia’s rampant money-laundering problem may not have been the right man for the job, according to secret recordings that surfaced this week. Former Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) deputy commissioner for Western Canada Peter...
Wisconsin Man Gets Life for Ho-Chunk Casino Murder
A gambler accused of stabbing an 88-year-old man to death outside the Ho-Chunk casino in Baraboo apologized to the victim’s family shortly before he was sentenced to life Tuesday. Robert Pulvermacher, 70, admitting killing Harold Johnson in January 2019 after the latter...
Nevada Sues Online Travel Booking Companies for Dodging Hotel Room Taxes
The state of Nevada is suing some of the online travel booking sector’s biggest names for consumer fraud, alleging that for years they have avoided paying full tax on hotel rooms in the state. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Nevada...
Former LA Deputy Mayor, Billionaire Chinese High Roller Indicted in $1.5 Million City Hall RICO Case
The sprawling corruption case centered around a $1.5 million pay-to-play scheme allegedly masterminded by Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar took a new twist Tuesday, as new defendants were added to the mix. Federal authorities announced the unsealing of new indictments against...
Quebec to Investigate ‘Mafia VIP’ Claims at Casino de Montreal
Quebec’s finance minister has ordered a third-party investigation into possible money laundering at the province’s casinos. The move comes days after domestic media reports alleged Mafia leaders had received VIP comps at the province-owned Casino de Montreal. These included tickets to shows,...
Macau GGR Decline Slows as Mainlanders Continue to Return
Macau gaming revenues dropped 70.5 percent to US$844 million in November, down from US$2.87 billion for the corresponding period last year, according to official figures. Under anything approaching normal circumstances, this would be an intolerable decline for the world’s richest gambling hub....
Gaming Tech Companies Settle Alleged Hacking, Copyright Infringement Dispute
A South Carolina-based gaming technology company has settled out of court with the North Carolina-based competitor it accused of selling hacked versions of its games, Biz Journals reports. Greenville-based Grover Gaming and its sister company, Banilla Games, sued TNT Amusements, of Burlington...