About the Author
Robyn McNeil
Bio & Media Credits
Who is Robyn McNeil?
Robyn McNeil (she/they) is a lead writer at Bonus, focusing on news relevant to online casinos. She specializes in responsible gambling coverage, legislative developments, gambling regulations, and gambling-related legal fights.
Career-wise, McNeil is something of a Girl Friday, with experience across industries, including culinary arts, music, film, tech, and journalism. She started her journey with Catena Media in early 2021 as a freelancer at Online Poker Report before quickly transitioning to a full-time role. Before joining Bonus in March 2023, McNeil mainly wrote and edited for PlayCanada, PlayOntario (since retired), and PlayIllinois. McNeil has also contributed to PlayNY, PlayOhio, and PlayMaryland, which are all part of Catena’s affiliate network.
Outside of office hours, you’ll most likely find Robyn twisting herself into challenging shapes, digging in the dirt, or exploring the coastlines of Nova Scotia, where she lives in an empty nest with her cat, Edith.
Robyn McNeil in the Media
- Media Musings, Gaming News Canada Newsletter, Nov. 2, 2023
- Come on Barbie, Let’s go Gamble: Is gambling advertising allowed in a Barbie world?, Ifrah Law, Aug. 7, 2023
- On The Homefront, Gaming News Canada Newsletter, Feb. 23, 2023
- Sports Betting Goes Live In Ontario: Why It’s Important, Business Insider, Apr. 4, 2022
- This Has Been A Long Time In The Making’: IGaming Launches In Ontario, CTV Windsor, Apr. 4, 2022
- Online gambling expected to create more Ontario jobs, CTV Windsor, Apr. 1, 2022
- PlayCanada Report Outlines Job Creation Potential In Ontario, Canadian Gaming Business, March 29, 2022
- Report Argues Online Gambling Will Create 1300 Jobs In Ontario, iheartradio.ca, March 29, 2022
Top Bonus.com Articles by Robyn McNeil
- GambleAware Research Seeks Understanding of LGBTQ+ Gambling Harm, Jan. 18, 2024
- NCLGS to Craft Model iGaming Legislation for States Considering Expansion, Jan 12, 2024
- Social Media Linked to Higher Rates of Teenage Gambling, Risky Behaviors, Dec. 19, 2023
- Operator Data Reveals Most Gamblers Pass on Available RG Tools, Nov. 29. 2023
- ADHD & Problem Gambling: ADHD Symptoms Predict More Severe Relapses, Nov. 15, 2023
- The Federal Investigation Into Scott Sibella: What Do We Know?, Oct. 20, 2023
- ‘Robin Hood 702’: Who is the Gambler Behind the Sibella Lawsuit?, Oct. 19, 2023
- Researchers Investigate ‘Magic Mushrooms’ as Problem Gambling Aid, Oct. 10, 2023
- New ‘Ticket in-Bonus Out’ Casino Tech Could Pose Problem Gambling Risk, Sept. 6. 2023
- Reddit Gamblers Show Surprising Interest in UberEats & Other Subreddits, June 16, 2023
Other Writing by Robyn McNeil
PlayIllinois, Illinois Gambling History Series
- Black Sox Down: The 1919 Chicago White Sox Scandal (Part 2), Dec. 16. 2022
- Black Sox Down: The 1919 Chicago White Sox Scandal (Part 1), Dec. 15. 2022
- John “Mushmouth” Johnson, Chicago’s Black Gambling King, Dec. 1, 2022
- Corruption, Extravagance, And Ingenuity In Early Illinois Gambling, Nov. 17, 2022
- King Of Chicago To US Race Wire Gambling Czar, Meet Mont Tennes, Nov. 4, 2022
- Bullets, Ballots And Bribery Define Early Illinois Gambling History, Oct. 21, 2022
Contact Info
To reach Robyn with a news tip, email her at [email protected].
Latest articles
Emails Show Iowa College Gambling Sting Doubled as Law Enforcement Power Play
An investigator involved in a 2023 Iowa gambling sting that netted over two dozen college athletes suggested in an email to colleagues the bust would impress the “powers that be.” Further, special agent Christopher Adkins speculated the investigation might nudge state lawmakers to update gambling legislation to strengthen law enforcement’s powers. According to The Associated […]
DraftKings Wins Preliminary Injunction Further Limiting Hermalyn’s Fanatics Role
A federal judge has granted DraftKings a preliminary injunction, temporarily limiting the functions its former executive, Michael Hermalyn, can perform in his new role at rival company Fanatics. On Tuesday, Massachusetts District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick issued her memorandum and order granting DraftKings’ motion for preliminary injunction and denying Hermalyn’s request for stay or […]
ESPN Bet Sportsbook Opens at Hollywood Casino, Completing Penn’s Michigan Brand Synergy
Penn Entertainment’s first ESPN Bet-branded brick-and-mortar sportsbook opened this week at its Hollywood Casino at Greektown in downtown Detroit. The move makes Michigan the first state where Penn’s online and retail businesses operate under the same casino and sportsbook brands. Penn left previous betting partner, Barstool, behind for a 10-year deal with ESPN last August after […]
Mohegan Launches Pennsylvania Online Casino Ahead of Unibet’s Upcoming Departure
Online casino players in the Keystone State have a new way to play following Mohegan Digital’s full launch of its branded Pennsylvania online casino. Starting today, players can access “no shortage of thrilling slots, table games, and more” through their browser or by downloading the apps for iPhone and Android. Pennsylvania’s newest online platform entry follows Unibet‘s […]
WVU Researcher Seeks to ‘Reverse Engineer’ Slots, Understand Addiction Mechanisms
A West Virginia University (WVU) researcher will put slot machines under the microscope in a bid to better understand their addictive features. Mariya Cherkasova of WVU’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will spend two years reverse-engineering slot mechanics to demystify the machines’ appeal. “From a public health perspective, there’s a continuum of gambling,” Cherkasova, […]
Caesars & Evolution Launch NHL-Branded Live Dealer Blackjack
Just ahead of the first round of National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs, Caesars Entertainment and Evolution launched a new NHL-branded live dealer blackjack game. Caesars NHL Blackjack—now available at Caesars platforms in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan—features the NHL shield front-and-center on the table’s “eye-catching” ice blue rink-inspired design. In an April 19 announcement, Matt Sunderland, […]
MGM Resorts Sues FTC Over Alleged Fifth Amendment Violations During Cyberattack Investigation
MGM Resorts International (MGM) is suing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its chair, Lina Khan, over allegations that the commission violated MGM’s Fifth Amendment rights during its investigation into last fall’s cyberattack. Khan had been staying at one of MGM’s properties when its systems went down as a result of the attack. Filed Monday […]
California Judge Denies Hermalyn Legal Fees, Throws Shade at DraftKings Legal Team
A California district judge declined Michael Hermalyn’s request for $310k in attorney fees that the Fanatics executive attributed to a jurisdictional back-and-forth in his case against DraftKings. The two sides are also at odds in a separate but related case launched by Hermalyn’s former employer. In a ruling filed on Monday, California District Judge Mark […]
CEASE, UAW Sue Gov. Murphy Over Failure to Ban Smoking in New Jersey Casinos
United Auto Workers (UAW) and grassroots anti-smoking advocacy group Casino Employees Against Smoking’s (Harmful) Effects (CEASE) filed a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court against Gov. Philip Murphy to force an overturn of a legal loophole that allows smoking on casino floors. Workers say the 18-year exception unfairly affects New Jersey’s casino employees. The lawsuit, […]
Washington’s Lottery Ends ‘Test Drive a Win’ Campaign After AI Generates Topless User Photo
Washington’s Lottery has shut down its Test Drive a Win app after its artificial intelligence (AI) tool created a topless image of a female user. The lottery’s AI-based online marketing campaign gave users the tools to visualize the dream vacations possible with a lotto win. The app allowed users to upload or take a photo […]
