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Reporter: 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.

Areas of Expertise

3799 stories by Philip Conneller

Congyuan Guo, Philippines ransom murder, casino junkets, 9 Dynasty Group, White Horse Club, crypto laundering, David Tan Liao, Philippine police, online gambling dispute, kidnapping case

Casino Junkets Named in $3.6 Million Ransom Transfer Tied to Murdered Chinese Steel Tycoon

$3.6 million ransom paid for kidnapped Chinese businessman funneled through two casino junkets  Victim Congyuan Guo was killed despite the ransom payment; his death linked to a failed $20M gambling deal Philippine police have named two casino junket operators who they say...

Philip Conneller May 7, 2025
Sara Jacqueline King, Las Vegas fraud, King Family Lending, wire fraud, money laundering, disbarred lawyer, Wynn Las Vegas

Glam Lawyer Gets Prison for $8.7M Las Vegas Fraud and Gambling Bender

Lawyer Sara King stole $8.7 million from investors in her King Family Lending business Spent the funds on high-stakes gambling spree and lavish lifestyle at Wynn Las Vegas Sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, ordered to pay full restitution to victims...

Philip Conneller May 6, 2025
Donovan Bacon, California prison escape, casino arrest, Coyote Valley Casino, Parlin Fork Conservation Camp, inmate escape, CDCR, California inmate captured

Escaped California Inmate Captured at Coyote Valley Casino

Inmate Donovan Bacon escaped from low security prison camp early Sunday morning Arrested four hours later at the Coyote Valley Casino, 38 miles away Bacon was serving a six-year sentence for armed robbery with a weapon enhancement Luck ran out for a...

Philip Conneller May 6, 2025
Zhao Xintong, Snooker World Championship 2025, match-fixing snooker

Snooker Player Banned for Match-Fixing Wins World Championship

Zhao Xintong became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship. 27-year-old served a 20-month ban related to a match-fixing scandal. Snooker has a new world champion and he's fresh off a ban for involvement in match-fixing.  Zhao Xintong beat...

Philip Conneller May 6, 2025
FantaPappa, fantasy pope game, papal conclave 2025, pope betting

FantaPappa: Italians Go Crazy for Fantasy Pope-Betting Platform

FantaPappa is a fantasy ‘sports’ game where users try to predict the next pope. Game has over 60,000 players in Italy. ‘Pope betting’ popular in markets where legal In Italy, betting on papal conclaves – the gathering of cardinals in the Vatican...

Philip Conneller May 5, 2025
Haliey Welch, Hawk Tuah, $HAWK, pump and dump, poker

‘Bad Optics’? ‘Hawk Tuah’ Girl Returns to Spotlight at Las Vegas Poker Event

Viral internet star Haliey Welch, aka the “Hawk Tuah girl,” resurfaced at celebrity poker tournament. Welch had kept a low profile amid controversy over her failed cryptocurrency, $HAWK. Haliey Welch, better known to many as “the Hawk Tuah girl,” has returned to...

Philip Conneller May 5, 2025
Bally's Chicago casino, Illinois Gaming Board, D&P Construction, Mafia, Chicago Outfit, John DiFronzo, Peter DiFronzo, Emerald Casino Rosemont

Bally’s Chicago Casino Halted Over Vendor Once Linked to Mob by FBI

Illinois Gaming Board halts construction on Bally’s Chicago casino over unapproved vendor. Dumpsters on-site were supplied by D&P Construction, once tied to alleged Chicago Outfit bosses. The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has ordered construction work to be halted on Bally’s $1.7 billion...

Philip Conneller May 2, 2025
Ron DeSantis, Florida migration, Florida Lottery, Florida Gaming Commission, ICE, 287(g) program, undocumented immigrants, Operation Tidal Wave

Gov. DeSantis Taps Florida Lottery, Gambling Regulator to Join Migrant Crackdown

Florida Gov. says state agencies like Florida Lottery and Gaming Commission will aid in migration enforcement Implementation details, such as ID requirements for lottery or alcohol purchases, remain unclear Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Thursday more state agencies will partner with...

Philip Conneller May 2, 2025
Kristina Edmison, Ohio gambling charges, illegal bingo, social studies teacher indicted, Ohio slot machine ring, money laundering, Vermilion High School, Cuyahoga County grand jury, nonprofit fraud, RICO Ohio

Ohio Social Studies Teacher Moonlighted as Illegal Gambling Kingpin

Vermilion High School teacher indicted on 23 felony counts, including money laundering and illegal gambling. Prosecutors allege use of shell companies to run unlicensed gaming machines and illegal bingo. If convicted, Edmison could face up to 11 years in prison on the...

Philip Conneller May 1, 2025
Sault Tribe, US Supreme Court, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Detroit casino

US Supreme Court Delivers Fatal Blow to Sault Tribe’s Detroit Casino Dream

The Supreme Court declined to hear the Sault Tribe’s appeal over a denied casino land trust The tribe hoped to build a casino near Detroit, far from its Upper Peninsula base A prior court ruling required the tribe to pay $88M in...

Philip Conneller May 1, 2025