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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

4187 stories by Philip Conneller

Maine House Fails to Override Governor Veto, Sports Betting Dead for This Year
February 11, 2020

Maine House Fails to Override Governor Veto, Sports Betting Dead for This Year

The Maine House of Representatives did not override Democratic Governor Janet Mills' veto of the state’s sports betting bill Tuesday, despite having been widely tipped to do so. The House voted 85-57 in favor of...

Written by Philip Conneller
Former Iowa Governor Tom Vislack Wins $150,000 on Powerball Lottery Draw
February 11, 2020

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vislack Wins $150,000 on Powerball Lottery Draw

The Iowa Democratic Party Caucus may have descended into farce last week, but things were looking up for at least one Iowa Democrat by Monday when it dawned on him he’d won the lottery. And...

Written by Philip Conneller
British Columbia Bids to Seize $25,000 From Alleged Casino Money Launderer Paul Jin
February 11, 2020

British Columbia Bids to Seize $25,000 From Alleged Casino Money Launderer Paul Jin

Authorities in British Columbia have launched a legal bid to seize a $25,000 bank draft made out to Great Canadian Casinos by suspected money launderer Paul King Jin, The Province reports. BC's Civil Forfeiture Office...

Written by Philip Conneller
Japanese Lawmaker Indicted in Casino Bribery Case Pays $273,000 Bail, Still Stuck in Jail
February 10, 2020

Japanese Lawmaker Indicted in Casino Bribery Case Pays $273,000 Bail, Still Stuck in Jail

The Japanese lawmaker at the center of a casino bribery scandal was granted bail Monday. But Tsukasa Akimoto will not fulfil his stated desire of resuming his parliamentary duties just yet. Despite paying his $273,000...

Written by Philip Conneller
L’Auberge Casino Bug: at Least 200 Fall Ill with Norovirus in Louisiana
February 10, 2020

L’Auberge Casino Bug: at Least 200 Fall Ill with Norovirus in Louisiana

Louisiana health officials have confirmed that a stomach illness reported to have broken out at L’Auberge Casino in Lake Charles last week is the highly contagious norovirus, which has now infected at least 200 people....

Written by Philip Conneller
California State Lottery Draws Flak Over Ellen DeGeneres $212,500 Scratch-Off Giveaway
February 7, 2020

California State Lottery Draws Flak Over Ellen DeGeneres $212,500 Scratch-Off Giveaway

Every audience member at a recording of The Ellen DeGeneres Show on December 2 was delighted to go home with a $500 bundle of scratch-off tickets, courtesy of the California State Lottery (CSL). The Lottery...

Written by Philip Conneller
Melco Backs Out of Deal to Buy James Packer’s Crown Resorts Shares, Citing Coronavirus Scare
February 7, 2020

Melco Backs Out of Deal to Buy James Packer’s Crown Resorts Shares, Citing Coronavirus Scare

Lawrence Ho’s Melco Resorts has pulled out of a deal to acquire an additional 10 percent of Crown Resorts from Australian billionaire James Packer, blaming the economic pressures of the coronavirus. Melco agreed to a...

Written by Philip Conneller
Mashpee Tribe Back in Court to Fight for Sovereignty and $1 Billion Genting-Backed Casino
February 6, 2020

Mashpee Tribe Back in Court to Fight for Sovereignty and $1 Billion Genting-Backed Casino

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe had its day in a federal appeals court Wednesday, as its lawyers argued for the tribe’s right to self-governance and to build a $1 billion casino in Taunton, Massachusetts. The tribe...

Written by Philip Conneller
Flutter Entertainment-Stars Group Merger to Be Probed by UK Antitrust Regulators
February 6, 2020

Flutter Entertainment-Stars Group Merger to Be Probed by UK Antitrust Regulators

The proposed $12.2 Billion takeover of PokerStars parent The Stars Group (TSG) by Flutter Entertainment is to come under the scrutiny of the UK’s antitrust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The planned all-share...

Written by Philip Conneller
Former Illinois State Rep. Luis Arroyo Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Charge Linked to Gambling Bill
February 6, 2020

Former Illinois State Rep. Luis Arroyo Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Charge Linked to Gambling Bill

A former Illinois state representative charged with bribing an unnamed state senator to win support for gambling legislation pleaded not guilty in a federal court this week. Luis Arroyo was the Assistant Majority Leader in...

Written by Philip Conneller