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

4174 stories by Philip Conneller

Jay Leno Debunks Gambling Debt Beatdown Rumors
December 12, 2024

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...

Written by Philip Conneller
New England Mafia Boss Luigi ‘Baby Shacks’ Manocchio Dead, Age 97
December 12, 2024

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...

Written by Philip Conneller
$197.5M Mega Millions Winner Sues California Lottery for Another $197.5M
December 11, 2024

$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...

Written by Philip Conneller
New Zealand to Ban Greyhound Racing
December 10, 2024

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...

Written by Philip Conneller
Pizza Hut Slammed for Half-Baked Gambling Promo
December 10, 2024

Pizza Hut Slammed for Half-Baked Gambling Promo

Pizza Hut is under fire in the UK for offering free online casino spins with its home deliveries. For a brief time last month, online orders at the restaurant chain were accompanied by a message...

Written by Philip Conneller
Kalshi Transformed Itself into ‘Online Casino’ Before Election: Regulator
December 9, 2024

Kalshi Transformed Itself into ‘Online Casino’ Before Election: Regulator

Immediately after a federal appeals court in Washington DC denied a US regulator’s bid to block prediction platform Kalshi from offering trading on the US presidential election, the company transformed its futures exchange into “an...

Written by Philip Conneller
Churchill Downs Sues HISA Over Racing Ban Threat
December 9, 2024

Churchill Downs Sues HISA Over Racing Ban Threat

Kentucky Derby owner Churchill Downs Inc (CDI) and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) are suing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) for threatening to shut down their racing operations for nonpayment of nearly $5...

Written by Philip Conneller
DraftKings Sued by Wife of Gambler who ‘Plundered Kids’ Savings’
December 8, 2024

DraftKings Sued by Wife of Gambler who ‘Plundered Kids’ Savings’

The estranged wife of a New Jersey dad who lost nearly $1 million of the family’s money gambling at DraftKings wants revenge. In a lawsuit filed in the New Jersey state court, Lisa D’Alessandro claims...

Written by Philip Conneller
Brandon Sattler, Vegas High Roller, Serial Fraudster, Gets 51 Months
December 5, 2024

Brandon Sattler, Vegas High Roller, Serial Fraudster, Gets 51 Months

High-rolling Las Vegas gambler Brandon Sattler has been sentenced to 51 months in prison after pleading guilty to a single count of wire fraud. The 47-year-old Sattler admitted fraudulently obtaining more than $10 million from...

Written by Philip Conneller
WSOP Winner Cory Zeidman Pleads Guilty to Sports Betting Fraud Scheme
December 5, 2024

WSOP Winner Cory Zeidman Pleads Guilty to Sports Betting Fraud Scheme

Pro poker player and sports betting tout Cory Zeidman pleaded guilty in a federal court in New York Wednesday to defrauding customers in his sports handicapping business. Federal prosecutors alleged that the World Series of...

Written by Philip Conneller