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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

4185 stories by Philip Conneller

GVC Holdings to Change Its Name to Entain and Exit All Gray Markets by 2023
November 12, 2020

GVC Holdings to Change Its Name to Entain and Exit All Gray Markets by 2023

Online gaming giant GVC Holdings is changing its name to “Entain.” The operator announced Thursday that the rebrand was part of a new “sustainable growth strategy” that would also see it exit all gray markets...

Written by Philip Conneller
US Election Shatters Political Betting Records, Brits Trade Almost $800 Million on Betfair
November 11, 2020

US Election Shatters Political Betting Records, Brits Trade Almost $800 Million on Betfair

The 2020 US presidential election proved, as expected, to be the biggest political betting event the world has ever seen. Betfair, the world’s biggest betting exchange, said Wednesday around £600 million ($793 million) was traded...

Written by Philip Conneller
Great Canadian Gaming Corp Agrees $2.5 Billion Apollo Global Takeover Bid
November 11, 2020

Great Canadian Gaming Corp Agrees $2.5 Billion Apollo Global Takeover Bid

The Great Canadian Gaming Corp (GCGC) board has unanimously approved a C$3.3 billion ($2.5 billion) takeover bid by private equity giant Apollo Global Management. The Vancouver-based casino group announced Tuesday that the deal values the...

Written by Philip Conneller
Ho-Chunk Casino Killing Trial Delayed By Prison Coronavirus Outbreak
November 11, 2020

Ho-Chunk Casino Killing Trial Delayed By Prison Coronavirus Outbreak

The trial of a septuagenarian charged with fatally stabbing a fellow senior citizen outside the Ho-Chunk Casino in Baraboo, Wisconsin is on ice. That's after an outbreak of coronavirus in the prison holding the accused....

Written by Philip Conneller
Gambler Who Kidnapped Son of Debtor Over $4 Million Loan Says He Had ‘No Other Option’
November 10, 2020

Gambler Who Kidnapped Son of Debtor Over $4 Million Loan Says He Had ‘No Other Option’

A kidnapper who snatched a 12-year-old boy off the street in a bid to recoup an AU$5.5 million ($4 million USD) gambling debt from the boy’s father apologized to his victim as he was handed...

Written by Philip Conneller
£27 Million Gambler Sues London’s Park Lane Club for £244K in Unpaid VIP Incentives
November 10, 2020

£27 Million Gambler Sues London’s Park Lane Club for £244K in Unpaid VIP Incentives

A high-rolling gambler who staked £27 million ($35 million) on the roulette tables of an exclusive London private members casino before turning a “small” profit is suing the casino for cashback. In a lawsuit filed...

Written by Philip Conneller
Sportech Rebuffs $71 Million Takeover Bid from Standard General, Major Twin River Shareholder
November 6, 2020

Sportech Rebuffs $71 Million Takeover Bid from Standard General, Major Twin River Shareholder

Shares in British betting tech group Sportech soared almost 20 percent Friday after the company confirmed it had rejected takeover bids by US hedge fund Standard General. Sportech said it had received two all-cash offers...

Written by Philip Conneller
Top BC Lawmaker Let Money Launderers Run Riot in State Casinos, Former Police Commander Says
November 6, 2020

Top BC Lawmaker Let Money Launderers Run Riot in State Casinos, Former Police Commander Says

British Columbia’s minister in charge of gaming under the province’s former Liberal government had no interest in combating money laundering at state-owned casinos, according to a former top police officer. Fred Pinnock was commander of...

Written by Philip Conneller
‘Top Dog’ Gambler Played with CA$1.1 million at River Rock, Mostly $20 Bills
November 5, 2020

‘Top Dog’ Gambler Played with CA$1.1 million at River Rock, Mostly $20 Bills

A “top dog” gambler with connections to an underground bank that allegedly laundered money for drug cartels was able to gamble with CA$1.1 million ($840k) in low denomination banknotes at a British Columbia casino. The...

Written by Philip Conneller
Two Plead Guilty to Witness Tampering in Japanese Casino Bribery Case
November 5, 2020

Two Plead Guilty to Witness Tampering in Japanese Casino Bribery Case

Two supporters of embattled Japanese lawmaker Tsukasa Akimoto have pleaded guilty to witness tampering on behalf of the former casino policymaker. Akihito Awaji, 54, and Fumihiko Sato, 50, admitted to the Tokyo District Court this...

Written by Philip Conneller