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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

4186 stories by Philip Conneller

GTA Online Long-Awaited Casino Launches, 54 Countries Blocked from Play Money Gambling
July 25, 2019

GTA Online Long-Awaited Casino Launches, 54 Countries Blocked from Play Money Gambling

Grand Theft Auto Online fans from certain countries were left disappointed Wednesday. Having waited five years for Vinewood’s Diamond Casino to open its doors, players in more than 50 nations were told they couldn’t buy...

Written by Philip Conneller
50 Percent of EPL Jersey Sponsors Are Now Sports Betting Operators, Most Focused on Unregulated Asian Markets
July 24, 2019

50 Percent of EPL Jersey Sponsors Are Now Sports Betting Operators, Most Focused on Unregulated Asian Markets

English Premiere League teams are still winning big with bookies, but with brands many domestic fans have barely heard of. The elite soccer league will enjoy a tenth successive record-breaking year of revenues from jersey...

Written by Philip Conneller
Macau Regulator Tightens Screws on Junkets After Chinese State Media Attack on Suncity
July 23, 2019

Macau Regulator Tightens Screws on Junkets After Chinese State Media Attack on Suncity

Macau gaming regulator, DICJ, said it will continue to conduct random spot checks on the enclave’s junket operations, Inside Asia Gaming reports. The increased oversight of the industry follows the denunciation by Chinese state media...

Written by Philip Conneller
UK Threatens to Prosecute Video Games Publishers Over Skin Gambling
July 23, 2019

UK Threatens to Prosecute Video Games Publishers Over Skin Gambling

Loot boxes cannot be considered gambling under the law in the United Kingdom, but the government wants to hold video games publishers like Valve directly responsible for “skin gambling,” even though it occurs on third-party...

Written by Philip Conneller
Japan Pro-Casino Ruling Coalition Wins New Term, But Time Running Out for Osaka’s 2025 Masterplan
July 22, 2019

Japan Pro-Casino Ruling Coalition Wins New Term, But Time Running Out for Osaka’s 2025 Masterplan

Japanese leader Shinzo Abe declared victory for the pro-casino ruling LDP/Komeito coalition on Sunday, having secured a majority in upper house elections that should see him become the country’s longest-serving prime minister ever, despite being...

Written by Philip Conneller
Seneca Nation Asserts Right to Offer Sports Betting Despite New York’s Declaration of Compact Violation
July 22, 2019

Seneca Nation Asserts Right to Offer Sports Betting Despite New York’s Declaration of Compact Violation

The Seneca Nation said Friday it was “making preparations” to launch sports betting at its three casino properties in western New York State. The statement comes as the first legal sports book opened its doors...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kenyan Online Betting Operators Sportpesa and Betin Sue Government Over Industry Shutdown
July 22, 2019

Kenyan Online Betting Operators Sportpesa and Betin Sue Government Over Industry Shutdown

Kenya’s top two online betting companies, Sportpesa and Betin, have initiated legal action against the country’s government and biggest telecommunications provider, as they push back against the state’s dramatic shutdown of the industry. Earlier this...

Written by Philip Conneller
STRAT’s ‘Defensive Spending’ Will Help Rejuvenate North Las Vegas Strip: Analysts
July 21, 2019

STRAT’s ‘Defensive Spending’ Will Help Rejuvenate North Las Vegas Strip: Analysts

The renovation of the casino formerly known as The Stratosphere will coincide with a “shift of energy” back towards the north side of the Strip, Macquarie hospitality analyst Chad Beynon told the Las Vegas Review-Journal...

Written by Philip Conneller
Wells Fargo Sues Chukchansi Tribal Casino Operator for Violating Terms of $250M Loan
July 21, 2019

Wells Fargo Sues Chukchansi Tribal Casino Operator for Violating Terms of $250M Loan

California tribal operator the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi is facing lawsuit a from Wells Fargo for allegedly violating agreements on a $250 million loan in an effort to avoid repayments, The Fresno Bee reports. The...

Written by Philip Conneller
Ontario Police Smash ’Ndrangheta Crime Clan That Laundered Millions Through Province’s Casinos
July 20, 2019

Ontario Police Smash ’Ndrangheta Crime Clan That Laundered Millions Through Province’s Casinos

Police in Ontario have arrested nine suspected high-ranking members of the powerful ’Ndrangheta crime family, which they believe laundered more than C$70 million ($53.5 million) through the province’s casinos in the past few years. The...

Written by Philip Conneller