Areas of Expertise
3703 stories by Philip Conneller
Ex L.A. Deputy Mayor Back on Trial in ‘Casino Loyale’ Corruption Case
The trial of former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan on charges of racketeering, bribery, and fraud was underway this week in a federal court. It’s the second time federal prosecutors have attempted to try Chan for his alleged role in a...
New UK National Lottery Operator Fields Fresh Queries on Russia Ties
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) failed to disclose to lawmakers that Allwyn, its chosen bidder for the £80 billion (US$100 billion) UK National Lottery contract, had outstanding loans from Russian state-owned banks, The Guardian reports. Czech company Allwyn took over the reins of...
Entain Mulls Multiple Asset Sale to Placate Activist Investors
British online gambling giant Entain is looking to offload an assortment of its overseas brands as it seeks to pacify activist investors by focusing on its core operations. Activists believe a leaner Entain would be in a better position to be sold...
Jacksonville Jaguars Employee Who Stole $22M Gets 6.5 Years
A Florida man who stole $22 million from the Jacksonville Jaguars to fund a prodigious gambling habit has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison. Last December, Amit Patel pleaded guilty to wire fraud and engaging in an...
Sportsbet Suspends Greyhound Betting Market Over ‘Racist Comment’
Australian-facing online betting company Sportsbet was forced to pull the betting market on the final race at Maitland Greyhound Track on Monday. That's after a “racist” message appeared in its live feed. The controversy surrounded a racing dog named for the Indigenous...
Chicago Sweepstakes Operator’s Trial Sinks When ‘Organized Crime’ Mentioned
The case against the owner of a Chicago sweepstakes machine company accused of involvement in shaking down a victim over a loan collapsed last Friday. That's after somebody mentioned “organized crime.” Gene “Gino” Cassano, 55, and his codefendant, Gioacchino “Jack” Galione, 47,...
Chinese Tourist Faked Own Kidnap in Singapore to Recoup Gambling Loss
A Chinese gambler took drastic measures after losing a chunk of money on a casino trip to Singapore. Liu Changjian, 33, is accused of faking his own kidnapping in an effort to terrorize his relatives into paying a phony ransom of around...
Iran Breaks Up Vast Online Gambling Network, Points Finger at UK
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said Saturday it had “identified and destroyed” the largest organized online gambling and betting network that targeted citizens of the Islamic Republic. The ministry accused the UK government of “turning a blind eye” to the “London-based Mafia network” known...
Former UK Cop Admits Orchestrating £4M Betting Syndicate Ponzi
A British former police officer has pleaded guilty to five charges related to the running of a “Ponzi scheme” horse-betting syndicate that defrauded investors of millions. Michael Stanley, 67, was once a sergeant for Kent Police. But from 2012 to 2019, he...
‘Accountant to the Stars’ Avoids Prison in Wayne Nix Case
An accountant for former minor league baseball player turned illegal bookie Wayne Nix was spared a prison sentence Tuesday for lying to federal agents. William Eric Fulton, 60, is the founder and managing partner of Fulton Management, whose clients have included MMA...