3704 stories by Philip Conneller
Bulgarian Gambling Czar and Alleged Criminal Mastermind Vasil ‘The Skull’ Bozhkov Charged with Extortion
A Bulgarian gambling mogul known as “The Skull” has been charged in absentia with organizing a crime group, extortion, and attempted bribery by authorities in the Balkan state. Vasil Bozhkov is one of Bulgaria’s richest men, with a fortune estimated at $1.5...
Ridgecrest, California Casino Back on Track as City and Death Valley Tribe Settle
A controversial tribal casino project in Ridgecrest, California will move ahead, after the Timbisha Shoshone tribe of Death Valley announced it had resolved its dispute with the city this week. Ridgecrest has agreed to sell the parcel of land earmarked for the...
Crown Resorts Tycoon James Packer to Testify for Prosecution in Netanyahu Corruption Trial
Crown Resorts billionaire James Packer will be called as a prosecution witness in the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to indictment documents seen by News Corp. Netanyahu was officially indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust on...
Washington State Social Gaming Legislation Could Rescue Big Fish Casino From Legal Trouble
Bills introduced in the Washington State legislature last week are designed to protect the state’s social gaming industry from legal bombardment. The identical bills -- sponsored in the House by State Rep. Zach Hudgins (D-11th) and in the Senate by State Sen....
OJ Simpson Defamation Case Vs. Cosmopolitan to Go to Trial, Private Settlement Ruled Out
OJ Simpson’s lawsuit against The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will go to court, a pretrial commissioner ruled on Monday. Simpson, 72, is suing the Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino for defamation after a report surfaced on celebrity gossip site TMZ claiming the disgraced...
Denise Coates’ Bet365 Was Biggest UK Tax Contributor in 2019
The Coates family -- owner of online sports-betting giant Bet365 -- has been named the UK’s biggest taxpayer of 2019, according to the Sunday Times Tax List. The accolade might even temper media criticism directed at the private company’s CEO and cofounder,...
Massachusetts Lottery ‘Winner’ Stole $4 Million Ticket from Immigrant Who Thought He’d Won $4,000, Claims Lawsuit
A Massachusetts woman who claimed a $4 million scratch-ticket prize in December 2019 is now accused of exploiting the alleged real winner because he couldn’t speak English. Susana Gaspar, of New Bedford, made the local news when she became the second winner...
Former River Rock VIP Manager Claims Top Brass Fired Him to Silence Him Over Money Laundering
Great Canadian Gaming Corp (GCG) is accused in a new lawsuit of trying to silence the former VIP gaming manager at its River Rock Casino and Resort in Richmond, BC. The allegation comes amid a public investigation into a money-laundering epidemic in...
PokerStars Founder Isai Scheinberg Surrenders to US Authorities After Nine Years as a Fugitive
PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg is in federal custody almost nine years after being indicted by the US Department of Justice on charges that include bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling. According to Forbes, which first broke the story, the 73-year-old surrendered...
Rugby Star Sonny Bill Williams Says Betfred Logo a No-Go Due to Religious Beliefs
Rugby legend Sonny Bill Williams will refuse to wear the logo of gambling company Betfred on his jersey when he lines up for the Toronto Wolfpack at the beginning of February. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner completed a $10 million move...
