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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

4185 stories by Philip Conneller

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Blackjack Error Led to Lawsuit Against Encore Boston Harbor
July 19, 2019

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Blackjack Error Led to Lawsuit Against Encore Boston Harbor

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has said a preliminary investigation into the Encore Boston Harbor’s blackjack games suggest the casino is fully compliant with regulations and there is no evidence it has been cheating its customers....

Written by Philip Conneller
EPL Star Daniel Sturridge Sanctioned for Leaking Insider Betting Information to Brother
July 19, 2019

EPL Star Daniel Sturridge Sanctioned for Leaking Insider Betting Information to Brother

Ex-Liverpool and England soccer star Daniel Sturridge has been penalized by the English Football Association (FA) for leaking insider information about his movement in the transfer market. But the FA said it was disappointed that...

Written by Philip Conneller
New Jersey Lottery Scratch-Off Cop Sent for Electric Shock Therapy, Sues ‘Corrupt’ Department
July 18, 2019

New Jersey Lottery Scratch-Off Cop Sent for Electric Shock Therapy, Sues ‘Corrupt’ Department

A New Jersey police corporal says he was bullied into attending a gambling addiction clinic after buying lottery tickets, where he was forced to endure “neurological testing with electrical shocks applied to (his) head.” Corporal...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kenya Orders Deportation of Foreign Online Sports Betting Execs After Dramatic Industry Shut Down
July 18, 2019

Kenya Orders Deportation of Foreign Online Sports Betting Execs After Dramatic Industry Shut Down

The Kenyan Interior Ministry has ordered 17 foreign directors of Kenyan-facing internet sports betting companies to be deported from the country immediately, the Associated Press reports. The move comes a week after the government effectively...

Written by Philip Conneller
Sands Bethlehem Officially Changes Name to Wind Creek Bethlehem to Reflect New Ownership
July 17, 2019

Sands Bethlehem Officially Changes Name to Wind Creek Bethlehem to Reflect New Ownership

The Sands Bethlehem is now the Wind Creek Bethlehem, this week officially adopting the name of its new owner, Wind Creek Hospitality. Wind Creek is the business arm of the Alabama-based Poarch Creek Indians, which...

Written by Philip Conneller
Hossein Ensan of Germany Wins World Series of Poker and $10 Million First Prize
July 17, 2019

Hossein Ensan of Germany Wins World Series of Poker and $10 Million First Prize

Hossein Ensan is the new WSOP Champion. At around 1:29 am PT Wednesday morning, the Iranian-born German’s pocket kings survived a check-raise river jam from his opponent, “Super” Dario Sammartino, who held a flush draw...

Written by Philip Conneller
North Carolina Passes Tribal Sports Betting Bill, Odds Good on Governor’s Signature
July 16, 2019

North Carolina Passes Tribal Sports Betting Bill, Odds Good on Governor’s Signature

North Carolina is a governor’s signature away from legal sports betting -- albeit strictly of the in-person variety and only on tribal lands. On Monday, the North Carolina House emphatically endorsed a bill that would...

Written by Philip Conneller
WSOP Final Table: Three Remain as Americans Crash Out, Champion Crowned in Las Vegas Tonight
July 16, 2019

WSOP Final Table: Three Remain as Americans Crash Out, Champion Crowned in Las Vegas Tonight

German poker pro Hossein Ensan will begin Tuesday night’s WSOP finale with the commanding chip lead he has managed to preserve since the cards went in the air on the final table on Sunday night....

Written by Philip Conneller
Online Casino Gaming Has Lift Off in Pennsylvania Through Hollywood and Parx, Poker and Blackjack Have to Wait
July 16, 2019

Online Casino Gaming Has Lift Off in Pennsylvania Through Hollywood and Parx, Poker and Blackjack Have to Wait

Almost two years after Pennsylvania passed sweeping gambling reforms that legalized online gaming, poker and sports betting, the first licensed and regulated real-money online casinos opened for business in Pennsylvania Monday – kind of. After...

Written by Philip Conneller
Macau Junket Suncity ‘Deeply Sorry’ for Offending Chinese Government
July 15, 2019

Macau Junket Suncity ‘Deeply Sorry’ for Offending Chinese Government

Playboy CEO of leading Macau junket Suncity Group Alvin Chau appeared rattled by the recent focus on his company by Chinese state media as he addressed a press conference at the Mandarin Oriental Macau over...

Written by Philip Conneller