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

4210 stories by Philip Conneller

South Korean Police Bust $230M Illegal Gambling Ring That Targeted Deaf Community
July 27, 2026

South Korean Police Bust $230M Illegal Gambling Ring That Targeted Deaf Community

South Korean police investigating a massive illegal gambling ring have uncovered an account-mule network that allegedly exploited dozens of deaf individuals. Busan police, above, discovered a complex criminal network that harvested bank accounts belonging to...

Written by Philip Conneller
Bodycam Shows Florida Deputies Stumbling Upon ‘Illegal Casino’ Years Before Sheriff’s Arrest
July 27, 2026

Bodycam Shows Florida Deputies Stumbling Upon ‘Illegal Casino’ Years Before Sheriff’s Arrest

In late 2022, Osceola County deputies conducted a routine business check on the Eclipse Social Club in Kissimmee, Fla.—an inspection now at the center of a federal corruption probe. Former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez,...

Written by Philip Conneller
Killer Who Gambled at Florida Casino After Murder Sent Back to Death Row
July 27, 2026

Killer Who Gambled at Florida Casino After Murder Sent Back to Death Row

A Florida handyman who used a murdered woman's stolen ATM card to gamble at a tribal casino has been sentenced to death for a second time. A booking photo of Rafael Andres, who was resentenced...

Written by Philip Conneller
Supreme Court Lawyer, High-Stakes Poker Player Tom Goldstein Gets 6 Years for Tax Evasion
July 25, 2026

Supreme Court Lawyer, High-Stakes Poker Player Tom Goldstein Gets 6 Years for Tax Evasion

Tom Goldstein, the prominent Supreme Court lawyer who led a double life as a high-stakes poker player, has been sentenced to six years in prison for tax and mortgage fraud. Tom Goldstein, above, argued more...

Written by Philip Conneller
Illegal Gambling Syndicate Hacked 20 African Government Sites to Game Google Search
July 24, 2026

Illegal Gambling Syndicate Hacked 20 African Government Sites to Game Google Search

An online gambling network believed to be operating from Indonesia allegedly hid casino pages inside government websites across Africa to boost its visibility in Google search results. An Indonesian police officer shows an online gambling...

Written by Philip Conneller
Folarin Balogun Red Card Among Incidents Flagged in World Cup Betting Probe
July 24, 2026

Folarin Balogun Red Card Among Incidents Flagged in World Cup Betting Probe

An international sports integrity body has flagged seven instances of potential betting or integrity irregularities at the FIFA World Cup after identifying suspicious betting patterns, including one involving the sending off of USMNT forward Folarin...

Written by Philip Conneller
Louisiana Pastor Convicted of Stealing $340,000 From Churches to Fund Gambling
July 23, 2026

Louisiana Pastor Convicted of Stealing $340,000 From Churches to Fund Gambling

A Louisiana pastor accused of stealing congregation funds to support a gambling habit urged churchgoers to 'pray for his enemies' as law enforcement closed in on his arrest. Dale Sanders, above, was the pastor of...

Written by Philip Conneller
Casino Patron Allegedly Held Down, Slashed in Face at Harrah’s Atlantic City
July 22, 2026

Casino Patron Allegedly Held Down, Slashed in Face at Harrah’s Atlantic City

An argument at Harrah’s Atlantic City allegedly turned into a three-on-one attack in which a man was struck with a chair, chased across the gaming floor, and held down while another patron slashed his face...

Written by Philip Conneller
St. Louis Drug Trafficker Gambled Away $1.5M Owed to Sinaloa Cartel-and Survived
July 22, 2026

St. Louis Drug Trafficker Gambled Away $1.5M Owed to Sinaloa Cartel-and Survived

A St. Louis drug trafficker who gambled away more than $1.5 million belonging to Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa Cartel has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Prosecutors said Rockette received cocaine and fentanyl on...

Written by Philip Conneller
China Spent $11.6 Billion Betting on the World Cup While Its National Team Stayed Home
July 22, 2026

China Spent $11.6 Billion Betting on the World Cup While Its National Team Stayed Home

Chinese sports bettors wagered nearly $2 billion per week through legal channels during the FIFA World Cup, despite their national team failing to qualify. Chinese soccer fans watching the World Cup in a cinema in...

Written by Philip Conneller