3662 stories by Philip Conneller
Xi Jinping Heading to Macau as New Leader Takes Office
Chinese President Xi Jinping may be passing on Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony, according to reports, but he will be heading to Macau on Wednesday to swear in the enclave’s new leader, Sam Hou-fai. Sam is a Beijing loyalist and will be the...
Genovese Capo Sentenced for Illegal Gambling on Long Island
A former acting capo of the Genovese crime family was sentenced to 30 months in prison Friday on racketeering charges in connection with an illegal gambling business in Lynbrook, Long Island. Carmelo “Carmine” Polito, 64, pleaded guilty on April 5 to operating...
Encore Boston Harbor Land Sale Fraud Case Will Go to Trial
A fraud and unfair trade practices complaint brought against Wynn Resorts by the former owner of the land on which the Encore Boston Harbor now stands will go to trial. The former landowner, FBT Everett Realty, accuses the casino giant of using...
Holland Casino Adds Extra Zero to Roulette to Offset Tax Hike
Higher gambling taxes in the Netherlands have forced the nation’s largest casino chain, Holland Casino, to resort to desperate measures – it’s adding an extra zero to its roulette tables. In the U.S. it’s the norm to have two zero pockets on...
China Sentences Ex-EPL Soccer Star to 20 Years for Bribery, Match-Fixing
Li Tie, the former Everton player and coach of China’s national soccer team, was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday by a court in Wuhan for bribery and match fixing, Chinese state media reports. Prosecutors accused Li of receiving more than 50...
MS Sufferer Gets Payout After Prescribed Drug Sparks Gambling Hell
A multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferer in the UK has received a £70K (US$89K) settlement from the country’s National Health Service (NHS) after a drug prescribed by his doctor caused him to develop an “uncontrollable” gambling habit, The Independent reports. Philip Stevens, from...
Jay Leno Debunks Gambling Debt Beatdown Rumors
Jay Leno has discredited rumors that injuries sustained while falling down a hill in Pennsylvania last month were the result of being roughed up by the Mafia over gambling debts. Leno, who claimed to have never gambled in his life, dismissed the...
New England Mafia Boss Luigi ‘Baby Shacks’ Manocchio Dead, Age 97
Luigi Giovanni “Baby Shacks” Manocchio, former boss of the Patriarca crime family -- aka the New England Mafia – died last Sunday at age 97. Manocchio was known as an “old-school” crime boss, making money from traditional mafia pursuits such as illegal...
$197.5M Mega Millions Winner Sues California Lottery for Another $197.5M
A Los Angeles man who won half of a $394 million Mega Millions jackpot a year ago is suing the California Lottery for the other half. Faramarz Lahijani claims he purchased two tickets with the same numbers from a Chevron gas station...
New Zealand to Ban Greyhound Racing
New Zealand, one of just five countries in which commercial greyhound racing still exists, is set to ban the sport citing concerns over the welfare of dogs. The government on Tuesday introduced a bill to prevent the unnecessary killing of dogs, while...
