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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.

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Senior Reporter

Expert since 2018

4211 stories by Philip Conneller

Steve Wynn Defamation Case Vs. Associated Press Nailed by Nevada Supreme Court
September 7, 2024

Steve Wynn Defamation Case Vs. Associated Press Nailed by Nevada Supreme Court

Nevada’s highest court has once again rejected a defamation case brought by casino tycoon Steve Wynn against the Associated Press. A seven-judge panel of the Nevada Supreme Court cited the state’s anti-SLAAP laws when it...

Written by Philip Conneller
Maine Chief Regulator Facing ‘No Confidence’ Revolt by Casino Inspectors
September 5, 2024

Maine Chief Regulator Facing ‘No Confidence’ Revolt by Casino Inspectors

Maine’s chief gambling regulator, Milton Champion, is facing a rebellion from his casino inspectors who accuse him of unilaterally “deregulating casinos … without input from the voting public” and of creating a “deeply dysfunctional and...

Written by Philip Conneller
British Columbia Man Convicted of Murdering Notorious Casino Money Launderer
September 5, 2024

British Columbia Man Convicted of Murdering Notorious Casino Money Launderer

A Richmond, British Columbia man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the 2020 shooting of Jian Jun Zhu, an alleged large-scale money launderer. Richard Charles Reed was additionally found not guilty of the attempted...

Written by Philip Conneller
Fugitive Philippine Mayor in Trafficking, Spying Storm Arrested in Indonesia
September 5, 2024

Fugitive Philippine Mayor in Trafficking, Spying Storm Arrested in Indonesia

The fugitive mayor of a small town in the Philippines who fled the country in July amid accusations of spying and links to criminal syndicates has been detained in Indonesia. Guo was the Mayor of...

Written by Philip Conneller
Lawsuit Claims Attorney Stole $1.8M from Client’s Trust Fund, Gambled Money Away at Hard Rock Tampa
September 4, 2024

Lawsuit Claims Attorney Stole $1.8M from Client’s Trust Fund, Gambled Money Away at Hard Rock Tampa

A Florida lawyer ransacked a client’s trust account and blew $1.8 million of it gambling at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, according to a civil lawsuit filed by the real beneficiaries. Jason Penrod is...

Written by Philip Conneller
Star Entertainment in Disarray, Begs for Bailout
September 4, 2024

Star Entertainment in Disarray, Begs for Bailout

Embattled Australian casino operator Star Entertainment is desperately seeking a short-term cash injection to stave off financial difficulties that are threatening the operation of its AU$3.6B Queen's Wharf entertainment precinct in Brisbane, which opened only...

Written by Philip Conneller
South Korean Starlet’s Mom Charged with Running Illegal Gambling Empire
September 3, 2024

South Korean Starlet’s Mom Charged with Running Illegal Gambling Empire

The mother of South Korean actress Han So-hee has been arrested for allegedly running a network of illegal gambling dens that spanned several cities in the East Asian nation, police said Tuesday. Han’s mother, identified...

Written by Philip Conneller
Star Entertainment Kicked Off ASX Over Missing Financial Results
September 3, 2024

Star Entertainment Kicked Off ASX Over Missing Financial Results

Australia’s embattled Star Entertainment Group was suspended from the ASX, the country’s stock exchange, on Monday for failing to file its financial results. Star is the largest publicly traded casino operator in Australia. The company...

Written by Philip Conneller
Seized Illegal Alabama Gaming Machines Vanish, Resurface in New Bingo Hall
September 2, 2024

Seized Illegal Alabama Gaming Machines Vanish, Resurface in New Bingo Hall

Authorities in Alabama were surprised when illegal electronic bingo machines impounded during raids on a bingo hall in the city of Selma went missing. They were even more surprised when the machines turned up at...

Written by Philip Conneller
California Legislature Passes Bill to Let Tribes Sue Cardrooms
September 2, 2024

California Legislature Passes Bill to Let Tribes Sue Cardrooms

The California legislature sent a bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk Saturday that will allow tribal casino operators a one-off chance to sue the state’s 84 licensed cardrooms. The tribes claim the card clubs offer...

Written by Philip Conneller