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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

DraftKings to Buy SBTech? Multiple Sources Say Deal is Close
June 28, 2019

DraftKings to Buy SBTech? Multiple Sources Say Deal is Close

DraftKings is rumored to be very close to acquiring sports betting solutions giant SBTech in a deal that would provide the daily fantasy sports company with its own in-house betting software and potentially vastly expand...

Written by Philip Conneller
DC Councilmembers Want to Rip Up $215 Million Intralot Sports Betting Contract
June 27, 2019

DC Councilmembers Want to Rip Up $215 Million Intralot Sports Betting Contract

Calls are growing within the District of Columbia Council to shred a $215 million contract awarded to Intralot and start again with a competitive bidding process to find a new service provider for the district’s...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bitcoin Hits 18-Month High on Back of Facebook’s Libra Announcement, Then Falls Off Cliff
June 27, 2019

Bitcoin Hits 18-Month High on Back of Facebook’s Libra Announcement, Then Falls Off Cliff

It’s been a rollercoaster week for bitcoin gamblers, who saw the value of their bankrolls skyrocket as the currency surged to an 18-month high on the news that Facebook plans to enter the crypto business....

Written by Philip Conneller
Imperial Pacific Sues to Block Release of Report Allegedly Showing Millions in Unpaid Taxes
June 26, 2019

Imperial Pacific Sues to Block Release of Report Allegedly Showing Millions in Unpaid Taxes

Casino developer Imperial Pacific (IPI) has been granted a temporary restraining order to block Saipan’s gaming regulator from releasing a report on the company's financial health. The report allegedly shows IPI owes more $70 million...

Written by Philip Conneller
Feds: Texas Family Ran One of Biggest Illegal Sports Betting Ops in US, Handling At Least $52 Million in Five Years
June 26, 2019

Feds: Texas Family Ran One of Biggest Illegal Sports Betting Ops in US, Handling At Least $52 Million in Five Years

Three members of southeast Texas family pleaded guilty in a federal court Tuesday to charges arising from an illegal sports betting operation that the Department of Justice described as one of the biggest in America....

Written by Philip Conneller
Former Ted Binion Employee Faces Criminal Charges for Hunting Casino Tycoon’s Fabled Buried Treasure
June 25, 2019

Former Ted Binion Employee Faces Criminal Charges for Hunting Casino Tycoon’s Fabled Buried Treasure

A 56-year old man from Pahrump, Nye County, Nevada was arraigned Monday on burglary and property-destruction charges, committed, apparently, in search of casino tycoon Ted Binion’s buried treasure. Richard Cleaves was a former manager at...

Written by Philip Conneller
Michigan Governor Opposes Online Gaming Push, Supporters Have Six Months to Change Her Mind
June 25, 2019

Michigan Governor Opposes Online Gaming Push, Supporters Have Six Months to Change Her Mind

Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is not a fan of the state’s legislative effort to legalize online gaming. Whitmer is at loggerheads with the bill’s sponsor, State Representative Brandt Iden (R-Oshtemo Township), because she feels...

Written by Philip Conneller
DC Sports Betting Bill Sponsor Gets Heat from FBI in Alleged Corruption Probe
June 25, 2019

DC Sports Betting Bill Sponsor Gets Heat from FBI in Alleged Corruption Probe

The chairman of the DC Council Phil Mendelson said he will hire a law firm to investigate long-time councilman Jack Evans, the architect of the district’s recently successful sports betting legislation. The news comes days...

Written by Philip Conneller
UK to Launch First Problem Gambling Clinic for Kids Amid Warnings of ‘Generational Scandal’
June 24, 2019

UK to Launch First Problem Gambling Clinic for Kids Amid Warnings of ‘Generational Scandal’

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) will open its first ever problem-gambling clinic for children. The National Problem Gambling Clinic in London will launch in September, offering specialist help for children and young people aged...

Written by Philip Conneller
Hard Rock Casino Punta Cana Removes Minibars as DR Death Count Rises to Ten
June 24, 2019

Hard Rock Casino Punta Cana Removes Minibars as DR Death Count Rises to Ten

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic has removed the minibars from its hotel rooms as it tries to ease fears over a recent spate of deaths in the country...

Written by Philip Conneller