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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

4253 stories by Philip Conneller

World Series of Poker Big 50 Shatters Live Tournament Record with 28,371 Players
June 5, 2019

World Series of Poker Big 50 Shatters Live Tournament Record with 28,371 Players

The 50th World Series of Poker has been underway at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas since Thursday and it has already broken attendance records. On Tuesday, the field at the “Big...

Written by Philip Conneller
China’s Hainan Province Denies Lifting Ban on Gambling, Prostitution, Pornography
June 4, 2019

China’s Hainan Province Denies Lifting Ban on Gambling, Prostitution, Pornography

Reports that China’s Hainan Province had scrapped its prohibition on gambling, prostitution, and pornography have been misconstrued, local officials have said. The Hainan Daily reported on Sunday that the provincial government had voted on Saturday...

Written by Philip Conneller
Pennsylvania Casinos Seek Injunction to Stop ‘Slot-Style’ iLottery Games Ahead of Online Gaming Launch
June 4, 2019

Pennsylvania Casinos Seek Injunction to Stop ‘Slot-Style’ iLottery Games Ahead of Online Gaming Launch

Seven Pennsylvania casinos have petitioned the state’s Commonwealth Court to impose a speedy injunction on online lottery games that they say are too similar to the kind they offer on their gaming floors, Penn Live...

Written by Philip Conneller
Pechanga Casino Fire Injures Three, Arson Ruled Out
June 4, 2019

Pechanga Casino Fire Injures Three, Arson Ruled Out

A fire at California’s largest casino, the Pechanga Resort & Casino, on Monday resulted in three injuries and the entire evacuation of a hotel tower, according to local news reports. The Pechanga Fire Department said...

Written by Philip Conneller
William Hill Held Failed Talks with Caesars Over $7.6 Billion Merger
June 3, 2019

William Hill Held Failed Talks with Caesars Over $7.6 Billion Merger

William Hill and Caesars Entertainment were involved in serious merger discussions in the immediate wake of the US Supreme Court’s rejection of the federal ban on state-sanctioned sports betting, according to new reports. The Sunday...

Written by Philip Conneller
Illinois Governor Pritzker Quashes DraftKings, FanDuel TV Campaign Attacking Rush Street Gaming
May 24, 2019

Illinois Governor Pritzker Quashes DraftKings, FanDuel TV Campaign Attacking Rush Street Gaming

An Illinois TV spot bankrolled by DraftKings and FanDuel that attacked casino owner Neil Bluhm has been axed just a day after its launch, apparently at the behest of the state’s governor J.B. Pritzker. It...

Written by Philip Conneller
Penitent GVC Holdings Granted Provisional Gaming License in Nevada
May 24, 2019

Penitent GVC Holdings Granted Provisional Gaming License in Nevada

The Nevada Gaming Commission has awarded British online gambling giant GVC a provisional license to operate in the America’s gambling capital, despite the reservations set out two weeks ago by the Gaming Control Board. The...

Written by Philip Conneller
Cristiano Ronaldo Faces US Summons Over Alleged Palms Casino Rape
May 24, 2019

Cristiano Ronaldo Faces US Summons Over Alleged Palms Casino Rape

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will be summoned to appear in a Nevada court to answer allegations he raped a woman at the Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in 2009, The Daily Mirror reports....

Written by Philip Conneller
BC Calls for Canada-Wide Probe to Establish Extent of Money-Laundering, Federal Government Declines
May 23, 2019

BC Calls for Canada-Wide Probe to Establish Extent of Money-Laundering, Federal Government Declines

British Columbia has launched an official investigation into how its casinos were able to become a dirty-money laundromat for Chinese criminal gangs, but Bill Blair, Canada’s federal minister for organized crime reduction, said this week...

Written by Philip Conneller
Japanese Government Delays Casinos Fearing Voter Backlash
May 23, 2019

Japanese Government Delays Casinos Fearing Voter Backlash

The Japanese government has mothballed plans to establish a regulatory body to oversee its new gambling industry until after summer elections, fearing that any moves related to the impending casino market could hurt it at...

Written by Philip Conneller