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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

Investors in Former Lucky Dragon Casino Sue Developers for Refund After Dreams of US Citizenship Go Up in Smoke
May 20, 2019

Investors in Former Lucky Dragon Casino Sue Developers for Refund After Dreams of US Citizenship Go Up in Smoke

Around 40 Chinese investors who plowed $550,000 each into the failed Lucky Dragon casino in Las Vegas are suing the developers, claiming they were “fraudulently induced” into helping finance the project, the Las Vegas Review-Journal...

Written by Philip Conneller
MGM in Talks to Buy $2.6 Billion Encore Boston Harbor from Wynn Just Weeks Before Grand Opening
May 19, 2019

MGM in Talks to Buy $2.6 Billion Encore Boston Harbor from Wynn Just Weeks Before Grand Opening

Wynn Resorts is mulling the sale of its $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts, to MGM Resorts. The two companies confirmed a sale could be in the cards in a joint press release...

Written by Philip Conneller
New Acquisitions Shine as Stars Group Posts 48 Percent Growth in Q1
May 18, 2019

New Acquisitions Shine as Stars Group Posts 48 Percent Growth in Q1

Analysts were swooning over Stars Group stock this week following an earnings update that saw the PokerStars parent book Q1 revenues of $580 million, up 48 percent year over year. The Motley Fool pounced on...

Written by Philip Conneller
Employee Goes Rogue on Boss, Steals $96K, Blows It All in Four Hours at Crown Melbourne Casino
May 17, 2019

Employee Goes Rogue on Boss, Steals $96K, Blows It All in Four Hours at Crown Melbourne Casino

A young Japanese man who quietly liberated US$96,000 from his boss’ briefcase while he slept and squandered every last cent in just four hours at the gaming tables of Australia's Crown Melbourne Casino has been...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kidnapping, Violent Casino-Related Crime Rise in Macau as Police Vow to Clamp Down on Triad Loan Sharks
May 17, 2019

Kidnapping, Violent Casino-Related Crime Rise in Macau as Police Vow to Clamp Down on Triad Loan Sharks

Crime linked to Macau’s casino industry was up 14.1 percent in Q1, with violent crime and kidnappings leading the surge, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said Thursday. Authorities recorded 438 criminal cases related to...

Written by Philip Conneller
MGM-GVC Venture, Roar Digital, Launches Borgata-Branded Online Sports Betting Platform in New Jersey
May 16, 2019

MGM-GVC Venture, Roar Digital, Launches Borgata-Branded Online Sports Betting Platform in New Jersey

In a week that marked one year since the US Supreme Court shot down the federal ban on sports betting, Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino launched its own online wagering platform, BorgataSports.com. The casino’s owner MGM...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bill to Restore Mashpee Land Rights and Casino Ambitions Passed by US House, Despite Trump Opposition
May 16, 2019

Bill to Restore Mashpee Land Rights and Casino Ambitions Passed by US House, Despite Trump Opposition

A bill that would secure the federal trust status of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts' land was approved by the US House Wednesday. The Democrat-backed HR 312 was approved by 275-146, in a vote...

Written by Philip Conneller
Encore Boston Harbor Vacuuming Up Hospitality Market Workforce, Complain Local Businesses
May 15, 2019

Encore Boston Harbor Vacuuming Up Hospitality Market Workforce, Complain Local Businesses

Wynn Resorts’ Encore Boston Harbor is due to fling open its doors in just over a month and the casino giant is currently scrambling to fill 5,500 positions at the $2.6 billion casino resort. As...

Written by Philip Conneller
Horse Racing Won’t Be Excluded from New York Sports Betting Legislation: Sen. Addabbo
May 14, 2019

Horse Racing Won’t Be Excluded from New York Sports Betting Legislation: Sen. Addabbo

New York mobile sports betting bill sponsor Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-15th) has denied his legislation would freeze the state’s racetracks out of a future sports-betting market. Speaking during at a hearing for the bill Monday...

Written by Philip Conneller
Nevada, Illinois Pols Call on US Treasury to Raise Tax-Reporting Threshold for Slot Jackpots to $5,000
May 14, 2019

Nevada, Illinois Pols Call on US Treasury to Raise Tax-Reporting Threshold for Slot Jackpots to $5,000

Congressmembers from Nevada and Illinois have petitioned the US Treasury to up the tax-reporting threshold on slot-machine jackpots, which has been frozen in time at $1,200 since 1977, in defiance of inflation. In a letter...

Written by Philip Conneller