Areas of Expertise
3205 stories by Philip Conneller
Football Index Scandal: High Court Approves Repayment of £3.5 Million in Player Funds
Some £3.5 million ($5 million) held in a Football Index “player-protection account” can now be redistributed to 280,000 former customers of the stricken soccer trading platform, London’s High Court has ruled. The account was held by a third party and kept separate...
Gambling Nun Charged with Embezzling $800,000 to Support Habit
In California, a septuagenarian nun faces up to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges. Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper admitted embezzling $835,000 from St James Catholic School in the LA suburb of Torrance. Most of...
Sports Bettor Finally Admits to 2004 Murder of Long Island Bookie’s Runner
A gambler who took part in the 2004 killing of a Long Island bookies’ runner has finally admitted his culpability in the case, Newsday reports. Mark Orlando, then 33, lured Bobby Calabrese, 24, to a deserted industrial area in Island Park, between...
New York Mayoral Hopeful Eric Adams “Evasive” on Alleged Casino Corruption
Democratic New York mayoral candidate Eric Adams offered “evasive and, at times, dubious answers” to investigators 11 years ago who were looking into possible ethics violations related to the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, a media outlet is reporting. Transcripts of a deposition...
Fears First Papua New Guinea Casino Will Aggravate Social Ills
Papua New Guinea’s first casino could magnify social problems in the South Pacific nation, according to critics, who also say the proposal lacks transparency. The Guardian reports that PNG’s National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) signed a deal ten days ago with the...
ESPN Fires New Betting Analyst ‘Kelly in Vegas’ for Past Homophobic Tweets
Handicapper Kelly Stewart has been sacked from her new job as a betting analyst for ESPN because of homophobic tweets she made nine years ago. Known by her Twitter handle “Kelly in Vegas,” the Kansas native was hired by the broadcaster in...
$100 Million Slots Session at Star Sydney Led to Massive Cocaine Bust
A man who gambled A$100 million (US$77 million) in a week on slots at the Star Casino in Sydney was part of a gang that planned to import cocaine worth A$900 million (US$690 million) into Australia, New South Wales Police say. Mende...
Ronaldo Wants Nevada Judge to Toss Palms Casino Rape Case
Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is asking a federal judge in Las Vegas to dismiss a lawsuit by a Nevada woman. She claims the Portuguese national raped her at the Palms Casino Resort in 2009. Lawyers for Ronaldo also want Mayorga’s lawyer, Leslie...
Crown Resorts Customer Gambled Unchecked for 34 Hours, Inquiry Hears
A gambler at Crown Resorts’ flagship Crown Melbourne was permitted to play for more than 34 hours-straight before staff intervened. So heard a licensing suitability inquiry in Melbourne, as attention focused on the company’s responsible gaming safeguards – or lack thereof. The...
Malta Journalist Murder ‘Middleman’ Linked to Dramatic Casino Heist
The man who arranged the death of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, allegedly on behalf of the country’s biggest casino owner, Yorgen Fenech, has been implicated in a daring casino robbery a decade ago. Melvin Theuma was granted immunity from prosecution for...