3300 stories by Philip Conneller
California Gov. Gavin Newsom Opposes Koi Nation, Scotts Valley Casinos
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has written to the federal government to voice opposition to two tribal casino projects in the heart of the state’s wine country, which he claims “stretch the ‘restored lands’ exception beyond its legal limits.” In a letter...
Philippines’ Fugitive ‘POGO’ Mayor Flees to Indonesia Amid ‘Chinese Spy’ Claims
The fugitive former mayor of a small town in the Philippines who is accused of being a Chinese spy with links to human trafficking via the online gambling industry has fled to Indonesia, according to Philippine authorities. The case of Alice Guo...
Gambler Gets Nine Years for Stealing $1.5M Worth of Chicken Wings
An Illinois judge had a bone to pick last week with a former food service director for South Chicago schools who stole 11K cases of chicken wings valued at $1.5 million and gambled away the proceeds. Judge Michele Pitman of the Circuit...
Lake of the Ozarks Casino Backers Sue to Revive Rejected Ballot Measure
A campaign group dedicated to establishing a commercial casino in Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft Tuesday in a bid to get the issue on the ballot. Last week, Ashcroft rejected a proposed ballot...
Evolution Georgia Employees in Hunger Strike Over Pay, Working Conditions
Three employees of online gaming tech provider Evolution in Tbilisi, Georgia, have gone on hunger strike to demonstrate against poor pay and working conditions. The workers, Tamar Ansian, Makhare Patashuri, and Luka Nadiradze, adopted the extreme form of protest on August 12,...
DraftKings Signs $3.5M Check to Back Missouri Sports Betting PAC
DraftKings last week plowed $3.5 million into a political action committee (PAC) pushing for legal sports betting in Missouri. The Boston-based betting giant’s largesse came just three days after the PAC, Winning for Missouri Education (WME), succeeded in getting an initiative on...
Two Plead Guilty in $150M Allied Wallets Fraud
Two US citizens pleaded guilty last week to their part in the $150 million Allied Wallets fraud, which hoodwinked banks into processing payments for unregulated online gaming and other high-risk transactions. Mohammad “Moe” Diab, 48, of Glendale, Calif., and Amy Rountree, 41,...
Why is Lucas Paqueta Still Playing for West Ham Despite Spot-Fixing Charges?
The English Premier League kicked off for a new season this past weekend, but soccer fans may have been surprised to see Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta starring for West Ham on Saturday despite the serious charges of spot-fixing hanging over him. Paqueta...
Aussie Seniors’ Feud Over $5M Lottery Payout Resolved in Court
A bitter feud between three elderly residents of a public housing apartment block in Sydney, Australia over a $5 million lottery jackpot has been settled by a New South Wales Supreme Court judge. The furor began when one of the residents, Alan...
New York State Illegal Betting Ringleaders Linked to Corrupt Cop Sentenced
Two Rochester, N.Y. men who ran an illegal sports betting and poker network that generated more than $10 million over five years have been ordered to serve three years of probation including ten months of home detention. Louis Ferrari II, 42, and...
