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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

Third Senior Lawmaker Resigns as Casino Owner’s Arrest Triggers Political Crisis in Europe’s Online Gambling Hub
November 27, 2019

Third Senior Lawmaker Resigns as Casino Owner’s Arrest Triggers Political Crisis in Europe’s Online Gambling Hub

A third Maltese government minister resigned on Wednesday because of circumstances arising from the arrest of the island’s biggest casino owner, Yorgen Fenech. Fenech was detained last week in connection with the murder of journalist...

Written by Philip Conneller
California Horse Racing Industry Supports Tribal Sports Betting Ballot Initiative
November 26, 2019

California Horse Racing Industry Supports Tribal Sports Betting Ballot Initiative

California’s horse racing industry is a big fan of the sports betting ballot initiative spearheaded by a powerful coalition of state tribal operators, according to LegalSportsReport (LSR). California Thoroughbred Breeders Association lobbyist Robyn Black told...

Written by Philip Conneller
Maltese Casino Operator Seeks Immunity To Talk About Murder of Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
November 26, 2019

Maltese Casino Operator Seeks Immunity To Talk About Murder of Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia

Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat’s chief of staff Keith Schembri resigned on Tuesday morning. That came after local media reported a wealthy casino operator arrested last week in connection with the murder of a prominent...

Written by Philip Conneller
Multistate Lottery Association Settles with Winner who Sought Bigger Prize Due to Hot Lotto Fraudster
November 25, 2019

Multistate Lottery Association Settles with Winner who Sought Bigger Prize Due to Hot Lotto Fraudster

The Multistate Lottery Association (MUSL) has settled with a 2011 lottery winner who argued that his $9 million jackpot would have been almost three times as big had the previous week’s Hot Lotto draw not...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bookies Pay Out on Liverpool Winning Premier League with Six Months Left to Play
November 25, 2019

Bookies Pay Out on Liverpool Winning Premier League with Six Months Left to Play

UK bookmaker Betway has seen enough of this year’s English Premier League Season, and we’re only roughly a third of the way through. On Saturday, after Liverpool maintained its 100 percent record by beating Crystal...

Written by Philip Conneller
Richard Branson and Virgin Group to Challenge Camelot for UK National Lottery
November 25, 2019

Richard Branson and Virgin Group to Challenge Camelot for UK National Lottery

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is planning to launch a bid to operate the UK National Lottery. Current operator Camelot’s tenure is up for renewal, and new prospective bidders have until mid-December to register an...

Written by Philip Conneller
Oklahoma Governor Stitt Like ‘Used Car Salesman’ in Compact Negotiations, Says Tribal Chief
November 25, 2019

Oklahoma Governor Stitt Like ‘Used Car Salesman’ in Compact Negotiations, Says Tribal Chief

In Oklahoma, ongoing tribal compact negotiations led by Governor Kevin Stitt have been “a used car salesman thing,” according to one tribal leader. As reported by Tulsa World, at a press conference on Friday, Choctaw...

Written by Philip Conneller
French Government Hits Jackpot With $2.2 Billion Sale of State Lottery Company Stake
November 22, 2019

French Government Hits Jackpot With $2.2 Billion Sale of State Lottery Company Stake

The French government cashed in some €2 billion ($2.2 billion) on Thursday from the sale of 52 percent of its stake in lottery operator, Francaise des Jeux (FDJ). It is the second-biggest lottery company in...

Written by Philip Conneller
Pennsylvania’s Skill Games Machines Not Regulated by Gaming Act, Rules Commonwealth Court
November 21, 2019

Pennsylvania’s Skill Games Machines Not Regulated by Gaming Act, Rules Commonwealth Court

Pennsylvania’s Parx Casino believes a Wednesday ruling by the Commonwealth Court means that skill-game machine company Pace-O-Matic (POM) is a manufacturer and distributor of unlicensed slot machines -- not so, says POM. In a press...

Written by Philip Conneller
Japan Won’t Consider Casino Bids Before 2021 Under Proposed Government Timeline
November 21, 2019

Japan Won’t Consider Casino Bids Before 2021 Under Proposed Government Timeline

The Japanese government will not begin considering proposals for integrated resorts from municipalities and prefectures until 2021. That's more than four years after it first passed legislation to initiate what is expected to become the...

Written by Philip Conneller