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Reporter: 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.

Areas of Expertise

3661 stories by Philip Conneller

Rowland Marcus Andrade, Jack Abramoff, AML Bitcoin

Texas Man Convicted in ‘AML Bitcoin’ Pump and Dump Linked to ‘Casino’ Jack Abramoff

Marcus Andrade was convicted of a $5.6M crypto fraud scheme Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to the scheme but avoided a prison sentence Fraud claims included fake government adoption deals A crypto entrepreneur has been convicted of orchestrating a fraudulent “pump and dump”...

Philip Conneller March 17, 2025
Irving casino, Texas casino, Las Vegas Sands, LVS

Thousands Sign Petition Opposing LVS Texas Casino Plan

Residents petition against proposed Las Vegas Sands casino. Casino plan depends on Texas legalizing gambling. Irving council to vote on zoning approval Monday. Commercial casino gaming may be illegal in Texas, but that didn’t stop thousands of residents of the city of...

Philip Conneller March 15, 2025
Kalispel Tribe, Northern Quest Casino, Kevin Wissman

Northern Quest Casino Moccasin Theft Mystery Sees 11th Hour Guilty Plea

Thief Kevin Wissman admitted stealing moccasins from Northern Quest Casino FBI and Kalispel Tribe still seeking the missing cultural artifacts Wissman, with a lengthy criminal past, faces sentencing on June 12 The mysterious disappearance of antique Kalispel tribal artifacts from the Northern...

Philip Conneller March 13, 2025
UKGC, Richard Desmond, Northern & Shell, Hogan Lovells

UK Gambling Commission’s ‘Unprecedented Blunder’ in ex-Porn Baron’s £200M Lawsuit

UKGC lawyers mistakenly sent 4,321 privileged documents to the opposition. Richard Desmond claims lottery bidding errors unfairly hurt Northern & Shell. Trial set for October; UKGC warns of lottery funding impacts. Lawyers for the UK Gambling Commission inadvertently dumped thousands of documents...

Philip Conneller March 13, 2025
WWE 2K25, Xavier Woods, Breeze, R-Truth, Dakota Kai, Kofi Kingston, Wrestlemania 41, Resorts World Las Vegas

WWE Stars Play Newly Released WWE 2K25 on Resorts World Ahead of Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas

Newly released WWE video game featured on Resorts World 100K-foot LED screen WWE stars, including Xavier Woods, Breeze, and Dakota Kai attended the event Wrestlemania 41 coming to Vegas in April A portion of the Las Vegas skyline was transformed into a...

Philip Conneller March 13, 2025
Texas Lottery, lottery couriers, TLC

Texas Lottery Launches Probe into Vendors Linked to Couriers After Jackpot Gamed

Texas Lottery cracks down on retailers working with courier services. European syndicate wins jackpot by purchasing all combinations. Lawmakers debate banning or regulating lottery courier services. Just two weeks after the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) announced it would ban lottery courier services...

Philip Conneller March 12, 2025
John Leake, NFL, Ponzo Scheme, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers

Ex-NFL Player Gets 2.5 Years for $5 Million ‘African Goldmine’ Ponzi Scheme

Former NFL linebacker John Leake sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for a $5 million Ponzi scheme   Solicited more than $8 million from victims, using funds for gambling and personal expenses  Pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, and was ordered...

Philip Conneller March 12, 2025
Šarūnas Stepukonis. BaltCap, Olympic Casino Group Baltija, Olybet

Olympic Casino Group fined €8.4 Million for Role in €42 Million BaltCap Scandal

Baltic casino operator Olympic Casino Group Baltija has been fined €8.4 million (US$9.2 million) for allowing a rogue BaltCap private equity manager to gamble millions without checks or balances. Lithuanian national Šarūnas Stepukonis was arrested in February 2024. He's suspected of misappropriating...

Philip Conneller March 11, 2025
Jeffrey Jacoby, Cheylee Kessee, Kashon Glass, Venetian, Pallazzo, lawsuit

Venetian Las Vegas Sued by Widow Over Death Involving Sex Worker

Venetian Las Vegas sued for wrongful death by widow after husband’s fatal fentanyl overdose Victim was robbed by a sex worker who later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and is now in prison The lawsuit claims the casino failed to protect guests...

Philip Conneller March 10, 2025
Bolita, Florida, Juan Carlos Lora, Maria Victoria Martinez

La Bolita: Is the Underground ‘Little Ball’ Lottery Making a Comeback in Florida?

Bolita’s Return? Recent Florida arrests suggest a resurgence of the illegal lottery. Is it making a comeback or just targeted enforcement? Digital systems now process illicit bets on state lotteries. Police in Florida have arrested two people alleged to have been running...

Philip Conneller March 10, 2025