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Reporter: 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.

Areas of Expertise

3704 stories by Philip Conneller

Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, Am Cyanide, Fun88

Fun88: Thai Police Bust Gambling Site Linked to Serial Poisoner

Thai police have detained 14 people linked to an online gambling site allegedly used by the suspected female serial killer Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn. Sararat, 36, who was four months pregnant when she was arrested in Bangkok in April, is accused of murdering...

Philip Conneller July 25, 2023
NIGC, impostor fraud, tribal casinos

Tribal Casinos Also Targeted in Spate of ‘Imposter’ Fraud

Tribal gaming operators have been told to look out for a wave of imposter scams targeting casinos in the U.S. In the notice sent to the tribal gaming industry this week, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) warned operators and regulators to...

Philip Conneller July 18, 2023
MGM Resorts, Osaka, LeoVegas

MGM Denies Profiting from LeoVegas ‘Illegal’ Japan Gambling Ops

MGM Resorts has hit back against an accusation that it may have profited from illegal online gambling in Japan via its acquisition of LeoVegas. In April, MGM won the first Japanese casino license in partnership with the city of Osaka, and will...

Philip Conneller July 17, 2023
Muhammed Al-Azhari, ISIS, Tampa, Hard Rock

Hard Rock Tampa: ISIS Acolyte Who Planned Mass Shooting Gets 18 Years

Florida-based ISIS supporter Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari wanted to carry out a mass shooting in Tampa, and his list of possible targets in the city included the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, according to prosecutors. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 18 years in...

Philip Conneller July 14, 2023
Caleb Rogers Josiah Rogers, LVMPD, robbery trial

Las Vegas Rogue Cop ‘Plotted Red Rock Robbery with Brother’

Caleb Rogers, the Las Vegas Metro Police officer on trial for armed robbery, planned his first casino heist with his younger brother, a federal court has heard. That was according to Josiah Rogers who testified against his brother for several hours Thursday...

Philip Conneller July 14, 2023
Xaviar Babudar, ChiefAholic, bank robbery, KC Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs ‘Superfan’ Robbed Banks, Laundered Cash, Feds Say

A Kansas City Chiefs “super fan” who goes by the name @ChiefsAholic and attends games dressed as a wolf has been arrested in connection with a string of bank robberies. Xaviar Michael Babudar, 28, is suspected of hitting banks across the Midwest,...

Philip Conneller July 11, 2023
Bert Neff, Brad Bohannon, University of Alabama, baseball, Crimson Tide, betting scandal, insider betting

Alleged College Baseball Bettor was Clumsy, Reckless, Reports Claim

The youth league baseball coach at the center of the University of Alabama insider betting scandal stuck out like a sore thumb when he tried to bet over 100K in cash on the Crimson Tide to lose to LSU. That’s according to...

Philip Conneller July 11, 2023
Caleb Rogers, Las Vegas, LVMPD

Las Vegas ‘Rogue Cop’ Goes on Trial for Armed Casino Robberies

The trial of Las Vegas police officer Caleb Rogers, accused of robbing three casinos with his department-issued revolver, kicks off in a federal court Monday. Prosecutors say Rogers stole nearly $165K during the series of heists at the Red Rock, the Aliante, and...

Philip Conneller July 10, 2023
Milton Champion, Maine Gambling Control Unit, Maine Gambling Control Board, casino inspectors, Oxford Casino, Hollywood Casino Bangor, MSEA-SEIU Local 1989

Maine’s Chief Gambling Regulator Back at Work After ‘Offensive’ Tweets

Maine’s chief gambling regulator returned to work Monday after serving a weeklong suspension without pay. The penalty was for tweeting out a sexist slur and a dubious comment about a white nationalist march. Milton Champion’s social media antics were found to have...

Philip Conneller July 10, 2023
Erik Gutierrez Martinez, Circa, Eureka Mesquite, Golden Nugget Laughlin

Alleged Circa Imposter Charged with Similar Con at Eureka Mesquite

A Las Vegas man arrested on June 18 for bilking Circa out of $1.17 million, allegedly by pretending to be one of the casino’s owners, may have attempted similarly audacious scams at other Nevada casinos. Prior to the Circa heist, Erik Gutierrez...

Philip Conneller July 7, 2023