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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

3299 stories by Philip Conneller

Ryan Gatzke, Isaac Melko, Jacob Ballantyne

Casino Worker Told ‘Terror Squad’ to Target Gambler in Home Invasion

A gang member accused of murdering a casino customer during a chilling home invasion was tipped off about the victim’s winnings by an ex-member of the casino’s staff, Sask Today reports. That’s according to an April 2021 filing to North Battleford Provincial...

Philip Conneller January 24, 2024
Isiah Lee, Iowa State, Cyclones, Eyioma Uwazurike

Iowa College Athletes in Gambling Scandal Snared by ‘Warrentless Searches’

Evidence that led to 41 Iowa college athletes being accused of gambling violations was allegedly obtained by warrantless searches conducted by a special agent with the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). That’s according to an attorney representing two athletes in documents...

Philip Conneller January 23, 2024
Macau casino, chip scam

Macau Casino Scam Doctored Gaming Chips, Inflated Value Tenfold

An unnamed Macau casino has taken an approximate US$200K hit after scammers were able to tamper with gaming chips to alter their denominations. Macau’s Judiciary Police (PJ) said Tuesday the scheme involved the modification of regular house HKD100 (US$13) chips so that...

Philip Conneller January 23, 2024
Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, NRGC, SIG MPX rifles

Nebraska Gaming Board Spent $30K on Semi-Automatic Weapons

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission (NRGC) spent $30,351 on semi-automatic rifles for its 10 investigators, The Lincoln Journal Star reports. The purchase has raised eyebrows in Lincoln, the state capital. Some lawmakers have questioned whether it’s strictly necessary for an agency...

Philip Conneller January 22, 2024
Ray Gilbert, Mynyamani Stevenson, Tatiania Brice, Case Gang, Oakland

Oakland Gambling Den Guard Linked to Unsolved Homicide Cases

Oakland police have linked a gun found in the possession of a security guard at an underground casino to an unsolved homicide in the city, the East Bay Times reports. They also believe the guard, 25-year-old Ray Gilbert, may know something about...

Philip Conneller January 22, 2024
Kindred, Francaise Des Jeux, FDJ

Kindred Group Verges on $2.7B Takeover by French Lottery Giant FDJ

Francaise Des Jeux (FDJ.PA), the French national lottery operator, has made a US$2.67 billion move for Stockholm-listed online gambling giant Kindred Group (KIND SDB). On Monday morning, Kindred’s board of directors said in a statement it unanimously recommended that shareholders accept the...

Philip Conneller January 22, 2024
Nebraska casino, Fremont

New Nebraska Casino Proposed, But Gaming Expansion Under Threat

The list of operators eager to get themselves a future piece of Nebraska’s casino market is swelling. On Friday, representatives of a new hopeful, KRG Investment Group, briefed the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission (NRGC) on its proposal for a new horse-racing...

Philip Conneller January 21, 2024
Halil Falyalı, Mustafa Söylemez, Mehmet Faysal Söylemez

Turkish Gangster Gets Life for Murder of Cypriot Casino Owner

A Turkish gangster has been given two life sentences after an Istanbul court found him guilty of premeditated murder. The trial was in relation to the 2022 shooting death of Northern Cyprus casino owner Halil Falyalı. Mustafa Söylemez was also convicted of...

Philip Conneller January 21, 2024
New Mexico Supreme Court, visitor protection, Pojoaque Pueblo, Buffalo Thunder Casino

Landmark Ruling Says New Mexico Casinos Can’t be Sued in State Courts

New Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled that personal injury claims against tribal casinos must be heard in tribal and not state courts. The ruling will be welcomed by the state’s tribes, which have long viewed the issue as a question of sovereignty....

Philip Conneller January 20, 2024
Chang Goo Yoon, physical therapist, casinos

$300K Healthcare Fraud Led to Casino Benders for Rogue Physical Therapist

A New York physical therapy entrepreneur with a penchant for high living and casino benders has been convicted of orchestrating a $300K health care scam to fund his extravagant lifestyle. Chang Goo Yoon, 61, a Queens-based South Korean national, was found guilty...

Philip Conneller January 19, 2024