Casino.org logo Main menu

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.

Avatar photo

Senior Reporter

Expert since 2018

4185 stories by Philip Conneller

Hard Rock Las Vegas Transformation into Virgin Hotel Delayed Until After 2020 Presidential Election
April 2, 2019

Hard Rock Las Vegas Transformation into Virgin Hotel Delayed Until After 2020 Presidential Election

The Hard Rock Las Vegas’ metamorphosis into a Virgin-branded hotel-casino has been pushed back in a bid to avoid its opening ceremony being upstaged by the 2020 US presidential election. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin conglomerate...

Written by Philip Conneller
UK Bookies Introduce ‘Over-the-Counter’ Roulette-Style Games to Combat Reforms to FOBTs
April 2, 2019

UK Bookies Introduce ‘Over-the-Counter’ Roulette-Style Games to Combat Reforms to FOBTs

On the day the UK betting industry was finally forced to swallow a drastic cap on the maximum stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), several new games appeared in bookmakers shops up and down the...

Written by Philip Conneller
After Years of Isolation, Myanmar Will Legalize Casinos Next Month in Bid to Reinvent Itself as Tourist Hotspot
April 1, 2019

After Years of Isolation, Myanmar Will Legalize Casinos Next Month in Bid to Reinvent Itself as Tourist Hotspot

Myanmar will legalize casinos in May, as the southeast Asian country formerly known as Burma looks to become the hot new destination for Chinese tourism and investment, The Myanmar Times reports. The new law currently...

Written by Philip Conneller
Louisiana Sports Betting Bill Would Seek Voter Approval by Parish
April 1, 2019

Louisiana Sports Betting Bill Would Seek Voter Approval by Parish

A Louisiana sports betting bill, pre-filed last week in preparation for the start of the new legislative session on April 8, could pave the way for sport books at the state’s racetracks and casinos --...

Written by Philip Conneller
UK Betting Industry Braces Itself as FOBT £2 Lockdown Finally Comes Into Effect
March 31, 2019

UK Betting Industry Braces Itself as FOBT £2 Lockdown Finally Comes Into Effect

As the UK betting industry braces itself for drastic reforms to its fixed-odds betting terminals, which until this Monday accounted for more than half of their retail revenues, the UKGC has warned operators not to...

Written by Philip Conneller
High Roller Won’t Pay $41.5 Million Baccarat Loss Because ‘Dealer Made Mistakes’
March 30, 2019

High Roller Won’t Pay $41.5 Million Baccarat Loss Because ‘Dealer Made Mistakes’

A Singaporean baccarat whale who was flown into Star Gold Coast Casino on its private jet in the hope that he would drop millions at its high-stakes tables initially didn’t disappoint. According to court documents,...

Written by Philip Conneller
Judge Asked to Consider $60 Million Class-Action Lawsuit Over Casino Rama Cyber Attack
March 29, 2019

Judge Asked to Consider $60 Million Class-Action Lawsuit Over Casino Rama Cyber Attack

Lawyers for Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario at a Superior Court hearing on Thursday denied that as many as 200,000 people had been affected by a hacker who breached its servers in 2016 and stole...

Written by Philip Conneller
Controversial Saipan Casino Project Books $415.3 Million Loss in 2018, as VIP Revenue Dries Up
March 29, 2019

Controversial Saipan Casino Project Books $415.3 Million Loss in 2018, as VIP Revenue Dries Up

Imperial Pacific International, developer of the Imperial Palace Casino on the US Pacific island of Saipan, posted a $415.3 million loss for 2018, citing a dramatic fall in VIP revenue. This is a far cry...

Written by Philip Conneller
Washington DC’s Capital One Arena Could Have In-Stadium Sports Book by September
March 28, 2019

Washington DC’s Capital One Arena Could Have In-Stadium Sports Book by September

The Capital One Arena will have its own onsite sports book when the District of Columbia launches sports betting. That’s the word from Ted Leonsis, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports, which owns the stadium,...

Written by Philip Conneller
West Virginia Online Gaming Legalized as Governor Justice Allows Bill to Lapse Into Law
March 28, 2019

West Virginia Online Gaming Legalized as Governor Justice Allows Bill to Lapse Into Law

West Virginia’s Interactive Wagering Act lapsed into law on Wednesday after the veto deadline passed without action from Republican Governor Jim Justice. The governor’s quiescence means the Mountain State becomes only the fourth in the...

Written by Philip Conneller