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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

4253 stories by Philip Conneller

Flutter and TSG Vow $12 Billion Mega-Merger Won’t Be Sabotaged by Coronavirus Crisis
March 31, 2020

Flutter and TSG Vow $12 Billion Mega-Merger Won’t Be Sabotaged by Coronavirus Crisis

Paddy Power and FanDuel owner Flutter Entertainment, and PokerStars and SkyBet parent The Stars Group (TSG) said this week their planned $12.2 billion merger will go ahead -- regulators permitting -- despite the financial shock...

Written by Philip Conneller
SBTech Hammered by Cyberattack, BetAmerica, Oregon Lottery Sports Betting Knocked Offline for Three Days
March 30, 2020

SBTech Hammered by Cyberattack, BetAmerica, Oregon Lottery Sports Betting Knocked Offline for Three Days

SBTech was hit by a cyberattack late Friday, forcing the sports betting and lottery provider to shut down its global data centers, putting its B2B partners out of action, LegalSportsReport first reported. As of 3...

Written by Philip Conneller
Tokyo 2020 Olympics Officially Bumped to July 23, 2021, But Will Coronavirus Be Under Control by Then?
March 30, 2020

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Officially Bumped to July 23, 2021, But Will Coronavirus Be Under Control by Then?

The Tokyo Olympics will kick off on July 23, 2021 and run until August 8, the International Olympic Committee announced after a meeting of its executive board Monday. IOC Thomas Bach told reporters that the...

Written by Philip Conneller
Chickasaw, Choctaw Nations Sue Insurance Companies to Secure Coronavirus Shutdown Payouts
March 27, 2020

Chickasaw, Choctaw Nations Sue Insurance Companies to Secure Coronavirus Shutdown Payouts

Oklahoma casino operators the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations are suing a group of insurance firms, seeking a declaration that financial damages incurred during the coronavirus shutdown will be paid. The Chickasaw Nation is Oklahoma’s largest...

Written by Philip Conneller
Washington Sports Betting Bill Becomes Law Amid Game Drought, Legal Challenge Looms
March 26, 2020

Washington Sports Betting Bill Becomes Law Amid Game Drought, Legal Challenge Looms

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed into law a controversial bill that legalizes sports betting at tribal casinos. In doing so, Washington became the first state this year to authorize wagering on sporting...

Written by Philip Conneller
Philippine Regulator PAGCOR Wants to Reopen High Stakes Tables to Fund Coronavirus Fight
March 25, 2020

Philippine Regulator PAGCOR Wants to Reopen High Stakes Tables to Fund Coronavirus Fight

Philippine casino regulator-operator PAGCOR has released $118 million to state coffers to help fund the fight against the coronavirus. But PAGCOR Chair and Chief Executive Andrea Domingo has suggested that reinstating VIP gaming at state-owned...

Written by Philip Conneller
Lotto-Quebec Halts Land-Based Lottery Sales Amid Pandemic, But Most US States Couldn’t Follow Suit
March 24, 2020

Lotto-Quebec Halts Land-Based Lottery Sales Amid Pandemic, But Most US States Couldn’t Follow Suit

While many US state lotteries are closing their offices to the public, their operations are going on as normal during the coronavirus crisis. The physical sale of tickets and scratch-offs continues as the only form...

Written by Philip Conneller
888 Stock Rises 31 Percent Over Expectation Company Can Absorb Coronavirus Shock
March 24, 2020

888 Stock Rises 31 Percent Over Expectation Company Can Absorb Coronavirus Shock

The coronavirus may be clobbering gambling stock the world over, but 888 Holdings was up more than 31 percent Tuesday after the company revised its guidance for 2020. The stock market does not generally react...

Written by Philip Conneller
Brits on Lockdown Betting on ‘Sports They Know Nothing About’ Triggers Call for Online Betting Cap
March 23, 2020

Brits on Lockdown Betting on ‘Sports They Know Nothing About’ Triggers Call for Online Betting Cap

Concerns are growing among UK politicians that the widespread cancellation of sports events -- coupled with the boredom associated with social distancing measures -- is leading to gamblers betting on sports they “know nothing about.”...

Written by Philip Conneller
Sol Kerzner: South Africa’s ‘Sun City’ Casino Supremo Dead at 84
March 23, 2020

Sol Kerzner: South Africa’s ‘Sun City’ Casino Supremo Dead at 84

Sol Kerzner, the South African gambling and hospitality mogul whose Sun City complex was arguably the blueprint for the modern themed integrated casino resort, has died aged 84. Kerzner’s name is less well-known in the...

Written by Philip Conneller