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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

Trump’s WeChat Ban Will Hurt US Interests in Macau: Analysts
August 11, 2020

Trump’s WeChat Ban Will Hurt US Interests in Macau: Analysts

President Donald Trump has banned Chinese social messaging giant WeChat for “undermining national security.” But the move could have unintended consequences for American business interests in Macau, analysts say. US casino operators in the world’s...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kansas Sues Interior Department Over Wynadotte Tribal Casino U-Turn
August 11, 2020

Kansas Sues Interior Department Over Wynadotte Tribal Casino U-Turn

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is suing the federal government for backing an Oklahoma-based tribe’s casino project earmarked for land ten miles north of Wichita. The Wyandotte Nation has historical ties to Kansas and has...

Written by Philip Conneller
New York Tribe’s Casino Ambitions Bulldozed by DOI After Violent In-Fighting
August 10, 2020

New York Tribe’s Casino Ambitions Bulldozed by DOI After Violent In-Fighting

The US Interior Department has denied the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York’s trust application, citing an internal leadership dispute that turned nasty in February. The decision -- 15 years after the tribe first applied...

Written by Philip Conneller
Homeless Sex Offender Charged with Murder of Poker Player Susie Zhao
August 7, 2020

Homeless Sex Offender Charged with Murder of Poker Player Susie Zhao

Poker player Susie Zhao was killed by a sex offender and transient, Jeffrey Bernard Morris, according to White Lake Township, Mich. police, who charged Morris with first-degree premeditated murder Wednesday. Police said Zhao appears to...

Written by Philip Conneller
Macau Tightens Travel Restrictions for Hong Kong Arrivals Because Of Virus Spike
August 4, 2020

Macau Tightens Travel Restrictions for Hong Kong Arrivals Because Of Virus Spike

Macau’s Health Bureau has tightened border restrictions on arrivals from Hong Kong in reaction to a spike in coronavirus cases in the business hub. Starting August 4, visitors from Hong Kong will be required to...

Written by Philip Conneller
Fallen Fintech Giant Wirecard Processed Payments for Mafia-Owned Online Gambling Group
August 4, 2020

Fallen Fintech Giant Wirecard Processed Payments for Mafia-Owned Online Gambling Group

Disgraced German fintech group Wirecard once processed payments for Centurionbet, an online gambling outfit that was linked to the powerful Italian organized crime syndicate the ’Ndrangheta, The Financial Times reports. In 2018, the Italian courts...

Written by Philip Conneller
Arrest Made in Poker Girl Susie Zhao Killing
August 3, 2020

Arrest Made in Poker Girl Susie Zhao Killing

Michigan police have arrested a 60-year-old man in connection with the suspected homicide of Asian American poker player Susie Zhao. The 33-year-old card player’s charred body was found July 13 near a recreation area in...

Written by Philip Conneller
UK Casino Openings on Hold as Coronavirus Stages European Comeback
July 31, 2020

UK Casino Openings on Hold as Coronavirus Stages European Comeback

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday shelved plans to reopen casinos in England amid fears the UK and the rest of Europe could be witnessing the beginnings of a second wave of the novel...

Written by Philip Conneller
Greyhounds Trained Using Brutal ‘Live Lure’ Practices Still Running at Tracks in Florida, Arkansas, West Virginia
July 28, 2020

Greyhounds Trained Using Brutal ‘Live Lure’ Practices Still Running at Tracks in Florida, Arkansas, West Virginia

This week, Greyhound protection charity Grey2K said its given authorities evidence of live lure training at race tracks in several states. That's following an investigation into three dog trainers in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. The...

Written by Philip Conneller
‘Three-Card Monte’ Lawsuit Against Atlantic Lottery VLTs Tossed by Canada’s Supreme Court
July 28, 2020

‘Three-Card Monte’ Lawsuit Against Atlantic Lottery VLTs Tossed by Canada’s Supreme Court

In Canada, a longstanding lawsuit that sought to demonstrate that the Atlantic Lottery Corp’s video lottery terminals (VLTs) were little more than deceptive “three-card monte” games has been thrown out by the highest court in...

Written by Philip Conneller