Areas of Expertise
3799 stories by Philip Conneller
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
‘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...
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...
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...
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...
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...