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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

4254 stories by Philip Conneller

California Lawmakers Kick Off 2020 with First Hearing on Sports Betting, Could This Be the Year?
January 9, 2020

California Lawmakers Kick Off 2020 with First Hearing on Sports Betting, Could This Be the Year?

The California legislature will take a long, hard look at sports betting this year. But in a state whose disparate gaming-industry stakeholders consistently fail to see eye to eye, what are the odds of getting...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bet365 Soccer Broadcasting Rights Under Fire: Are UK Betting Sites Usurping TV as Primary Channel for Live Sports?
January 8, 2020

Bet365 Soccer Broadcasting Rights Under Fire: Are UK Betting Sites Usurping TV as Primary Channel for Live Sports?

The UK’s Secretary of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nicky Morgan, has asked English soccer’s governing body, the FA, to review its broadcasting deal with Bet365 and others. This is a reaction to the online sports...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bellagio Secures New Trial in $500,000 Employee ‘Fat-Shaming’ Case
January 8, 2020

Bellagio Secures New Trial in $500,000 Employee ‘Fat-Shaming’ Case

A former Bellagio employee who won a $500,000 judgment against the Las Vegas Strip casino last year over a sign that labelled him “Fat Andy” faked evidence in the trial, a federal judge in Nevada...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kawhi Leonard Sister Accused in Pechanga Casino Murder Gets Hotshot Legal Team
January 8, 2020

Kawhi Leonard Sister Accused in Pechanga Casino Murder Gets Hotshot Legal Team

A woman accused of beating to death a defenseless senior citizen in the restrooms of the Pechanga Casino in Temecula, California will be represented by an all-star defense team as she bids to dodge a...

Written by Philip Conneller
Maine Gov. Janet Mills Has Friday Deadline to Legalize or Veto Sports Betting
January 7, 2020

Maine Gov. Janet Mills Has Friday Deadline to Legalize or Veto Sports Betting

Sports betting could be legal in Maine before the end of the week – that is, unless the state’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills opts to veto a bill passed by the legislature back in June....

Written by Philip Conneller
California Card Room Ordered to Close, Insufficient Liquidity to Cover Players
January 7, 2020

California Card Room Ordered to Close, Insufficient Liquidity to Cover Players

California’s Bureau of Gambling Control (CBGC) ordered the emergency shutdown of the Magnolia House Casino in Rancho Cordova on Monday after it was discovered that the Sacramento-area card room did not have enough funds to...

Written by Philip Conneller
Japan Establishes Casino Control Commission as Bribery Scandal Rages
January 7, 2020

Japan Establishes Casino Control Commission as Bribery Scandal Rages

Despite a deepening corruption scandal that has ensnared six pro-casino lawmakers, Japan is continuing to lay the groundwork for its forthcoming casino market. On Tuesday, the national government announced the official establishment of an independent...

Written by Philip Conneller
South Dakota Casino ‘Points for Pills’ Conspirators Get Off with Probation
January 6, 2020

South Dakota Casino ‘Points for Pills’ Conspirators Get Off with Probation

Two South Dakota residents have been found guilty in a federal court of selling prescription drugs to the former marketing director of the Grand River Casino as part of a “points for pills” scam. Carlene...

Written by Philip Conneller
Google Under Fire After Search for Gambling Addiction Help Yields Online Casino Ads
January 6, 2020

Google Under Fire After Search for Gambling Addiction Help Yields Online Casino Ads

Google has been forced to tweak its gambling advertising because of reports that addicts looking for advice on how to quit were being served up ads for online casinos in search results. As first reported...

Written by Philip Conneller
Macau Casinos Told to Install Body Temperature Scanners as Fears Grow Over Mystery Illness
January 6, 2020

Macau Casinos Told to Install Body Temperature Scanners as Fears Grow Over Mystery Illness

Macau’s casinos are on heightened alert following an outbreak of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province in central China. With several direct flights from Wuhan to Macau each day, the casino...

Written by Philip Conneller